Practical Info A–Z

Austria has an excellent healthcare system. Medical care is comprehensive — even in alpine regions, there are doctors, hospitals, and rescue helicopters.

For EU/EFTA Citizens

With the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are entitled to medical care under the same conditions as Austrians. Visits to contract doctors are covered — you pay nothing or only small co-payments. For private doctors, you pay yourself and get a partial refund from your home insurance.

For Swiss

Swiss use the back of the Swiss insurance card (which has the EHIC function). Same rights as EU citizens.

Emergency Call & Rescue

• 144 — Ambulance/Emergency doctor
• 141 — Doctors' on-call service (outside office hours)
• 140 — Mountain rescue (vital in the Alps!)
• 142 — Telephone counseling

Pharmacies

Pharmacies have regular opening hours (Mon–Fri 8–18, Sat 8–12). Outside these hours, there is the night and weekend service: A notice at each pharmacy shows which pharmacy is on duty, or online at apo24.at. Many medications that are over-the-counter in Germany are prescription-only in Austria — check in advance if unsure.

Austria has used the Euro (€) since 2002. Travelers from Germany and other Euro countries avoid exchange fees. Swiss must exchange francs for euros — cheapest at exchange offices in border towns or by credit card.

Cash

Austrians love cash — significantly more than Germans. In many traditional inns, mountain huts, farmers' markets, and small shops, cash is the only accepted payment. Even in Vienna, there are places that do not accept cards. Rule: Always have at least 100 € in cash.

ATMs

ATMs (Bankomaten) are widespread — in cities on every corner, in villages usually at the bank or Raiffeisenkasse. For EU citizens with a Euro account: no fees for withdrawals (SEPA). Swiss and non-EU citizens pay 2–5 € per withdrawal, depending on the bank.

Card Payment

Bankomatkarte (debit card/EC card) is the most widely accepted. Visa and Mastercard work in hotels, larger restaurants, and shops. American Express is less commonly accepted. Contactless payment (NFC) is now standard.

Bank Branches

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 8:00–12:30 and 13:30–15:00, Thursdays until 17:30. Closed on weekends.

Austria offers a mix of international chains, traditional specialty stores, and local specialties.

Supermarkets

• Billa / Billa Plus (formerly Merkur) — Austria's largest supermarket, found everywhere
• Spar / Eurospar / Interspar — second largest chain, often a good selection of regional products
• Hofer — the Austrian Aldi (same group), cheap and popular
• Lidl — as in Germany, widespread in Austria
• Unimarkt — regional chain in Upper Austria

Typical Souvenirs

• Mozartkugeln — the original Salzburg ones (Fürst, handmade) vs. the industrial ones (Mirabell, Reber). The real ones are recognized by the silver-blue packaging
• Manner Schnitten — the pink wafer from Vienna, an institution since 1890
• Styrian pumpkin seed oil — only genuine with the g.g.A. seal (protected geographical indication)
• Schnapps — apricot brandy from the Wachau, pine schnapps from Tyrol, Williams from Vorarlberg
• Traditional costume — dirndl and lederhosen from specialty stores (Loden Plankl, Tostmann) are quality products for generations
• Augarten Porcelain — Vienna porcelain manufactory since 1718

VAT Refund (Tax Free)

Travelers residing outside the EU can get a VAT refund (20%) for purchases over 75.01 € per store. Ask for the Tax-Free form in the store, have it stamped by customs at the airport, refund at the Tax-Free counter or by mail.

On public holidays, shops, banks, and authorities are closed. Supermarkets in train stations and tourist areas often have special permits. Restaurants usually remain open.

Important: In Austria, they say "Jänner" instead of January and "Feber" instead of February. New Year's Eve is often simply called "Altjahrstag". On New Year's Eve, the famous New Year's Eve Trail takes place in Vienna — a party mile in the city center with music, waltz, and fireworks.

Austria has good mobile network coverage and fast internet — even in most Alpine valleys. However, there may be dead zones in very remote mountain huts and valleys.

For EU Citizens

Thanks to the EU roaming regulation, you can use your German mobile contract in Austria without extra charges — calls, SMS, mobile internet at the same conditions as at home. This also applies to Swiss tariffs with an EU roaming option (check beforehand!).

