Austria
Official Language: German
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Weather
The climate is moderate. Winter brings snow to most parts of the
country from December through March (longer in the higher elevations).
Summers are comfortable, averaging a daytime temperature of 71°
F (21° C) in Vienna, for instance, and bringing occasional thunderstorms.
Annual precipitation is distributed evenly.<
Taxes
A value-added tax (VAT) of 20 percent is included in the list price
of goods and services. It can be claimed back either when you leave
or when you get back home, so it is worth asking the shop to give
you the relevant refund papers.
Exchange Information
Travelers' cheques are widely accepted and can be changed for a
small commission at banks, post offices and exchange bureaux. Rates
and fees tend to be higher in smaller banks and exchange offices
so it is worth shopping around for the best deal.
Exchange Restrictions
There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign or local currency
brought in or taken out of the country.
Credit Card Information
Most major credit cards are widely accepted.
Business Hours
Most stores are open Monday–Friday, from 8 or 9 AM to 6 PM
or 7:30 PM, but some may close for a 1- or 2-hour lunch break during
the day. On Saturdays, hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM. In resort areas
stores are generally open on weekends.
Holidays
Business holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Epiphany
(6 January), Easter Monday (March or April; date varies), Labor
Day (1 May), Ascension Day (May; date varies), Whit Monday (May;
date varies), Corpus Christi (June; date varies), Assumption (15
August), Flag Day (26 October), All Saints' Day (1 November), Immaculate
Conception (8 December), Christmas Day (25 December), and St. Stephen's
Day (26 December).
Electricity
The electrical current in Austria is 220V at 50Hz AC. Wall sockets
take the Continental, two-pin plugs.
International calls to Austria
The international country code for Austria is 43. Calls to Vienna
are prefixed by 1 from outside the country and by 01 from within
Austria.
Local Cuisine
There are many delicious traditional Austrian dishes, including
Wiener Schnitzel, Gulasch, Kaiserschmarrn and Palatschinken, although
Viennese cuisine tends to have southeast European influences. Austria
is famous for ist coffee houses and the delicious cakes and pastries
they serve.
Time Zone
Austria operates on Greenwich mean time (GMT) plus 1 hour (GMT
+2 during daylight saving time). This is +6 hours from Eastern Standard
Time or + 9 hours from Pacific Standard Time. Austria is in the
same time zone as Paris, Berlin, and Rome.
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