Complete description of Austria. Brief information (geography, economics, politics) What form of government is in Austria

Useful data for tourists about Austria, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, the currency of Austria, the cuisine, the features of visa and customs restrictions in Austria.

Geography of Austria

Austria is a state in the center of Europe. In the north it borders with the Czech Republic, in the northeast - with Slovakia, in the east - with Hungary, in the south - with Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland, in the west - with Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Germany.

The largest rivers are the Danube, Mur, Drava, Salzach and Inn. There are many mountain lakes in the country.

Approximately 70% of the country's area is occupied by the Alps. The highest point in Austria is the two-headed peak Grossglockner (3997 m).

State

State structure

Austria is a parliamentary republic. The head of state is the Federal President, who is elected for 6 years. The government is headed by the Federal Chancellor. Members of the government are appointed by the president. The Austrian Parliament is a bicameral Federal Assembly, which consists of the Federal Council and the National Council.

Language

Official language: German (with Austrian pronunciation)

The speech of the Austrian differs from the speech of the German both in vocabulary and in pronunciation, stress and rhythm. Local dialects are especially pronounced among the rural inhabitants of the Alpine regions, whom the Germans have difficulty understanding.

Religion

About 78% of the population are Catholics, 5% are Protestants, 2% are Muslims, and 12% are atheists.

Currency

International name: EUR

The most favorable exchange rate in banks.

Foreign convertible currencies, travelers checks, etc. are exchanged for euros at all banks and post offices at the official exchange rate set by the Vienna Stock Exchange.

In exchange offices at stations and airports, this rate is subject to a small surcharge for carrying out an exchange operation, but they are open seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.

History of Austria

The history of the country began more than 100 thousand years ago. It was then that the first person appeared on the territory of Austria, ethnically resembling the inhabitants of the modern Caucasus. The offensive in the II-III millennium BC on Europe by the Aryan tribes led to the settlement of the regions of the future Austria by the ancestors of modern Albanians, then they were replaced by the Gauls. In the 1st century AD, Roman legions conquered Austria and turned its territory into a remote Roman province for almost four centuries, until the Great Migration of Nations began in the 4th century. Over the next four centuries, the Huns, Avars, Alans and Slavs visited here, and finally, in the 9th century, the Germans settled here, establishing the power of their kingdom.

In 1156, Austria achieved considerable independence and began to expand its borders. Apart from the temporary conquest of the country by the Czechs in the second half of the 13th century, its subsequent history can be viewed as a solid foreign policy triumph. In the XV century, the Austrian dukes become emperors of the "Holy Roman Empire", in the XVI - the kings of Spain with huge overseas colonies. The peak of the power of this state (since 1804 it was called the Austrian Empire) falls on the 18th century. In addition to its own lands, the empire owned almost all of Italy, Belgium, Romania, a significant part of Poland, Serbia, Western Ukraine, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Slovenia.

The defeats suffered during the Napoleonic Wars, and then the unsuccessful struggle with Prussia for hegemony in the German states, significantly undermined the international prestige of the empire, forced from the second half of the 19th century to follow the lead of German foreign policy (in 1867, the Austrian Empire was transformed into a dual monarchy - Austria - Hungary). This led her to an unprecedented disaster caused by the defeat of the Austrian troops in the First World War.

In 1918, the great power disintegrated into independent nation-states, Austria became a republic. The new democratic government took a course to maintain neutrality and improve the well-being of citizens. But the occupation of Nazi Germany in 1938-1945 led to new terrible destruction and casualties that slowed down the development of the country. However, at present, thanks to fruitful cooperation with Germany and a number of the most advanced countries in the world, Austria has become a prosperous corner of the planet.

The history of the country began more than 100 thousand years ago. It was then that the first person appeared on the territory of Austria, ethnically resembling the inhabitants of the modern Caucasus. The offensive in the II-III millennium BC on Europe by the Aryan tribes led to the settlement of the regions of the future Austria by the ancestors of modern Albanians, then they were replaced by the Gauls. In the 1st century AD, Roman legions conquered Austria and turned its territory into a remote Roman province for almost four centuries, until the Great Migration of Nations began in the 4th century. Over the next four centuries, the Huns, Avars, Alans and Slavs visited here, and finally, in the 9th century, the Germans settled here, establishing the power of their kingdom ....

Austria map

Popular Attractions

Austria Tourism

Where to stay

Austria is distinguished by a highly developed tourist infrastructure; it is easy to find a comfortable accommodation option for any type of recreation: sightseeing, active, wellness. Many hotels, boarding houses, private houses, apartments, chalets, campsites, the possibility of accommodation in the private sector, chain hotels, and even in palaces and castles make your stay in Austria convenient and enjoyable.

Several hotel chain corporations operate in Austria, for example, Hilton, Austria Trend, Bristol, Mariott, Renaissanse, Ibis, etc. All of them offer high standard comfort and service.

Lovers of luxury and romance have the opportunity to stay in castles and palaces turned into high-class hotels - Schlosshotel. Luxurious furnished rooms of several rooms, a romantic atmosphere of antiquity are waiting for guests here. Often these hotels offer high-quality wellness services.

At the resorts of Austria accommodation in balneological centers is possible. Comfortable living here is combined with a variety of wellness procedures, it is possible to consult specialists - doctors of various profiles, nutritionists and cosmetologists.

In Austria, pensions such as Gasthof are very popular. Most often, this is a family-run establishment with small cozy rooms and an inexpensive restaurant offering local cuisine. Some boarding houses located in popular places for outdoor activities are equipped with storage rooms for sports equipment, saunas, swimming pools, etc.

Young people often prefer accommodation in the Jugendherberge hostel. This is an economical overnight stay. For those traveling by car with trailers or tents, there is the possibility of overnight stay at special parking lots and campsites.

Recently, rural tourism with accommodation on farms or special rural hotels has been very popular. Often, not only breakfast is offered here, but half board or full board. In addition, rental services for boats, bicycles, sports equipment, etc. are offered.

Popular hotels

Tours and attractions in Austria

The nine federal states of Austria are united into one, but they differ greatly in natural landscapes, cultural patterns and attractions.

Vienna is the capital of Austria, the imperial residence, a modern city with a rich cultural life. Here you can see many palaces and monuments that testify to the turbulent historical past of the city, such as the Hofburg and Schönbrunn. Numerous museum collections showcase the rich cultural heritage of Austria. Cozy restaurants and cafeterias await visitors, the doors of bars and clubs do not close until the morning. Numerous festivals, opera and theatrical performances, church and secular holidays do not let tourists get bored.

Vienna is surrounded by the federal state of Lower Austria, famous for its vineyards, dense forests, caves and hills. The Wachau valley is a popular place of pilgrimage for tourists wishing to see the beauties of the baroque monasteries of Melk and Gottweig and to taste local wines.

Vorarlberg is located in the western part of the country and is full of natural attractions - mountains, glaciers, passes, lakes. On the shores of Lake Constance, an annual festival of opera art is held, attracting a lot of tourists from all over the world.

Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol, famous for its mountain landscapes, valleys and lakes. The baroque architecture of Innsbruck, combined with the surrounding mountains, makes this city unique.

Carinthia is a lake district in the southern part of Austria. Magnificent landscapes frame its capital - Klagenfurt, as well as many medieval castles and monasteries that have been preserved in this area of ​​​​Austria.

Salzburg is the city of Mozart and the annual music festival. The majestic castle above the city, numerous churches, palaces and museums attract many tourists here at any time of the year.

The nature of Styria is extremely diverse - these are the snow-covered peaks of the Dachstein, and gentle hills overgrown with vineyards, caves, endless forests and many fortresses and fortified monasteries. Graz, the capital of Styria, is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Central Europe.

The Salzkammergut is an area famous for its lakes and health resorts, located on the territory of Styria and Upper Austria. Majestic monasteries rise on the banks of the Danube and the Inn - Kremsmünster, Steyr, St. Florian. Nearby, in Bad Ischl is the former summer residence of the emperor. And Linz is famous for its numerous museums and the oldest church in Austria.

Burgenland is the easternmost land of Austria. Here is the Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel National Park - a unique habitat for rare birds. The capital of Burgenland - Eisenstadt - the city of the great composer Joseph Haydn.

Austrian cuisine

Surely, with the word "Austria" you will immediately think of Vienna, the waltz, and, of course, the delicious apple Viennese strudel, because Viennese pastries are one of the most luxurious in the world.

First of all, it should be said about Austrian cuisine that it is very traditional, in the sense of its regionality. In Tyrolean cuisine, the influence of Italy is strong, in Salzburg - German; but in general, there is a lot in common with the cuisines of Eastern Europe (the imperial past, after all): with Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. And also with Turkey. This is the reason for many years of military conflicts. In particular, the famous strudel (or strudel - a very thin apple roll) is of Turkish origin, as is the Viennese coffee culture (Kaffehaus). The influence of other countries can be seen even in the names: Salzburg dumplings, Viennese strudel, Linzer cake, Burgenland kripfels, etc.

Today, Austrian culinary remains one of the few that certainly includes first courses in the lunch menu. And for the second - again meat, most often beef or pork. The Austrians themselves, in order to introduce their cuisine, are advised to taste old Viennese boiled beef, Beuschel - a delicacy from the heart and lungs of domestic animals, Kuttelgrostel - tripe and Buchteln - stuffed pies. And be sure to goulash (for example, from Jerusalem artichoke), perhaps the most popular dish in Austria. Instead of seasonings and spices, onion rings fried in oil are preferred.

Due to the distance from the sea, fish is not very popular, except perhaps river fish. But for Christmas, carp is sure to rely. And tourist gastronomic clichés are, of course, Wiener Schnitzel, Sacher Torte and Austrian beer.

Surely, with the word "Austria" you will immediately think of Vienna, waltz, and, of course, the most delicious apple Viennese strudel, because Viennese pastries are one of the most luxurious in the world....

Tips

Tipping is 5% of the order value, in large restaurants it is customary to leave 10% of the bill. The waiter will definitely return the change on the bill, and after that you must leave a tip. You can leave small coins in the bar and cafe. Tipping is not given in street cafes. It is customary for a taxi driver to leave 10% over the counter, you can just leave a change from the change.

Visa

Office Hours

Museum opening hours vary from museum to museum. The day off for museums is usually Monday.

Standard opening hours of shops - from 9.30 or 10 to 18 hours. Break - from 12 to 13 hours or 13.30. Many grocery stores and bakeries open early in the morning - at 7 or 7.30. Large central stores in large cities operate without interruption. On Saturday, shops are open until 12 or 13 o'clock.

The traditional day off in hairdressing salons is Monday.

Banks are open on weekdays. Opening hours are from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:30 to 15:00. On Thursday banks close at 17.30.

