What do most people associate Austria with? For connoisseurs of antiquity, these are the majestic royal residences and St. Stephen's Cathedral, for music lovers - the Vienna Opera and Strauss waltzes, for athletes - the ski resort of Mayrhofen.
What do most people associate Austria with? For connoisseurs of antiquity, these are the majestic royal residences and St. Stephen's Cathedral, for music lovers - the Vienna Opera and Strauss waltzes, for gourmets - mulled wine, Sacher cake and Vienna sausages, for athletes - the ski resort of Mayrhofen. But all of the above will agree that this is one of the most prosperous and stable European countries, and this is a good reason to think about how comfortable and calm your business can be there.
With all the variety of forms of enterprises in Austria, the most convenient and popular is GmbH - a company with limited liability. Opening such a company is simple; a personal visit from the client is not required, only the presence of the director. The founder can even be a legal entity, so the nominal service here is very original character– the role of nominee can be assigned to an Austrian company. Everything happens through the conclusion of an offer agreement between the true owner and such a resident enterprise, which can be terminated unilaterally, which provides the beneficiary with full control over the assets.
When opening a company, the authorized capital must start from 35,000 euros, and at least half of this amount (in non-cash or cash form) must be accumulated in the account.
Let's look at some of the tax conditions in Austria. The corporate income tax rate here is 25%, while minimum size- 1,750 euros. Enterprises that make up a united financial structure can form a group for tax proposals - it will be the object of taxation. It is worth noting that investments received by the company are not subject to income tax, which is very beneficial for foreign investors.
The general VAT rate in Austria is 20%, while there is also a preferential 10% rate applied to activities such as hotel business, passenger transportation, book sales, creation of objects of artistic value, and charity. But the insurance and financial business, medical practice, work with commercial real estate are not subject to VAT at all. This tax does not apply to persons whose income is below 30,000 euros inclusive.
If you are planning to start your own business and work in Austria, remember that individuals are exempt from incorporation tax, as well as taxes on wages for a year after registering the enterprise, but such bonuses only apply to businesses created from scratch in Austria. Austrian territory.
In general, taxes here are high, but you have to pay for the prestige of the jurisdiction, the benefits of a stable society, and a reliable banking system. Let us recall that Austria has more than 80 international treaties in its arsenal, one of which was signed with Ukraine.
Companies with Austrian registration have a high status and will be a definite plus in your reputation and your trump card in front of your partners. Registration of an enterprise in the homeland of the Habsburgs may be interesting, first of all, when building holdings, working with Germany, banking activities, as well as in the case of large investments
If Austria is interesting to you not only from the point of view of tourism and you have any questions about doing business in this beautiful European country, write to us - we will hold a personal seminar or consultation for you. Find out more about the vantage points of our planet with the experts of the ICG-seminar company.
Austria has a temperate, transitional to continental climate, but since 70% of the country is occupied by the Alps, temperature changes are inevitable. As an example: the Austrian winter in the flat areas is a ridiculous -2 °C for Russians and a more noticeable -14 °C in the mountainous regions. Forecasters divide Austria into three zones: eastern, alpine and an area with a transitional Atlantic climate. The east of the country is characterized by dry, hot summers and harsh winter with little rainfall. The Alpine region is famous for prolonged rains and snowstorms. As for other areas, the weather in them is controlled by Atlantic and continental air masses.
Winter in Austria is actually the high season and the most party time of the year, thanks to fans of snowboarding, skiing and tubing storming the Alps with the appearance of the first snow. For those who prefer warm relaxation to mountain extremes and invigorating frosts, it is more advisable to meet New Year at thermal resorts, of which there are about 40. Tourists who did not have time to save up for a ski pass and a subscription to expensive spa complexes will have to warm their palms with a mug of fiery glühwein (aka mulled wine) at the Christmas markets of Vienna, Linz and.
At the end of April, the last adherents of “alpine skiing” leave Austria, passing the baton to fans of museum excursions and ecotourism. This fact does not affect prices in any way, so if you are planning to get acquainted with the May landscapes of Tyrol or a cycling tour in Styria, accept the fact that global savings will not work out. When traveling along the alpine trails in the spring, do not be lazy to also take warm clothes - it is seriously windy on the slopes.
