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Blue zones
Blue zones are specially marked short-term parking zones (Kurzparkzone), where parking is allowed for up to three hours for a fee.
Cash
ATMs are widely available. All common international credit cards are accepted. English instructions are usually available.
Climate
Austria generally has a temperate continental climate. The average temperature in Vienna is about 30° F (-1 C) in the winter and 70° F (21 C) in the summer. Thunderstorms are common during the summer months. The weather in Austria varies widely according to location and elevation, however.
Salzburg has Alpine influences because of its proximity to the mountains. Summers are warm and pleasant, although rainy days are common. Winters are cold, temperatures hovering just above or below freezing, with plentiful snow.
Country code
The country code for placing calls to Austria is 43.
Directions
Although brief directions are included in your travel documents, we recommend buying a good road atlas.
Driving in Austria
Front and rear seat belts are obligatory in Austria. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to sit in the front seat. It is illegal to talk on a hand-held mobile phone while operating a motor vehicle in Austria.
Speed limits:
In towns: 50 km/h (30 mph)
On motorways: 130 km/h (80 mph)
On open roads: 100 km/h (62 mph)
In residential areas: 30 km (18 mph)
A sticker on the windscreen is required to drive on Austrian motorways. A ten-day pass costs about €8.00. The stickers, called a “vignette,” are available at all service stations and at the border.
Be careful about drinking and driving: A driver whose blood alcohol level exceeds 0.5 will be considered legally intoxicated.
Signs leading onto Austrian motorways normally indicate the next major city or cities along the way rather than the actual direction of travel. It is therefore important to know what cities lie along the intended route.
Very little free parking is available in downtown areas. Parking along the street often requires feeding a parking meter, which may be located some distance from the car. After you’ve deposted the required fee, the meter will produce a ticket that must be placed in the windscreen.
Be careful about observing no-parking signs, as violations may result in your car being towed away. The two main parking signs are:
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Electricity
Outlets in Austria are 220 volt. Most appliances will require adapters, which can be purchased at airports and locally.
Fuel
The main choices are Bleifrei (unleaded), Super-Bleifrei (super unleaded) and Diesel. The German word for petrol is Benzin. A service station is called a Tankstelle.
Health insurance
Check to make sure your health insurance covers travel abroad. If not, you would be wise to take out travel insurance.
In case of breakdown/accident
An emergency telephone number will be included in the documents you receive from Avis. Emergency phone calls can be made free of charge from any public telephone. Emergency phone numbers are:
- Police: 133
- Medical emergency: 144
- Fire: 122
Stamps
Stamps can be purchased at post offices, Kiosks, and most shops that sell postcards. Post Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Time zone
Austria is located in the Central European Time Zone. European Summer Time is used between the end of March and the end of October, meaning clocks are moved forward an hour during that period.
Tipping
Service is normally included in the restaurant check. Nevertheless, it is common to round up amounts, say from €37.50 to €40, in recognition of good service. Smaller amounts are rounded up to the next euro. The tip is not left on the table.
In hotels a tip of €1 per bag or service is common. Taxi fares should be rounded up to a convenient figure.
Using the telephone
Most public phones require telephone cards, which can be purchased at Kiosks.
Weights and measures
Long distances are measured in kilometres in Germany. A kilometre equals about 2/3 mile.
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Shorter distances are measured in metres. A metre is 3.28 feet (1.09 yards).
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Weights are measured in kilos. One kilo equals 2.20 pounds.
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