Austrian SIM Cards

If you need a local SIM (long-term stay, non-EU citizens):

• A1 — largest network, best coverage even in the mountains
• Magenta (formerly T-Mobile) — good coverage, competitive prices
• Drei (3) — good network, cheap data packages
• HoT (Hofer Telekom) — prepaid, very cheap, uses the Drei network

Prepaid SIM cards are available at Hofer, in supermarkets, and in mobile phone shops. Registration with ID required since 2019. Prices: from around 10 € for 10 GB data volume.

WLAN

Hotels, cafes, and restaurants almost everywhere offer free WLAN. In Vienna, there is free city WLAN (Freenaut) at many public places. On mountain huts, WLAN is the exception — and if available, usually slow and expensive.

Austria's climate is moderate Central European with significant regional differences — the Pannonian lowlands in the east have different temperatures than the high Alps in the west.

Seasons

• Spring (April–May) — mild, changeable, cherry blossom in the Wachau. Perfect for city trips and hikes in lower elevations. Vienna: 10–20 °C
• Summer (June–August) — warm to hot in the east (Vienna often over 35 °C), pleasant in the mountains (20–25 °C in the valleys). Best time for hiking and lakes. Afternoon thunderstorms in the mountains
• Autumn (September–October) — golden autumn, grape harvest, cattle drive. Often stable high-pressure conditions. The most beautiful season for the Wachau and South Styria
• Winter (November–March) — cold, snow from 500–800 m. Vienna: -5 to +5 °C, mountains: significantly colder. Ski season December to April. Christmas markets from the end of November

Regional Differences

• Vienna & East — Pannonian influenced, hot summers, cold winters, relatively dry
• Alpine Region — cooler, more precipitation, snow from October/November. Föhn (warm downslope wind) can suddenly bring 20 °C in January in the Inn Valley
• Carinthia & South Styria — Mediterranean influenced, mildest winters, warmest lakes
• Vorarlberg — Atlantic influenced, wetter than the rest

Austria is a largely tolerant travel destination for LGBTQ+ travelers. Equality has significantly improved in recent years.

Legal Situation

• Marriage for all — since January 2019, following a Constitutional Court ruling
• Adoption rights — same-sex couples can adopt together
• Anti-discrimination protection — in labor law, goods, and services
• Third gender — recognized in the civil status register since 2018

Vienna — LGBTQ+ Capital of Central Europe

Vienna has a vibrant queer scene: The Rosa-Lila-Viertel around the Naschmarkt (6th district) and the Wienzeile is the center. The Rainbow Parade (Vienna Pride, in June) attracts over half a million people — one of the largest in Europe. Bars and clubs: Why Not (Tiefer Graben, bar), Café Savoy (Linke Wienzeile, elegant coffee house), Felixx (Gumpendorfer Straße, bar).

Rural Areas

Outside the big cities, society is more conservative. Open hostility is rare, but same-sex couples should expect more reserved reactions in very rural and traditional areas (Tyrol, Salzburg Land, Upper Austria). Violence against LGBTQ+ people is extremely rare in Austria.

The most important emergency numbers in Austria:

Embassies & Consulates

German Embassy Vienna: Metternichgasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Tel. +43 1 711 54-0

Swiss Embassy Vienna: Prinz Eugen-Straße 9a, 1030 Vienna, Tel. +43 1 795 05

Passport Loss

In case of passport loss, immediately report it to the police and then go to the embassy/consulate for an emergency travel document. In advance: Digitally store copies of all important documents (cloud or email to yourself).

Breakdown Assistance

ÖAMTC (Austria's ADAC): Tel. 120. ARBÖ: Tel. 123. Both also assist non-members (for a fee). ADAC members are assisted by ÖAMTC free of charge.

Austria has stricter store closing laws than Germany — Sunday is sacred.

Shops

• Monday–Friday: 9:00–18:30 (shopping centers until 19:00 or 20:00)
• Saturday: 9:00–17:00 or 18:00
• Sunday: closed (exceptions: train stations, airports, tourist areas with special permits)

Supermarkets

• Monday–Friday: 7:00–19:30 (some until 20:00)
• Saturday: 7:00–18:00
• Sunday: closed (Billa at Vienna Central Station and airports open)

Restaurants

Kitchen usually from 11:30–14:00 and 18:00–21:30. Many traditional inns have a rest day (often Monday or Tuesday). Viennese coffee houses are open continuously (usually 7:00–22:00 or longer).