In summer in Austria the air warms up to +25 °C in the shade. There are periodic showers, which disappear by August. Summer is also the ideal time for having fun on lake beaches, crazy rafting, gorging on national dishes at gastronomic festivals and tours of medieval cities. Shopaholics who did not have time to buy trendy outfits during the Christmas sales are advised to save their money until the summer - grand sales in Austrian malls start in July.
September in the homeland of Mozart and Commissar Rex is still a “walking” time: the air is warmed up to +17...+20 °C, the weather is clear, and there is little rain. In the fall, travelers head to Austria to indulge in leisurely hiking, take fun selfies at rural harvest festivals, and revel in provincial heurigers serving new wine and the Austrian variation of apple cider, the bridge. Fans of a more lively party should go to Vienna, to the local Oktoberfest, which here, although not as wild as in neighboring Germany, is more organized.
Cities of Austria
All cities in Austria
History of the country
The history of Austria dates back to the 4th century BC. e., when Celtic tribes settled in the Danube territories and founded the kingdom of Norik here. Local leaders quickly became friends with Rome, which contributed to the Romanization of Celtic culture, language and architecture. In the 2nd century, the Sarmatians, Ost and Visigoths became interested in Norik, so the inhabitants of the kingdom did not have time to repel the attacks of their neighboring invaders. As an example: in just over a hundred years, the territories of modern Austria managed to become Rugiland, part of the state of Odoacer, and even provinces of the Ostrogothic state and the Avar Kaganate.
In 805, the Austrian lands became part of the Frankish Empire, receiving the status of the Eastern March, subordinate to Bavaria. For more than four hundred years, this state formation was ruled by the Babenberg family, with the extinction of which the Eastern Mark passed to the Czech king. In 1282, the first representative of the Habsburg dynasty, Rudolf II, reigned on the Austrian throne. By that time, Austria had already left the control of the Czech Republic and was already called a duchy.
The most successful period in the life of the country can be called the New Age, when Austria increased its military power, repelled the encroachments of the Turks, and at the same time expanded its own possessions. For example, in 1699 the country received the territories of Hungary, Transylvania, Croatia and Slovenia. Further - more: in 1804, Austria declared itself an empire, and in 1867 it acquired the status of a dual monarchy, called Austria-Hungary. The 20th century turned out to be not as successful for the descendants of the Celts as previous eras: the First, which undermined the economy, had an impact world war, revolution and the forced need to part with the Hungarian, Croatian and Transylvanian territories.
In 1938, Hitler carried out his famous Anschluss, as a result of which Austria became part of the Third Reich, and religious and nationalist persecution began for its population. It was possible to restore the rights of the once great empire only after the end of the Second World War, and then only formally: until the middle of the last century, Austria remained divided into occupation zones. The Declaration of Independence of the state was signed in 1955 along with the declaration of neutrality. By the way, the Austrian authorities observe this last obligation very selectively and have even amended the Constitution to allow them to cooperate with the Bundeswehr.
Mentality and language
A pronounced feature of the national character of the Austrians remains their loyalty to traditions and the desire for status. If a local resident had an aristocratic ancestor at least in the tenth generation, he will notify everyone about it. In the “land of strudels and schnitzels” they are very careful about innovations, as well as the recognition of various rights and freedoms. As a result: there are far fewer informals on the streets of Vienna than in the capitals of other European countries. At the same time, in everyday communication, Austrians are quite open and friendly, so when traveling through the Alps and coming into contact with locals, you can count not only on sparse instructions, but also on intimate conversations.
Despite the fact that Austrians and Germans speak dialects of the same language and continue to remain neighbors, there is no smell of friendship between the nations. It is unknown whether this is a reaction to the Anschluss of 1938 or whether the proud people have harbored a grudge since the times of the Frankish Empire, but the fact remains: the Germans in Austria are treated so-so and even make up offensive jokes about Goethe’s descendants. The Germans are also not far behind their caustic neighbors, accusing the latter of having “appropriated” Mozart for themselves, but skillfully disowned the Fuhrer, who was born in Upper Austria.