Purchases

Foreign tourists permanently residing outside the EU, when purchasing goods worth more than 75 euros, can receive a VAT refund (more) (VAT in Austria is 32%) if these goods are exported to countries that are not members of the EU.

To receive a refund of approximately 13% of the price you need:
1. Claim at stores with a blue and silver "TAX FREE-Free Shopping" sign when purchasing a Tax-free check with an envelope.
2. This check is filled out in full by the seller.
3. Before departure, the Tax-free check, the original invoice and the goods must be presented to customs. The customs officer stamps the check. Attention: without a customs mark, there is no refund!
4. Money can be returned directly at the points of payment at airports, railway stations and border points, which are indicated on the Tax-free envelope. For most art, collectibles, books and food items, the return minus commissions is 6-8% of the purchase price.

Vienna - Q&A

Burgenland - Q&A

Austria is one of the richest countries in the world. Despite the small area, the lack of minerals and the multinational composition, the state is prospering, and the income level of the population is constantly growing. The primary role in achieving such a result is played by the unity of society, which many countries can envy.

A huge number of nationalities and ethnic groups work as a whole, despite the obvious differences in their mentality and appearance. At the same time, the language in Austria is as diverse and colorful as the ethnicity of its inhabitants.

Austria is located in the Central part of Europe, covers an area of ​​84 thousand square meters. km and borders with 8 countries. Its geographical neighbors are , and . Each of these states not only influences the cultural development of the regions, but also introduces certain speech changes into their everyday life.

For many centuries, Austria was part of various principalities and kingdoms, and when it gained independence, it began to annex other lands. As a result of centuries of history, about 30–40 ethnic groups and communities lived on the territory occupied by modern Austria. At the same time, each nation had its own mentality, values ​​and speech features. If the modern culture of the Austrian state was formed from the first 2 components, then everything is far from being so simple with the language.

The official language in Austria is German

The official language in Austria is only one - German, which is enshrined in relevant acts at the legislative level. At the same time, out of 8.5 million people living in the country, the vast majority (about 87%) are German-speaking. The remaining 13–13.5% speak other languages ​​and dialects that have been formed over many years of close proximity to other countries. However, the German language in Austria is absolutely different from the one that sounds in Germany. The multinational composition of the state left its mark on the speech style of its citizens. In some lands, it is so modified that the native German does not recognize it as his own.

The national German language is divided into two categories - official and colloquial. The first is closest to the traditional dialect of the inhabitants of Germany, and the second was formed under the influence of other linguistic trends. The official language is used to complete all documentation, educate children, conduct various sports and cultural events. At the same time, colloquial speech sounds when people communicate in everyday life and is different depending on the region.

What language is spoken in Switzerland can be found in the video.

In general, the spoken language of the inhabitants of Austria is close in sound to the Bavarian and Vorarlberg dialect, which is the national language of Switzerland. In addition, other dialects are widely used for communication, such as Swabian German, Styrian or Swiss German.

Languages ​​of other peoples in Austria: the second official and approved at the regional level

What language is spoken in Austria? It is rather difficult to answer this question. The official language of the country is German.

It is he who is used to fill out all official papers, business correspondence, the creation of printed materials, road signs and other information of national importance.

Almost all local residents, if they do not speak it, then at least understand it. Most often, Austrian German is heard on the streets of the capital and its environs, for which it received the name of the Viennese dialect.

In regions far from Vienna, speech is becoming less and less like German, changing beyond recognition. Such a metamorphosis is especially noticeable in the border regions, where the indigenous people are mixed with representatives of neighboring powers. On the territory of Austria there are 6 officially recognized national minorities, including Czechs, Slovenes, Croats, Roma, Slovaks and Hungarians. Most of them are located along the respective borders, and only the gypsies are dispersed throughout the country.

In Austria, people speak more than 3 languages

The legal status of small ethnic groups, enshrined in law, contributed to the transfer of some languages ​​to a special status. As a result, in some regions the following are considered official:

• Gradishian-Croatian;
• Hungarian;
• Slovenian.

Each of the above languages ​​can be heard on the Austrian streets. At the same time, the most widespread among them was the Hungarian language, the native speakers of which are at least 40,000 people. At the same time, 3–14 times more people use it to communicate. Most of them live in Burgenland, which directly borders Hungary, and in the region of the capital of Austria, Vienna. Representatives of the Slovenian diaspora are smaller in number and amount to approximately 24,000 people. They live mainly in the border regions of Styria and Carinthia. Gradischansko-Croatian is common in the Burgenland region, where most of the Croats (19,000 people) live. This dialect is used in colloquial speech by about 150,000 inhabitants.

On the territory of Burgenlad, the Hradishchansko-Croatian language is spoken.

The following languages ​​do not have official status, but are legally approved in some regions:

• Czech;
• Slovak;
• Gypsy.

Basically, they can be heard in certain areas of Lower Austria and the capital of the country. At the same time, carriers Czech language there are 18,000, Slovak - 10,000, and Roma - about 6,000 people.

Austrians know English quite well and not only understand it, but can also communicate fluently in it. At the same time, it belongs to the category of foreign languages, and its study is included in the general education program. Therefore, after graduation, most young people are fluent in it. In general, about 58-60% of Austrians have enough knowledge to fully communicate with foreign citizens. In addition to English, French is taught in schools, which has the status of a second foreign language.

Full official form of the name of the state: Republic

Form of government: Federal Republic

Membership in international organizations: is a member of the UN (since 1955) and is a member of a number of UN specialized agencies (UNESCO, UNIDO, WHO, FAO, IFAD, ILO, ICAO, ITU, UPU, WIPO, WMO, IAEA, IBRD, IFC, IMF, MAP, etc. ). is a member of the EU, WTO, OECD, OSCE, CE, CEI, EBRD, Interpol and other organizations

Square: 83,879 km² (114th in the world)

The border: total length 2562 km
* in the north with the Czech Republic - 362 km,
* in the northeast with Slovakia - 91 km,
* in the east with Hungary - 366 km,
* in the south with Slovenia - 330 km and Italy - 430 km,
* in the west with Liechtenstein - 35 km and Switzerland - 164 km,
* in the northwest with Germany - 784 km

Population: 8,401,940 people (2011, census) (94th in the world)

Population density: 101.4 people/km² (80th in the world)

Capital: Vienna

: 9 lands

Official language: Deutsch

Currency: Euro

Internet domain:.at

Timezone:(UTC+1, summer UTC+2)

Telephone code:+61

OKSM codes: AU (alpha-2) AUS (alpha-3) 040 (digital code)

Geographical position

Flora and fauna

The country is rich forests(47% of the entire territory). The Austrian flora is characterized by an oak-beech forest in the valleys, and at an altitude of more than 500 m - a beech-spruce mixed forest. Above 1200 m, spruce predominates, larch and cedar are found. Alpine meadows in the foothills.

Fauna- typical Central European. There are roe deer, hare, deer, pheasant, partridge, fox, marten, badger, squirrel. The surroundings of Lake Neusiedl are unique protected nesting sites for birds of various species. In the highlands of the Eastern Alps, the composition of the fauna is typically alpine.

Political system

Legislature

The highest body of legislative power and the body of people's representation- bicameral Federal Assembly, consisting of the National Council (NC) and the Federal Council (Bundesrat). Joint meetings of the Federal Assembly are held when the president is sworn in and to decide whether to declare war. It may also call a referendum to remove the president.

Legislative functions are performed by the National Assembly (together with the Bundesrat), elected for 4 years in general direct elections by secret ballot. The leadership of the National Assembly is carried out by the President of the National Assembly, as well as the Second President of the National Assembly and the Third President of the National Assembly. These three presidents form the college and act as federal president when he is unable to do so.

Representation of political parties in the National Council

The second chamber of the Austrian Parliament is the Bundesrat. Its 64 members represent 9 federal states in proportion to their population (for example, Lower - 12, and Vorarlberg and Burgenland - 3 each). Members of the Bundesrat are elected and delegated by the Landtags for 4 or 6 years. The Bundesrat can protest the law, and then the National Council votes again with a larger quorum. The President of the Bundesrat is elected in alphabetical order from each state for a period of six months.

Representation of political parties in the Federal Council

Elections to all bodies of popular representation shall be universal, direct, free and equal by secret ballot. The right to vote is granted to all citizens who have reached the age of 18. Participation in presidential elections is mandatory. Elections to the National Assembly are held according to the proportional system (three-stage proportional system: 1 vote for a certain party list, inside the list - for a certain candidate in the regional and land constituencies). In the National Assembly there are parties that have won a regional mandate or received 4% of the votes across the board.

executive power

Supreme body of executive power- federal government. Formed on February 28, 2003 from representatives of the ANP and APS, the government consists of 11 federal ministries: social security, Generations and Consumer Protection (Minister Vice-Chancellor H. Haupt, APS); foreign affairs; internal affairs; justice; national defense; finance; economy and labor; agriculture and forestry, environment and water management; health and women's affairs; transport, innovation and technology; education, science and culture.

The government is headed by the Federal Chancellor. He forms the cabinet and coordinates its work. When making decisions, the principle of unanimity applies. The chancellor must take into account the opinion of the vice-chancellor, whose role in the Austrian coalition government is great.

Heads of Government (Federal Chancellors)

Judicial branch

Administrative-territorial division

The Austrian Federation consists of 9 lands with their own parliament (Landtag), constitution and government. The Lower and Upper lands lie on both sides of the Danube, while Salzburg, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Carinthia and Styria lie entirely or for the most part in the Alps; Burgenland is located on the outskirts of the Middle Danube Plain in the east of the country. The city of Vienna - the capital - is administratively equated with the lands.

Population

Cities

The largest cities: Vienna, Graz (238 thousand people), Linz (203 thousand people), Salzburg (144 thousand people), Innsbruck (118 thousand people). The share of the urban population is 60%.

National composition

Ethnic composition The population is homogeneous, about 98% are German-speaking Austrians. In addition, there are 6 recognized national minorities: Croats, Slovenes, Czechs, Slovaks, Hungarians, Gypsies (about 300 thousand people in total).

The number of foreigners according to the 2001 census is 707 thousand people. (8.8%), according to estimates - more than 760 thousand, of which 45% are citizens of the former Yugoslavia.

Languages

Colloquial- dialect of German; There are many local dialects in the country. Slovenian is the official language of Carinthia, and Croatian and Hungarian are the official languages ​​of Burgenland.

