Basic facts about Austria

Territory: 83,879 km2 

Location: Central Europe (borders with Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Swizerland, Italiy, Slovenia, Hungary and Slovakia)

Population: 8,600,000 persons

Capital: Vienna

Form of Government: Republic

UN member since: 1955, UN Office in Vienna since 1980

OECD: founder member

EU member since: 1995

Schengen area member since: 1995

Official Language: German

Time zone: GMT + 1 hour. Summer time from last Sunday of March to last Sunday of October (GMT + 2 hours).

Currency: Euro (EUR)

International Airports: Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt

General visa information: The visa requirements of Austria are in line with the provisions and recommendations of the EU and of the Schengen Convention.

Weather: The climate of Austria is continental, with the western oceanic and the southern Mediterranean climate also having an impact. Summer temperature is 25-30 °C on average with occasional heat waves reaching 35-40 °C. The winters are cold with a temperature of -15 – 10 °C.

Electrical plugs: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz.

Public Holidays

  • 1 January – New Year’s Day
  • 6 January – Epiphany
  • Easter Monday
  • 1 May – Labour Day
  • Ascension (Thursday), Pentecost (Monday), Corpus Christi (Thursday)
  • 15 August (Assumption of Mary)
  • 26 October – National Day
  • 1 November – All Saints’ Day
  • 8 December – Immaculate Conception
  • 25 December – Christmas
  • 26 December – St. Stephen’s Day

Basic German language course

Good morning! = Guten Morgen!

Good day!= Guten Tag!

Good evening! = Guten Abend!

Good night! = Gute Nacht!

Good bye! = Auf Wiedersehen

Cheers! = Prost!

Thank you! = Danke!

Please = Bitte!

You are welcome! = Bitte Sehr! or keine Uhrsache!

Yes = Ja

No = Nein

Why Vienna/Austria

  • Vienna, city of art and culture
  • Vienna, city of music
  • Vienna, romantic and imperial city. Elegant and cosmopolitan
  • Vienna, city of congresses
  • Vienna, city with the best quality of living in the world
  • Austria, good accessibility due to its central location
  • Sports, cultural and culinary highlights all year round
  • Austria is a major business hub in Central Europe
  • Great cuisine, excellent wines
  • Thermal waters
  • Best winter sports facilities
  • Austrian hospitality
  • World Heritage Sites
  • Fantastic shopping opportunities