As for communication, even if you speak Hochdeutsch (literary German) perfectly, it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve complete mutual understanding in Austria. And all because people here communicate in Wienerish, which, although formally considered a dialect of German, is in fact very different from it. To make it clearer: greet an Austrian with the standard “Guten Tag!” it won’t work - people here prefer the greeting “Gruss Goth!” and “Servus!” In large cities and tourist places, the Austro-Russian phrasebook will most likely not be useful - the entire working population speaks English there. But if you're going to stray from the mainstream route, it's best to bring a dictionary.
Money
Austria is part of the Eurozone, so payments in the country are carried out in euros (EUR). Despite the fact that there is no shortage of bank branches and exchange offices that convert foreign currency, it is better to come immediately with cash, since the commissions for such transactions are significant. Keep in mind that Austrian banks have a five-day working week. In addition, they are open on all days except Thursday, strictly until 15:00.
Cashing out funds from an account in Austria is easy - there are enough 24-hour ATMs that accept Russian MasterCard and Visa cards, as well as Maestro and American Express, in every relatively large locality. Cash registers of shops, restaurants and gas stations will accept “plastic” if we are talking about tourist locations or famous winter resorts. But in remote guesthouses and provincial heurigers, guests will be asked to pay with banknotes.
Sights and entertainment in Austria
In Austria, it is difficult to identify top tourist places and regions, because in this regard, each city or resort pulls the blanket on itself. But such a feature can be an excellent reason to return to the country again, and then again and again! And so on until it is possible to collect and organize the impressions of all the objects that the descendants of Austrian composers and margraves are so proud of.
Architecture
The architectural heritage of Austria is a little Gothic, a little more pompous palace Baroque and Viennese Art Nouveau shaded with romantic Biedermeier. Objects of temple architecture will also help you teleport into the past of the great empire: Vienna's Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral), Salzburg Cathedral, the ascetic-Gothic Maria am Gestad, the Cathedral of St. Egidio in, as well as dozens of modest but original provincial churches. If you love ancient legends, a mystical atmosphere and monumentality in all its manifestations, take a look at Austrian castles and fortresses, of which there are more than two dozen. For example, in Hochosterwitz, suspended between heaven and earth, in the harshly impregnable Hohensalzburg, or in the postcard Kreuzenstein, in which Dominic Sena filmed his disastrous “Time of the Witch” with Nicolas Cage.
If the rough scale of medieval architecture leaves conflicting impressions, you can switch to the masterpieces of the imperial era: the Hofburg, Schönbrunn and Belvedere palaces (Vienna), the Innsbruck residence of the Habsburgs Hofburg (not to be confused with the Viennese palace of the same name), Eggenberg Castle, which embodied the concept of time and movement in its exterior stars, as well as the Salzburg Mirabell Palace, whose history began with the scandalous affair of Bishop Rathenau with a young merchant's wife. Modern Austrian architects also do not waste time, racing to construct something unimaginable, asymmetrical and cosmic-scale like the Museum contemporary art in Vienna (better known as MUMOK), the BTV bank building or the office of a steel company in Linz. Moreover, almost all Viennese high-rise buildings, built at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, are a complete challenge to the laws of physics and gravity.
Museums
In Austria, every museum is a luxurious palace ensemble, the house of a famous composer, or a futuristic creation of modern designers. The undisputed leaders in this niche, both in terms of attendance and in terms of the wealth of funds, are the Hofburg, which houses the entire imperial history of the country, the Albertina, with its million-strong collection of paintings and graphic canvases, and the Belvedere, filled with works of impressionists and medieval sculptors. You can admire Bruegel, Cranach the Elder and Rembrandt, unknown to the general public, in the Ferdinandeum (), and it is better to take pictures in front of the first airplanes and sports cars in the demonstration pavilion with free admission “Hangar-7” ().
To see everything at once, rather than moving from area to area, welcome to the Museum Quarter of the Austrian capital, which unites several art galleries and exhibition halls. If you are drawn to non-standard and magical exhibitions, then “Crystal Worlds” is for you. The museum was founded by the crystal manufacturer Swarowski and is located in the city of Wattens, inside a picturesque hill with a giant's head. The category of the most controversial institutions includes the Innsbruck Bell Museum and the Anatomical Museum, as well as the Vienna Tower of Madmen, tours of which will provide contradictory, but unforgettable impressions.
