Among European capitals, the most popular are Paris, London, Amsterdam, Rome… And tours to Austria, although they can fight for the title of the best European holiday without much effort, are modestly waiting for real connoisseurs, for whom not so much advertising is important as true beauty. According to itypejob.com, Vienna is the capital of Austria.
Have you ever seen a house with trees growing out of its windows? What about a factory with colorful turrets? You can see these amazing buildings of one of the most creative architects in Vienna. Are you partial to royal luxury? Then why not go to Schönsbrunn – the summer residence of the Austrian emperors. Baroque buildings, a chic park with fountains and alleys, and an ordinary winter garden, which from a distance is not difficult to confuse with a real palace.
The hallmark of Vienna, and perhaps the whole of Austria, is St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This Gothic temple can be viewed for hours, finding more and more interesting decor elements.
The expression “tales of the Vienna Woods” has been heard by many. However, hardly many people know that this forest is located on high hills, at the bottom of which the Danube is visible through the haze of frequent fogs. Walking through the Vienna Woods is especially pleasant in autumn. The aroma of rotten leaves, the air saturated with the withering of nature, the ancient monasteries and churches visible through the gaps of the trees – these are truly unforgettable impressions.
How do you feel about ski holidays? Tours to Austria are also an amazing opportunity to breathe in the purest alpine air, feel the adrenaline rush during a dashing descent from a steep slope, enjoy the majesty of the mountains and feel the temporality of being against the backdrop of endless eternity.
Tours to Austria are not 4 – 5 attractions advertised by travel agencies. These are impressions that change every minute and make you forget about everything in the world, enthusiastically listening to true beauty.
ABOUT COUNTRY – AUSTRIA
Capital, major cities:
Vienna.
Austria consists of 9 federal states: Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Carinthia, Salzburg, Styria, Upper Austria, Lower Austria, Burgenland, the city of Vienna.
Alpine skiing
Austria skiing is a wide choice of resorts, very correct preparation of slopes, good skiing “off-piste” and attentive attitude towards tourists. In addition, the presence of glaciers (which means guaranteed skiing in any weather), good hotels with good service and, unlike many other “ski countries”, very rich apres ski. True, tourists have to pay for all these joys, and a lot: Austria is by no means a cheap destination.
The “excursion” to the country is mainly attended by tourists with an income slightly above average: the intelligentsia, people who are interested in history. Ski resorts are visited by wealthier travelers: “pros” (training), families with children (children have something to do here) and some young people.
Main resorts
Land Tyrol: Innsbruck and its environs (Igls, Axamer Lizum, Fulpmes, Neustift), Seefeld, Kitzbühel, Kirchberg, Otztal Valley (Selden, Obergurgl, Hochgurgl), Ischgl, Kappl, Zillertal Valley (Mayrhofen, Zell am Ziller, Fugen), Alberg (St. Anton, Lech).
Land of Salzburg: European Sports Region (Zell am See, Kaprun), Gasteiner Tal (Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein), Saalbach, Hinterglemm.
Land of Carinthia: Bad Kleinkirchheim. Land of Styria: Schladming.
Road
Regular daily flights Moscow – Vienna are carried out by Aeroflot and Austrian Airlines (about three hours). There are charters Moscow – Salzburg (~ 3 hours) and Moscow – Innsbruck (~ 4 hours). Ski resorts, in addition, can be reached by a regular flight Moscow – Munich (a little more than three hours), and during the New Year holidays, additional charters usually rise to Salzburg and Innsbruck.
What to ride
It is possible to travel comfortably, quickly and inexpensively across the country by trains: railway transport is developed here “perfectly”.
Taxis can be called by phone from a hotel or restaurant or found at special parking lots at railway stations, in the center of large cities, at the airport. You can’t catch a taxi right on the street – you can “vote” even until you are blue in the face, no one will stop. The cost of travel around the city is indicated on the counter, landing is additionally paid (~ 2.5 EUR), tips are welcome, but not required. A trip from Vienna airport to the city center will cost about 30-35 EUR, from Salzburg airport to the city center – about 10 EUR.
When traveling in a taxi over a long distance, it is better to negotiate the cost with the driver in advance.
Car rental
To rent a car, you need to have a valid credit card of any bank (for renting Mercedes class E or C cars, you need two “credit cards”), an international driver’s license (plastic), issued at least a year ago. The driver must be at least 21 years old, and for some cars – 23 years old.
Weather Forecast
Moderate, transitional to continental, highly dependent on altitude. The winter is mild, with frequent snowfalls, the coldest winter month is January, the temperature in the valleys drops to -2°C, in the mountainous areas – to -14°C. There are two tourist seasons: summer (July-August) and winter (Christmas). The best time to visit Vienna is early autumn and late spring. The ski season in most resorts lasts until mid-April.