Demography

According to the 2001 census total population amounted to 8.03 million people. There is almost no natural increase in the population: every year the number of births and deaths is almost the same. At the same time, both the birth rate and the death rate are declining: in 2001, 75.5 thousand were born, and 74.8 thousand died (by 9.3‰). A slight excess of births over deaths in last years provided at the expense of foreigners (+8.2 thousand against -7.5 thousand for the Austrians). Infant mortality 4.8 pers. per 1000 live births. average life expectancy 78.8 years, including 75.9 years for men and 81.7 years for women (2001). In 2001, there were 3,889,189 men and 4,143,737 women. The number of residents aged 60 and over is growing: their share is about 20% (including more than 7% over 75).

Religious denominations

According to the 2001 census, 73.6% of Austrians are Catholics, 4.7% are Protestants, 6.5% of the population belongs to other religious denominations (Islam - 4.2%, Orthodox Church - 2.2%, Judaism - 0.1 %; a total of 12 confessions are registered), 12% of the population do not identify themselves with any of the confessions (in 1991 there were only 8.6%).

Political parties, trade unions and other public organizations

is a country with a multi-party system. So, at the moment there are more than 15 major political parties in the republic, the most influential of which are the People's Party (ANP), the Social Democratic Party (SPA; until 1991 - the Socialist Party), the Freedom Party (APS), "Union for the Future" and "Greens".

Since it is a parliamentary republic, the role of the legislative assembly in determining the political course of the country is quite large. In fact, the winning party or coalition of parties gets the opportunity to implement their ideas by forming a cabinet of ministers. In addition, political parties also perform such functions typical of such organizations as aggregation and articulation of the interests of groups of citizens, political socialization, change of the ruling elite and introduction of new figures into politics.

Despite the multi-party system, in the second half of the XX century. in fact, the so-called. a system of "two and a half" parties, in which two powerful parties - in this case the ANP and the SPA - for a long time appointed governments only with ministers from their ranks within the framework of a two-party coalition (in 1970-1983, only the SPA formed the government), and only sometimes resorted to an alliance with the Austrian Freedom Party (SPA and APS coalition in 1983-1987, ANP and APS in 2000-2007, where the Alliance for the Future has also participated since 2003). In January 2007 and December 2008, the coalition governments re-formed the SPA and the ANP.

Such a system is typical for many parliamentary republics that are developed democracies, and experts tend to consider such a party system as one of the most stable and stable. In addition to Europe, a similar practice has been established, for example, in Germany.

The Party Funding Act was adopted in 1975. According to it, the parties whose representatives form the composition of the National Council are provided with budgetary support for participating in elections to national representative bodies and the European Parliament, as well as for conducting public campaigns and the work of party research organizations. In addition to the fixed rate, additional funds are allocated in proportion to the number of votes received in the last election (if the party received 1% or more). The spending of the funds provided is carried out under the strict control of the relevant state bodies.

Political parties

Social Democratic Party (SPA). It arose in 1945 as the successor to the Social Democratic Labor Party, which had existed since 1889. Until 1991 it was known as the Socialist Party. After the Second World War, the party upholds the principles of democratic socialism, stands up for the preservation social guarantees for the population, increasing benefits and subsidies. She also supports neutrality. The party's supporters traditionally include workers, as well as part of the middle class. Chairman - A. Gusenbauer

, People's Party (ANP). It was formed in 1945 on the basis of the Christian Social Party, which arose back in late XIX v. At times, on a national scale, and quite often in individual states, the ANP gains the upper hand over the socialists. In the second half of the XX century. it was supported mainly by farmers and entrepreneurs who advocated an early entry into the European Community, and then into the European Union. ANP members define their party's orientation as progressive-centrist. The ANP is located in the central part of the political spectrum, with a tendency to shift to the right. It consists of three unions: the Economic Union, which unites industrialists and merchants, the Peasants' Union and the Union of Workers and Employees. Chairman - V. Schussel.

, Freedom Party (APS). Created in 1956 on the basis of the right-wing Radical Union of Independents. The ideology of the APS was characteristic of right-wing populist parties, and its supporters included mainly those who had previously supported Hitler's Nazi regime. In the 1960s and 1970s, the ideology of the party began to gradually change, becoming less radical (although remaining right-wing). At the end of the XX century. the party under the leadership of Jörg Haider found itself at the center of political life and gained notoriety in Europe, but the short-term triumph did not allow it to gain practical influence on the life of the country and soon ended in a decline in popularity and a split. Chairman - S. Riss-Passer.

"Greens" An environmentalist party that advocates for the environment. It emerged on the political scene in 1986 under the name "Green Alternative - Freda Meissner-Blau's List". Chairman - A. van der Bellen.

"Union for the Future" is a right-wing party founded in 2005 by Jörg Haider after leaving the Austrian Freedom Party. He advocates limiting immigration and the social orientation of the economy.

There is also a neo-Nazi National Democratic Party which practically does not play a significant role in the political life of the country.

Economy
is one of the most developed countries in Europe. GDP per capita in 2002 amounted to 24.7 thousand euros (in 1995 prices). This indicator is constantly growing (in 1990 it was 20.1 thousand euros, in 1995 - 21.4 thousand euros), and in US dollars at current prices and at purchasing power parity in 2001 - 28.2 thousand (with an average of EU 25.5 thousand). Thus, it was ahead of Sweden, Great Britain, Italy, France, Germany, and was second only to Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland and Luxembourg.

The volume of GDP in constant prices in 2002 amounted to 200.7 billion euros. GDP production per 1 employed in 2001 (labor productivity) - 58.3 thousand euros.

The economy is distinguished by a relatively low level of inflation (in 2002 - 1.8%) and unemployment (in 2000 - 3.7% of the able-bodied population, in 2002 - 4.3%). The consumer price index in 2002 to 1996 was 108.8, while in the EU as a whole it was 110.8 (see Tables 3, 4).

Approximately 2.2% of GDP is produced in agriculture and forestry, 32.3% in industry, energy and construction, 65.5% in services, trade, transport and communications, banking and insurance systems.

Industry

The most important industries are engineering, food, chemical, pulp and paper, metallurgical. In the automotive industry, the most important part is the production of engines (900 thousand units per year) and gearboxes, with a share of their exports of St. 90%. In the field of electronic technology, it has gained international recognition by custom-made integrated circuits and chips. The production, mainly for export, of complex industrial equipment is becoming increasingly important.

The potential of hydroelectric power plants is constantly expanding, the largest producer of hydroelectric power in the EU. If in 1998 hydroelectric power plants produced 38.7 thousand GW (67.4% of all electricity produced in the country), then in 2000 - 43.5 thousand GW (70.5%). At the same time, in 2000 the country exported 15.1 GW and imported 13.8 GW.

Industrial production in 2002 increased by 32.9% compared to the level of 1995, with the largest increase observed in Carinthia (by 56.5%), while in Vienna it decreased by 3.6%. The growth in the production of investment goods over the same period was 56.5%, while consumer durables decreased by 0.5% (although in 2000 the index was 110.6). Clothing production fell by 2 times, but production in the tobacco industry increased by more than 2 times. The production index in mechanical engineering was 173.8, in electrical engineering - 203.0, in the production of vehicles and their components - 203.9. Particularly rapid growth was observed in the production of office equipment and information processing devices - the index in 2002 by 1995 was 656, and in 2001 it was even higher - 699.

Agriculture

Despite the fact that the mountainous terrain is not very suitable for agriculture, the use of modern farming methods makes it possible to meet 3/4 of the needs of the domestic market agricultural products.

41% of the country's area is in agricultural use. Agricultural and forestry workers make up only 5% of the working population. In agriculture, there are strict standards for the use of plant protection products and fertilizers. In 70% of enterprises using 90% of agricultural land, they participate in the national environmental program (on average in the EU - about 20%). More than 20 thousand farms produce environmentally friendly bio-products.

Transport and communications

The length of railways is a little over 6 thousand km, of which more than half are electrified. The total length of highways is 133.4 thousand km, including more than 1600 km - express roads. More than 4 million cars and about 350 thousand trucks have been registered. Inland waterways - 358 km. In passenger traffic, bus transport is the leader - 608 million people. in 2000, followed by rail - 183 million. In terms of freight traffic, road transport is more than 3 times higher than rail transport, but in terms of ton-kilometers, their indicators are approximately equal (in 2001, road transport - 17,556 million t-km, rail - 17,387 million t-km).

6 international airports: in Vienna, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, Linz and Klagenfurt. The largest airline - "Airlines" - has 90 aircraft and in 2000 carried 8 million passengers (out of a total of 15.6 million).

The length of oil pipelines is 777 km, gas pipelines - 840 km. About 60 million tons of products were pumped through pipelines in 2001.

Despite the lack of access to the sea, it has 10 merchant ships.

The country is well developed connection, about 30 companies operate in the communication services market. There are 4 million telephone points and 6 million mobile phones. Almost half of the population - 4 million people. - uses the Internet.

Services sector

- a highly industrialized country, but the majority of the population works in retail, banking, healthcare, education and tourism, the latter being one of the most profitable industries in the economy.

In 2002, the number of tourists was 27.4 million, including 18.6 million foreign tourists. Gross tourism receipts in 2002 are estimated at 9.6 billion euros (which is almost 1.7 billion euros less than in 2001, although the number of tourists has increased).

In recent years, a number of important economic and political functions have been carried out to a greater or lesser extent by supranational state bodies (primarily this applies to external trade and monetary policy). However, at the national level, the Austrian government continues to carry out important tasks of economic and social policy.

Monetary and financial systems

After 1999, the main functions of monetary regulation in connection with the formation of the Economic and Monetary Union were transferred to the European Central Bank (ECB). The National Bank is a member of the European System of Central Banks and implements the policies formulated by the ECB. At the same time, the National Bank retains the functions of control over the payment turnover and the issuance of euro banknotes, and the management of its gold and foreign exchange reserves.

Credit institutions in are very diverse. In terms of balance sheet value, the leading place is occupied by savings banks (38% of the total balance sheet amount at the end of 2000), and in terms of the number of institutions and branches, Raiffeisenbanks (625 main institutions out of a total of 923 and 1,741 branches out of 4,556). In addition, there are joint-stock banks (second place in terms of balance sheet), construction savings banks, land mortgage banks, Volksbanks, and special banks. If in the 1980s the number of credit institutions grew, then in the 1990s it slightly decreased.

The share of GDP redistributed by the state is very large, although it has been declining slightly in recent years. If in 1990 total government spending, including social funds, amounted to 53.1% of GDP, then in 1993 it was 57.9%, but then decreased to 52.5% in 2000 and 52.3% in 2001.

