In this post I will talk about all the basics you need to know before traveling to Austria. Always remember to look at the date of the post and check some essential information such as documents and vaccinations to avoid the risk of the rules having changed.
Visa
Americans do not need a tourist visa to enter and stay in the country for up to 90 days.
Documents
To enter the country, you must have a passport with an expiration date of more than 3 months from the date of travel and that has two blank pages for the immigration stamp (not every time they ask for this when you get there, but it's better to guarantee).
Vaccines
Currently, there is no specific vaccination requirement to enter Austria.
Currency
Austria's official currency is the Euro (€), as is the case in several other European Union countries.
Time zone
Austria (GMT+1)
Language
The language in Austria is German and believe me, they have several dialects and accents, which make it complicated even for those who practice the language.
Relevant informations:
Credit cards and ATMs:
In cities, almost all places accept credit and debit cards, but it is always prudent to carry some physical cash, in case there is an exception. Finding ATMs is easy, usually in front of banks.
Negotiations
Austria is a typically European country, that is, in general, prices are not negotiated.
Sockets
In Austria, electrical sockets and plugs are types C and F. This means that the two-pin round plugs, commonly used in many European countries, are the most used in Austria. Type F is a variation of type C, which includes an additional ground pin. I always recommend that you buy a quality universal adapter and use a converter to suit your needs.
Locomotion
I rented a car and it was great, so my suggestion would really be to rent a car and drive around the country, but if you don't feel comfortable navigating unfamiliar terrain, there are several getting around services available. Traffic is quite calm. The Uber app is widely used by city residents and considered reliable and safe.
In Vienna, I also took a tourist bus, which was really worth it and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see the city's main attractions.
Safety
The country is super safe and you can walk around peacefully with electronic equipment on display, in general, you can also leave your belongings in the car and they won't be stolen. As always, pay attention to the region you are in and act accordingly.
I hope this article helped you with the basics you need to know before going to Austria.