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Austria is a federal republic state with a parliamentary democracy.

With an area of 83.858 sq km Austria consists of 9 independent federal states (Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna) with their own provincial governments. The federal legislation is exercised by the national council (Nationalrat) together with the Upper House of Parliament (Bundesrat) - the two chambers of Parliament.
Austria is a member of the European Union, the United Nations as well as most UN organizations.

Of the approximately 8 million inhabitants of Austria, 98% speak German. The six ethnic groups officially recognized in Austria (Burgenlandic Croatians, Roma, Slovaks, Slovenians, Czechs and Hungarians) are concentrated in the east and south of the country.

Approximately 74 % of Austrians are Roman Catholic, 5 % are Protestant, the rest belongs to other faiths.

Climate:

The greater part of Austria lies in the cool/temperate climate zone in which humid westerly winds predominate. With over half of the country dominated by the Alps the alpine climate is the predominant one. In the East, in the Pannonian Plain and along the Danube valley, the climate shows continental features with less rain than the alpine areas. Although Austria is cold in the winter, in the summer temperatures can be relatively warm reaching 20-35 degrees Celsius.

Driving advice AUSTRIA:

Austria has an excellent network of roads. Help is readily given by the Austrian Motoring Association (ÖAMTC); there is a fee for non-members. For emergency breakdowns, dial 120 or 123.

There are complex driving laws in Austria, especially for caravan and motorhome owners. With effect from 15 November 2005, it is compulsory that cars are driven with lights throughout the year. This regulation applies to all roads including city/towns. Seat belts must be worn and children under the age of 12 and under 150cm tall may not sit in the front seat unless a special child's seat has been fitted. All cars must have a first-aid kit and a warning triangle. All motorists must also carry high-visibility waistcoats complying with European standard EN471 and wear them whenever outside their vehicle on an Austrian roads (besides, obviously, when parked). Both driver and passenger on a motorcycle must wear helmets, and the vehicle must have lights on at all times. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas (the speed limit in Graz is 30kph), 100kph (62mph) outside built-up areas and 130kph (81mph) on motorways. Traffic drives on the right.

Driving in Winter:

Click here for the latest info

Bus/coach: Services are run by federal and local authorities, as well as private companies. There are over 1800 services in operation. Some 70 international coach services travel to or through Austria. For further information, contact Central Bus Information (tel: (1) 794 440; website: www.postbus.at). Coach excursions and sightseeing tours run from most major cities.

Documentation: National driving licenses issued by EU countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are accepted, and enable holders to drive in Austria for up to one year. The minimum legal age for driving is 18. A Green Card is recommended.

Toll Roads, Toll Stickers.

Highways and expressways in Austria (also city motorways) are generally subject to toll. The toll is effected by purchasing a toll sticker to be attached to the windscreen.

The toll sticker can be purchased in Austria: at the automobile clubs ÖAMTC und ARBÖ, at tobacconists' shops and petrol stations.
In neighbouring states: at the local automobile clubs and at petrol stations close to the border.

Placement of the toll sticker:
Passenger cars: on the upper middle or left side of the windscreen (internal side)
Motorcycles: on a clearly visible part, that is difficult to be removed

Toll fees:

2-Month-Sticker:
Passenger Car: € 22,20

10-day-Sticker:
Passenger Car: € 7,70
 

Child Seats:

Children under 14 and less than 1.50 metres in height cannot travel as a front or rear seat passenger unless using suitable restraint system for their height / weight. Vehicles without such protection e.g. two-seater sports cars or vans / lorries may not be used at all to transport children under 14 years of age. Children under 14 years but over 1.50 metres in height must use the adult seat belt. Children 14 or over and over 1.35 metres in height are allowed to use a 'Dreipunktgurt' (three point seat belt) without a special child seat, if the belt does not cover the throat / neck of the child.

Speed Limits:

Standard legal limits, which may be varied by signs, for private vehicles without trailers. In built-up areas: up to 31 mph (50 km/h), outside built-up areas: 62 mph (100 km/h) and motorways: up to 80 mph (130 km/h). Vehicles not capable of sustaining minimum speed of 37 mph (60 km/h), are not permitted on motorways. Mopeds must not exceed 45 km/h. The maximum recommended speed limit for vehicles with snow chains is 24 mph (40 km/h). Vehicles equipped with spiked tyres must not exceed 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on other roads.

Public Holidays / Daylight Savings Time

2009
1 January: New Year's Day
6 January: Epiphany
13 April: Easter Monday
1 May: National Holiday
21 May: Ascension Day
1 June: Whit Monday
11 June: Corpus Christi
15 August: Assumption of the Virgin Mary
26 October: National Holiday
1 November: All Saints' Day
8 December: Immaculate Conception
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Boxing Day

2010:
1 January: New Year's Day
6 January: Epiphany
5 April: Easter Monday
1 May: National Holiday
13 May: Ascension Day
24 May: Whit Monday
3 June: Corpus Christi
15 August: Assumption of the Virgin Mary
26 October: National Holiday
1 November: All Saints' Day
8 December: Immaculate Conception
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Boxing Day

Time Zone:

Central European Time (CET)

Daylight Savings Time:

Daylight Savings Time is valid from the end of March to the end of October (CET 1 hour):

2009: Sunday, 29 March to Sunday, 25 October
2010: Sunday, 28 March to Sunday, 31 October
2011: Sunday, 27 March to Sunday, 30 October

The adjustment takes place unitarily on the night of Saturday to Sunday at 01.00 a.m GMT, that is 02.00 a.m in Austria.

Finding your way:

There are numerous guides and road maps available at bookshops, service stations...
Some Internet sites suggest different ways of getting from one place to another (from the quickest to tourist routes with stopovers...): http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/ or http://www.mappy.co.uk

You want to know how to get from one point to the other? Below you will find links to the city maps of all major cities in Austria, so that you safely find your way back, too...

I am looking for a city map of

Vienna
Bregenz
Eisenstadt
Graz
Innsbruck
Klagenfurt
Linz
Salzburg
St. Pölten

Travel times:

For the peak tourist seasons July, August, Christmas and Easter advance reservations for transport as well as accommodation is strongly recommended.

Visiting Austria ? Before you go, Maps, Forums, Things to do.