The state budget deficit is practically constant (with the exception of 2001, when there was a surplus of +0.3% of GDP). But if in the beginning 1990s it fluctuated from 3 to 5.2%, then since 1997 it did not exceed 2.4%, and in 2002 it was 0.6%, i.e. the country complies with the Maastricht criteria for this indicator. However, the public debt, which before 1992 was less than 60% of GDP, then increased to 69.2% and now fluctuates at the level of 67-68% (or 146.5 billion euros, including 132.2 billion - federal debt), exceeding the 60% limit set by the Maastricht Treaty.

Federal budget expenditures, according to preliminary data, in 2002 amounted to 61.8 billion euros, and revenues - 59.4 billion euros. Approximately 45% of income comes from taxes on income and property, 29.7% comes from turnover tax, 8% from excise taxes. The main part of the expenses is for the social sphere.

Standards of living

The government is implementing a tax reform in order to reduce the level of taxation of wages and other incomes of citizens and their families, while providing some tax benefits to entrepreneurs, as well as to simplify the tax system as a whole while tightening control over tax payments.

There is a developed system of social security and protection, which has two levels: compulsory insurance and state social help. While providing social stability and security, this system is nevertheless very costly and requires - including for demographic reasons - ever-increasing deductions. Therefore, if in 1990-2001 total gross wages increased by 51%, then net wages - by only 35% (at the same time, deductions in the form of payroll tax and social contributions doubled).

In 2001, the average nominal wage per 1 employee was 2,400 euros per month (gross), having increased by 41% compared to 1990 (net wages per 1 employee in 2001 amounted to 1,620 euros and increased compared to 1990 by 26.6 %).

A positive factor for the sustainability of the standard of living of the population is the low growth in prices for consumer goods and services; over the past 2 years, the price of tobacco products has increased the most (by 10.8%), and the least (by 1.1%) - for household electricity and home heating.

So far, unemployment is relatively low, but if the stagnation of the European economy drags on, it could rise significantly. The number of registered unemployed averaged 232.4 thousand people. The number of vacancies has decreased markedly. Among the unemployed, the proportion of persons over 50 in 2002 was 48.4%. The number of job seekers for more than 1 year is only 5.5%, the average duration of registration at the labor exchange is 137 days.

International trade

external economic ties; trades with 150 countries of the world.

Export goods in 2002 77.3 billion euros (4.1% more than in 2001; in 2000 the growth was 15.6%, in 2001 - 6.5%). Cars, paper and cardboard, automobiles, ferrous metals are exported. Almost half of exports are consumer goods.

Import goods in 2002 - 76.9 billion euros (2.2% less than in 2001; in 2000 the growth was 14.7%, in 2001 - 5%). Mostly finished products are imported, with consumer goods accounting for half of the imports.

In 2002, there was a slight positive trade balance, while in previous years it was negative.

The vast majority of Austrian trade is with EU countries (60.2% of exports and 65.8% of imports). Germany is the main trading partner (its share in the trade turnover is 36.1%), followed by Italy, Switzerland, France, and Hungary by a wide margin. Trade with Eastern European countries is growing steadily: exports to these countries (excluding CIS countries) amounted to 13.5 billion euros (17.5%), and imports from them - 10.2 billion euros (13.2%).

Trade turnover with the Russian Federation has also been growing in recent years: from 1893 million euros in 2000 to 1985 million euros in 2002, however, imports from the Russian Federation fell from 1238 million to 1032 million, and exports to the Russian Federation increased from 655 million to 953 million. Machinery, products of the chemical industry (primarily pharmaceuticals), paper and cardboard, steel pipes for oil production are mainly exported to the Russian Federation, energy carriers and metals are imported from the Russian Federation.

The balance of payments on current operations in 2002 was positive (both in goods and services). The balance of capital movements is more often negative or with a slight plus.

Foreign investment is granted national treatment on the basis of reciprocity. Established in 1983, the state specialized agency successfully supports the placement of foreign enterprises in. The largest foreign investor is Germany (about 30% of investments).

Domestic politics

Maintaining law and order and legality are the main tasks domestic policy. For many decades, social peace was maintained in the country (on the basis of a highly developed welfare state, but not least thanks to a system of social partnership and complicity in governance). Only in 2003, as a result of the planned pension scheme, did mass protests and strikes take place - for the first time in many decades.

Increasing in the 1990s the influx of refugees and immigrants led to the strengthening of right-wing radical and nationalist sentiments among a part of the Austrian society, which was expressed by the leader of the APS, J. Haider. The entry of his party into the federal government on February 4, 2000 caused a wave of protests at home and abroad and EU sanctions. On February 29, Haider resigned as chairman of the party. Nevertheless, the problem of right-wing radicalism has become one of the main ones for Austrian domestic politics.

Economic policy

A characteristic feature of post-war development is the significant proportion of state sector enterprises in industry. In 1986, the share of state-owned enterprises united in the Esterreichische Industriholding A.G. ("EIAG"), in the volume of industrial production was about 30%, and in the total number of people employed in industry - 20%.

In 1987, the Austrian government adopted the EIAG "rehabilitation" program, aimed at the consistent privatization of promising and profitable enterprises and the elimination of inefficient industries. By 2000, the state retained only 2 enterprises in full ownership, and in the rest it retains equity participation, and the largest in the tobacco industry (more than 40%), in the airlines company (39.7%), in the capital of the largest concerns in the ferrous metallurgy (35-39%).

In economic policy in the 1990s a line was drawn towards further reduction of the public sector, privatization, reduction of the direct participation of the state in economic activity, support for private entrepreneurship, shifting the center of gravity of state regulation to improving the framework conditions for the activities of economic entities.

The coalition government of the ANP and APS, having proclaimed the slogan "govern in a new way", has outlined a program of reforms, which, to a certain extent, can lead to a gradual erosion of the social partnership system that has guaranteed social stability in society for decades.

The government pays great attention to the tasks of financial consolidation, reorganization of the country's budget, improvement of the financial situation of individual structures with direct or indirect participation of the state. The most important components of the government program are the implementation of the pension reform, which caused violent protests in the country, the consistent privatization of state property, the reform of the administrative and management sphere, the development of the national capital market, and the strengthening of the scientific potential of the economy.

Social politics

Comprehensive reform is of particular importance welfare systems. Social insurance is compulsory for all non-self-employed workers (except government officials). Employees and employers pay in equal shares numerous social contributions, from which the relevant social funds are formed: pension, medical, accident, unemployment insurance, contribution to compensation funds in case of bankruptcy of an enterprise, contribution to equalize the situation of families, assistance in housing construction and some others .

International relationships

The status of permanent neutrality and refusal to participate in military-political blocs set certain limits for foreign policy activity. This did not mean isolationism or "equidistance" from West and East, and did not prevent it from effectively integrating into the Western democratic community. In 1956 she became a member of the Council of Europe, and in 1960 she became a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The 1970s were the high point of the country's activity at the UN.

Even greater opportunities for using openness appeared after its accession to the EU in 1995. Since February 10, 1995, it has been participating in the NATO Partnership for Peace program. By signing the Amsterdam Treaty (1998), he actually agrees to participate in the common defense policy of the EU countries.

Vienna, like other cities, is often chosen as a place of international meetings. So, for many years, starting in 1975, negotiations were held here on the mutual reduction of armed forces and armaments in the countries of Central Europe. In June 1979, the Treaty on the Limitation of Offensive Arms (SALT-2) was signed between the USSR and the USA in Vienna. At present, the central offices of a number of international organizations are located in Vienna, including the IAEA, UNIDO, OPEC, as well as the Secretariat and the Permanent Council of the OSCE.

Since the 1970s, it has pursued a policy of "active neutrality", promoting "diplomacy of contacts" (including between the leaders of the USSR and the USA), supporting political and military detente. In the 1980s and 1990s, the European orientation of Austrian foreign policy intensified. In the 1990s, the foreign policy towards the neighboring countries of Central and Eastern Europe became more active.

Resources of influence on the international environment and international processes

It has an average potential for impact on the external environment.

The population is 0.129% of the total population of the Earth. German is the official language in Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Belgium. It also has official status in the Opolskie Voivodeship (Poland), Sopron (Hungary), Trentino-Alto Adige (Italy). German is spoken in at least 15 other countries. The actually Austrian variety of the German language is spoken only in South Tyrol (Trentino-Alto Adige).

Participates in a number of organizations, including the EU.

The share in UN funding in 2008 was 18,277,780 US dollars, or 0.887% of the contributions of all participating countries (in the US - 22%).

The quota in the IMF in 2008 was 0.86% of the total quota, the “weight” in decision-making was 0.86% of the total number of votes (in the United States, these figures were 17.09% and 16.79%, respectively).

Member of the Paris Club of creditor countries.

Weight in the global economy

Relations with Russia

Diplomatic relations between the USSR and the first Austrian Republic were established in February 1924 and terminated in March 1938 after annexation by the Third Reich. In October 1945 diplomatic relations were restored at the level of embassies, which in 1953 were transformed into embassies.

Relations between the Russian Federation and Russia are developing positively. Political contacts are maintained at a high level, inter-parliamentary ties are developing.

The contractual and legal basis of Russian-Austrian relations includes both the agreements of the Soviet period, adapted to the new conditions, and the agreements concluded after 1991.

The main document in the field of bilateral trade and economic relations is the intergovernmental Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation dated November 8, 1993. According to the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, in 2007 trade turnover with amounted to 5.19 billion US dollars (Russian exports - 2.74 billion US dollars). ., imports - 2.46 billion dollars).

The basis of Russian exports are energy carriers, mainly natural gas (more than 90% of Austrian gas imports), oil and oil products. Non-ferrous metals, timber, cellulose, pharmaceutical and chemical products, optics are supplied. The share of machinery and equipment in Russian exports remains extremely small.

Russian imports from are dominated by finished products, among which a solid place is occupied by machinery and equipment, including metallurgical, instrumentation and medical devices. Important positions of Russian imports are ferrous metals and products from them, medicines, food, chemical products, clothing and footwear, paper and cardboard.

The accumulated volume of Austrian investments in Russia is 2 billion US dollars. More than 1200 Austrian firms operate on the Russian market (150 have representative offices in Russia) and approx. 500 companies with Austrian capital. Almost 80% of Austrian investments are in the non-manufacturing sector, including the provision of trade, intermediary, consulting and information services. The remaining joint ventures are engaged in metallurgy, mechanical engineering, pulp and paper, woodworking, medical and food industries, and construction.

Russia and provide each other with the most favored nation treatment in trade in the scope of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. the party supports Russia's intention to join the WTO and the OECD.

Military establishment

Military establishment consist of ground and air forces.

