Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

(Ben Green) #1

406 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE


Practical & Travel Information


Vienna is well equipped for both winter and summer
tourism. The public transport system is clean, efficient
and easy to use and banking and currency exchange
facilities are widely available in the city. The official
language is German but English is widely spoken
throughout the city.


VISITOR
INFORMATION

Jugendinformation
Wien
http://www.infoup.at
Österreich
Werbung
http://www.austriatourism.com
Wiener
Tourismusverband
http://www.wien.info

EMBASSIES

Australia
Tel (01) 506 740. http://www.
australian-embassy.at

Canada
Tel (01) 531 383 000.
http://www.kanada.at
United Kingdom
Tel (01) 716 130.
http://www.britishembassy.at
United States
Tel (01) 313 39.
http://www.usembassy.at
EMERGENCY
NUMBERS

Ambulance
Tel 144.
Fire
Tel 122.

Police
Tel 133.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telekom Austria
http://www.telekom.at

ARRIVING BY AIR

Austrian Airlines
http://www.aua.com
British Airways
http://www.britishairways.com
Delta Airlines
http://www.delta.com
Lauda Air
http://www.laudaair.com

RyanAir
http://www.ryanair.com
Schwechat
International
Airport
http://www.viennaairport.com

RAIL TRAVEL

Rail Enquiry
http://www.oebb.at
ARRIVING BY
COACH

Busterminal Erdberg
Erdbergstrasse 200A.
Eurolines
http://www.eurolines.com

DIRECTORY


VISITOR INFORMATION


Austria has a wide network of
local tourist offices. In Vienna,
the Wiener Tourismusverband
(Vienna Tourist Board) is very
help ful, especially with regard
to forth coming events and
book ing accommodation.
Visitors can also plan their
trip to Vienna by contacting
travel agencies or the repre-
sen ta tives of Österreich
Werbung (the Austrian
National Tourist Office) in
their native country. For
information on cheap accom-
modation, youth hostels
and tickets for concerts,
the multi lingual staff at
Jugendinformation Wien
(Vienna Youth Information
Office) can provide assis tance
and leaflets.


HEALTH AND SECURITY

Hospitals in Vienna are of a
high standard. In case of
medi cal emergencies, visitors
should call an ambulance or
the local doctor on call. For
minor ail ments or injuries, it is
best to go to a pharmacy. All
phar macies are marked with a
dis tinc tive red “A” sign, and
when closed, display the add-
ress of the nearest open one.
Although visitors are unlikely
to encounter any violence in
Vienna, it is always advisable
to be cautious when out
walk ing. The police and emer-
gency services are easy to
contact if the need arises.

DOCUMENTATION


Citizens of the US, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand
need just a passport to visit
Vienna. No visa is required
for visitors who intend to stay
for three months or less. Most
European Union (EU) citizens
require only a valid identity
card to enter the country.


ARRIVING BY AIR

Vienna’s Schwechat
International Airport is 19 km
(12 miles) from the city
centre. There are direct flights
from the United States on

COMMUNICATIONS

The telecommunications
network in Vienna is run by
Telekom Austria. Calls are
among the most expen sive in
Europe. Public phones are
coin- or card-operated and
visitors can buy phone cards
from post offices and news-
agents. The postal ser vice in
the city is very reliable and
post offices are open Monday
to Friday between 8am and
noon and 2 and 6pm.

BANKING AND CURRENCY

The official currency of
Austria is the euro. Banks are
the best place to change
money and are open Monday
to Friday from 8am to 12:30pm
and from 1:30 to 3pm. Some,
generally those at main train
stations and airports, stay
open longer and do not close
for lunch. Major credit cards
are accepted at large stores,
hotels and rest aurants, but
visitors are advised to carry

FACILITIES FOR
THE DISABLED

Public awareness of the
needs of the disabled is
growing in Austria. Wiener
Tourismusverband has a good
online information service
with details of wheelchair
access points at tourist sights,
hotels and public toilets.

some cash as well. However,
travel ler’s cheques are the
safest way to carry large
sums of money and can be
exchanged in most banks
in Vienna. Bankomats or
ATMs are found everywhere
in the city, even railway
stations and airports; most
are closed after midnight.
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