The Mauthausen museum complex in the vicinity of Linz promises complete immersion in the horrors of World War II. Entrance to the former death factory has been free for everyone for many years. The Austrians have not forgotten about Mozart either, so if you want, go to Vienna to see what apartments the greatest composer of all time rented at the peak of his fame. Or settle in and visit the yellow mansion where Wolfgang Amadeus took his first steps. Continuing the musical theme, you can look into the house-museum of Johann Strauss - an apartment on Praterstrasse in Vienna, where the musician wrote the immortal waltz “On the Beautiful Blue Danube”.
Nature
The first place in the top five natural must-sees in Austria unconditionally belongs to the Hohe Tauern Park. Snow-capped mountain peaks and ice fields through which wild chamois run, charming mini-waterfalls and emerald lawns with relict ferns - all this is just a small fraction of the riches of one of the oldest nature reserves in Europe. IN national park Donau-Auen is dominated by the romantic views of the handsome Danube, on whose floodplain meadows deer graze, and in the creeks beavers build their amusing structures. To get rare photographs of black storks, try to get into the Tayatal protected area, located on the border with the Czech Republic. Well, for romantic selfies against the backdrop of limestone mountains and nimble rivers, the landscapes of Gezoise, the country’s youngest park, founded in 2002, are ideal.
Fans of relaxed meditation by the surface of the water should not ignore the Austrian lakes, of which there are more than a thousand in Mozart’s homeland. Try, for example, to settle in Carinthia, on the banks of the turquoise Wörthersee, Langsee and Klopeinersee. Or head to the salt mines and tranquil blue lakes of Salzkammergut, where taverns serve fresh catch from local fishermen. The small but industrial Vorarlberg already smells of neighboring Switzerland - the region is located next to Lake Constance. And of course, don’t miss the main natural phenomenon of the Alps - the green lake Grünersee, which floods the neighboring park in the summer season and exposes part of its bottom in the winter.
All sights of Austria
Ski holiday
Even tourists who are far from sports know that Austria has a fantastic alpine skiing scene. One of the most pleasant features of the Alpine slopes is their diversity, so skiing here is convenient for both beginners who have just started snowboarding and extreme sports enthusiasts conquering black slopes. Technical equipment– this is a separate topic. The Austrians, who do not welcome squandering, are investing in the Alps to the fullest, so even a small village can find a dozen modern ski lifts and a sufficient number of snow cannons to keep the snow on the slopes until the end of April.
There is no point in listing all the ski locations in Austria, especially since there is a tendency towards consolidation - resorts neighboring each other are united into common ski areas, where you can have fun with a single ski pass. The favorite place of the Austrian and foreign elite is the Ski Arlberg region, which ranks fifth in the list of the largest ski resorts of our time. It includes the villages of Zurs, St. Anton, Lech, Oberlech and Stuben, the slopes of which are connected by 87 ski lifts. By the way, Arlberg is so far the only place in Austria where you can try your hand at heli-skiing.
The largest trail for night skiing should be found in Wilder Kaiser-Brixental - the largest ski area in Tyrol. Here, in the Tyrolean Alps, there are other resort associations such as the Zillertal Arena, Sölden, Kirchberg and Mayrhoffen-Hippach. Skiers and snowboarders looking for slopes in the surrounding area should better get a ski pass for the slopes of Saalbach-Hinterglemm-Leogang-Fieberbrunn. The area is famous for its ski schools and extensive range of winter activities, including horse sledding.
A good half of travelers go to ski resorts in Austria not so much for sporting achievements, but because of the stunning après ski in its thoughtfulness. Moreover, hanging out in local bars and clubs means not only drinking and dancing, but also interesting meetings. If you know the “fishing” places, there is every chance of getting a selfie with a world celebrity - stars love to relax after “rides” in the cold no less than mere mortals. So, if you came to Mozart’s homeland with the goal of having fun in the company of media people, move closer to resorts such as Schladming (Styria), St. Anton, Mayrhofen and Ischgl (). By the way, about Ischgl: the location is located on the border with Switzerland, so holders of a ski pass valid on its territory are allowed to “cross the border” and drive along the slopes of the Swiss resort of Samnaun.
