Your suitcase

For winter it is advisable to take very warm clothing.
For summer take very light clothing, as well as a sweater for the cool evenings and good walking shoes.
Take a raincoat whatever the season is.

Information

Shopping :
The shops are usually open from 9am to 6pam during the week, closing for an hour or two for lunch and on Saturdays from 8am to 12pm.
The first Saturday of each month they stay open till 5pm.
Food shops usually open at 8am.

Driving :
The speed limit is 50 kph in town, 100 kph on bigger roads and 130 kph on highways.
The tolerated rate of alcohol in the blood is 0.8/1000.
Since 1st January 1997 you have to buy a sticker if you want to use the highways, the price varies depending on the length of your stay.
Austrians are very disciplined and respect the speed limits - be careful, stay within the limits and make sure you park your car properly in an authorized space.

Meals :
Austrians eat a hearty breakfast and a light lunch.
This however won't stop them from accepting an invitation to a business lunch.

Public holidays
1st January : New Year's Day
2nd January : Epiphany
April : Easter Monday
1st May: Labour Day
Ascension Day
Corpus Christi
15th August : Assumption
26th October : National Day
1st November : All Saints' Day
8th December : Immaculate Conception
25th and 26th December : Christmas

Banks
Austrian Banks in Paris :
- Bank of Austria.
270, rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris.
Tél : 01.42.60.04.31. Fax : 01.42.60.09.65.
- The National Bank of Austria
3, rue Albéric Magnard, 75116 Paris.
Tél : 01.45.20.20.71. Fax : 01.40.50.87.05.

Banks in Austria :
- Sogenal, Schwarzenbergplatz 1. A-1014 Wien.
Tél : 43/1/712.51.03. Fax : 43/1/712.51.03.35.

- Crédit Lyonnais :
Herrengasse 14. B.P. 90. A-1014 Wien.
Tél : 43/1/535.52.91. Fax : 43/1/535.52.94. Télex : 113.377.
Bank opening times are 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday and up to 5.30pm on Thursdays.

Foreign Exchange :
In the stations and the airports the exchange bureaus are open much longer than the banks in town.
Credit cards are not accepted everywhere, some banks will take them and there are some automatic cash points.

Schools
(see the list of schools in the Useful Address column)

Guides
There are several good guides on Austria (eg. the Guide Bleu) and the tourist board gives several useful and attractive brochures and pamphlets free of charge.