Travel tips for Austria - what to prepare in advance and what to obey

The official currency in Austria is euro. The more profitable and reliable option is to exchange money in banks. However, they usually work from 8am to 3pm.

Dollars instead of euros are sometimes offered in exchange offices in airports. It is better not to go there and choose another place for currency exchange.

For purchases exceeding 75 EUR, tourists can return VAT at a rate of 13 percent. To do this, you need to save all checks until the very end of the trip.

Overview of the optimal transportation means in Austria

Austria is one of the most economically stable and prosperous states in Europe. That is why the infrastructure here is set at the highest level. …
Read further

If there are Tax Free checks, they can be registered at the airport after the boarding pass is issued. At the front desk, you must notify that you have checks with you.

Arriving guests can reach the city of their airport in several ways. The cheapest thing is to go by train to the station Landstrasse or Wien Mitte. To get there, you need to buy a ticket in special vending machines.

It’s not accepted to grab an Austrian taxi on the street by waving a hand. It is usually called by the phone or is searched on special parking lots equipped with the appropriate signs. It is better to write down several phone numbers, so you won’t waste time searching.

The cost of a taxi ride is calculated according to the meter, plus 2. 5 Euro for loading. Tipping is optional, but if you want to, you can add a small amount to the check. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In hotels and restaurants, tips are quite common. It's usually enough to leave 5-10% of the order, because the service is already included in the bill.

For convenient transportation, you can use car rental services. You can rent a car in Vienna for about 10 euros a week. To do this, you will need a credit card and a valid international driving license. The driver must be at least 21 years old.

When traveling by car, you need to remember that most parking lots are paid. Nevertheless, there are zones of short-term parking marked with special signs. At gas stations, you can buy paper parking disks, which you need to put under the wipers, so that the police will have no complaints.

The temperate continental climate dominates in Austria. The lowest temperature is observed in January. In July and August, it is quite warm here, and the water in various ponds warms up to + 25C and above.

Unique sights of Austria from our series 'Extreme places on Earth'

These spots really worth the attention of a real traveler-researcher. …
Read further

Don’t bring a lot of things, as it's better to dress according to the weather. It's better to choose convenient and practical things, because the Austrians don't bother about their look.

This collection of travel tips for Austria is protected by the copyright law. You can re-use the content, but only under the condition of placement of an active link to www.orangesmile.com.

Austria guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Austria

Colorful and unique places in Austria

Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum

From the series “Famous Museums of World Celebrities”

One of the most famous museums in the world is located in the Austrian village of Thal. It is dedicated to the legendary actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The place of the museum location was not chosen by chance, as Tal village is home to the world-famous actor. It was decided to open the museum in the house where Schwarzenegger has spent the first 19 years of his life. The museum opened on 7 October 2011. The history of the sight is very interesting. The idea belongs to the best friend of the actor, Peter Urdlen.

A few years before the museum's opening, the author said that he wants to assemble a collection of things associated with the actor. A few years later, Urdlen confessed that they were necessary for him to be exhibited in the unique museum. Today, the collection presented in the old … Read all

Flower Clock in Vienna

From the series “Enchanting Flower Clocks Built by Humans”

Tourists tend to admire the flower clock not because of the complexity of its mechanism or even scale, but because of its spectacular appearance. The clock in Vienna can be definitely called one of the most marvelous in the world. It’s located in the city park, near the concert hall called Kursalon. The most spectacular and exotic flowers are used to compose the clock. Locals and visitors can enjoy the amazing work of the landscape art only during the warmer months.

Each year, the flower clock in Vienna looks special. Thanks to the large number of visitors in the park, it’s always drawing attention. When designing the dial, florists consider not only colorful composition, but its volume too. All the plants are carefully selected not only by color, but also by height.