Spas and thermal resorts in Austria
Austria is home to a large number of mineral and thermal springs, and where there are healing springs, there are spa complexes. You can often take a steam bath in radon and carbon dioxide baths without leaving the ski resorts, as, for example, in Bad Kleinkirchheim (Carinthia) or the Aqua-Dom balneological complex in Sölden. In Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Burgenland, people not only bathe in mineral water, but also take it orally as part of a treatment course for gout, osteoporosis, diabetes and other ailments. A whole cascade of thermal springs is located near the city of Bad Blumau (Styria), famous for its health center “Rogner Bad Blumau”, built according to the sketches of the “fairytale architect” Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
The southernmost of the mineral thermal resorts in Austria is Warmbad Villach. It is located in Styria, offering, in addition to hot pools and healing waters, proximity to ski slopes, as well as several music and theater festivals. Another Styrian commune where you can pamper yourself with spa treatments is Bad Radkersburg. The pools here are moderately warm (about +25 °C), but super-carbonated, so an interesting sensation while swimming is guaranteed. Young travelers at Austrian resorts are also taken care of - many aquatic complexes have special small areas for children and water slides.
How to save money in Austria
It is possible and necessary to save money in the “land of waltzes, music and alpine skiing,” especially since each region and city issues discount cards for travelers. In Vienna, for example, there are three of them - Vienna Pass, Wien-Karte and Flexi Pass. In , having a Salzburg Card in hand, you can ride cable cars and river boats for free, and also receive significant discounts on the excursion program. Most cards valid in the federal state of Salzburg can be obtained for free - hotels in Zell, Flachau, Lungau and other popular places issue discount coupons to their guests.
Summer lures tourists with guest tickets that promise global savings when visiting museums and swimming pools. For an inexpensive acquaintance with Styria, about 9 tourist maps have been issued, covering natural and cultural attractions, Salzkammergut, Murthal, Schladming-Dachstein and a number of other interesting locations. Lower and Upper Austria, Burgenland, Carinthia, Vorarlberg also offer tempting discounts on a variety of entertainment and gastronomic pleasures, from a free glass of wine in partner restaurants to visits to thermal complexes for a nominal fee.
Important: It is better to look for cards that provide financial benefits for exploring the culture and nature of Austria in hotels and tourist centers that support this program.
Where to stay
The most economical type of Austrian housing is boarding houses, in which the entire range of services, from cleaning to breakfast, is provided by the owner and his family members. Average cost habitat in such places – 60-80 EUR. You won’t be able to stay in bed & breakfast hotels located along busy highways for less than 100-120 EUR. As for the Austrian “fives”, the discrepancy between the degree of star rating and the level of service and comfort of the premises is still noticeable even in the most high-status establishments.
Explorers of the rural hinterland can add a pastoral flavor to their vacation and retire to alpine farms. The obvious advantages of such vacations are organic products straight from the garden, educational agricultural programs for children, the opportunity to contact pets and become involved in the culture of winemaking. Village pleasures cost from 15 to 35 EUR per day per person, so if you are ready to spend money on such a downshift, take a look at the portal urlaubambauernhof.at, where all the nicest estates that welcome guests from the concrete jungle are collected.
Within the ski resorts you can qualify for both standard hotel rooms and cozy chalets. Moreover, in both cases the costs will be fantastic: the amount of 500 EUR for a wooden cottage is positioned as a mega discount. It costs about one and a half to two times cheaper to stay in a similar “dacha” near thermal springs, but it is also far from budgetary, so the majority of those who come “to the waters” prefer guesthouses.
An option from the “when you don’t know what else to spend money on” category – apartments in historical buildings, for example, in the castles of Leopoldskron (), Raffelsberger (Wachau), Knappenstöckl (Halbturn). Fans of non-standard design solutions can also have a blast: peasant barns, tree huts, and decorated Eskimo igloos are not so difficult to find. If your vacation budget starts to melt away faster than planned, it makes sense to go to hostels. True, you will have to spend the night in a shared bedroom, but for a modest 15-18 EUR it’s easier to put up with the inconveniences.
