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About Vienna
Climate
Credit Cards
ATMS/Cash Machines
Banks & Bureaux de Change
Currency
Electricity
Emergency Phone Numbers
Language
Opening Hours
Time
Tipping

About Vienna

Vienna is home to a vast array of cultural attractions, including classical and experimental theatre, film and dance festivals, opera and operetta, exhibitions and concerts. Throughout the centuries, the city has produced and nurtured many world-famous artists. Thanks to the collecting passion of art-loving rulers and monarchs Vienna is a treasure house par excellence. The Museum of Fine Arts, for instance, is one of the world's largest and most distinguished museums, housing priceless works of art. You will find architectural gems on every street, and even some of the city's underground stations are listed buildings on account of their elegant, ornamental Jugendstil design.

As a popular tourist destination Vienna has an excellent tourist information service, which includes the following:

• Detailed information about Vienna - culture, tourism, sites of interest, transport, accommodation, restaurants etc
• Tourist information about Austria - historic monuments, castles, museums, galleries, exhibitions, trades, festivals
• Tickets for concerts, theatres and other cultural events
• Public transport passes, postcards, stamps, telephone cards
• Vienna City Card (featuring free travel on public transport, discounts and free offers at museums, cultural venues, theatres, leisure facilities, night-clubs, shops, restaurants and entertainments, other services and unique means of transport).

Please see www.aboutvienna.org and www.wien.info for details.

Climate

The temperature in May should be quite warm - about 21°C.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, stores, cafes and restaurants. Be prepared to present a picture ID when using a credit card.

ATMS/Cash Machines

Bankomats (ATMs) offer a convenient way of withdrawing Euros on a credit or debit card. Most banks have these machines, and all major cards are accepted (be sure to have your PIN code).

The most common credit card in Austria is Visa, but you should have no problem finding ATMs that accept Mastercard or American Express as well.

Banks & Bureaux de Change

Most banks are open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:30 and 13:30 to 15:00 and 17:30 on Thursday. There are numerous cash machines throughout the city and the plentiful bureaux de change are open weekends.

Currency

The local currency is the Euro (EUR / €). 1€=100 cents.

Electricity

Austria, like most other European countries, has 220-volt AC, 50Hz current and uses two-pin continental plugs. Visitors from the UK will need an adaptor for electric appliances, whereas North Americans need a transformer in order to use their 110/125V appliances.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Fire 122
Police 133
Ambulance 144
Doctor 141
European SOS 112

Language

German is the official language in Austria. French and English are common in hotels and tourist places.

Opening Hours

Most shops are open 09:00 to 18:00 and till 17:00 on Saturdays in the main cities. Many of the shops are open on Sundays in Vienna.

Time

Austria follows Central European Time (CET) which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). At the time of the conference summer daylight saving will be in operation which is two hours ahead of GMT.

Tipping

Service is normally included in restaurant, hotel and taxi bills, so any further tip should only be given for exceptionally good service. It is not uncommon, however, to round up the bill.