Austria

SAFETY: excellent
The whole country is generally considered safe. No particular risks are reported apart from petty crime (suburbs, big cities...).

TRANSPORT SYSTEM: excellent
A comprehensive, modern transport system covering the whole country (air, rail, bus, underground, tram, taxi, river ferries) makes it possible to reach any destination. Hiring cars, motorbikes, campervans, bikes and boats is easy and convenient.

Main airports: Vienna-Schwechat, Graz-Thalerhof, Innsbruck-Kranebitten, Klagenfurt-Wörther See, Linz-Hörsching, Salzburg-Maxglan.

ACCOMMODATION: excellent
The country offers a huge choice of accommodation of every kind, category and price. The international hotel classification (one to five stars) applies; there are also farm stays, b&bs, guesthouses, inn-breweries, hostels and campsites, mountain huts, as well as characterful stays in fortresses and old castles and at spa and wellness centres. There are numerous portals and websites useful for booking. The choice of restaurants is equally varied.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Republic of Austria – Location: central Europe. Borders: Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, the Slovak Republic and Hungary to the east, Italy and Slovenia to the south, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to the west – Time zone: UTC +1, the same as Italy, observes daylight saving time – Area: 83,870 sq km – Capital: Vienna – Population: 8,199,000 – Religion: 75% Catholic, 5% Protestant, 4% Muslim – Languages: German (official language), English fairly widely understood – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: euro – Credit cards: the most common credit cards are accepted.

ELECTRICITY: 220 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: two-pin and Schuko types, bring an adaptor.

DOCUMENTS: identity card valid for travel abroad. There are no customs restrictions on personal luggage (Schengen) – Driving: Italian driving licence – Car: for Italian vehicles, Italian third-party motor insurance is sufficient.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 0043 – GSM: extensive network covering the whole country. Standard GSM 900/1800 (as in Italy). Local operators: Hutchinson 3G, Mobilkom Austria, One, TMobile Austria – Internet: the service is very widespread and of good average quality – Web domain: .at – Emergency numbers: ambulance 144, fire brigade 122, police 133, roadside assistance 120.

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT: legislation on the use or trafficking of narcotics and on offences against minors provides for criminal penalties entirely similar to those under Italian law. The age of consent for gay relationships is 14 and gender discrimination at work has been banned (2002), but Austria in general is not at the forefront on these issues; Vienna is the hub of the gay scene.

HEALTH: excellent overall standard, with very efficient public and private facilities. Italian citizens travelling temporarily who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) receive the treatment provided by the local public health service. Pharmacies are widespread and well stocked.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January; 6 January; Easter Monday; 1 May; Ascension Day; Whit Monday; Corpus Christi; 15 August; 26 October, National Day; 1 November; 8 December; 25-26 December.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: widespread, Mon-Fri 8-12 and 14-18 – Banks: very widespread, with cash machines; Mon-Fri 8.30-12.30 and 13.30-15.00 – Shops: Mon-Sat 9.00-19.00 (variable) – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: continental, with cold winters and hot summers and frequent showers, often falling as snow in winter. Most of the country is exposed to cold winds blowing from the west and north-west.

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USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Austrian Embassy
Via Pergolesi 3 – 00198 Rome
Tel. 06 8440141 – Fax 06 8543286
www.bmeia.gv.at –rom-ob@bmeia.gv.at

Consulate General
Piazza Liberty 8 – 20121 Milan
Tel. 02 783743 – Fax 02 783545
consolatoaustriaco@libero.it

Austrian Tourist Office
Via Boccaccio 4 – 20123 Milan 
Tel. 840 999918 – Fax 840 999919
www.austria.info (in Italian) –vacanze@austria.info

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN AUSTRIA

Italian Embassy
Rennweg 27 – 1030 Vienna
Tel. 0043 1 7125121/2/3 – Fax 0043 1 7139719
www.ambvienna.esteri.it –ambasciata.vienna@esteri.it

Consular Section at the Embassy
Ungargasse 43 – 1030 Vienna
Tel. 0043 1 7135671 – Fax 0043 1 7154030
consolato.vienna@esteri.it

Consulate General
Conradstrasse 9/A – 6020 Innsbruck
Tel. 0043 512 581333/584983 – Fax 0043 512 580706
consolare.innsbruck@esteri.it

Honorary Consulates
St. Peter Hauptstrasse 141 – 8042 Graz – Tel. 0043 316425000 – Fax 0043 31642500070 – E-mail: consolato.graz@a1.net
St. Veiter Ring 43, 3rd floor – 9020 Klagenfurt – Tel. 0043 463 513055 – Fax 0043 463 513246 – E-mail: konsulit@bks.at
Hessenplatz 19 – 4020 Linz – Tel. 0043 732 77654325 – Fax 0043 732 77654360
Lederergasse 6 – 5020 Salzburg – Tel. 0043 662 878301 – Fax 0043 662 870722

Austrian National Tourist Office
Postfach 83 – 1043 Vienna
Tel. 0043 1 58866 0 – Fax 0043 1 58866 20
www.austria.info (in Italian)