It is recommended to book rooms in Austrian pensions and hotels in advance and with an eye to the season. It's winter in Tyrol, when legions of visiting skiers flock to the icy slopes. In glamorous and historical Vienna, summer is conducive to excursions and hiking. Please also take into account that during the “rush” months, prices for accommodation skyrocket, and the number of available places is reduced to critical limit, therefore, if you dream of being in a slightly more budget-friendly Austria, go to the Alps in June-August, and to the “musical heart of Europe” in late autumn.
Austrian cuisine
If you think that Austrian cuisine relies exclusively on schnitzels and strudels, then you are not far from the truth - flat cutlets and sweet rolls are really respected here. On the other hand, local cafes are full of less advertised dishes that instantly replenish the calories spent on skiing and surprise the taste buds. Among them are Tafelspitz, regional variations of goulash, soups with pancake noodles, roast beef with onions, champignons and lard, roasted chicken, potato-meat gröstl and other simple but substantial delicacies.
For fans of fast carbohydrates, Austria is a promised land – confectionery shops and bakeries compete to supply the population with amazing pastries. And we are talking not only about the immoderately praised Sacher, but also about the delicious Linz Torte, vanilla nockerln, delicate Kaiserschmarrn, spicy stritzel and rum punchkrapfen. Eating floury delights, washed down with melange, Einschpenner or coffee-orange Maria Theresa, is supposed to be in cozy coffee shops. For example, in Landtmann, where Freud interpreted the waitresses' strange dreams. Or in the “Central”, where Zweig spotted his Mendel the second-hand book dealer, and Trotsky pestered the regulars with an offer to play a game of chess.
There are many establishments in Austria haute cuisine, however, the most colorful catering spots remain heurigers and shanigarten. The first are small taverns where you can taste the products of private winemakers. The latter are reminiscent of German biergartens, where the tables of visitors are taken out into the open air. True, according to local gourmets, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find old-school heuriger - tavern owners rely on tourists, which entails high price tags, and with them a decrease in the quality of food and drink. For proper gastronomy, it is better to go to peripheral places, where you can still find bushenshanki - family restaurants with wine own production and traditional specialties.
Austria is a country where the morning begins with gatherings over a cup of coffee, so coffee shops and pastry shops open their doors as early as 7 am. Lunch in city taverns is served from 12:00 to 14:00, so if you expect to refuel well with schnitzels, try to fit within this period. Or pay tribute to street food - wurstel sausages, ham buns, baked chestnuts and fried potatoes. It is customary to dine in restaurants from 18:00 to 21:30, but if you intend to dine in the center of Vienna, you can stay a little longer - here dinners last until 24:00. Night bars welcome fun lovers until 01:00-02:00. The menu in tourist places is bilingual, that is, English-Austrian, but at ski resorts popular with Russians you can also find its versions in the “great mighty”.
Good to know: In many establishments in Austria, service is included in the bill, and no one will refuse a tip (trinkgeld). The standard reward amount is 5-10% of the account.
Communication and Internet
There are many operators in the Austrian communications market, but if you need a stable signal, contact the A1 and T-Mobile offices. Those who are temporarily staying in cities should make friends with virtual operators who have smaller reception areas, but lower prices, and also have hot promotions. It is convenient to purchase SIM cards in branded stores, grocery stores or at the post office, but they will all be prepaid and require activation (a combination of numbers is entered). In addition, since 2019, all Austrian license plates are registered, so be prepared to show the seller your passport.
IN special cases You can call home or call a taxi from a payphone. You have to pay for communication with coins and telephone cards, which can be found in the same place as the SIM cards themselves. By the way, if you like to save money, try to reschedule conversations for the evening - from 18:00 there is a reduced tariff for calls. The Internet package is easy to get together with a SIM card for calls. The main thing is to carefully read the conditions listed in the advertising brochure, because some companies have limited not only traffic, but also connection speed. There are free Wi-Fi zones at train stations, in cafes, shopping centers, as well as at ski resorts.
