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Landlocked
in the heart of Europe, Austria runs from the Alps
in the west down to Vienna and the Danube in the east.
For six centuries it was the heart of the mighty Hapsburg
Empire, which at its peak included what is now Poland,
Hungary and the Czech Republic along with much of Romania,
Bulgaria and the Balkans. The country's imperial inheritance
is particularly striking in the grand buildings and
cultural institutions of the Baroque-flavoured capital,
Vienna, resplendent with palaces and captivating churches,
cosy coffeehouses and inns, and grand ballrooms where
Strauss waltzes still draw dancers onto the floor.
Another
of the great classical composers spawned by Austria was
Mozart, born in Salzburg, a beautiful historic city where
stunning Baroque churches rise up against the backdrop
of the Austrian Alps. The Alps stretch west to Switzerland
and in winter skiers come from all continents to carve
the slopes and experience the charm of the alpine villages
and their welcoming inhabitants. |
Local
time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 from the last Sunday in March to the
last Sunday in October).
220
volts, 50Hz. The European round 2-pin plugs are standard.
The
unit of currency is the Euro (€), which is
divided into 100 cents. Currency can be exchanged
at banks and bureaux de change available in all
towns, but it may be easier to use the ATMs. Credit
and debit cards are widely accepted though some
small hotels and restaurants may only accept cash.
Travellers cheques are also accepted.
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.
Austria
enjoys a temperate Central European climate with four distinct
seasons. Summers are hot with cool nights. In Vienna and
other low-lying cities temperatures during the day can get
uncomfortably hot over July and August. Winters are cold,
below freezing in January and February. The ski season in
the Alps runs from December to April but the mountains are
also popular with hikers and climbers over the summer when
the weather is usually warm and bright.
Car Rental
If you like to drive and stay at hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts, that is
fine. We offer a choice of 6
companies offering budget vehicles, new vehicles and mini-buse. If you tell us
your requirements we will happy prepare a quotation for you. See details: Austria
Car Hire
Motorhome - RV - Campervan
- Camper
For flexibility, freedom and value for money it is really hard to beat Motorhome,
RV, Campervan or Motorcaravan hire or rental. Our friendly and experienced team
are here to assist and provide valuable free advice, plus the most competitive
quotes. We offer the widest selection and we have a best value and best price
guarantee.
See details: Austria
Motorhome Hire
You can also travel by boat. As the largest global canal boat wholesaler,
we offer you a choice of 3 self skipper companies: Connoisseur, Emerald Star,
and Locaboat and 1 Canal Barge Company: European Waterways. Self drive barging
or cruising is lots of fun. No license is required and boats are available for
2-12 passengers. It really is a terrific bonding time for families or just a
great time for a group of friends. The boats are very comfortable and most boats
have en-suites and comfortable cabins. BBQ's , fishing rods and outdoor deck
furniture complete the picture.
For details, Austria
River Cruising
The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is the oldest and last riding
school in the world where classic dressage is still practised in its purest form.
This Institute was founded in 1572 and named for the Lipizzaner horses, which
are of Spanish origin. The Imperial Court Stud was originally situated near the
village of Lipizza (hence the name of the horses) but since the collapse of the
Danube Monarchy in 1920 have been bred at the Federal Stud in Styria. The horses
perform their tricks in the Winter Riding School, which was commissioned by Emperor
Karl VI. Performances take place between February and June, September and December
but are in high demand and booked up months in advance (details on their website).
The easiest way to see the horses is during their training sessions. Tickets
are only available at the door, and cannot be booked in advance. Situated in
the stables is the Lipizzana Museum, which displays the history of the school.
Address: Michaelerplatz 1; Telephone: (01) 533 9031; Website: www.spanische-reitschule.com; Transport:
U-Bahn to Stephansplatz; tram D, J, 1 or 2 to Burgring; Opening time: Museum:
daily 9am to 6pm; training sessions: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 12pm;
Admission: €5.09 (museum); €11.60 (training sessions); concessions
available. Performances range from €24 to €145
This museum was built between 1872 and 1891 to house the vast
collections then owned by the Hapsburgs who were enthusiastic patrons and collectors
of the arts. With its magnificent renaissance architecture and superbly decorated
ceiling, the museum is a masterpiece in its own right. It is one of the richest
and most important in the world; its collections range from Ancient Egyptian,
Greek and Roman Antiquities to the Collections of Medieval Art and the splendid
Renaissance and Baroque Collections. It houses the works of Rubens, Rembrandt,
Vermeer, Dürer, Raphael, Titian, Bruegel and Van Dyke, to name just a few.
