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World > Austria > Vienna
City Guide Vienna
Overview
General Information
Thanks to the numerous pompous buildings from the Roman-German and Austrian imperial time, the diversity of activities and the reputation being the musical capital, famous for its classical musicians as Beethoven and Mozart, Vienna became worldwide famous and a popular destination for tourists. Fiaker drive visitors through the city centre whose central place is the Stephansdom (Stephan’ Cathedral). Close by you can find the State Opera House, the Kärtner Straße, the most frequented street of Austria, colourful pastry shops and hotels and last but not least the pompous Ringstraße, which goes around the old city. Since 1980 a very lively and diverse scene has developed in Vienna, hosting galleries, cabarets, pubs and bars, jazz bars and different events. A lot of tourists visit Vienna in December when the city comes up with its Christmas markets, the “Silverpfad” through the old town and the “Kaiserball”. But most of the attractions in Vienna can be visited all year, for example the Castle Schönbrunn, the Hofburg, the Belvedere or the MuseumsQuartier. That’s why about 60% of the visitors come during the summer.
Weather
Vienna's weather can change quickly due to the continental Austrian climate. Winter highs can be as warm as 55°F/13°C and the low can fall below freezing. Summer highs can reach 90°F/32°C and the lows can be around 50°F/10°C. Heavy rain is most prevalent in the months from May-August. The best times to travel are spring, summer, and fall, although the lines tend to be longer for the tourist attractions, especially in the summer. If your main interest is skiing, it would be best to wait until the middle of winter.
Language
German is the official language spoken in Vienna, although there is still a difference between standard German (Hochdeutsch) and Viennese German. It also differs to other Austrian dialects. English is widely understood and spoken in most of the touristy places.
Religion
The highest amount of people belongs to the Roman Catholic Church but there are also other religious communities as Protestants, Jews and Muslims and some free churches and small denominations.
Currency
The currency used in Austria is the Euro. Notes come in denominations of €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5 and the coins in use are €2, €1, € 0.50, € 0.20, € 0.10, € 0.05, € 0.02 and € 0.01.
Tipping
The tip is usually included in restaurants in Vienna, but it is customary to round up the bill (ie €2 on €1.90.) The same is true for taxis. In hotels, it is normal to leave €1 to €2 per room per night. For other services, such a haircut, it is normal to leave a tip of €2 or more.
Taxes
The VAT of 20% can be reclaimed by visitors from outside the EU. In order to do that you have to fill a tax-cheque by the time of purchase. At the airport your purchased items need to be taken to the customs clearance where the customs official will provide a tax stamp which can be cashed at any of the airport banks in a variety of currencies.
Telephone
To call Vienna from abroad dial +43 for Austria and then 1 for Vienna. Calling from hotel is in general pretty expensive. To use a public phone you need a telephone card. Coins are not very common anymore. Telephone cards can be purchased in any post office.
Internet
There are many internet cafés over the whole city. Bazar Cyberlounge in Mayerhofgasse 1, BIGnet internetcafe in Hoher Markt 8-9, Blue Box in Richtergasse 8, Cafe Bierbeisl Einstein in Rathausplatz 4, Cafe Stein in Währingerstraße 6 – 8 an many more.
Emergency numbers
Police Tel.: 133 Fire department Tel.: 122 Ambulance Tel.: 144 Physicians on Standby Tel.: 141 Physicians (Hotline for Visitors 24 hours a day) Tel.: 513 95 95 Dentists (emergency service during the night and weekends) Tel.: 512 20 78 Pharmacies (night and weekend service) Tel.: 15 50
Opening times
Most of the shops are open from 9 am - 7.30 pm during the week and on Saturdays until 6 pm. Small shops usually close around 7 pm, though some very small family run businesses have longer opening times. Banks are open Mon, Tue, Wed and Fri between 8 am - 3 pm, and on Thursdays they are open longer. Small banks are closed over midday.
Public Holidays
The main public holidays are as follows: ·1 January: New Year's Day (Neujahr) ·6 January: Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) ·Easter Monday: (Ostermontag) - traditionally observed on both Sunday and Monday. ·1 May: Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) ·Ascension Day: (Christihimmelfahrt) - always on a Thursday and nine days prior to Pentecost/Whitsun. Pentecost/Whitsun: (Pfingsten) - 50 days after Easter ·Corpus Christi: (Fronleichnam) - on the second Thursday after Whitsunday ·15 August: Assumption Day (Maria Himmelfahrt) ·26 October: Austrian National Day (Nationalfeiertag ·1 November: All Saints'' Day (Allerheiligen) ·11 November: St. Martin''s Day (Martinstag) ·Advent: - begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas ·8 December: Immaculate Conception (Mariä Empfängnis) ·25 December: Christmas Day (Weihnachten) ·26 December: St. Stephen''s Day (Stephanitag) ·December 31: New Year''s Eve (Silvester) On most of the days shops are closed.
Safety
Despite being a big city Vienna is as safe as some villages would like to be. It is no problem to walk alone during the night but as it is a touristy city it is always useful to use common sense and not to challenge pickpockets and thieves.
