Practical Information
This Practical Information section contains extensive information on how to get to and around Vienna as well as on other topics related to the Austrian Presidency.
The cultural programme can be found under the Calendar/Events section.
For further information on the host city and all it has to offer, please visit:
www.wien.info/en
An interactive city map of Vienna can be found at www.wien.gv.at/stadtplan/en/.
How to get to Austria
By Plane
Austria has a number of airports offering international flights: Vienna (Wien-Schwechat), Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz and Salzburg. There are daily domestic flights between these airports.
Central flight information: +43 1 7007-22233
By Train
Information on train schedules and ticket prices can be obtained from the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) (+43 5 1717, www.oebb.at) or WESTbahn (+43 1 899 00, www.westbahn.at).
By Car
In Austria, all drivers wishing to travel on motorways and expressways are required to pay a toll charge or have a toll sticker. Digital vignettes or toll stickers with periods of validity of 10 days (EUR 9), 2 months (EUR 26.20) or 1 year (EUR 87.30) are available from more than 6 000 sales outlets in Austria and abroad. Please note that the speed limit on Austrian motorways is 130 km/h and there is a statutory drink driving limit of <0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood.
For more information on the rules for driving motor vehicles in Austria, please refer to:
www.help.gv.at/Portal.Node/hlpd/public/content/6/Seite.0630002.html
Visa and Customs Information
Visa Rules
Please be aware that nationals from certain countries wishing to enter Austria (a member of the Schengen Area) need to obtain a visa. These countries can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs: www.bmeia.gv.at/en/travel-stay/entry-and-residence-in-austria/entry-and-visa/
We advise you to apply for your visa in good time before your planned arrival in Austria; visa applications are to be made at the Austrian diplomatic representation competent for your place of residence.
A Schengen visa allows you to travel to all Schengen countries for up to 90 days in a six‑month period. Visa applications can be submitted no earlier than 3 months and no later than 3 weeks before the start of your trip. The following countries are fully-fledged members of the Schengen area and apply all provisions of the Schengen acquis: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Import Authorisation
Journalists wishing to temporarily import professional equipment (such as cameras or technical equipment) into the EU from third countries are recommended to use the ATA carnet – an international customs document. The ATA carnet simplifies customs formalities as it acts as a security document and therefore takes the place of a deposit for duties and taxes. The website of the International Chamber of Commerce (www.iccwbo.org) provides detailed information on the ATA carnet.
Accommodation
Hotel Reservations
Please be aware that the Austrian Presidency will not be reserving any hotel rooms for media representatives. As peak season in Vienna is July-October and Advent, you are advised to book a room well in advance. For bookings, please use the internet or contact:
Vienna Tourist Board
www.wien.info/en/travel-info
Tel.: + 43 1 24 555
info@wien.info
The following hotels are located in the immediate vicinity of the conference centre:
Meliá Vienna
Donau-City-Straße 7, A-1220 Vienna
Tel.: +43 1 90 104
melia.vienna@melia.com
www.melia.com/en/hotels/austria/vienna/melia-vienna
ARCOTEL Kaiserwasser Wien
Wagramer Straße 8, A-1220 Vienna
Tel.: +43 1 224 24-0
kaiserwasser@arcotelhotels.com
www.arcotelhotels.com/en/kaiserwasser_hotel_vienna/
NH Danube City
Wagramer Straße 21, A-1220 Vienna
Tel.: +43 1 260 200
nhdanubecity@nh-hotels.com
www.nh-hotels.com/hotel/nh-danube-city
Park Inn by Radisson Uno City Vienna
Wagramer Straße 16-18, A-1220 Vienna
Tel.: +43 1 260 40
reservation.vienna@rezidorparkinn.com
www.parkinn.com/hotel-vienna/contact-information
Getting Around
Connections between Vienna Airport and the Permanent Conference and Media Centre
Railjet Service ÖBB
The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) run a service connecting Vienna Airport with Vienna Hauptbahnhof (main station) in 15 minutes. There are regular direct connections between 06:30 and 23:00. There are indirect connections (taking approximately 40 minutes and with one transfer) from 04:42 to 00:18.
Tickets: single: EUR 4.20
The U1 underground line provides a direct connection between the main station and Kaisermühlen-VIC station (approximately 12 minutes). You can also take the S7 rapid transit railway to the ACV (airport to Praterstern station, and then take the U1 underground line to Kaisermühlen-VIC station).
Airport Shuttle Service
The City Airport Train (CAT) offers a direct connection between Vienna Airport and the city centre in 16 minutes (Wien Mitte train station – Bahnhof Wien Mitte).
Tickets: single EUR 11 online; EUR 12 at the ticket machine / return EUR 19 online; EUR 21 at the ticket machine
From Landstraße (Wien Mitte train station) underground station, you can either take the U3 line to Stephansplatz or the U4 line to Schwedenplatz. Then change at Stephansplatz or Schwedenplatz to the U1 line which will take you to Kaisermühlen-VIC station (approximately 12 minutes during the day from Wien Mitte train station).
Vienna Airport Lines
Between 05:00 and 21:00, the Vienna Airport Line 3 line offers a direct hourly bus service between Vienna Airport and Kaisermühlen-VIC station. In approximately 35 minutes you can reach the permanent conference and media centre from the airport bus terminal. Tickets can be bought on the bus.
Tickets: Tickets: single EUR 8 / return EUR 13
Taxis and Car Sharing
For more information, please visit
www.viennaairport.com/en/passengers/arrival__parking/taxis__limousines and
www.viennaairport.com/en/passengers/arrival__parking/carsharing.