The flower … Read all

Underwater Park Gruner See

From the series “Top 16 Most Unusual and Original Parks and Gardens”

In Austria, fans of unusual places will be able to visit the Gruner See park located in the small town of Tragoess. In winter, the park doesn’t differ from the usual one. It has a comfortable zone for walks with wooden benches and a stone-paved pathwalks. The main decoration of the unusual park of Gruner See is the lake of the same name. At the beginning of spring, it changes the appearance of the park beyond recognition.

In spring, mountain streams gradually fill the lake, so it’s increased by several times and completely floods the park. Gruner See is a real treasure for divers. In warmer months, they can walk through the picturesque park down the water. During warmer months, the lake depth is 12 meters. Incredibly picturesque alpine meadows, paths, which are used by visitors, as … Read all

All unique sightseeing Austria

Advices for popular cities of Austria

Vienna

1. The public transport system is very well developed here. Trams and buses work from early in the morning until midnight. After midnight you will see special night buses on main streets of the city. 2. Taxis are rather cheap in Vienna, but "catching" it on the streets of the city is simply impossible. It is better to call a car to a restaurant or a hotel. You can also take a taxi in one of special sites. 3. The majority of shops and shopping centers are open until 18:00. Shops located … Read more

Salzburg

1. The best time to visit the city is during warm months of a year. It’s quite cold in Salzburg in winter, and this fact can prevent you from enjoying various excursions and entertainments. 2. There is a well-developed network of trolleybuses and buses in the city. You can easily get to any street you’re interested in by using public transport. 3. Tickets for public transport can be purchased at any tobacco shop - here they are the cheapest. 4. The city’s taxi is quite … Read more

Innsbruck

1. The city and its surroundings are best to travel by public transport. Catching a taxi on the street of the city is extremely problematic, so, if you need one, it’s better to call to order it beforehand. In case you plan to make a long-distance trip, discuss the price in advance. 2. If you plan to rent a car, you will have to present a credit card of any bank. Of course, you will also need a driver's license of international standard. Those, who have got the license less than a year ago, … Read more

Kitzbuhel

1. The city has a developed public transport system. Buses run along the main streets from early morning to late evening. Thrifty travelers are advised to purchase special tickets, the validity of which varies from one day to several weeks. 2. It’s better to call the taxi by phone or take it on a special parking. It is unlikely to flag a taxi on the street. You may leave small cash reward for the taxi driver, but this procedure is not required. Most commonly, the resulting amount by the … Read more

Graz

1. You will find many car rental offices in Graz. In order to rent a car, you will need a driving license of the international standard and a credit card with the required amount of collateral in the account. Travellers are recommended to use the services of firms that are located near the railway station and airport. 2. All the taxis work in accordance with a unified tariff system, so taxi rates can only be changed depending on the time of day. Some firms charge an additional fee for … Read more

Linz

1. Gourmets should definitely order the Linzer cake in one of local ethnic restaurants. The recipe of this unique dessert was created over 300 years ago, and now chefs prepare the cake in full compliance with all the requirements. The taste of this treat is just amazing. 2. The main tourist center of the city is the Linz City Tourist Board located next to the Hauptplatz train station. The center serves its customers daily. You can take booklets describing sights and a city map, as well as … Read more

Bregenz

1. The city has a well-developed public transport system. It is easy to reach any part of Bregenz by bus. Don’t forget to buy tickets in advance. Tourists can do that in newspaper kiosks and special automats that are present close to every public transport stop. 2. It is better to call a taxi as it is problematic to hail a taxi right on the street. It is also possible to get a taxi on special stops, which are usually located close to shopping centers and governmental offices. 3. In … Read more

Tirol

1. You can comfortably travel through the region not only by rail, but also by bus. Tram running along very scenic places is available to visitors of Innsbruck. 2. Given that the local highway passes through difficult mountainous areas, some of them may be closed in winter. Tourists going for a trip by car should definitely clarify available routes. Be sure to travel around alpine areas only by car equipped with tire chains. 3. The most profitable way to make calls to other cities and … Read more