Address: Maria Theresien Platz; Telephone: (01) 525 24-0; Website: www.khm.at;Transport:
U3 to Volkstheater station; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm; Thursday
10am to 9pm; Admission: €10 (adults); concessions available
The magnificant Schönbrunn Palace was used as the summer
residence of the Hapsburgs from the 18th century onwards. Set amongst superb
gardens this vast, symmetrical structure is everything you would imagine an imperial
palace to be. A tour of the palace offers visitors the chance to view the superb
assortment of Baroque and Rococo State Rooms and to admire the famous ceiling
frescoes of the Great Gallery and the Hall of Mirrors where Mozart once played.
The vast gardens are popular with locals and tourists alike, and include a zoo
and a maze. Also within the grounds, the Orangery plays host to classical concerts
during the summer season.
Address: Schönbrunner Schloss Strasse 13; Telephone: (222) 8111 3239; Website: www.schoenbrunn.at; Transport:
U4 to Schönbrunn station, trams 10 or 58, bus 10A; Opening time: Daily 8.30am
to 5pm (April to June, September, October); 8.30am to 6pm (July, August); 8.30am
to 4.30pm (November to March); Admission: €10
One of Vienna’s most recognisable attractions, the Giant
Wheel is located in a large wooded park and playground known as the Prater. It
was built in 1897 by an English engineering firm and is the only one of its era
still standing (the ferris wheels in Chicago, London, Blackpool and Paris have
long since been destroyed). The wheel with its 15 gondolas takes twenty minutes
to manoeuvre around and offers magnificent panoramic views of the city.
Address: Prater 90; Telephone: (01) 729 5430; Website: www.wienerriesenrad.com; Opening
time: Daily 9am to midnight (May to September); daily 10am to 10pm (March, April
and October); daily 10am to 8pm (November to February); Admission: €7.50
(adults), concessions available
Belvedere
The Belvedere consists of two splendid rococo
mansions, designed in the early 18th century, which face each
other across formal, sloping grounds which offers excellent
views over the city. From the outside it is Vienna’s
finest palace complex, built by Prince Eugène of Savoy
(1680-1735), the famous general who saved Vienna from the advance
of the Ottoman Empire. The museums in the two palaces house
some of Vienna's most renowned art galleries, offering excellent
examples of Austrian art from the middle ages to present day.
Their displays include an unrivalled collection of paintings
by Klimt as well as famous works by Schiele and Kokoschka,
Renoir and Monet. The Medieval and Baroque works are presented
in the Lower Palace where many rooms have been preserved in
their original state.
Address: 27 Prinz Eugen Street; Telephone: 79 557-0; Website: www.belvedere.at; Transport:
Tram D to Schloss Belvedere or Trams 18 or 0 to Südbahnhof; bus 13A or
69A to Südbahnhof; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm; Admission: €7.50;
includes entry into both parts of the Belvedere
The Vienna State Opera performs a repertoire
of near-one hundred operas, operettas and ballets every day
from September to June. The opera house was founded in the
early 18th century (it was rebuilt in 1955 after being all
but destroyed in 1945) and makes for a romantic and regal setting
in which to enjoy the performances. As seating tickets are
not easily available, an alternative is to buy standing-room
tickets, which are well priced and can be purchased on the
same day (but expect long queues). The State Opera collaborates
closely with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and their famous
New Year concert requires advance bookings of up to one year.
The waiting list for the subscription concerts is 13 years!
Address: Hanuschgasse 3; Telephone: (01) 5144 42250; Website: www.wiener-staatsoper.at
SALZBURG
The 11th-century Hohensalzburg Castle stands
on a rocky outcrop approximately 394ft (120m) above the city.
Although originally built by Archbishop Gebhard to repel
attacks from the neighbouring Bavarians, the present-day
fortress was largely rebuilt in the early 16th century by
Archbishop Leonhard Von Keutschach who added the grand state
apartments. Visitors can walk around the courtyard and outskirts
of the fortress at no cost unless they take the guided tour
around the state apartments. The tour finishes at two small
museums (this is optional) that display a selection of weapons,
uniforms and armour together with instruments of torture
- such as the Schandmasken - which petty criminals had to
don as punishment for their crimes.
Address: Mönchsberg 34; Telephone: 842 43011; Website: www.salzburg-burgen.at; Transport:
It is possible to walk, or there is a funicular; Opening time: Daily 9am to
5pm; Admission: €3.60 (adults)
If you only have time to visit one of Salzburg's
many churches, make sure its the 9th-century St Peter's Abbey
(Peterskirche), one of Salzburg's most impressive Rococo buildings.
The Peterskirche was built at the beginning of the 18th century
on the foundations of the former church which was founded in
792. The ornate interior is more impressive than the exterior
with high marble pillars and a magnificent frescoed ceiling.
The ancient catacombs that were carved into the rock face by
the early Christian inhabitants are accessible only through a
short guided tour.