Museums

Usually Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00, often a long day until 21:00 (usually Thursday). Monday is the classic closing day — but not everywhere: Some Viennese museums are closed on Tuesday. Always check before visiting.

Austria is one of the safest travel countries in the world. Violent crime is extremely rare, police presence is adequate, and the general sense of security is high — even at night in the cities.

What to Watch Out For

• Pickpocketing — in Vienna, be careful at tourist hotspots (Stephansplatz, Naschmarkt, Prater, subway) and in crowds. Keep valuables close to your body, backpack in front
• Rip-offs in tourist venues — in Vienna, there are occasional places that charge tourists excessive prices or add unordered items to the bill. Always read the menu, check prices, and review the bill
• Car break-ins — at tourist parking lots (hiking parking lots, attractions) do not leave valuables visible in the car

Mountains & Nature

The greatest safety risks in Austria are not criminal but alpine hazards:

• Weather changes — in the mountains, the weather can change from sunshine to thunderstorms within minutes. Start mountain tours early, check the weather forecast
• Risk of falling — stay on marked paths, wear suitable footwear, realistically assess your abilities
• Avalanches — in winter and spring off secured slopes. Pay attention to avalanche reports
• Thunderstorms — life-threatening on exposed ridges and peaks. Remove metal objects, seek depressions

Austria uses 230 V AC, 50 Hz — identical to Germany and Switzerland.

Sockets: Type C (Europlug) and Type F (Schuko). Travelers from the DACH region do not need an adapter.

Travelers from the UK, USA, or Australia need an adapter (Type C/F). Available cheaply in any electronics store or drugstore in Vienna (around 5 €).

In Austria, tipping is customary and expected — but less formalized than in the USA. When paying, you say the amount to be rounded up.

Usual Amounts

• Restaurant: 5–10% of the bill. Round up to 40 € for a 37 € bill, to 90–95 € for an 85 € bill. When paying, say: "Make it 40" or "Stimmt so"
• Coffee house: Round up to the next full euro or add 50 cents more
• Taxi: Round up to the next euro or 5–10%
• Hotel: Porter 1–2 € per piece of luggage, chambermaid 1–2 € per day
• Hairdresser: 5–10%
• Skiing: Ski instructor at the end of the course 5–10 € per day, not mandatory

How to Tip

In Austria, you give the tip directly to the waiter when paying — not leaving it on the table (considered rude). If paying by card, state the desired amount including the tip before the waiter enters the amount. Or pay by card and give the tip separately in cash.

Anyone who wants to use motorways and expressways in Austria needs a vignette — otherwise, hefty fines (from 120 € substitute toll) are imposed.

Digital Vignette

Since 2018, there is the Digital Vignette, which is purchased online at asfinag.at and linked to the license plate — no sticking required. Note: The digital vignette is only valid 18 days after purchase! So buy it well in advance of your trip.

Prices (as of 2025/2026)

Sticker vignettes are available at gas stations, ÖAMTC/ARBÖ service points, and tobacconists (kiosks) near the border.

Special Toll

Some routes require a special toll in addition to the vignette:

• Brenner Motorway (A13) — approx. 11.50 € one way (Innsbruck–Brenner)
• Tauern Motorway (A10) — approx. 13 € one way (Salzburg–Villach)
• Arlberg Expressway (S16) — approx. 11 € one way
• Karawanken Tunnel (A11) — approx. 7.90 € one way (Villach–Slovenia)
• Grossglockner High Alpine Road — approx. 40 € per car (May–October)

Within the EU, there are no customs checks — you can freely import and export goods for personal use. Guidelines (no upper limits, but exceeding them may question personal use): 800 cigarettes, 10 liters of spirits, 110 liters of beer.

Entry from Switzerland

Switzerland is not an EU member — customs allowances apply:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco
• 1 liter of spirits (over 22% vol.) or 2 liters under 22%
• 4 liters of wine and 16 liters of beer
• Goods worth up to 300 € (430 € for air travel)

Prohibitions & Restrictions

• Weapons, drugs — prohibited
• Cash over 10,000 € — must be declared when entering/exiting the EU
• Animal-derived food products from non-EU countries — heavily restricted
• Protected animal and plant species — observe the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (applies to certain wood products, ivory, exotic leather)