Airport & public transport

Is described in the section "Arriving in Vienna", including options for getting from the airport to your hotel or the conference venue and public transport ticket options.

Banks

Banks are generally open 9:00 to 16:00 from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. It is commom that banks are closed around midday (12:30-14:00). All major credit cards are accepted and automatic teller machines (ATMs) are widely available.

Currency

Austria's currency is Euro (€). Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

Customs

Some items purchased on your trip need to be declared with customs when you enter Austria.

When entering Austria from a non-EU country, the following restrictions apply to the items that may be brought into the country per person:

Items worth up to approx. €430

 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250 g tobacco or a combination of these
and 4 l wine
and 1 l spirits with an alcohol content of over 22% by volume or 2 l spirits/ aperitifs with an alcohol content of less than 22% by volume or 2 l champagne/ sparkling wine/ liqueur wine or a combination of the above

 For other items the approximate maximum value is €430 per person and €150 per person for travellers under 15 years of age (€430 applies only to air passengers; for travellers by road the exempt amount is €300). The alcohol and tobacco amounts apply to persons aged 17 years or more.

The limits cannot be added for customers travelling together. For example, you are not entitled to import an item worth €860 duty free together with another passenger.

Customs regulations when leaving Austria:
When leaving countries outside of the EU the import regulations of the country concerned apply.
Non-EU citizens may claim a VAT refund for items purchased.

Emergency phone number

Dial 144 in health and safety emergencies for ambulance, 133 for police or 122 for fire services.

Or use the Euopean-wide emergency number 112.

Electricity

Austria uses 220 volt alternating current. Plugs and sockets are mainland European standard with two round pins.

Time zone

Vienna lies within the Central European time zone (CET). From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, summer time is in effect (MEST).

Climate

Vienna has a continental climate - that means hot humid summers and cold snowy winters! October is autumn in Vienna, which means that there can be some fog and rainy days, but also periods of mild weather and sunshine. The average temperature in October is 14°C (57°F). There are four hours of sunshine on an average October day in Vienna.

Geography 

Austria is a federal republic comprised of nine independent federal provinces: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Vienna.

Goods and services tax

Find information about tax refund in Austria here.

Insurance and medication

We strongly advise you to take out appropriate personal, travel, and health insurance.  The event organisers shall not be held liable for personal accidents, loss, or damage to private property of registered participants. In the event of disruption in the program for major or unforeseen causes, organisers accept no responsibility for economic losses incurred by delegates.

Visitors bringing special medication are advised to carry a doctor's certificate to avoid possible problems with Austrian Customs.

Should you require urgent medicines, Vienna is served with a 24-hour system of pharmacies that are open in a rotating shift system so that there is always one pharmacy open in each district. See this link for the pharmacy that is open this evening.

Personal safety

Austria is one of the world’s safest destinations, but basic safety precautions should be taken. Austria has a relatively low crime rate, but please take sensible precautions such as keeping valuables out of sight and locking doors and vehicles. Avoid walking around empty or poorly lit areas. It is advisable to carry only the money you will need for each day. You must pay attention in crowded places, such as public transport or department stores, as pick-pockets target tourists.

Smoking

Smoking in Austria is banned in indoor public spaces as the conference venue, but many restaurants offer a smoking and non-smoking area so it is important to specify this when making reservations.

Tipping

Gratuities are not included in Austrian restaurants.  It is customary to tip approximately 10 per cent on the total bill before tax, 20 per cent for exceptional service.

Vaccinations

No vaccination certificates are required to enter Austria.

Water

Tap (faucet) water is fresh and safe to drink throughout the country. Vienna has excellent drinking water which is actually pure spring water. Vienna’s water flows from the mountain springs in the Styrian/Lower Austrian Alps, reaching the Austrian capital city 36 hours later, without pumps and under the strictest regulations.

Weight and measurement

Austrians typically discuss the weather in degrees Celsius, purchase gasoline in litres, observe speed in kilometres per hour, and read road signs and maps displaying distances in kilometres.