Sightseeing
The Bohemian Prater
The Bohemian Prater is a place of excursion for the whole family what used to be a tradition already 150 years ago. There are different possibilities to spend your day and make it an unforgettable adventure. You can also enjoy sportive activities using the BMX course and a running-checkpoint or enjoy a walk through the recreation area on the Laaer Hill. Special activities are offered for kids.
House of the Sea – Vivarium Vi
More than 3500 animals are shown on 2500 m², among them crocodiles, poisonous snakes and saurians. The main attractions of the tropical seawater section are the huge aquariums where visitors can watch sharks, sea turtles, many corrals and gorgeous fish. Also the piranhas are worth a visit. The culmination of every visit is the newly built tropical house with free flying birds and walking apes. The Mediterranean section offers a overview of different species living in the ocean, for example anemones and snakes as well as shells, crabs, sea urchins, starfish and fish. The House of the Sea is located in the Esterhazypark in the 6. community area of Vienna and is open daily from 9 to 6, Thurdays 9 to 9.
Stephansdom – Stephan’s Cathed
This cathedral is affectionately called Steffl by Vienna’s locals. It belongs to the most important gothic buildings in Austria, is 107 m long and 34 m wide. Four towers adorn the outside. The Stephansdom is the emblem of Vienna und should not miss on your list of what to see. Transport: Stephansplatz Opening times: Daily 6 am – 10 pm Entry: free of charge, sightseeing costs a fee
Hofburg
The Hofburg belongs to the emblems of Vienna and appears as a big complex building with 18 tracts and 19 courtyards, which increased throughout the years. The oldest part from 1277 is the Swiss Court, from which you can reach the treasure chamber and the gothic castle chapel. In the 16th century the Stall castle, the Amalien tract and the Swiss Gate were added. In the 17th century the Leopoldinian tract had been built, in the 18th century the tract of the chancellor, the Winter Riding School and the national Library were added.The Michael tract and the New Castle were built at the end of the 19th century. Unfortuately, the World War avoided any other further constructions.Transport: Herrengasse; Stephansplatz; Babenberger Straße Opening times: Daily 9 am - 5 pm with or without guided tour Entry fee: 7,50 Euro, children 3,90 Euro
Schloss Schönbrunn/ Tiergarten
The castle of Schönbrunn is one of the main attractions and one of the most important cultural goods in Austria. In 1996 announced as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO attracts more than 6 million visitors each year. About 50 of the 140 private and representative rooms of the castle, as the room of Napoleon, the Chinese round cabinet and the million room should be visited. Also worth a visit are the Castle chapel, the castle theatre and the big Wagenburg with more than 60 imperial pompous carriages. In the park of the castle you can view the huge palm tree house, the Roman ruins and the hedge labyrinth. The affectionate styled garden is a popular destination among locals. When visiting the castle and its gardens you should plan to take a whole day. Transport: Schönbrunn; Hietzing Opening times: Apr-Oct: 8.30 am-5 pm daily; Nov-Mar: 8.30 am-4.30 pm daily
Imperator crypt/ Capuchin cryp
Below the Capuchin church lays a crypt which the female imperator Anna ordered with her death in 1618. For the construction she donated a church and a monastery to the fraternity of the Capuchin. Since then the crypt has been modified and extended eight times and offers a last home to 145 members of the Habsburgs, among them 12 imperators and 19 female imperators. The Habsburgs had their own burial ceremony by burying the body, the bowels and the heart apart from each other. For this reason only the bodies lie in the crypt. For viewing the sarcophagi and the other many important details of the burial ceremony you should go for a guided tour. Transport: Stephansplatz Opening times: Daily 9.30 am - 4 pm
Schloss Belvedere
The Schloss Belvedere ranks among the most important baroque buildings of the 18th century. The famous conqueror of the Turks Prince Eugen von Savoyen first gave order to build a park and a garden with trick fountains. Later he allowed the Lower Belvedere to be a living space and the Upper Belvedere for the purpose of representation. The schemes were from Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. In the pompous Upper Belvedere you can find today the Austrian gallery exposing works from Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt. The not less pompous Lower Belvedere hosts the Baroque Museum displaying outstanding works of the Vienna Baroque. In the orangery the Museum of the art of the Middle Ages is hosted. Transport: Oberes Belvedere Opening times: park 6.30 am - 6 pm, museums Thue -Su 10 - at least 5 pm
Hundertwasserhaus / House of H
The House of Hundertwasser is one of the most visited attractions in Vienna. The city of Vienna assigned the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser to the construction of this exceptional living space. Hundertwasser created a living complex in which the fixed forms of the usual houses were nearly abolished. Oblique walls, wavy ground, motley colours, onion domes, small balconies, oriels and overgrown ceilings make the astonishing house appearing as a Fata Morgana made from wood, glass, bricks and ceramic. This house is really worth a visit but taking in consideration that it is a living space it can only be viewed from the outside. Transport: Landstraße / Wien-Mitte.
Discovering Vienna
An elegant carriage, a coachman with bowler and two glorious horses: this harnessed team is called Fiaker and is the most traditional and most romantic way to get to know Vienna. You will be guided through the old city like it was the old imperators times. You are quick and still slow enough to enjoy all the attractions. Hiring a Fiaker is usually possible on the Stephansplatz or by arrangement.