Austria General Geography
Area: 83,858 km2
Austria is located in southern Central Europe.
It has common borders with Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
The Austrian landscape points to a rich natural structure: High
and central mountain regions, hill country and plains. The Alpine
region (Eastern Alps, High Tauern, Carnican Alps, Southern Karawank
mountains and parts of the Southern Alps) stretches from the West
to the South to the Vienna Basin, and takes up approximately two
thirds of the country's surface area. The western part of the
country is mountainous while the east is hill country and flatlands
which stretch to the Pannonian Plain in northern Burgenland.
The highest mountain is the Grossglockner with 3,797 m, the major
river is the Danube with an approximate length of 350 km in the
Austrian area.
Austria Climates
Austria is located in a temperate climatic zone with a Central
European climate influenced by the Atlantic climate. The four
seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter) each have typical
temperature and climatic characters.
Due to the topographical diversity and the relatively large West-East
expanse, there are three differentiating climatic regions:
East: Pannonian climate with a continental influence – low
precipitation, hot summers but only moderately cold winters.
Alpine Regions: Alpine climate - high precipitation ( except inner
alpine valley regions such as the upper Inntal), short summers,
long winters.
Remainder of the country: transient climate influenced by the
Atlantic (in the West) and a continental influence in the South-east.
Entry Requirements
Travel Documents :
Valid Passport
Nationals of some states only need a passport that has expired
within less than five years or an official identification card.
Accompanying Children
either need their own passport or must be registered on one of
their parent's passports, in which case they must be accompanied
by the passport-holder.
Visas :
The following do not need a visa: nationals of any of Austria's
neighbouring states, of EU member states and many other states.
Information may be obtained from the Austrian Embassy or consulate
in your country as well as the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
An up-to-date list can be found at http://www.bmaa.gv.at/service/index.html.en
According to the Schengen Agreement nationals of non-member states
who require a visa can travel to Austria with a valid Schengen
visa issued in any Schengen state, without having to obtain an
additional Austrian visa, as long as the visa is not restricted
to other countries.
Passport Control :
Since 1 April 1998, border controls are no longer made at the
borders to the Schengen states Germany and Italy. This also applies
to flight traffic at the Austrian airports for flights to other
Schengen states (except Greece).
To be able to present proof of identification in case of random
control checks, travellers must, however, carry along their travel
documents in the Schengen region as well.
Travelling with animals (also applies to travellers from the EU
region):
Pets such as dogs or cats from 12 weeks of age need a valid vaccination
certificate (rabies) in German or with an officially certified
German translation. The vaccination must have been performed at
least 30 days before entering the country, but no longer than
one year in advance. A maximum of 3 animals may be brought into
the country.
Travel times
For the peak tourist seasons July, August, Christmas and Easter
advance reservations for transport as well as accomodation is
strongly recomended. Please also take note of travel agencies'
numerous offers on Austria.
Electricity
220 V alternating current. Connector plug/outlet correspond generally
to the Euro-norm, but as a precaution one should still bring along
an adaptor.
Currency
Austria is a member of the Economic and Currency Union - the
common currency is
the Euro. 1 EUR = 100 Cent = 13.7603 ATS .
The following Euro-banknotes and coins are in circulation:
Banknotes with facevalues of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 €;
Coins of 1 and 2 € denominations as well as 1, 2, 5, 10,
20 and 50 Cent
Banking Hours (General)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
8 a.m to 12:30 p.m and
1:30 p.m to 3 p.m
Thursday
8 a.m to 12:30 p.m and
1:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m
Automated Teller Machines (cash dispensers)
Outside of banks, cash can be withdrawn around the clock at some
2,700 cash dispensers in all of Austria. National and foreign
Maestro cards (cash cards) are accepted. Other automated teller
cards are national and foreign MasterCards, American Express cards
and Visa credit cards as well as the Cirrus and Plus cash cards
that belong to this payment system.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are accepted in cities and tourist centres by
numerous hotels, restaurants, shops and gas stations. If and which
credit cards are accepted is indicated by the logos displayed
on the exterior facade of the respective business (usually on
the entrance door).
Medical Service, Pharmacies
Austria is 'well-stocked' with doctors and pharmacies.
Pharmacies operate a rota system for night and Sunday duty; when
closed a notice is displayed giving the addresses of the nearest
pharmacies that are open.
Emergency Numbers
Ambulance/Doctor on call: Tel. 144
Medical radio service: Tel. 141
Mountain rescue service: Tel. 140
Police: 133
Fire: 122
Information on local medical emergency services is available at
the local gendarmerie and police stations as well as in the telephone
book and in daily newspapers.
Health Insurance Coverage
Insured persons of the EWR-member states (= EU-member states +
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland as well as in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia,
the Czech Republic and Hungary in urgent cases can use their holiday
insurance coverage form - obtained from their health insurer before
starting their holiday - for medical care in Austria to the same
benefits as those granted to persons insured in Austria. Information
available at the respective health insurance company in the national
state.
Health Resorts/Spas/Thermal Bath Resorts
Austria boasts a number of health resorts, spas and thermal
bath resorts that are all legally certified and recognized. The
range of treatments is so extensive that every health problem
can be treated, improved or even avoided by timely preventative
measures. Numerous thermal bath resorts and wellness centres offer
conditions of the highest standards for relaxation and well-being.
Most of the Austrian health resorts and spas are also renowned
tourist resorts providing a large number of sports and recreational
facilities.
Holidays
2003 :
1 January: New Year's Day
6 January: Epiphany
21 April: Easter Monday
1 May: National Holiday
29 May: Ascension Day
9 June: Whit Monday
19 June: Corpus Christi
15 August: Assumption of the Virgin Mary
26 October: National Holiday
1 November: All Saints' Day
8 December: Conception
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Boxing Day
Time Zone
Central European Time (CET)
Daylight Savings Time
Daylight Savings Time is valid from the end of March to the end
of October (CET + 1 hour):
2002: Sunday, 31 March to Sunday, 27 October
2003: Sunday, 30 March to Sunday, 26 October
2004: Sunday, 28 March to Sunday, 31 October
2005: Sunday, 27 March to Sunday, 30 October
2006: Sunday, 26 March to Sunday, 29 October
The adjustment takes place unitarily on the night of Saturday
to Sunday at 01.00 a.m GMT, that is 02.00 a.m in Austria.
Mail Service - Opening Hours
The respective opening hours of post offices vary and are posted
at the entrances of the post offices.
Some main and station post offices in larger cities are also open
at night, as well as Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, however
with a restricted range of services.
Telephone
Telekom Austria offers a broad range of tariffs. The new TikTak-Tariff
Family with seconds-based billing after the 30th second, is complementary
to the traditional Impulse-Tariffs.
The calling charges are scaled according to time of day and distance:
2 time zones for all tariff models - "Peak time" (Mon
- Fri 8:00 a.m.- 6 p.m.) and "Off-peak time" (remainder
of time).
2 local (regional and Austria-zone) and 17 international zones
in the Impulse Tariff Model.
2 national zones (local zone with own area code and Austria) and
just 5 international zones with the TikTak-Tariff Model.
For call boxes and card-operated pay phones of Telekom Austria
there is only one local zone (entire federal state) and no time
scale.
Calling cards are available at all post offices and in tobacconists'
shops (Tabak Trafiken).
There are also a number of other providers in Austria, for fixed
as well as mobile telephone networks, with varying tariffs. |
