Vienna Travel Tips

If you have never visited Vienna before or haven’t done so for a while, the following details some important facts you should be aware of before you arrive. It is probably a good idea to print this out to use on arrival too. For more travel tips on the country in general, please go to our Austria Tipspage.

*When to Go   *Climate   *Time   *Getting Around   *Travel Passes   *Health Matters   *Money Matters   *Tipping   *Communications   *Electricity   *Visa and Immigration   *Business Hours   *What to Wear   *Useful Telephone Numbers    *Languages

When to Go There's almost always something happening in Vienna, making it a year-round destination. Weather-wise you might want to miss January's chill, and July and August's heat - you won't be able to see the Lipizzaners and the Boys' Choir in those summer months anyway. June and September are particularly good times to visit, though you'll find that everyone else thinks so too, making things somewhat busy. As always, it's a good idea to opt for the less-crowded spring/autumn shoulder months of April-May and October-November.

Climate The Danube Valley and Vienna Basin are rather dry and influenced by continental Europe. Cold winds from Eastern Europe and Russia can lower winter temperatures considerably; summer is generally hot and dry.

Time GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October)

Getting Around Vienna boasts one of the finest public transport systems in Europe; it is safe and easy to use, and consists of punctual buses and trams, a fast U-Bahn (underground) and S-Bahn (railway). For more detailed transport information for the area please click here.

Travel Passes are available, the Vienna Card is valid for three days and allows unlimited travel on public transport except night buses, and offers discounts at many attractions, shops and restaurants. You can pick one up on arrival. Ask for details from your hotel.

Health Matters No vaccinations are necessary for business visits or general tourism. There is, however, a risk of tick-borne encephalitis for long-term visitors who expect to be visiting rural or forested areas in spring or summer. These travellers should consider vaccination and ensure they take precautions against tick infestation.

Money Matters See the information for this on our Tips page for the country as a whole.

Tipping 10% service charge is often automatically added to hotel and restaurant bills, but it is usual to leave another 5%. It is customary to give the money to the waiter rather than leave it on the table. It is usual to leave small change for most service personnel. Taxis expect a 10% tip.

Communications The international access code for Austria is +43. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Public telephone boxes can be used for direct dial calls within the country and overseas. Internet cafes are widely available. For more information regarding communication systems in general please click here.

Electricity 220 volts, 50Hz. The European round 2-pin plugs are standard.

Visas and Immigration For details on this subject please go to our Visa and Immigration page.

Business Hours Banks are open 8 a.m. to 3:00, Monday to Friday, except Thursday when they close at 5:30 p.m. Operating hours for shops are from 8 or 9 a.m.up to6 p.m., Monday to Friday. On Saturdays some close by noontime.

Restaurants serve lunch from noon to 2 p.m., and dinner from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The post office is open Monday to Friday, beginning business at 8 a.m., closing for a two-hour lunch break beginning noontime, then staying open until 6 p.m

What to Wear For business, suits for both men and women, but casual dress after hours. At high-end restaurants, men are usually required to wear a coat and tie. Elegant, formal attire is the norm at the theatre or opera. In winter, wear warm clothes and footwear with non-slip soles; in spring and fall, a topcoat is essential. Summers are still cool so if you chill easily have a sweater ready.

Useful Telephone Numbers

• Airport Information counter – Departures telephone: 7007 22184
• Information counter – Arrivals telephone: 7007 22197
• Airport Medical Center telephone: 144
• Airport Operations Manager telephone: 155
• Ambulance telephone: 144
• Police telephone: 133
• Fire Brigade telephone: 122
• European Emergency Call telephone: 112
• Emergency Doctor service (nights and weekends) telephone: 141
• Breakdown service telephone: 71799
• Bus information telephone: 211 140
• Lost Property Items lost while travelling by public transport telephone:  79 09105
• Lost Property Items lost while travelling by rail telephone: 5800-32996 and 35656

LanguagesGerman the first language, is spoken by 99% of the population. English is the second language, and is taught widely in schools. Anyone under 40 should be able to speak English reasonably well.

Note: For more travel tips on the country in general, please go to our Austria Tips page.