Size
Austria lies in Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia, and is completely land-locked. It shares borders with the Czech Republic (362 km), Germany (784 km), Hungary (366 km), Italy (430 km), Liechtenstein (35 km), Slovakia (91 km), Slovenia (330 km), and Switzerland (164 km). Austria covers an area of 83,858 sq km and has a population of 8.02 million.

Austria is on Central European Time (GMT +1).

Language
German is the official language of Austria, but certain Austrian minorities speak Slavic languages, and Hungarian is commonly spoken in Burgenland. English is widely spoken, particularly by the young.

The Climate
Austria enjoys a temperate continental climate, with pleasant daytime temperatures in summers with cool nights and occasional showers, and cold sunny winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains. The average temperature in August is 68° F (20° F).

Currency
The currency in Austria is the Euro €.

VAT and Tax Refunds
Depending on the object or service, a Value-Added Tax (Mehrwertsteuer Rückvergütung, or VAT) of between 7% and 34% is included in the price of items sold. Short-term visitors from other countries, however, can arrange for a refund of the VAT if they can prove that they carried it out of Austria unused and in nearly new condition, and that the purchase was part of a sale totaling more than €75.01 per store. To get the refund, you must fill out Form U-34, which is available at most stores (a sign will read TAX-FREE SHOPPING). Keep your U-34 forms handy when you leave the country, and have them validated by the Viennese Customs officer at your point of departure. It is also a good idea to keep the articles for which you are claiming refund, together with original receipts, ready for inspection at the point of departure – in some instances, if your paperwork is in order, you'll receive a tax refund on the spot. Otherwise you will need to mail the validated U-34 form or forms back to the store where you bought the merchandise after you return home. Within a few weeks, the store will send you a check, bank draft, or international money order covering the amount of your VAT refund.

Opening Hours
Shops in Austria are generally open from 6:00am to 7:30pm, Mondays to Fridays, and 06:00am to 5:00pm on Saturdays. In some tourist areas shops are open until 6:00pm on all Saturdays and until 9:00pm on weekdays during summertime. General banking hours are Monday to Friday 8:00am to 12:00 noon and 2:00pm to 5:00pm.

Electrical Current
The current in Austria is the European standard 230V, 50Hz. An adaptor plug may be necessary.