The sea and the sun
There are no beaches in the usual sense on the lakes. Most often, these are soft grassy lawns with an entrance to the water along wooden piers.
Where to stay
Under the “excursion” is usually assigned to typical city hotels. In general, they are at the same level as the European average, but even in the “five-star” hotels in Vienna, there are sometimes surprises: small rooms, a discrepancy between the view from the window of the hotel’s prestige. Hotels of the same category can differ significantly in level. Therefore, operators usually sell a limited number of proven options – in order to avoid unnecessary incidents.
The ski resorts offer a variety of hotels for every taste and any category, there are also a few chalets. Boarding houses are common – two-three-story houses with 6-10 rooms (the most economical option), “fours” of a good level, but not all with swimming pools. Meals are almost always breakfast. Food in hotels in ski resorts is much better than in city hotels of the same category.
Apartments in Austria are rare, but their level is very good (which is reflected in the price). There are no so-called “dormitories” in Austria, as, for example, in France.
There are many hotels in the mountains that support families: dad at the “reception”, mom in the kitchen, son at the bar, etc. This gives the hotels a homely feel and a special atmosphere.
Money
Austrian banks are open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 15:00, on Thursdays from 08:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:30. Exchange offices at railway stations are open until 22:00. In large hotels and in almost all stores, almost all major credit cards are accepted – VISA, American Express, Master Card.
What to buy
Stores are usually open from 8:00 to 18:30, and some of them may be closed for 1-2 hours during the lunch break. On Saturdays, shops are usually open until lunch, on Sundays and during national holidays they are closed. In resorts and tourist centers, shops can work until 21:00, and station establishments – until 23:00. Tobacco products are sold only in special licensed kiosks or vending machines.
For purchases over 75 EUR, VAT can be refunded (about 13%). The tax refund is made at the airport with a receipt. VAT refunds are made either in cash directly at customs, or in the form of a check or bank transfer.
How to eat well
Austrian “culinary attractions”: meat on the bone – the number 1 dish in the country, gluwein – a hot drink made from red wine and water (in a ratio of 3 to 1), cinnamon and spices, wheat beer (weizenbeer), apple pie (apfel strudel). And, of course, coffee: “Kuppe” is a strong double espresso, “Ferlengerter” is weaker, “Melange” is with milk and whipped cream, “Einspenner” is a double mocha in a tall glass.
Tips
In many restaurants or hotels, the cost of service is already included in the bill, however, it is customary to tip 5-10% of the order amount.
What to see
The cost of excursions ranges from 30 to 175 EUR. Excursions in Vienna (you can also go to some of them from Salzburg): “Imperial Vienna”, “Evening Lights of Vienna”, “Vienna Palaces and Parks”, “Pedestrian in the Center of Vienna”, “Life and Death of the Imperial Family”, “Musical Vienna”, “Vienna Forest”, “Vienna Klimt”, “Wheel of History”. Also offers trips to Salzburg, Castles and monasteries of the Danube Valley, Baden, Alps, Graz, Rosenburg Castle, Salzkammergut, Bavaria.
VISA – AUSTRIA
The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany issues visas for a short
stay up to 90 days to persons permanently residing in the
Republic of Belarus for the purpose of traveling to Austria.
These visas – in the absence of other designations – are valid for all Schengen states
(from 21.12.2007: Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France,
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland,
Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Malta, Hungary).
The country of main destination must be the state specified in the visa application.
Using a Schengen visa to travel to another country of primary destination
is a serious violation of the visa regime!
All applicants must personally submit at least the following documents:
The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents in justified cases
- two application forms, two identical current photos for documents (sample
photos are posted on the bulletin board of the visa department). Questionnaires must be
signed personally by the applicant (for minors: legal representatives); - a valid passport (the validity of the passport must be at least three months
longer than the end of the planned trip, the passport must have at least one
free page for gluing a visa). - copies of three pages of the passport with personal data;
- a health insurance policy valid for all Schengen states
, or documentary evidence that the relevant
insurance is concluded by the inviting party (the sum insured must be at
least € 30,000; the concluded insurance must also include the costs of
transportation to the home country in case of illness).
Minors must provide a notarized
written consent of a non-traveling parent or guardian/custodian. If
the minor is under 16 years of age, the visa application must be submitted by a guardian / custodian (
usually: parents) the date of the planned departure from the Schengen area for at least three months), as well as in some cases, if necessary, additional documents.
CUSTOMS – AUSTRIA
The export of amounts over 3500 EUR is declared. You can bring souvenirs up to 180 EUR per person (if goods are imported across the border with Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia or the Czech Republic, the limit drops to 70 EUR per person). Up to 2 liters of wine, a liter of spirits, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco, 50 g of perfume, 250 ml of toilet water are imported duty-free. The import and export without special permission of things of historical and artistic value, drugs, weapons, gold bullion, as well as some medicines is prohibited.
