Air Travel
For air travel the Vienna
International Airport provides a wide range of international
flight connections.
Access from the Vienna International Airport by
Taxis: Taxis
are available at the international arrivals. Average fares
to the center of Vienna within 30 – 45 minutes are
Euro 35,- to Euro 40,-. Upon request MONDIAL CONGRESS also
can organize your private transfer. Please contact therefore
MONDIAL CONGRESS at mne05@mondial.at.
Access from the Vienna International Airport by
Train: The
new “CAT train” (City Airport Train) leaves at
30 minute-intervals between 05:40 a.m. and 11.30 p.m. daily.
Cost: approx. Euro 10,-. Duration: 16 minutes. From there
are subway and street car connections to the conference center
and to the conference hotels.
The “Schnellbahn” leaves at 10 – 30 minute-intervals
between 05:00 a.m. and 11.30 p.m. daily. Cost: approx. Euro
3,-. Duration: approx. 30 minutes
The City Terminal provides also Check-in facilities for your
luggage and you can collect your boarding card there. (Please
note that this is only possible for some airport lines.)
Access from the Vienna International Airport by
Bus: At
20-minutes intervals, the Vienna Airport Lines depart to
the city center between 05:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. daily.
Cost: approx. Euro 6,-. Duration: 25 minutes.
Vienna can be easily reached by car via a number of highways
from many directions (e.g. from Munich via Salzburg and Linz).
The city has excellent rail connections from the west (Munich),
the north (Prague), the east (Bratislava, Budapest) and the
south (Graz, Venice).
Vienna Public Transport System
The public transport system, consisting of subways, streetcars
and buses, is the most efficient and cost saving way to travel
within Vienna. One day, three day and other tickets can be
purchased at every tobacconist. Devaluation has to be done
once when entering a subway station, streetcar or bus.
Passports and Visa
Passport-holders from countries in
Western Europe as well as from North America and Australia
will not need a visa
to enter Austria. For some nationalities the visa can
be issued at the airport in Vienna
upon arrival. Others may have to apply before. If in
doubt, please check with your nearest Austrian embassy,
consulate
(www.austria.org ),
or your airline.
Climate and Weather
In September, the average temperature in Vienna varies
between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius (60 - 68 degrees Fahrenheit).
Since the climate is rather variable during this month
it is advisable to bring a warm coat with you.
To get information about the current weather please click
here.
Language
The language spoken in Austria is German, but most Austrians
speak English and some French and Italian, too, and are
happy to be of service to visitors. The official language
of the Congress is English. No simultaneous translation
will be provided.
Voltage
Electricity in Austria is 220 volts. Foreign appliances
could require an adapter.
Local Currency
The Euro (€) is the Austrian currency.
(Euro (€) 1 = 1,3020 US $ as per April 2005)
Bank and Exchange
Most Austrian banks will change traveller’s cheques
as well as cash. Banking hours in general are Monday, Tuessday,
Wenesday, Friday 08:00 – 12:30h and 13:30 – 15:00h,
Thursday 08:00 – 12:30h and 13:30 – 17:30h.
Credit Cards / Cash Machines
Major credit cards are accepted by hotels, restaurants
and most shops. Please note that American Express credit
cards
may not be accepted everywhere in Austria. Cash machines
are located throughout the city.
Restaurants
Vienna’s restaurants range from
gourmet-type restaurants to informal restaurants and Heurigens
(Austrian wine taverns).
There are also many international restaurants in the city,
offering a choice of almost any kind of cuisine. In Austria,
lunch is generally served between 12:00 and 14:00h, dinner
around 19.00h.
Shopping
Shopping hours are Monday to Friday 09:00 – 18:00h
and Saturday 09:00 – 17:00h. Except for some tobacconists
and small supermarkets at petrol stations and at the main
railway stations, shops are closed on Sundays. Luxury shops
for an elegant clientele can be found in the pedestrian zone
along Graben and Kärntnerstrasse (underground U1,U3/Stephansplatz).
Street entertainers and outdoor cafés contribute to
the special atmosphere of this area. Another well known shopping
area is Mariahilferstrasse (underground U3/Neubaugasse).
Visitors from non-EU countries should ask for VAT refunds
when purchasing goods.
Tips
Service is usually included in the bill in bars and restaurants,
but tips up to 10% are welcome.
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