Shopping
Going to Austria for trendy new clothes is not exactly wrong, but rather impractical, because there are so many more tempting things to do here. Gourmets will be the first to leave, since only convinced vegans will be able to leave here without a package of rosy waffles, hyper-chocolate Sacher, marzipan Mozartkugel, apricot schnapps, ice wine, coffee and cheese. However, about the supporters healthy eating local farmers also took care - in any grocery department you will find 100% organic oil made from giant pumpkins grown in Styria. Alpine salt, herbal tea and honey can also be considered as a vacation reminder, especially since such gifts are not very ruinous for the wallet.
Safety
Austrians are very law-abiding, so the maximum that can threaten a traveler is the possibility of losing the contents of their pockets, as well as colossal fines for behavior and non-payment of tolls. As an example: driving as a “hare”, as well as racing on toll roads without a vignette and receipt, is punishable by a fine of 100-120 EUR. Smoking in public places is also an expensive pleasure, which can empty the bank account of an uninitiated tourist from several thousand euros.
Increased caution must also be observed in the Alps. Rockfalls, avalanches and landslides, although predicted by weather forecasters, sometimes take even such a prudent nation as the Austrians by surprise, so when going hiking or snowboarding, always listen to the recommendations of guides and experienced climbers.
Customs and visa information
To gorge yourself on strudels and walk around Schönbrunn, you will have to apply for a Schengen C-type visa. To obtain the coveted pass, they collect a general Schengen package of documents, including medical insurance with coverage from 30,000 EUR. There are no restrictions on the import of currency, but amounts over 10,000 EUR are required to be declared.
Duty-free import applies to tobacco products (cigarettes - no more than 200 pcs., tobacco - up to 250 g, cigars - 50 pcs.), alcohol (drinks with a strength of more than 22% - 1 l, less than 22% - 2 l, wines - 2 l , beer - 3 l) and medicines, if there is a prescription for them.
We allow the export of cigarettes (up to 1000 pcs.), perfume (up to 250 ml), as well as wines and liqueurs in unlimited quantities. True, in the latter case there is no point in being overly zealous - there are limits on alcohol on the Russian side. Objects of art and rarities will be allowed through Austrian customs only if there are certificates indicating that the purchased paintings and figurines are not part of the cultural heritage.
Transport
The most convenient and cheap look transport for moving within Austria - trains. The trains run minute by minute, and you can get to any point with them. For tourists traveling through Mozart's homeland railways, issue special Interrail Passes, which can be purchased upon presentation of an ID card. Fans of nostalgic voyages on retro locomotives will be curious to evaluate the operating narrow-gauge railways of Zillertal, Murtau, Mariazell, Simmering and a dozen other ancient routes. Often in such tours to the past there are a lot of additional bonuses that vary depending on the region - in some places passengers are given the opportunity to “steer” a steam locomotive, and in others they boast luxurious imperial-style coupes.
Comfortable Flixbus and Eurolines buses travel around the main locations, resorts and between suburbs, where you can use Wi-Fi and charge your smartphone. In winter, vehicles serving the mountainous regions of Austria also provide free transportation of sports equipment such as snowboards and skis. Taxis are available almost everywhere. The cars are equipped with meters, so drivers have no chance of cheating. In the summer months, it is also interesting to entertain yourself with a boat excursion along the Danube (be sure to sail along the breathtaking Schlögen Loop) and lakes - Constance, Wolfgangsee, Zellersee and others.
In cities, transportation is carried out by buses, trams and in some places trolleybuses. There is a metro only in Vienna, electric trains - in the same place, and also in, and. Bicycles are also in demand - in the capital alone there are more than 1000 km of bicycle paths. You can rent a two-wheeled friend at hotels, bike shops, and also at CityBike parking lots. Proven places where you can organize an exciting bike trip are Styria (don’t miss the country roads leading to wineries and the Mürztal river bed), Upper Austria (paths trodden by Roman legionnaires), (Mozart Radweg bike route) and Burgenland.