According to the report "Military Balance 2008" (Military Balance 2008), prepared by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (International Institute of Strategie Studies), the number of armed forces in 2007 was 39,600 people. In service ground forces there were 114 MBTs, 112 infantry fighting vehicles, 458 armored personnel carriers and 684 artillery systems. The Air Force is to receive 15 European-made EF-2000 Typhoon multirole fighters by the end of 2009 Military spending as a percentage of GDP is below world levels.

military spending

Based on materials WikiKnowledge

Add news to:

Austria. Hearing the name of this country, only the words “stability”, “quality”, “reliability” come to mind. People come here in search of a calm and measured life, first-class medical care and environmentally friendly products.

We offer all potential emigrants to Austria to study in more detail the features of living in this European state.

Where is Austria located?

The country is located in the very center of Europe and borders on Germany and the Czech Republic (in the north), Hungary and Slovakia (in the east), Italy and Slovenia (in the south), as well as Liechtenstein and Switzerland (in the west).

Despite the fact that there is no direct access to the sea in Austria, the geographical location is quite advantageous: there is active trade with other states across the Danube River (Vienna and Linz are considered the main ports).

Due to its location, Austria has long been the center of skiing and recreation in Europe - more than half of the country is occupied by the Eastern Alps. Mountain ranges stretch for almost 500 kilometers.

State structure of Austria

The form of government of Austria is a federal republic. It is headed by the President, he is elected for 6 years. The highest legislative body of Austria is the Bicameral Parliament, its term of office is 4 years.

The state consists of 9 lands:

• Burgenland;
• Carinthia;
• Upper Austria;
• Lower Austria;
• Salzburg;
• Styria;
• Vein;
• Tyrol;
• Vorarlberg.

The smallest on this list is Vienna (415 km²), the largest is Lower Austria (over 19 thousand km²). In the Danube Valley are Upper and Lower Austria, Burgenland, and Vienna - the most populated federal lands, optimal for the development of agriculture.

The remaining elements of the administrative-territorial structure of Austria are located in the foothills of the Alps, therefore, they are of little use for agriculture and heavy industry, and therefore less densely populated.

Each land provides for a separate legislative body (Landtag), as well as its own government - from the governor and his advisers. The government is elected by the Ladtag every 5 years (in Upper Austria - once every 6 years).

Despite the federal form of government in Austria, central power is concentrated in Vienna, while the regions have little legislative power.

Austria is one of the European economic "giants", an industrial-agrarian state with excellent development prospects and a high standard of living. The Austrian economy is today closely connected with the economies of other EU states (especially the German one), and its main advantages are as follows:

• top positions in the insurance and banking sectors (mainly in the states of Central and Eastern Europe);
• strong industrial production. An extremely important role in the economy of modern Austria is played by transport and agricultural engineering, as well as the production of machine tools and other equipment. The main industrial centers of the country are Vienna, Linz and Graz;
• developed agricultural spectrum (sown area is over 4 million hectares);
• a large flow of foreign investment, as well as an effective set of reforms carried out at the level of the government of the Republic;
• tourism. It plays a special role in the Austrian economy. In particular, this applies to ski resorts in the Austrian Alps. So, on average, about 15 million tourists visit the country per year.

The weaknesses of the Austrian national economy are dependence on gas and oil imported into the country, as well as the slow pace of transition to increased competition.

Taxation in Austria

Income tax

This tax is levied on the income of individuals, regardless of their sources. If a citizen does not live in Austria permanently (stay in the country does not exceed 180 days), income received from Austrian sources will be taxed.

The rate is:

• 0% - with income up to 11 thousand euros;
• 36.% - with income up to 25 thousand euros;
• 43.2% - with income up to 60 thousand euros;
• 50% - with income over 60 thousand euros.

Corporate tax

Legal entities are subject to corporate tax, the specific amount is determined by the amount of profit. The general tax rate is 25%.

value added tax

The standard rate is 20%.

Reduced rate (rent of an apartment, food, agricultural products, gas, electricity) - 10%.

Medical, banking, insurance services, as well as the rental of real estate (if it is not intended for living) are exempt from VAT.

gift tax

Since 2008 the tax has been abolished. Gifts in the family circle must be registered with the tax authority if the value of gifts given within 5 years exceeds 50 thousand euros.

Real estate purchase tax

When buying a property, you must pay a tax of 3.5% of the value of the object.

Population of Austria

The population of Austria is over 8 million people. The largest ethnic group in Austria is the Austrians (more than 88% of the population). In second place are 6 national minorities: Slovenes, Croats, Czechs, Slovaks, Gypsies, Hungarians. The total number of this population of Austria exceeds 300 thousand people. Here is more information worth knowing about the area and population of Austria.

The population of the state is extremely uneven. The maximum population density of Austria is observed in Vienna (200 or more people per 1 km²), the smallest - in the Tyrolean Alps (15-20 people per 1 km², since most of this region is located in the highlands), as well as in Carinthia and Burgenland.

More than a quarter of the total urban population of Austria is concentrated in Vienna. In total, city dwellers make up about 77% of all Austrians. Other densely populated cities in Austria include Innsbruck, Graz, Salzburg, Linz and Vladsburg.

Since the 70s of the twentieth century, the country has seen a cessation of population growth, which is associated with a drop in the birth rate. At the same time, the average life expectancy in Austria, on the contrary, has increased significantly and today stands at 77 years for men and 83 for women.

The country, as of 2014, is home to about 900,000 immigrants (one of the highest rates in Europe). Of these, almost 30% are from the countries of the former Yugoslavia and Turkey.

GDP per capita in Austria as of the beginning of 2015, according to the IMF ratings, is about 47 thousand US dollars.

What language is spoken in Austria?

Those who come to the Republic are concerned about the question of which language is considered the most common in Austria. The only official language of Austria is German, which is spoken by about 88% of the inhabitants.

A characteristic feature of the national language of Austria is several Austro-Bavarian and Alemannic dialects, which appeared due to the isolation of the mountainous regions of the state. The status of regional official languages ​​in Austria is given to Hungarian, Slovene and Gradishchansko-Croatian.

Turkish, Serbian and Croatian are not official in the Republic, but they are spoken by 2.3, 2.2 and 1.6% of the population, respectively.

Many emigrants, having learned what the state language is in Austria, believe that knowledge of classical German (Hochdeutsch) will be enough for them. However, this is not quite true. The Austrian version has its own grammatical features, which can be studied only with a constant stay in the local language environment.

Monetary unit of Austria

As the national currency of Austria, as in many other EU countries, the euro is currently used (EURO, 1EUR = 100 cents). In circulation you can find banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros, as well as coins of 1 and 2 euros and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents.

Before the euro, the Austrian currency was the shilling, but it was withdrawn from use on January 1, 2002 (1 EUR was then about 13 shillings). By the way, if you still have the national currency of Austria before the euro, you can exchange it at the National Bank of the country.

Currency exchange in Austria is possible in all banks at the daily rate of the Vienna Stock Exchange. It is not recommended to change money at railway stations and airports, since there is a trade surcharge in such exchangers. There are no restrictions on the import and export of national and foreign currencies in Austria.

Climate of Austria

The climate is temperate throughout the country. Summers are generally warm (20-25°C) and dry, while winters are mild (temperatures rarely drop below 2°C in flat regions).

In mountainous areas, the air temperature in January and February can reach -14°C. The ski season lasts from December to April. At this time, Austria (in particular, Tyrol) is visited by millions of tourists.

I must say that the climate in Austria largely depends on the heights. So, it is in the mountainous regions that the maximum amount of precipitation falls (up to 3000 mm per year), the weather here is foggy.

• The standard of living in the country corresponds to the maximum indicators in Europe. So, in terms of purchasing power, the Austrians are now second only to the Germans and the inhabitants of Luxembourg. The minimum wage in Austria is just over 1,000 euros;
• The close proximity of the Alps offers excellent opportunities for family holidays;
• Having a residence permit, even a foreigner will find a well-paid job. The employment rate here is the highest in Europe - over 75%;
• Austria has a strict immigration policy. The Austrian authorities make high demands on immigrants, so there are practically no problems with emigrants from poor countries.

Austria is the perfect place to live. Theoretically, every citizen of the former USSR has the opportunity to become a full-fledged citizen of Austria, and the first step towards this, as a rule, is obtaining a residence permit.

Austria ( official name The Republic of Austria is a state in the center of Europe with its capital Vienna. top five largest cities countries, besides Vienna, also include Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. The area of ​​the country is 83,879 km², the population is 8,857,960 people (as of October 2018).

Austria is a parliamentary republic headed by a federal president elected for a term of 6 years. Geographically, Austria consists of 9 federal states: Burgenland, Vienna, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Styria.

German is spoken in Austria, which is both lexically and grammatically different from the German language of Germany. In addition, the numerous dialects spoken by the inhabitants of the Alpine regions are very difficult to understand.

The Austrian flag is one of the oldest symbols of statehood in the world. According to legend, it was created with the light hand of Leopold V of Austria in 1191 during one of the battles of the Third Crusade.

The name of the country comes from the ancient German word Ostarrichi - " eastern country”, and Austria as a proper name was first mentioned in the annals of 996.

Austria is 70% mountainous country, located, on average, at 900 meters above sea level. Most of the country is occupied by the Eastern Alps, which, in turn, are subdivided into the Alps of North Tyrol and the Salzburg Alps in the north; Zillertal and Karnik Alps in the south. The highest point is Mount Grossglockner (3,797 meters) with one of the largest glaciers in Europe - Pasteursee.

Despite its relatively small size, this European country is a popular tourist destination. Austria is a must-visit for all self-respecting skiers and lovers of other winter sports, fans of active tourism and ecotourists, because the country has a large number of national natural parks.

Current time in Vienna:
(UTC+2)

Customs regulations

Items for personal use necessary during the trip can be imported duty-free. Persons over 18 years of age may import duty-free for personal consumption 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco), as well as 2 liters of wine or 3 liters of beer and an additional 1 liter of other alcoholic beverages.

Major Holidays

• January 1 - New Year
• January 6 - Day of the Three Hierarchs
• May 1 - Easter Monday (public holiday)
• August 15 - Ascension, Spirits Day, Dormition
• October 26 - National Day
• November 1 - Feast of All Saints
• December 25 - Christmas
• December 26 - St. Stephen's Day

How to get there

By plane

The main international airport is Vienna. During the ski season, charter flights are organized to Salzburg and Innsbruck. In addition, you can use the airports of neighboring Schengen countries - Munich, Milan or Venice.

The most convenient way to fly to almost any city in Austria is with Austrian Airlines, which operates flights from several Russian cities - from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov and Sochi. You can read about how to get to Vienna.

By train

A direct carriage from Moscow travels 33 hours through Poland and the Czech Republic. With a change, you can go through Slovakia or Hungary. You can also travel with a change through Poland and Germany to the area of ​​Salzburg and Innsbruck, but such a move will not be cheaper than a flight.

