Page 346 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Austria
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344 SUR VIV AL GUIDE
Travelling with is also a fairsized immigrant
Children
population from various
Many hotels offer a free national back grounds and
stay or reduced rates for following various religious
children under the age faiths. Islam is the fastest
of 12 who share a room growing faith, with followers
with their parents. accounting for 6 per cent of
Children up to the age the population; this is expected
of 15 pay half fare on to grow to 10 per cent by 2030.
public transport; In Vienna, there is a sizeable
on Sundays, public Jewish community, which
holidays and during has its own synagogues.
the summer vacations Cemeteries are communal.
they travel for free.
They are also entitled
to reduced admission
when visiting museums
and historic sights.
Large supermarkets and
also chemists have a
department with essential
A range of foreign-language newspapers items for babies, as do
and magazines on a street stand the Drogeriemarkt and
Bipa stores.
Information for
Disabled Visitors
Senior Travellers
Austria is better prepared to Information board on a building
receive disabled visitors than Austrians are extremely in Innsbruck
most other countries. Access respectful of older people.
ibility laws mean that allocated Senior travellers are often Language
parking spaces, ramps and lifts given priority seating on Although all Austrians officially
are found almost everywhere. public transport and many speak German, in reality they
In addition, most forms of theatres, cinemas, museums speak “Austrian”. While this
transport and attractions will and a number of hotels offer variety of Low German does
have discounted tickets for generous discounts to not differ from High German
those with disabilities. Special travellers with senior ID. as markedly as Swiss German,
parking spaces set aside for its pronunciation and even
disabled drivers are clearly Information some rules of grammar and
marked as such; if your car vocabulary make it quite
displays the appropriate sticker, for Students distinctive. Added to this are
parking is also free of charge. Students holding an several Austrian dialects, which
For a directory of accessible international student card differ from province to province.
travel services check the website and a valid college ID are Austrians are the first to admit
of the Europewide organization entitled to discounts on railways that it would be impossible to
Pantou. There is also information and municipal public transport, learn them all in their countless
on barrierfree travel on the as well as reduced admission regional varieties. For instance,
Austria National Tourist Office to cinemas, museums and visitors who know a little
website, as well as on regional sports events. They will also be German find Tirolerisch, the
tourism authority websites. offered accommodation in a dialect spoken in Tyrol,
Österreichische Bundesbahn Jugendherberge (youth hostel) completely incomprehensible.
(ÖBB), the Austrian Federal at a lower price. Uptodate You will have few problems
Railway, offers assistance at information on accommodation making yourself understood in
railway stations and a 50 per in student dormitories and English. Austrians learn the
cent discount on tickets for youth hostels can be obtained language in school and it is
travellers who have an Austrian from any tourist office. understood throughout the
certificate of disability. Those country, especially in the larger
requiring wheelchairs or special cities and main tourist centres.
assistance should complete Religion
an online form or call 05 171 75 Austria is a predominantly
in advance (no certificate is Catholic country – as is Etiquette
required for this service). Elderly apparent from the large Peace and quiet are highly
or frail travellers can also request number of Catholic churches; valued by Austrians who live
assistance under the ÖBB Protestants make up just 5 per outside the cities. They are
“barrier free” programme. cent of the population. There friendly and easygoing
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