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Travel Information on Austria
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Austria (AT)
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| Continent: |
Europe |
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| Area: |
83.871 km² |
| Population: |
8.260.000 |
| Capital city: |
Wien |
ISO code: |
AT |
| National language: |
German |
International dialling code: |
+43 |
| Currency: |
Euro |
License plate number: |
A |
| Flight routes from Austria: |
5632 |
Flight routes to Austria: |
3214 |
| Popular airports: |
Graz (GRZ),
Linz (LNZ),
Salzburg (SZG),
Innsbruck (INN),
Vienna (VIE),
Klagenfurt (KLU)
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| Large cities: |
Wien,
Graz,
Linz,
Salzburg,
Innsbruck,
Klagenfurt,
Villach,
Wels,
Sankt Pölten,
Dornbirn,
Steyr,
Wiener Neustadt,
Feldkirch,
Bregenz,
Wolfsberg
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| Airlines based in Austria: |
Austrian Airlines,
Niki,
InterSky,
Welcome Air,
Robin Hood Aviation,
Lauda Air,
Tyrolean Airways
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Travelguide Austria (Europe)
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Austria is in Central Europe, bordering on 8 countries including Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, Germany and the Czech Republic. The country consists of 9 states: Bürgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna.
Geography: the Austrian countryside is dominated by the Alps, taking up approximately 70% of the total area of the country. The remaining area in the east and along the Danube consists of very fertile plains; the food grown here is enough to meet the needs of the local population. The highest mountain in Austria, the Grossglockner has an altitude of 3 797 meters (12 457 ft) and is in the Hohe Tauern. The longest river, the Danube, flows through the country for more than 350 kilometers (217 miles). Austria’s largest lake, the Neusiedler, covers an area of 315 square kilometres between the Burgenland and Hungary.
Climate and best time to visit: because of its varied landscapes, Austria has many different climatic influences. To the west the climate is more temperate characterized by mild winters and warm summers with heavy rainfall. The plains tend to have a continental climate with large differences in temperature between the colder winters and warmer summers. In the Alps there is an alpine climate with very cold winters and a lot of snow. The rest of the country has a mid European climate. Austria is a year-round travel destination: those interested in winter sports are advised to visit in the time from December to April, whereas those wanting to walk in the hills or explore the beautiful cities are recommended to go between May and September.
National and official language: the official language in Austria is German.
Health and vaccinations: there are no particular vaccination requirements for Austria.
Entry requirements: passports are needed.
Capital: Vienna is in the east of the country; the Danube flows through the city. The city is home to approximately 1.7 million inhabitants of the 8 million in total living in the whole of the country. Already capital of the Holy Roman Empire, Vienna has a rich history, and many different architectural styles. The city also has much to offer on a cultural level, especially music and the arts.
The most famous building in the city is undoubtedly the Imperial Palace. For more than 600 years the palace was the residence of the powerful in Austria and has been developed further over the years enriched with many different style elements. Today, the castle is still the residence of the President. Only about 20 rooms are open to the public including the emperor’s apartments and the living quarters of Emperor Franz Joseph and the Empress Elizabeth, known as "Sisi". The Sisi Museum is also dedicated to her. The remaining rooms, more than 2 600, contain the Treasury and the Crown Jewels. Smaller residences for the local nobility were built around the castle all in the Baroque style, resulting in a magnificent ensemble. The castle is one of the most visited sites in Austria. In order to enjoy the full beauty of the castle visitors may watch the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra, which concentrates on the works of the famous Austrian composer Johann Strauss as well as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Approximately 2.5 million visitors each year visit Vienna’s second castle, Schloss Schoenbrunn, the summer residence of the emperor. In 1996, this rococo-style palace was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The castle is located in a beautiful French garden, designed by a disciple of Le Nôtre and as was customary at the time, includes many more buildings such as an orangery and false Roman ruins.
Vienna has a wonderful historical and architectural heritage, but the city also enjoys an international reputation as city of culture. The city has many cultural institutions, such as the Burgtheatre, the State Opera, the Musikklub or the Konzerthaus for classical music, or the Theater an der Wien, the National Theatre and numerous others for the theatre. A number of smaller stages also offer good quality culture and entertainment. Vienna also hosts a large number of museums, documenting all areas. Among the most famous is the Kunsthistorisches Museum, devoted to the old masters, or the Museum Quarter, which like the Museum Island in Berlin is home to 5 museums.
After a full day of cultural exploration, the city also has a lively nightlife with large numbers of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Attractions: Salzburg, the capital of the federal state of the same name is perhaps Austria’s main attraction besides Vienna. The city has about 150 000 residents and is located on the river Salzach. In 1996 the city was declared a World Heritage Site, but it owes its international reputation to its most famous inhabitant, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As its name suggests, the city first prospered and was allowed to flourish due to salt. Many of the many magnificent buildings date back to this golden age, including churches, such as Sebastian church, where Mozart’s family is buried or Salzburg Cathedral, built in the 16th Century.
The Hohensalzburg Fortress from the 12th Century is located above the city, and is the oldest well-preserved castle in Central Europe. The fortress can be reached on foot or by rail.
The charm of Salzburg lies not only in its magnificent architecture, but also in its narrow streets, reminding visitors of times gone by. The most famous street of the city is, of course, the Getreidestrasse (cereal road), and the most famous building, number 9 where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on 27.01.1756. Today his birth house is a museum dedicated to the music of this wonder child. Traces of Mozart are of course to be found all around the city, whether in the form of delicacies such as the Mozartkugel, or the Mozarteum, the Academy of Music, or most importantly, his music, which may be heard the whole year round played by many orchestras at different festivals. The most famous festival, the Salzburg Festival, is held here every year between late July and early August.
Tourism is one of the main economic sectors in Austria. The land is not only a tourist magnet because of its interesting cities, but also for its beautiful scenery, especially the breathtaking mountain landscape that may be enjoyed both in winter and summer. The charm of nature is combined with a very good infrastructure. In particular the province of Tyrol attracts many visitors, who want to enjoy the skiing area and the attractive capital of the country, Innsbruck.
Religion: about 74% of the population profess to be followers of the Roman Catholic Church. 5% are members of the Protestant churches. 4% are Muslims and 12% declare themselves to be atheists.
Large cities and accommodation: Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Linz and Innsbruck.
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Favorite flights and cheap flights from and to Austria / AT
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Flight Vienna New York ( VIE JFK) 21 Flights per week with Austrian Airlines, United Airlines, Tarom
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Flight Vienna Stockholm ( VIE ARN) 62 Flights per week with Austrian Airlines, Croatia Airlines, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Egyptair
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Flight Vienna Athens ( VIE ATH) 20 Flights per week with Austrian Airlines, Sky Europe Airlines, Olympic Airlines
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Flight Vienna Addis Ababa ( VIE ADD)
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Flight Vienna Bangkok ( VIE BKK) 17 Flights per week with Austrian Airlines, EVA Airways, Thai Airways
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Flight Vienna Fort Lauderdale ( VIE FLL)
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Flight Vienna Brussels ( VIE BRU) 88 Flights per week with TAP Air, Austrian Airlines, bmi british midland, Brussels Airlines
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Flight Vienna Paris ( VIE CDG) 122 Flights per week with Austrian Airlines, Niki, Air France, Delta Air Lines
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Flight Vienna Dubrovnik ( VIE DBV) 18 Flights per week with Austrian Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Sky Europe Airlines
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Flight Vienna Dusseldorf ( VIE DUS) 63 Flights per week with Deutsche Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, airberlin
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