Car rental
To save money, it is recommended to book a car in advance. You can order a vehicle both from official representative offices and from intermediaries. In this case, the age of the renter must be at least 21 years old if a budget model is chosen, and from 25 years old if we are talking about an expensive car. To enter into an agreement with the rental company, present your IDP (International Driver's License) and a credit card (sometimes two if you are renting a luxury vehicle).
Before signing documents, please read the “Insurance” section. Serious companies include insurance against accidents, theft and civil liability to third parties in the price. Traffic rules in Austria are the same as in the rest of Europe. The speed limit in populated areas is 50 km/h, outside them – 100 km/h, on highways – 130 km/h. As for fines, there is no single tariff - each federal state has its own rates. In general, speeding, using a telephone while driving (with a headset is possible), and driving while intoxicated are recognized as unreasonably expensive violations.
There are many highways in Austria, traffic on which is possible only after making a cash contribution. To travel along most toll roads, a vignette pasted on the glass (sold at gas stations) will be enough, but if you are planning to rush through the Felbertauern, Gleinalm, Brenner, Katschberg, Tauern and Karawanke tunnels, you will need to part with a few more euros. You will have to pay extra for use high mountain roads Großglockner, Malthatal, Timmelsjoch and Silvretta. Some of them are considered protected sightseeing and excursion routes, driving along which is strictly permitted in the summer months and in daylight.
, therefore, for those planning to storm snow-covered jumps and halfpipes, it is advisable to look for tickets from Austrian Airlines and Pobeda.
Austria... What associations do Russians have with this word, what do they know about this country?
To an open question: "Tell me, please, where is Austria?" answered the majority of Russians. Most often, respondents said that this is a European country (32%), another 10% of respondents specified that it is located next to Germany, and 5% correctly indicated other countries with which Austria borders. At the same time, 34% of participants in the all-Russian survey found it difficult to answer this question. Among Muscovites, there are significantly fewer uninformed people – 19%. 43% of respondents correctly named the capital of Austria. 44% of respondents were unable to do this - most often people with a low level of education and young people (50% of respondents aged 18 to 35).
There is a widespread opinion among Russians that Austria is a state friendly towards Russia - this position is shared by 58% of respondents; more often than others - people of the middle age group (from 35 to 50 years), residents of megacities and optimists. It is interesting that supporters of G. Zyuganov, who most often gave the correct answer to the question about the capital of Austria, are less likely than those surveyed in general to consider it a friendly country. And supporters of V. Putin are less aware of which city is the capital of Austria, but more often than others they call this state friendly.
When asked to name famous people in Austria, only 18% of Russians responded; among Muscovites – 66%. Famous Austrian composers were most often mentioned. The most famous Austrians in Russia were the Strauss - son and father (11%) and W.-A. Mozart (3%). Another 2% of respondents mentioned A. Hitler. Often respondents named the names of famous people who were not actually Austrians: O. Bismarck, J.-S. Bach, G. Heine, F. Chopin and some others.
The range of associations that arise among Russians when they hear the word “Austria” is quite wide. To an open question: “What first comes to your mind when you hear the word “Austria”?” answered by 56% of respondents. According to 11% of respondents, one can say about this state, first of all, that it is prosperous and stable, with a developed culture; The standard of living in this country is high, its inhabitants live calmly and in abundance:
- "Silence, peace, prosperity" (Here and further in the text, all quotes are from answers to open questions.) .
- "Grace" .
- "A country where old people live differently from ours" .
- "A quiet corner of Europe" .
- "Cultural country, people live ideally" .
- "The ski resorts are very good."
- “Alpine skiing, landscapes – it’s a dream to ski there.”
- "A good holiday for the rich."
- "Beautiful nature."
- "Beautiful castles"
- "Waltz Country"
- "Tyrolian Songs".
- "Folk music".
- "Strauss, Mozart, waltz."
- "Germany's cousin."
- "It's something German."
- “I perceive Germany as a single whole.”
- "The roots are in the German people."
- "Beautiful Austrian boots."
- "Austrian watch".
- "Good blades, fine steel."
- "Household appliances".
- "Austrian beer"
- "Kutuzov and Alexander I fought there."
- "Suvorov - crossing the Alps."
- "Kaiser Wilhelm".
- "Warm, sea."
- "Ostriches, it's hot."