By car

Distances from Vienna by road: Moscow - 1950 km, Berlin - 635 km, Paris - 1265 km, Zurich - 765 km, Prague - 280 km, Munich - 445 km, Bratislava - 65 km, Budapest - 245 km.

Flight Search
to Austria

Vehicle search
for rent

Find flights to Austria

We compare all available flight options for your request, and then we direct you to purchase on the official websites of airlines and agencies. The airfare you see on Aviasales is final. We have removed all hidden services and checkboxes.

We know where to buy cheap air tickets. Plane tickets to 220 countries of the world. Search and compare prices for air tickets among 100 agencies and 728 airlines.

We cooperate with Aviasales.ru and do not take any commissions - the cost of tickets is absolutely the same as on the site.

Car rental search

Compare 900 car rental companies at 53,000 locations.

Search 221 car rental companies worldwide
40,000 points of issue
Easy cancellation or modification of your booking

We cooperate with RentalCars and do not take any commissions - the rental price is absolutely the same as on the site.

Climate and weather in Austria

Here two climatic zones converged at once. Humid weather prevails in the west, continental climate in the south and southeast. Therefore, lovers of basking in the sun are best to go to Austria in May or June. Although the Austrians themselves consider autumn to be the best time of the year, when there is no heat and the cold is still far away. They come only in January, and they can be called cold only conditionally: below -2 C ° is rarely here, with the exception of mountainous regions.

Cities and regions

The Republic of Austria was created after the First World War on the ruins of the multinational Austro-Hungarian Empire and nine German-speaking lands that separated from the German principalities in the Middle Ages. Thus, the historical predecessor of Carinthia was the duchy of Carinthia; Styria is the Duchy of Styria, Tyrol is the County of Tyrol. Vorarlberg was part of the county of Tyrol until 1918, Vienna was part of Lower Austria until 1921. Burgenland was created from four ethnically Germanic regions of Hungary, transferred to Austria in the 20s of the XX century. Salzburg until 1803 was an independent principality within the Holy Roman Empire. And Upper and Lower Austria were once semi-independent principalities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Today Austria consists of 9 federal states (Bundesland). Each federal state has its own elected legislative body - the Landtag (Landtag), the government (Landesregierung) and the governor (Landeshauptmann).

Tyrol is a federal state in the west of Austria, the capital and largest city of which is Innsbruck. The land covers an area of ​​12,648 km² and is considered the third largest land in Austria. It is in Tyrol that the highest point in Austria is located - Mount Grossglockner (3,797 m). Tyrol, in turn, is divided into two parts: North Tyrol and East Tyrol, separated, which is remarkable, by a strip (20 km wide) - the territory of the federal state of Salzburg. Tyrol borders the Austrian lands of Salzburg, Carinthia and Vorarlberg, and also neighbors Germany, Switzerland and Italy. The origin and mentality of the Tyroleans is close to the inhabitants of Bavaria - this has developed historically. So, in ancient times, Tyrol was inhabited by Rets and Illyrians, in the XI-XII centuries its territories were part of the Holy Roman Empire, since 1363 the Habsburgs owned Tyrol, and since 1805 (Napoleonic Wars) Tyrol belonged to Bavaria. In 1919 (according to the Saint-Germain Peace Treaty), Tyrol was divided between Austria and Italy. This division continues to this day.

Innsbruck is the European capital of winter sports. So, the 1964 Winter Olympics and the 1976 Winter Olympics were held here. Next year, 2012, Innsbruck will host the Winter Youth Olympic Games. In Innsbruck, you can see many attractions, including the court church Howkirche (XVI century), the Golden Roof, the City Tower, Ambras Castle, the Ferdinandeum ethnographic museum with a collection of Gothic paintings, the Alpine Zoo with a circular panorama and the Museum of Tyrolean Art.

In the town of Wattens, not far from Innsbruck, in an underground cave is the Swarovski Crystal Museum - the famous Swarovski Crystal Worlds, and in the town of Stans - an interesting Renaissance castle Tratzberg with an armory. However, Tyrol has a huge number of beautiful old castles and fortresses. The land of Tyrol is also famous for its mountain lakes, the largest of which is the Achensee, located between the Karwendel and Rofan mountains. Very beautiful lakes are Pillersee and Schwarzsee (near Kitzbühel), and the largest lake in East Tyrol is Tristacher See at the foot of the Dolomites.

Vorarlberg is a federal state located in the west of Austria, with the capital in the city of Bregenz and the largest city of Dornbirn. Vorarlberg, which occupies 2601 km² of Austrian territory (the eighth largest area among Austrian lands), borders Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and also neighbors the Austrian federal state of Tyrol.

In the Roman era, Vorarlberg was part of the province of Rezia in the Roman Empire, and since the time of the Great Migration of Peoples, Germanic tribes settled on these lands.

Among the sights of Bregenz, it is worth mentioning the city hall, the St. Martinsturm tower (XVII century), the Vorarlberger-Landsmuseum museum with a collection of paintings by Austrian artists, the zoo-safari park on Mount Pfander, many ancient castles, abbeys and monasteries of the XI - XIX centuries. The landscapes of Vorarlberg attract many tourists to this region: the picturesque Lake Constance and many mountain sports complexes are located here.

Vienna is both the capital of Austria and one of the nine federal states of the country. Located in the eastern part of the country, it is surrounded on all sides by the territory of another land - Lower Austria. Since the area of ​​​​Vienna is only 415 km², it is the smallest federal state in Austria.

Styria is a federal state in the southeast of Austria with the capital and largest city of Graz. This land is the second largest in Austria (16,391.93 km²), it is adjacent to the lands of Carinthia, Salzburg, Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Burgenland, and also has a state border with Slovenia in the south. Almost the entire territory of Styria is indented by mountain ranges. Here is the famous ski center Schladming. Also, this region is famous for a wide variety of thermal springs; local resorts Blumau, Bad Aussee, Bad Waltersdorf, Loipersdorf are popular.

Ancient castles and monasteries are scattered throughout Styria. So, the most interesting are the baroque fortress of Rigersbur, Kornberg castle (Schloss Kornberg) (XIII century), Herberstein castle (XIII-XVII centuries), Eggenberg palace (1635) in the Graz region. It is worth visiting the pilgrimage church Mariazell (1157) with a treasury, with a silver altar (1727) and a miraculous statue of the 13th century, the former abbey of the Cistercian order in Neuburg an der Mürz (1350-1612), the oldest Austrian monastery of the Cistercian order in the Rhine (1129).

Salzburg is a federal state located in the very center of Austria, with the capital and largest city of Salzburg. The territory of Salzburg (7154 km²) is the sixth largest among the federal states of Austria. Salzburg borders Tyrol, Carinthia, Styria, Upper Austria and Bavaria (Germany).

Salzburg is famous for its rich culture and annual music festivals.

It is necessary to visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress (1077-1861), the Salzburg Cathedral (VIII century, rebuilt in 1611-1628), the Mirabell Castle and Park, the Residence of Salzburg, the oldest monastery in Austria, St. Peter (696) and the catacombs . Museums include the Salzburg Museum, the Museum natural history, Toy Museum, two House Museums of Mozart.

In the land of Salzburg, you can also see the interesting Hellbrunn Palace (1615) - in the vicinity of the city of Salzburg, which is considered one of the best examples of garden and park art in the world. In Tennengebirge, south of Salzburg, there is the Eisriesenwelt cave (“the world of the ice giants”). In Werfen, you should definitely visit the Hohenwerfen fortress (1077) and ice caves, and in Hallein - salt mines.

The land of Salzburg attracts tourists with its natural wealth: the Flachgau lake district is located here with the beautiful mountain lakes Obertrumer See, Mattsee, Wallersee, Zeller See, Fuschlsee and Wolfgangsee.

Since 1920, famous music festivals have been held in Salzburg, which attract music lovers from all over Europe: Mozart Week (the last week of January), the Easter Festival, the Salzburg Trinity Festival, concerts in the Hohensalzburg fortress (from Easter to the end of October), concerts in the palace ( all year round), Salzburg Festival (end of July - end of August), Days of Culture in Salzburg (October), Pre-Christmas concerts (December).

Carinthia is a federal state located in the south of Austria with its capital in the city of Klagenfurt. The land area of ​​Carinthia is 9536 km², which makes it the fifth largest among the Austrian lands. Carinthia is adjacent to the lands of Salzburg, Styria and Tyrol, and also borders on Slovenia and Italy.

Carinthia is a mountainous alpine region, bordered by rocky chains, in the center of which is the Podravskaya Basin (along the Drava River) with the Zolfeld, Krapfeld and Lurnfeld valleys. The Alps in Carinthia are divided into 2 chains: Central and Lime. The first one, by the way, includes the famous Grossglockner mountain with a huge glacier (3796 m).

Numerous ancient castles and fortresses, palaces and parks are scattered throughout Carinthia. Local attractions include Portia Castle on the Drau River, Landkron over the Osiacher See lake, and the main Carinthian fortress, Hochosterwitz Castle. Among the examples of temple architecture, the Dominican Frisach monastery with a basilica (XIV century), the Benedictine abbeys of St. Paul im Lavantal (1091), Ossiach (1028) and Millstatt (1060-1068) will be of interest.

The following museums are worth visiting: the Museum of Wooden Architecture in the open air in Maria Saal, the Elli Riel Puppet Museum in Treffen, the private Porsche Museum - more than 30 copies of the legendary brand, dating back to the 50s of the XX century - in Gmünde.

The nature of Carinthia is magnificent. In the western bay of the Wörther See, among the covered forested alpine slopes, Velden is located - one of the best lakeside resorts in the country with the most modern recreation infrastructure. No less popular are the resorts of Pertschach with a water entertainment center, Warmbad Filiach with thermal springs and a national park (20 hectares), picturesque Krumpendorf and Maria Werth.

For tourists who prefer an active holiday, Carinthia offers many opportunities: from cycling along the rivers, sailing on large lakes, exciting rafting on rough mountain rivers, and ending with ski slopes and skating rinks on frozen lakes.

Lower Austria is a federal state in the northeast of Austria with the capital and largest city of St. Pölten. Lower Austria covers an area of ​​19,178 km² and is the largest land in Austria. Lower Austria is adjacent to the Austrian federal states of Upper Austria, Burgenland, Styria and the capital of Austria, the city of Vienna, which is located in the center of Lower Austria and is completely surrounded by it. Lower Austria also borders the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The territory of Lower Austria is divided from west to east by the Danube River, which also determined the geographical features of this region. The territories south of the Danube are mountainous, to the north they are flat, located on a granite plateau.

