Page 345 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Austria

Pr a c tic al i nform a tion  343

Embassies and (5:30pm on Thursdays);
Consulates
smaller branches close at
The Embassies for all countries, lunchtime. All banks remain
including the UK, are based in closed on Saturdays, but
Vienna. Some larger cities have you can change money
consulates where you can turn at the airport, the main
for help (see p344). railway stations or in
bureaux de change,
or use an automatic
Tourist Information
teller machine.
There are many local tourist
offices all over Austria, offering Museums and
useful advice to visitors on
accommodation, restaurants, Historic Monuments
excursions and cultural events The national list of
(see p291). Offices are sign- palaces, castles and ruins
posted with the white letter “i” comprises a staggering
against a green background. 2,000 sights, and this
Every province also has its does not even include A group of sightseers admiring historic buildings
own tourist information Austria’s countless in Innsbruck
centre, where you can churches, monasteries or
turn for help. Most of abbeys. Vienna alone has Check times, special events and
the local tourist offices more than 60 museums, arrangements for guided tours
offer their services free and Styria over 200; of locally. For groups of 10 people
and hand out free these only 58 are state- or more it is often possible to
leaflets, maps and owned; the remainder arrange the time of their visit
information booklets. belong to associations, in advance – and you may be
You can plan your trip churches, companies eligible for a group discount.
in advance by getting or private individuals. At the end of a guided tour it is
in touch with travel Opening hours customary to leave a small tip.
agencies or the vary and depend
representatives of on the local tourist Admission Prices
Österreich Werbung seasons. Generally
(the Austrian National speaking, museums are Museum entrance fees can
Tourist Office) directly. open from 10am until vary from €2 to €8. Admission
For cheaper Sign of a pension 4pm or 7pm. Once a to historic houses costs about
accommodation and in Lofer week they stay open €10–15. Children up to the age
information about longer, some until of 6 (in some museums, up to
youth hostels or pop concerts, 9pm or even midnight. Some the age of 7) are admitted free,
the multilingual team at museums close for one day in and 6–15 year-olds pay half
Jugendinformation Wien will the week, usually on a Monday. price, as do senior citizens
provide assistance. (60 and over). There are also
reductions for students. Some
museums offer family tickets
Opening Hours (admitting for example two
This guide provides the opening adults and three children); a
times for each individual sight few allow free admission on
you may want to visit. Most a particular day in the week.
businesses start work at around An adult cinema ticket costs
8am and close at about 4pm. around €7–10. Some cinemas
On Fridays, many close early sell tickets at lower prices at
and, even if they do not, it may the beginning of the week.
be hard to get anything done. For theatre tickets you will
Most shops are open from need to set aside €30–40 or
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm more; musicals cost upwards
(sometimes 7:30pm) and on of €40. Concert tickets start
Saturdays from 8am mostly at around €14. The three-day
until 5pm (in larger cities). Wien-Karte entitles you to
Shops also close on Sundays unlimited use of all public
and public holidays, and in transport facilities for 72 hours
the countryside some close as well as reduced admission
on Wednesday afternoons. to some museums, and
Banks in many towns are Signposts help visitors find the way to the discounts in selected shops
open from 8am until 3pm Alpine huts and restaurants.

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