Language
German, with a Viennese dialect. Although many Austrians speak some English, any attempts at learning a few phrases in German will be appreciated. Try “Gruess Gott” – Good morning; “Die Rechnung bitte” – the bill (check) please, or “Wieviel kostet das?” – how much is that?
Currency And Tipping
The Austrians use the Euro, made up of 100 cents. Usual practice is to tip taxi drivers, waiters, porters, hairdressers and the hotel concierge if he’s done you a special favour. In a standard restaurant, the custom is to round up the bill, so if it comes to 7.20 Euros, for instance, say to the waiter ‘eight.’ It’s considered rude to leave cash on the table - give it direct to your waiter. And as you hand over the banknote for the bill, don’t say Danke or thank you, as this is taken to mean “keep the change.”
Dress Code
Lying at the centre of Europe, Vienna experiences the extremes of temperature typical of a continental climate, with hot summers and correspondingly cold winters. In terms of weather, therefore, late spring and early autumn are by far the best times to visit. Christmas and New Year are peak season in Vienna. Not only does the city look great in the snow, but also the ball season, known as Fasching, gets underway, along with the glittering Christmas markets and, of course, the world-famous New Year’s Day concert. But wrap up warm! As in all European capitals these days, formal dress is required for only the most exclusive establishments.
Safety
Vienna comes across as pretty safe compared to many capital cities. That said, crime does, of course, exist so it’s as well to take precautions. Large sections of the Gurtel ring road double as a red-light district, and as such are best avoided. The Karlsplatz underpass and the Stadtpark both have dubious reputations as do the major train stations, particularly the Sudbahnhof, after dark. Almost all problems encountered by tourists are to do with petty crime, so keep money and valuables in a belt or pouch, wear your camera and leave valuables and jewellery in the hotel safe.
Travel
Vienna is a surprisingly compact city: you can travel from one side to the other by public transport in less than thirty minutes. This means you can get to see a lot in a relatively short space of time. The transport system is one of the most efficient in the world. The U-Bahn/S-Bahn (underground) is clean and constantly expanding, the trams are silent and smooth and the buses run on schedule. Ticket prices are generally low, but as in many parts of Europe, the system runs to a great extent on trust. At least once a month inspectors will board and issue heavy fines for those without valid tickets.
Travel Tip # 1 The Vienna Card is a 72-hour discount card which offers discounts to some of the best museums and sites in the city, a free public transport ticket and reductions at certain shops and restaurants. The cost of a card is 16.90 Euros and details are available at www.europeancitycards.com.