Lower Austria is a river region. In addition to the Danube, the main waterway of Lower Austria, many other rivers flow through the land: Enns, Ibbs, Erlauf, Melk, Traisen, Schwechat, Fisch, Laita Kamp, Krems, Klamm, March, Thaya and Leinsitz, through which (through the Elbe) , Austria communicates with the Baltic Sea.

The territory of Lower Austria is replete with ancient castles, fortresses and palaces, ancient monasteries and abbeys, parks and forest parks, vineyards. By the way, “wine routes” in Lower Austria have recently been very common among tourists.

Upper Austria is a federal state located in the north of Austria, whose capital and largest city is Linz. It has external borders with the Czech Republic and Germany, and is adjacent to the Austrian lands of Lower Austria, Salzburg and Styria. This land - the fourth largest among the Austrian lands (11,980 km²) - is also divided into two parts by the Danube River.
Most of the territory is occupied by mountains and hills. From north to south, on the territory of Upper Austria, the hilly lowlands of the Mühlviertel, the Inviertel plain, the Eastern Alps from the very high mountain Dachstein (2995 m).

Upper Austria is one of the most popular tourist regions in the country. Mountain-skiing, water, equestrian and hiking types of tourism are widely developed. The main centers of tourism are located in the area of ​​the lakes of the Salzkammergut. The resorts of St. Wolfgang, Schallerbach, Hallstatt, the Kalkalpen National Park, the Sauwald area, etc. are also popular.

On the territory of Upper Austria there are a large number of historical and cultural attractions - castles, palaces and fortresses. It is also worth mentioning such historical monuments as the monasteries in Mondsee (748) and Engelszell (1293), the Benedictine abbeys of Lambach (1056) and Kremsmunster (777).

Burgenland is the easternmost and least populated federal state of Austria. The state capital is the city of Eisenstadt. In terms of territory, Burgenland ranks seventh among the lands of Austria - 3966 km², it is stretched from north to south for 166 km, while at its narrowest point - in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe city of Sigraben - it is only 5 km. Burgenland is adjacent to the lands of Lower Austria and Styria, and has borders with Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The border of the land with Hungary passes just through Lake Neusiedl - largest lake Austria, around which the Neuwiedlersee-Seewinkel National Park is formed, a popular place among ecotourists and surfers, as well as ornithologists. Surrounded by thickets of reeds, saline ponds and swamps, the lake is a habitat for a large number of rare birds. Southwest of Lake Neusiedl there are many ancient castles and monasteries, including the baroque palace in Halbturn (1711), the monasteries in Loretto (1651) and in Güssing, the fortress of Burg Schlaining (1272).

Cities

The capital of Austria, a museum city filled with magnificent monuments of architecture of all conceivable styles, and the old city center in December 2001 was even included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List. At the same time, Vienna is a modern metropolis, hosting the headquarters of various organizations such as OPEC and the OSCE. It is in Vienna that one of the three UN residences in the world is located, and the IAEA, UNODC, and industrial development organizations are located in the Vienna International Center (UNO-City).

The Austrian capital is also the economic center of the country. The enterprises of the metalworking and electrical industries, precision engineering plants, factories for the production of food, clothing and footwear are concentrated here. The head offices of the largest Austrian banks, insurance companies and firms are located in Vienna, and significant international economic fairs are held in the city twice a year.

Undoubtedly, the architectural wealth of Vienna is worth paying close attention to. On your own or with a guide, but it will take more than a couple of days to get to know all the significant sights of Vienna. First of all, this is St. Stephen's Cathedral - a symbol of Vienna and Austria, the main attraction of the city. In addition, you should definitely visit the Hofburg - a grandiose architectural ensemble that combines 18 buildings and 19 palaces built at different times and designed in different architectural styles.

Innsbruck is a world-famous Austrian city, the mecca of ski tourism. It is in the Innsbruck area that such wonderful resorts as Axamer Lizium, Schlick-2000 (Fulpmes), Nordpark, Kutai, Glungezer, Igls and Patcherkofel, Oberperfuss and the Stubai Glacier are located. In total, 280 kilometers of excellent slopes with 81 ski lifts have been laid in the skiing region, free ski buses run between the villages, and the same Innsbruck Gletcher ski pass with various variations operates at all resorts in the Innsbruck region.

The city itself is quite ancient - Innsbruck received its official city status and its name in 1239, before that there were small settlements here. Subsequently, the city became the seat of the imperial court of the Habsburg dynasty.

The fourth largest city in Austria, the capital of the province of the same name, which is home to such famous ski villages as Zell am See and Schuttdorf, Kaprun, Saalbach and Hintergleem, Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein, Obertauern, Schladming and others. So in the high season, the flow of tourists staying in Salzburg is simply huge.

In addition to excellent skiing opportunities in the city district, Salzburg itself attracts many visitors, thanks in large part to its most famous "son" - Mozart. In Salzburg, the house where the famous composer was born and raised has been preserved. The historic center retains the unique flavor of the old European city - many small streets and squares (Waagplatz and Altermarkt). The main cathedral of Salzburg is the Cathedral of St. Rupert. Also, tourists often look into Hellbrunn and Mirabell palaces.

Klagenfurt is the capital of the South Austrian federal state of Carinthia, and at the same time a fairly large tourist center, since those who want to ride the slopes of southern Austria most often stay at the airport of this particular city. And not far from Klagenfurt, by the way, there are such wonderful and popular ski resorts as Bad Kleinkirchheim and Nassfeld.

To date, Austria is one of the leaders in the reception of skiers and snowboarders. The components of success are simple: a short flight, excellent slopes and a variety of accommodation options - from luxurious five-star hotels with spas and thermal springs to budget apartments. Thus, this alpine country can satisfy the needs of different categories of tourists who are in love with the mountains. You can read more about ski resorts in Austria in our article "Overview of ski resorts in Austria". And below we list the most interesting skiing regions in the country.

Fulpmes	Fugen	Hintertux	Hopfgarten
St. Anton	Serfaus	Zell am Ziller	Hinterglemm
Neustift	Obergurgl	Hochgurgl	Zürs
Gerlos	Seefeld	Sölden	Leh
Axamer Lizum	Westendorf	Sportvelt Amade	Galtyur
Mayrhofen	Schuttdorf	Zell am See	Schladming
Eagles	Kappl	Kirchberg	Kitzbühel
Bad Gastein	Söll	Bad Kleinkirchheim	Ischgl
Dachstein West	Lammertal	Bad Hofgastein	Nasfeld
Obertauern	Kaprun	Saalbach

What to see

Austria is the 113th largest country in the world, however, despite its modest size, it remains one of the most popular tourist destinations. So, fans of almost all types of tourism - from cultural to sports - will find something interesting for themselves in Austria. And not only in Vienna.

The main attractions of Vienna are listed below, and by clicking on the links you can go to a page with detailed information about the object you are interested in, where, along with a description, you will find contact details, opening hours, methods of travel and entrance fees, as well as the location of the object on the map. If you are interested in the sights of Austria as a whole, without division into cities, there is a special section for this.

Sights of Vienna

Museums in Vienna

Innsbruck

• Museum "Crystal Worlds of Swarovski"

Salzburg

• Salzburg Cathedral

• Monastery of St. Peter and catacombs
• House where Mozart was born, and the house of Mozart
• Dachstein caves
  

Graz

bad Ischl

Where to go in Austria

sights

Museums and galleries

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Leisure

Transport

Wellness vacation

Private guides in Austria

Russian private guides will help you get acquainted with Austria in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

Treatment in Austria

Austria is famous for its medical traditions, established in the Vienna Medical School, which have migrated to a modern, highly developed healthcare system. The country trains professional personnel, whose skills are highly valued at the international level.

Movement around the country

In Austria, all major modes of transport are well developed: air, rail, road, water, public transport in cities.

Trains

For trips around Austria, as well as to neighboring European cities, you can use the railway. The total length of the country's railways is 6399 km.
Trains with an interval of 1-2 hours pass through each more or less large city located on the main routes.

In Austria, there are trains of various classes: high-speed and local. They are marked with letters:

• ICE, IC / EC (EuroCity) - high-speed intercity and international trains
• D - average between local and fast
• E - fast local train
• R - regular local train

The cost of tickets depends on the distance, class, number of people and whether a one-way ticket is purchased or both. The class of the car is indicated on the car itself, on the doors of the car compartments, on the walls. In one carriage there may be departments of the first and second class. Regardless of the class, all cars have soft comfortable seats and a bathroom. Trains following at night have sleeping and compartment cars. In Austria, there are also trains with platforms for cars that run between the main major cities of the country.

In regional and fast trains, the ticket price is the same. The EuroCity type trains have the highest ticket price, it is noticeably higher than in trains of other categories. However, Austrian railways also provide a sufficient number of discounts: they rely on ticket holders, people traveling to a certain area, the elderly, groups of tourists, there are discounts for travelers traveling over 70 and over 200 km. Children under 6 years old can travel by train for free, children from 6 to 15 years old - with a 50% discount. Train tickets do not need to be stamped. The availability of tickets is checked by controllers.

Exact information about the cost of tickets can be obtained from ticket offices, travel agencies, car clubs, or on the website of the Austrian National Transport Company (Österreichische Bundesbahnen, ÖBB).

Bus

Buses in Austria are very comfortable. Bus lines are operated by state-owned companies (eg Postbus) and private enterprises. In total, there are more than 2000 routes, the movement of which takes place strictly on schedule. Buses in Austria play a supporting role in relation to trains. There are no long-distance routes, only suburban ones. The main function of buses is to transport passengers to railway stations.

The fare for an average trip is a few euros, but if your trip is combined with a train transfer, then you should buy a single ticket from start to finish - it will be cheaper than buying tickets separately for the bus and train. The schedule for individual bus lines can be found on the websites of the National Transport Company of Austria and the state carrier - Postbus. In order to get the necessary information, select the desired federal state, then go to the sections Fahrplanauskunft / Linien OEBB-Postbus (on the first site) or Fahrplanauskunft / Fahrplandownload (on the second). Bus fares are cheaper than trains, but not by much.

International passenger transportation is carried out by about 200 companies - Austrian and European, among which the main ones are Europebus, Eurolines, Busabout, Berlin Linien Bus, Gulliver's. There is a flexible system of discounts for holders of tourist plastic cards. In night buses (from 00.30 to 04.00) the fare is from 2 euros, travel cards are not valid. The fine for traveling without a ticket is 40 euros plus the fare.

Automobile

Driving in Austria is on the right. The total length of roads in Austria is 200,000 km, all of them are paved. There are three types of roads: autobahn, federal roads and local roads. The maximum speed limit on the autobahn is 130 km/h, on federal roads 100 km/h, and on local roads 90 km/h. The speed of movement in the city is 50 km / h.