Telephone: 84 45 76-0; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 10.30am to 5pm (May
to September); Wednesday and Thursday 10.30am to 3.30pm, Friday to Sunday 10.30am
to 4pm (October to April); Admission: €1
THE ALPS
St Anton is a top destination for British skiers
and snowboarders, attracted by both the first-class skiing and the
beer-fuelled après ski sessions. Along with its neighbours,
Lech and Zürs (only a short bus ride away), St Anton offers
extensive skiing for intermediate and advanced skiers but is possibly
not the best choice for beginners or non-skiers as lower slopes can
get crowded and there are not many off-slope facilities. The resort,
which sprawls along the bottom of a narrow valley, is a Mecca for
ski-bums attracted by the excellent off-piste runs - the best Austria
has to offer. St Anton's south-facing slopes can get slushy by the
end of the day, particularly in spring, and partly for this reason
the collection of bars on the slopes above town get packed by around
3pm. The most famous is the Krazy Kanguruh, which has live bands
and is filled by Austrian and English revellers dancing in ski boots
till the bar closes, when the short run home in the dark becomes
a challenge to some.
Among Austrian resorts Kitzbuhel is the most commercial, glamorous and expensive.
The beautiful alpine town, which dates back to the 9th century, has remained
fairly unspoilt. In the winter you will hear the jingle of bells as a horse-drawn
sleigh is pulled through its cobbled, traffic-free town centre. There is
an extensive and varied skiing area offering excellent skiing and snowboarding
both on and off-piste, but be prepared for a lack of snow in places. Due
to the low altitude the lower slopes are rarely open. If the skiing in
Kitzbuhel doesn't tire you out the nightlife certainly will. The atmosphere
is bright, boisterous and fun and doesn't stop till the not-quite-so-early
hours. This is also Austria's winter entertainment capital and attracts
performers from all over the continent throughout the season.
Saalbach and its close neighbour, Hinterglemm, have united in the picturesque
Glemmtal Valley to form one of Europe's liveliest ski resorts, which is
particularly popular with Dutch, German and Scandinavian visitors. The
valley sides offer numerous ski slopes, but its low altitude means that
snow conditions can deteriorate quickly. Nevertheless the resort has excellent
snowmaking equipment, which ensures good coverage in the sunshine. There
are more than 125 miles (200km) of ski trails linked by lifts, mainly suited
to intermediate level skiers. There is, however, a two-mile long (3km)
expert mogul descent on the north facing Zwolferkogel, and more than 60
miles (97km) of off-piste terrain. The pretty Tyrolean style villages are
fairly new, but the ambience is traditional with chalets and sleigh bells
adding to the charm.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
1st Jan - New Years Day
6th Jan - Epiphany
March/April - Easter Monday
1st May - Labour Day
Ascension Day
Whit Monday
Corpus Christi
15th August - Assumption
26th Ocotber - Austrian National Holiday
1st November - All Saints Day
8th November - Immaculate Conception
25th December - Christmas Day
26th December - St. Stephen's Day / Boxing Day
CONTACTS:
Lastly and I hope you don't need it, but should
you require consular help - here are the details
Austrian National Tourist Office, Vienna: +43 (0)1 588
660 or www.austria.info
Embassy of Austria, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 895 6700
Austrian Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7235 3731
Austrian Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 789 1444
Embassy of Austria, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6295 1533
Consulate General of Austria, Cape Town, South Africa: +27 (0)21 421 1441
Austrian Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 269 4577
Consulate of Austria, Auckland, New Zealand: +64 (0)9 489 8249
US Embassy, Vienna: +43 (0)1 313 390
British Embassy, Vienna: +43 (0)1 716 130
Canadian Embassy, Vienna: +43 (0)1 531 38 3000
Australian Embassy, Vienna: +43 (0)1 512 8580
South African Embassy, Vienna: +43 (0)1 320 6493
Embassy of Ireland, Vienna: +43 (0)1 715 4246
New Zealand Consulate-General, Vienna: +43 (0)1 318 8505
Emergencies: 112
Ministro Pistarini International Airport
(VIE)
Location:
The airport is located 11 miles (18km) southeast of Vienna.
Time: GMT +1 (GMT +2 between April to October). Contacts:
Tel: +43 (0)1 7007 0 or (0)1 7007 22233 (24 hour telephone
information service). Transfer to the city: Local trains
(€3) and buses (€6) leave regularly for Vienna.
There is also a City Airport Train (€9), which provides
a fast and direct service to the centrally-located City Air
Terminal that is connected to the underground, bus and tram
networks. Taxis are also available. Car rental: Car hire
companies include Avis, Hertz, Budget, Sixt and Thrifty.
Facilities: There are several shops, duty-free, restaurants
and bars in both terminals. Bureaux de change and ATMs are
available all hours. Other facilities include airline lounges,
business centre, Internet cafes and a medical centre. Parking:
The parking lots and multistorey car parks are connected
to the terminal by signposted footpaths. Departure tax: None.
Website: www.viennaairport.com
