74902GER
https://www.austria.info/en-us
OPENING TIMES
Shops Mon – Fri 09.00 – 18.30. Saturday 09.00 -18.00 . Closed Sundays. Some shops in smaller towns close for up to two hours at midday and at lunchtime on Saturdays. Austria has few department stores and you can still find lots of family businesses, even in Vienna.
Banks Mon – Fri 08.00 – 12.30 / 13.30 – 15.00. Thursdays: open until 17.30. Closed Sat and Sun. ATMs are numerous.
Bureaux de change at train stations and airports normally stay open until 22.00.
Hotels generally give a bad rate of exchange.
Post Offices Hours vary Mon – Fri 08.00 – 12.00 / 14.00 – 18.00.
NB. In Innsbruck (Maximilianstr.), Vienna (Fleischmarkt), Salzburg (Train station) and other big cities, the main post office is open 24 hours 7 days a week.
Museums and Monuments Normally open from 09.00 – 17.00 (Sundays 09.00 – 17.00). Some monuments close for one or two hours over lunchtime). Many museums are closed on Mondays, check beforehand. The average entrance fee is around €10.00 for adults and around €8.00 for students. Some may open through the evening once or twice a week.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1st January, 6th January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1st May, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Corpus Christi, 15th August, 26th October (National Holiday),
1st November, 8th, 25th & 26th December.
US EMBASSY
Boltzmanngasse 16, 1090 Wien, Austria.
Tel. (01) 31339-7535 (Open 08.00-11.30)
Open for ‘Emergency services’ until 17.00.
TELEPHONES Emergency: Police 133, Fire 122, Ambulance 144.
Public phones – coin operated phones are not very useful for international calls. Phonecards are available from Tabaks and post offices. Post offices have a good phone service (pay after the call).
STAMPS
On sale in post offices and Tabak (kiosks). Postcards to U.S.: €1.90
TIPPING
Taxis – 10%
In cafés and restaurants tips are generally included but small gratuities are expected you round up to the nearest convenient number – aim for around 5%.
Toilets – many public WCs now ask for €0,50 minimum per person to visit including on the Autobahn (they were previously free).
ADDITIONAL FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS
Every big town has at least one Tourist Information Office where you can pick up enough maps and brochures for your group (for example the Tourist Office in Mozartplatz in Salzburg).
In Vienna you can normally get the monthly programme with a city map from your hotel.
You can make the effort to go to the Austrian National Tourist Board (in London: 9-11 Richmond Buildings – off Dean Street) before starting your trip, they have a big selection of brochures, maps etc. but you can call them on 0207 440 3830 and they will send you what you request. Be warned that most events are heavily booked in advance. (See city by city Facts and Free Time). Alternatively, you can log on to the web site (www.austria.info)
GENERAL TIPS
A few Austrian city guides can be dictatorial and lazy. Be sure that you see everything that you are supposed to see.
At lunchtime, restaurants offer service between 12.00 and 14.00, but you can always get snacks in cafés or sausages and drinks from snack stands and markets at any time