Public Transport
Vienna has a fully integrated public transport network. Between Monday and Friday, the underground, trams and buses run from approximately 05:00 until just after midnight. On Friday and Saturday as well as on the days preceding public holidays, the underground also runs throughout the night. Both during the week and at the weekend, NightLine buses complement the existing services as of midnight.
Single ticket: EUR 2.40 / 24 hours: EUR 8.00 / 48 hours: EUR 14.10 / 72 hours: EUR 17.10
EasyCityPass Vienna (1 week, including special offers for tourists): EUR 29.90
You can also use Wiener Linien’s WienMobil app (available on Android and iOS) to buy tickets, calculate your route or book a taxi.
For further information on ticket prices and timetables, see www.wienerlinien.at
Accessibility
Information and contacts for people with disabilities can be found at www.wien.info/en/travel-info/accessible-vienna.
eu2018 Traffic – Mobility service for the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU
eu2018 Traffic helps participants of informal meetings of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU find the best transport connections in Austria. The multilingual mobility service offers up-to-date traffic information as well as a real-time intermodal trip planner for public transport, road transport and the footpath network to all delegates, visitors and the Austrian population.
eu2018 Traffic was developed by the Austrian traffic information service VAO on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (BMVIT).
The multilingual web service is available at https://eu2018traffic.verkehrsauskunft.at. The mobility service for the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU is also available as an app for iOS and Android.
Weather forecast
The majority of the informal meetings organised in Austria under the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will take place in the Austria Center Vienna. Some events, however, will be held in other locations throughout Austria. The national meteorological and geophysical service, the Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik (ZAMG), will therefore be providing an overview of the weather for the main Austrian Presidency venues. Delegates, visitors and the public can use the web service to view daily forecasts.
The weather service can be found under the following link: https://www.zamg.ac.at/cms/en/weather/weather-forecast/eu-presidency
Further Information
Opening Hours
The statutory shop opening hours are: Monday-Friday 06:00-21:00 and Saturday until 18:00. Actual opening times vary, with most shops open between 09:00 and 19:00 (grocery stores from 08:00) during the week and closing on Saturdays either at 13:00 or 18:00. Special rules allowing extended opening hours are in place in tourist areas and during Advent. The opening hours of shops located in railway stations and airports correspond to travel hours (some shops are open until 23:00).
Banks
General opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 08:00-15:00
Thursday: 08:00-17:30
Many branches have extended opening hours of 09:00-18:00 Monday to Friday or 24-hour foyers.
Outside of the permanent conference and media centre, the nearest cash machine is located at the Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien AG, Donau-City-Straße 6, Andromeda Tower, 1220 Vienna. There is also another cash machine situated in the immediate vicinity of the permanent conference and media centre at Leonard-Bernstein-Straße 4-6, 1220 Vienna.
Credit Cards
Credit card company hotlines:
Visa: 0800 200 288 (from Austria)
American Express: 0800 900 940 (from Austria) / +49 69 9797 2000
Diners Club: +43 1 50 135-14 / +43 1 50 135-135 (from Austria)
Mastercard: 0800 07 06 138 (from Austria) / +1 636 722 7111
Post Offices
Post offices in Vienna are usually open Monday to Friday 08:00-18:00. Some post offices have extended opening hours and/or are closed at lunchtime. The main post office (Fleischmarkt 19, 1010 Vienna) is open Monday-Friday 07:00-22:00 and Saturday-Sunday 09:00-22:00; post offices at railways stations have extended opening hours during the week and are also open on Saturdays and Sundays.
The nearest post offices to the permanent conference and media centre are located at Moissigasse 14, 1220 Vienna (a 25-minute walk) and at the underground stations Kagran (Donaustadtstraße 1, 1220 Vienna) and Vorgartenstraße (Lasallestraße 38, 1020 Vienna).
Lost Property Office
For help finding lost property, please contact the Lost Property Office of the Austrian Towns and Municipalities (in German only):
Service line: 0900 600 200 (24h, charges apply)
Central Office of the Lost and Found Service in Vienna: +43 1 4000 8091
Statutory Public Holidays in Austria July-December 2018
15 August: Assumption of the Virgin Mary
26 October: Austrian National Day
1 November: All Saints' Day
8 December: Immaculate Conception
25 December: Christmas Day
26 December: Boxing Day
Healthcare
There are doctors and pharmacies throughout Austria. Pharmacies take it in turns to open during the night and on Sundays; closed pharmacies direct customers to the nearest open pharmacy. The nearest pharmacy to the conference and media centre is located on the lower ground floor of the Andromeda Tower, Donau-City-Straße 6, 1220 Vienna.
EU citizens who have health insurance can use the European Health Insurance Card to access healthcare during a temporary stay on the same basis as it would be provided to a person insured in Austria. For further information, please contact your national health insurance fund.
Local Time
Austria uses Central European Time (CET), which is GMT plus 1 hour (summer time – between 25 March and 28 October – is GMT plus 2 hours).
Electricity
220 volt AC. Plugs and sockets conform to the European norm. It is advisable, however, to bring an adapter with you.
Important Telephone Numbers
European emergency number
112
Fire
122
Police
133
Ambulance
144
Emergency doctor
141
Pharmacy emergency and night service
1455
Search for emergency dentists at www.zahnaerztekammer.at.
ÖAMTC breakdown assistance
120
ARBÖ breakdown assistance
123
Telephone directory enquiries for Austria, the EU and neighbouring countries
11 88 11 (charges apply)
Dialling Codes in Austria
Austria:+43
Vienna: (0)1
Foreign Representations in Austria