by Diana Coman

Created on: July 31, 2009

Whether you are looking for breathtaking scenery, enchanted settings, old towns, top ski experiences, art collections, history, or just beer or a good cake, Austria has it all. To make sure you get a great Austrian holiday experience, all you have to do is to choose the best time of the year for whatever it is that you like, and to plan a bit in advance. So, what are some little practical things to know when traveling in Austria, when is the best time to go, and what can you see?

Practical information

Austria uses the Euro currency and its time zone is GMT+1. Before leaving for Austria, you should make sure you have a health insurance that covers your trip. Check whether your passport is valid, whether you need a visa, and whether you need an adaptor (electricity is at 220V).

To travel around Austria, you can either use the modern and quite reliable railway system, or you can rent a car. In most Austrian towns the public transportation is reliable and reasonably cheap. Look also for tourist passes that usually give you discounts to museums and free access to public transportation for 1, 3 or several days. In the towns, search for the tourist information office (usually clearly marked on street signs by a circle containing the "i" letter). The staff there speak English and they can sell you tourist cards and provide you with a lot of information about the town such as maps, where you can eat, what is going on at that time, what you can visit.

A little bit of etiquette can get you a long way. In Austria it is important to be punctual, and to apologize if you are not. When you meat somebody, shake hands and look the person in the eyes. In restaurants and bars it is usual to tip about 10%. If you are at table with others, say "Mahlzeit" or "Gutten Appetit" before starting to eat and keep your elbows out of the table. If you are invited to dinner to somebody's house, bring some flowers or a bottle of wine.

For an authentic Austrian meal, you should try the Apfelstrudel (an apple cake) with or without whipped cream, the Wienerschnitzel (can be pork or beef) with erdaepfelsalat (potato salad), the Kaiserschmarrn (a dessert supposedely invented for the Emperor Franz Josef) and the Sachertorte (a chocolate cake, best at the Sacher cafe in Wien, where it originates from).

Winter

For top skiing, wild after ski parties, and the majestic beauty of mountains caped in fresh snow, choose winter. Austria has a passion for winter sports and the ski resorts in the Austrian

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