GeoStats:

Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (+1 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is observed from the end of March to the end of October.

Predominant Religion: Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant)

Population: 2,315,000

Languages: German. Most Viennese speak (or at least understand) some English.

Passport/Visa Requirements: Passports (valid for at least six months) and proof of onward passage

Voltage Requirements: 220 volts/50 Hz

Telephone Codes: 43, country code; 1, city code

Destination:

Vienna


What to Buy


Ceramics

Austria is world famous for its pottery. Augarten porcelain, from Vienna, is known for its delicate and graceful shapes, clean lines and exquisite details, and comes in a range of forms including figurines, dinnerware, lamps and vases. The porcelain manufactory at Augarten Palace offers guided tours where you can view the entire production process (10am Mon-Fri).

Viennese Porcelain Manufactory Augarten
Obere Augartenstraße 1, 1020 Leopoldstadt, Vienna
Tel: +43 1 211 24 201


Gmundner Keramik, from upper Austria, has been handmade and hand-painted for over 300 years. Popular styles include wavy stripes, hunting scenes and animal and floral motifs.


Traditional Clothing

Back home, Bavarian folk costumes (Trachten) such as lederhosen and dirndl dresses look a tad silly unless you’re at a beer festival. But you might consider a nice, warm coat made from water-resistant Loden felt, or for men, maybe a smart-looking Steirer-jacke (a gray Loden jacket with green trim).


Wine

The best-known Austrian wines are whites, mostly crisp, herbal Grüner Veltliners and aromatic Rieslings. The Wachau valley near Vienna is a major producer of these varietals. Austria produces luscious dessert wines as well, particularly those made in the Ausbruch style (using grapes affected by noble rot). Austrian Obstler (schnapps made from fruit) is also well regarded.


Chocolate

The quintessential Austrian chocolate is Mozartkugeln, first created in Salzburg in 1890 by confectioner Paul Fürst. These are perfectly round balls of pistachio marzipan, nougat and dark chocolate. The original Fürst chocolates are still made by hand using the original recipe, and are only sold in Salzburg. Due to the product’s huge popularity, a number of other manufacturers produce their own versions of Mozartkugeln or coin-shaped Mozarttaler. You’ll find these candies for sale all over Vienna, along with chocolate truffles and other delicacies.