The use of seat belts is mandatory. Headlights must be on at any time of the day. Children up to 1.5 m tall require a special car seat. Information about the state of roads and traffic is constantly available on the English-language radio "Blue Danube Radio" on 102.5 FM. Traffic becomes especially busy during the winter holidays and holidays (December and February), during the Easter and summer holidays (July and August), so drivers should be especially careful during this period.

Almost all mountain roads have restrictive barriers for safety. Remember that on mountain slopes it is important to change to a low gear in time! Also, on narrow mountain roads, the well-known rule of priority does not apply: in the mountains, the driver of the car that has the best opportunity for this passes the oncoming car. On snowy roads in Austria, winter tires are a must. Studded tires may only be used from 15 November until the first Monday after Easter. Sometimes chains are allowed and can be rented from one of the 100 rental locations of the two Austrian car clubs (OAMTS and ARBO).

Travel on the roads of Austria is paid. Having paid the toll, the driver receives a receipt (sticker label), which is attached to the windshield in the center or on the left. The amount of the duty for one year is 72.60 euros for cars (including cars with a trailer - a residential house weighing up to 3.5 tons) and 29 euros for motorcycles. Tourists arriving in Austria by car for up to two months will have to pay a fee of 21.80 euros, for 10 days - 7.60 euros.

For toll evasion, a fine of 119.91 euros has been set. Tolls can be paid at post offices, petrol stations and tobacconists. When traveling around Austria in a car rented in another country, you need to purchase a special card to drive on the autobahn (about 10 euros per week).

Taxi

Taxi to big cities Austria are equipped with counters (taximeters). As a rule, in Austrian cities there are fixed prices for using a taxi, the fare depends on the distance. When traveling outside the cities, you should agree in advance with the taxi driver about the price. When traveling to airports, as a rule, a certain amount is added to the fare.

Hitchhiking is easy enough, but voting is prohibited on freeways. It is better to do this before entering the track, and always with a sign. If you need to get from one city to another in a passing car, it is better not to vote on the highway, but to contact the specialized agency Mitfahrzentrale - for a small fee, it will find a car.

A bike

At 160 railway stations, you can rent a bike and return it to the rental office at another station. There are many cycling routes in Austria, in particular many of them lead along the Danube River and from the Black Forest in Germany to Vienna.

Water transport

Austria, being in the center of Europe, and not having its own access to the sea, nevertheless, has a small merchant fleet, numbering 8 ships (mass more than 1000 registered tons): 6 cargo ships and 2 container ships. Access to the sea is carried out from the port of Vienna and further through Rotterdam (Netherlands) through the Rhine-Main-Danube canal. In addition to the port of Vienna, all other ports of Austria are located in the Danube basin: Enns, Krems an der Donau, Linz. Navigation on the Danube is possible from mid-April to the end of October.

In addition, water transport operates on the large lakes of Austria - from May to September. You can get more detailed information about river and lake navigation in Austria, as well as check the timetables of the ships and the cost of trips on the websites Schifffahrt.at and Ddsg-blue-danube.at

Air Transport

There are 55 airports in Austria. You can fly directly from Russia to Austria with the following airlines: Austrian Airlines, NIKI, S7 AirLines, Aeroflot, Transaero, Lauda Air. International flights operate from Vienna, Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg.

Domestic air transportation of passengers is carried out by a subsidiary of the Austrian national carrier Austrian - Tyrolean Airways (as a rule, these are small regional aircraft), as well as Austrian Airlines itself. Tickets for domestic flights start from 89 euros round trip without taxes. There are six flights a day from Innsbruck to Vienna, five from Klagenfurt, and four from Salzburg. However, depending on the season, the number of flights may vary.

Transport in Vienna

Public transport in Vienna is called "Viennese lines" (Wiener Linien), and consists of electric trains (S-Bahn), metro (U-Bahn), trams (Strassenbahn) and buses (Autobus). All transport runs strictly according to the schedule. If you are going to move around in the capital of Austria on your own, we recommend that you read our material “Transport in Vienna”, where you will find information about tickets, prices and all types of transport in the Austrian capital.

Communication

The official language is German.

In big cities and resort centers, in hotels, it will not be difficult to find a person who speaks English, but knowing at least a few German phrases will greatly facilitate contact with the locals. All announcements on trains and buses are made only in German.

In any case, we recommend that you study and take with you our Russian-German phrasebook - a useful thing when traveling through the cities and resorts of Austria. When using local words and expressions, you will evoke sympathy and respect from the indigenous population.

Kitchen

Austria is famous for its unusually simple, but tasty and satisfying food. There is also a number of truly Austrian gastronomic delights - you can’t describe everything. However, you should definitely try the following dishes.

• Meat on the bone is the number 1 dish in Austria (price - about 20 EUR).
• Gluewein - a hot drink consisting of red wine and water (3: 1), cinnamon, spices; fundamentally different from the Bavarian mulled wine in the absence of zest and the presence of water (it costs about 5 EUR).
• Wheat beer (Weizenbier) - an absolutely incomparable taste (about 5 EUR).
• Apple pie, or Strudel (Apfel Strudel) - in Salzburg and the Alpine villages is served very hot: be careful (about 10 EUR).
• Natural sweets "Mozartkugel" - an enchanting invention of the Salzburg confectionery "Fuerst" - the only place where these and other sweets are still made by hand; “other sweets” include, first of all, the best invention of “Furst” - sweets “I. S. Bach»; the authentic Mozartkugel is sold only in silver-blue packaging and contains more marzipan and cocoa than golden-red fakes (from 1 EUR per piece).
• Pancakes with jam (Plinsen) are just an exclusive Salzburg treat.
• Mozart's favorite beer is Stiegelbreu (about 3 EUR).
• Coffee, coffee and more coffee: Kupce is a strong double espresso, Ferlengerter is weaker, Melange is coffee with milk and whipped cream, Einspenner is a double mocha in a tall glass.

Purchases

Since February 28, 2002, the euro has been the only accepted means of payment in Austria. Banking hours in Austria: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 8.00-12.30, 13.30-15.00. Thursday - 8.00-12.30, 13.30-17.30. The rest of the time you can change money in vending machines (the rate is tolerable) and exchange offices. Exchange offices at railway stations are open until 22:00.

Shops in Austria are usually open Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 19:00, and on Saturday - until 17:00. At the same time, the actual opening hours of stores vary: most of them are open until 18:00 or until 18:30. Lunch at the store can last 1-2 hours. In resorts and tourist centers, shops can be open until 21:00, and railway station establishments - until 23:00. Every first Saturday of the month Austrian shops are open until 17.00.

If the store has a sign "Ausverkauf", you can count on lower prices. In grocery stores "Hofer", "Spar", "Billa" prices are lower than in the rest. Tobacco products in Austria are sold only in special licensed kiosks or vending machines.

Foreign tourists permanently residing outside the EU, when purchasing goods in the amount of 75 euros, can receive a VAT refund if these goods are exported and the necessary customs formalities for export are completed. To receive a refund of approximately 13% of the price, you should: in stores that have an eloquent “Tax Free Shopping” sign or a silver-black-and-blue “Europa-Tax-Free Plakette” sign, you must take a Tax-free check when buying -Scheck" along with the envelope. This check is completely filled out by the seller.

Value added tax is refunded at the airport if you have the appropriate receipt, which is presented along with the goods when passing customs control at the airport of departure. A check with a mark of a customs officer must be presented in a special box TAX REFUND. Money will not be returned without a customs stamp. Money can be returned directly at the points of payment at airports, railway stations and border points indicated on the Tax-free-Kuvent envelope.

For most art, collectibles, books and food items, the return minus commissions is 6-8% of the purchase amount.

If you are going to shop mainly in the capital of Austria, then we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the material "", from which you will learn about shopping areas, Christmas markets and much more.

Connection

post offices open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. The main post offices are open 24/7. At the post office you can change currency, buy a phone card, receive or send a money transfer.

Telephones of austria included in automatic telephone communication established by direct dialing as with settlements Austria, and with all European countries. You can call Russia from any telephone booth (calling from a hotel is not recommended for reasons of economy).

Calls to Russia: 007 - city code - subscriber number

Each of the Austrian cities has its own code, before which you need to dial "0" if you are calling from Austria itself. Area codes are in the phone booth.

To pay for telephone conversations, it is most convenient and economical to use telephone cards. The card can be for 50, 100 and 200 units. The price of the card in shillings is practically equivalent to the number of units indicated on it.

We strongly recommend avoiding coin-operated machines: rounding off calls in them is not in your favor. Almost all phone calls are 33% cheaper on weekdays from 18:00 to 08:00, on weekends from 18:00 Friday to 08:00 Monday.

Roaming in Austria can also be used (there are agreements with all major Russian telecom operators), but this pleasure is not cheap. It is better to get acquainted with the prices in the office or on the website of your operator.

Internet in Austria, as in any other European country, is quite common. In almost every village you will find Internet cafes, and in cities you will find Wi-Fi networks in public places and hotels.

Emergency telephones in Austria

You do not need to dial the area code before these phone numbers

Safety

Avalanches

In the mountains of Austria, especially in the west of the country, avalanches are observed. Tourists skiing need to make sure that the chosen route is safe. Avalanche information and forecasts can be found on the Internet at.

Insurance

It is recommended to purchase medical insurance that provides medical assistance abroad, including the evacuation of the patient by air if necessary. It is also recommended to purchase insurance covering cases such as lost luggage or credit card theft. For lovers of skiing, extended insurance is required. Remember that drinking alcohol leads to case recognition

Crime

Austria is known as a country with a low crime rate. However, the number of crimes such as pickpocketing, theft of bags and other personal property has recently increased. Caution should be exercised in crowded places, especially at the two main stations in Vienna.

Where to stay

Austria Hotels

At the height of the tourist season, we recommend getting information about hotel rooms in advance and booking rooms in a timely manner. This is especially true for months such as July and August, as well as during Easter and Christmas. Booking imposes an obligation on both the hotel and the guest (travel agency). In case of non-use of the reservation, a claim for damages is possible (debiting the payment for the first night from the bank card). All accommodation facilities in Austria are classified and their categories (from * to *****) are strictly controlled.

Classification of Austrian hotels and other accommodation facilities

***** luxury hotels

**** first class hotels

*** Superior hotels, boarding houses and inns

** hotels, boarding houses and inns with an average level of service

* simple hotels, boarding houses and inns

For a fee, you can also rent a room in private houses, relax in a peasant's yard, at a youth tourist base. If you can get information about hotels in Austria on our website, then you can get information about the classification and cost of other types of accommodation at the representative offices of the Austrian National Tourist Office, as well as at the Tourist Boards of federal states and cities.