Austria is located almost in the center of Europe, which is quite convenient for a traveler – you can fly to one of the country’s airports, go on a voyage by bus, train, or set off on a journey with transfers, at the same time visiting neighboring nations. See Countryaah.com for other countries starting with A.
Direct flight is the easiest way. From Moscow, 3 hours in the sky and you are there. It takes about 30-40 hours to get there by train, but this option is also interesting – along the way, even from the window, you can look at a bunch of European cities and towns. Buses are quite a budget way, for those who really don’t like planes and flights with transfers. In short, there is a choice. Read more about the different options on the ” How to get to Austria ” page.
Transport
You can comfortably, quickly and inexpensively travel around the country by train: rail transport is well developed here. It is not surprising that buses in Austria play a supporting role, for which they have earned the name “post” (Post Bus). There are few long-distance routes, the main function of buses is to transport passengers to railway stations. On average, a trip costs 1.30-5.30 EUR, it is more profitable to take a single bus plus train ticket from start to finish – it will cost less than if you buy tickets separately.
In Austria, there are railway passes that operate according to a peculiar principle: you can choose a point of departure and move from there in any direction for a distance of up to 150 km, paying only 9 EUR.
Long-distance fast trains include EC (EuroCity), IC (InterCity), D, ICE (InterCity Express). Regional trains are called E and R, suburban trains are called S. You can check the schedule and pay for tickets at the office. website of the Austrian Railways (in English).
- Do I need to buy train tickets in advance in Austria?
Public transport within cities
Urban transport in most cities in Austria is represented by buses and trams, less often by trolleybuses. Vienna has a U-Bahn metro, and S-Bahn high-speed trains also run in Graz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. Tickets for public transport starting from 2 EUR can be bought at Vorverkaufsscheine vending machines and advance sales offices, as well as at tobacconists. A special option for tourists is preferential tickets valid for 1 to 3 days (20-30 EUR).
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. When traveling long distances, it is better to negotiate the price with the driver in advance. When disembarking, the taxi driver is obliged to issue a check, if this rule is ignored, it is worth calling the control room without hesitation.
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. The fare in the city is indicated on the meter (standard fare is 1.50 EUR per 1 km), landing is additionally paid (about 5 EUR). Tipping is optional, but welcome (in Austrian restraint). A trip from Vienna airport to the city center will cost from 33 EUR, from Salzburg airport – 30 EUR.
At the railway stations you can rent bicycles: an hour of riding – from 5 EUR, a day – from 25 EUR. The CityBike system operates in Vienna: there are about 100 bike stations throughout the city where you can rent a two-wheeled vehicle in a matter of seconds (at the 1st hour the service is absolutely free, at the 2nd it costs 1 EUR, at the 3rd – 2 EUR).
Rent a Car
To rent a car in Austria, you need to have a valid credit card of any bank (for renting Mercedes cars of class E or C, you need two credit cards – one payment each, the deposit is held on the other), an international driver’s license issued at least a year ago. The driver must be at least 21 years old, and for some cars – 23 years old.
Motorways and express roads in Austria are paid, 9 EUR per car up to 3.5 tons. Speed on highways should not exceed 100 km/h, and the speed of movement in the city – no more than 70 km/h.
The latest parking data in Vienna can be viewed on the official. website.
Communication and Wi-Fi
To always stay in touch while traveling in Austria, it is more convenient to register a local SIM card. It is better to choose the services of any of the largest operators in the country: T-Mobile, A1, Orange, BOB or Telering. The first three are the “sharks” of the market: the quality of their service is at the highest level, but the prices are appropriate. BOB and Telering have lower rates, but when connecting, you should be prepared for surprises like “network unavailable” at the most inopportune moment.
SIM cards of Austrian operators are sold in company stores, post offices, electronics stores and large supermarkets. Their average cost is 10-30 EUR, for international calls you need to pay from 0.50 EUR per minute. The account can be replenished in Tabak&Trafik shops, the minimum payment amount is 10 EUR.
Another way to contact Russia is by calling from a public payphone. There are telephone booths in both large cities and towns, many of which have detailed instructions in several languages. Payphones accept both coins and special Telefonkarte cards sold at post offices, kiosks and shops. A minute of conversation costs from 0.17 EUR, the most favorable rates are on weekdays from 18:00 to 8:00 and on weekends (discounts can reach 33%). You can also call to Russia from the post office: it will turn out even cheaper than from payphones.
Free Wi-Fi in Austria is a common thing: it is available at airports and train stations, in shopping centers and cafes. Free access points can be found in almost all ski resorts. Internet cafe services cost 2-5 EUR per hour of connection.
