Shopping
Overview
Traditional clothing, handicrafts, ceramics, wrought iron and wood carvings are beautiful holiday souvenirs. Shop opening hours: Mon-Fri 08.00-21.00, Sat 09.00-18.00, some shops are closed at lunchtime. Shops in big cities and malls are open until 6pm every Saturday. Elsewhere almost all shops close at 12pm on Saturdays and are only open until 6pm on the first Saturday of each month.
Nightlife
Introduction
The varied Viennese nightlife offers something for every taste: opera, theatre, cabaret as well as numerous music and scene venues, discotheques, bars and nightclubs. In the Falter, the city newspaper for Vienna, you will find an extensive program of events; it is published weekly (Internet: www.falter.at).
- Topmbadirectory: Offers information about politics, geography, and known people in Austria.
Accommodation
Hotels
There is a large selection of hotel types in Austria: there are family hotels, children’s hotels, ski hotels, (alpine) wellness hotels, 5-star hotels, luxury hotels, congress hotels, boutique hotels, hotels on the lake with a mountain backdrop, palace and castle hotels, gourmet hotels, yoga hotels, hotels with pools, bio hotels, design hotels, wine & spa resorts and many more. Travelers just need to know what they want. Hotel Classification: Hotels are classified into the Hotelstars Union star categories from one to five stars.
Camping
You can stay overnight at all of the 500 or so campsites without any major formalities, and around 160 of the sites are also available in winter. There are campsites in Austria in all federal states and in all landscapes, at the lake, in ski areas and in cities. For campers who do not want to do without a bit of luxury, the so-called glampers, the offer ranges from safari lodge tents, lodges for the whole family with panoramic views, mobile homes and holiday homes to sea lodges and forest huts with glass roofs or wood lodges such as auf the Glamping Park Mönichkirchen. There are around 300 parking spaces for mobile homes in Austria, most of which are in front of campsites, inns, sports fields and farms. Discounts for children and members of camper associations. Standard fees apply for caravans, motorbikes and cars. Caravans may not be parked on the motorways or in rest areas. Some mountain roads are closed to caravans. Further information is available from the Austrian Tourism Portal and the Austrian Camping Club (ÖCC), which is primarily available to its members but also provides an overview of the campsites in Austria.
Other accommodation options
There are youth hostels everywhere in Austria. Some are in ski resorts, others along the Danube Cycle Path and others in big cities like Vienna. All youth hostels in Austria are available to members and non-members of the International Youth Hostel Association. Members receive discounts. It is advisable to book in advance, especially in high season. The Austrian Youth Hostel Association provides more information. Farm holidays in Austria are a wonderful experience all year round. There are farms that specialize in offerings for families, couples, winter sports enthusiasts, hikers, dog owners and many other target groups. The farm types range from the alpine hut, via the winery and the organic farm to the riding stable and Vitalhof. Some courtyards are certified as barrier-free and therefore suitable for wheelchairs. An address directory for farm holidays is available from the Federal Association of Farm Holidays. Holidaymakers in Austria can also stay in luxury chalets, including mountain or alpine huts, holiday homes and apartments. There are climbing, cycling & MTB accommodations as well as accommodations on the slopes. You can also choose from rustic huts, inns and guesthouses.
Culture
Religion
73.6% Roman Catholic; 4.7% Protestant. Muslim and Jewish minorities.
Social Rules of Conduct
Social manners: Austrians are known for their charm and politeness and tend to be reserved in business life. People only address each other by their first names after a long time, and a lot of value is placed on titles in the salutation. In Austrian you greet each other with Grüß Gott or casually with Servus. Clothing: Going to the opera and theater is a social event, so appropriate clothing is expected. Smoking: In Austria, smoking is prohibited in public places and public buildings (e.g. schools, children’s playgrounds in Vienna, train stations, airports, museums, offices, swimming pools, restaurants). There have been no separate smoking rooms in gastronomic establishments since November 1, 2019. Smoking is not only prohibited in catering establishments, but wherever food and beverages are produced, processed, served and consumed. The ban also applies to public festivals with gastronomic offers and the ÖBB dining cars. Smoking is prohibited in private cars if there is at least one minor in the car. Tipping is customary, but large amounts are not expected. 10-15% service is added to the restaurant bill, usually an additional tip of 5-10% is given, in restaurants and hotels the tip may already be included (inclusive prices). Taxi drivers and hairdressers also receive a 5-10% tip. Other service providers also expect financial attention: Porters at train stations and airports usually get 1 € per piece of luggage, housekeeping 1-2 € per day. Dog owners: There is no nationwide regulation in Austria for dogs to be kept on a leash and muzzled. In Vienna, for example, there is a leash and muzzle obligation in all public places and on all public transport. Biting dogs must be muzzled in all public places.
Climate
Best travel time
Moderate Central European climate, with the climate in the east being continental, in the mountains as alpine and in the south as Mediterranean influenced. The temperature and the amount of precipitation are strongly dependent on the altitude and location of the individual parts of the country. For tours in the high mountains, information about the weather conditions, snow conditions and avalanche danger should be obtained beforehand. Warnings from locals should be heeded.
Summer is the high season for hiking and bathing holidays as well as city breaks in July and August, with less activity in June and September. The winter season lasts from the beginning of December to the beginning of March, in higher regions until the end of May.
Country data
Phone prefix
+43
Area (sq km)
83871
Population
9,006,398 (Source: homosociety)
Population density (per square km)
106
Population statistics year
2020
Member of the EU
yes
Main emergency number
112
