Stay Safe And Healthy In Austria
Beautiful Austria is a nation steeped in history, culture, and breathtaking scenery. It also boasts one of the lowest rates of crime and violence among nations in the globe. Travellers should be aware of and ready for some hazards and difficulties, though, as with any place.
Stay Safe In Austria
Emergency numbers
Should an emergency arise—a fire, a crime, a medical problem, or an accident—you ought to know how to get in touch with the appropriate authorities. Please save these crucial emergency numbers to your phone or commit them to memory:
- Euro emergency number: 112 (forwards the emergency information to the relevant emergency services, such as police, fire brigade and ambulance)
- Fire department: 122
- Police: 133
- Emergency doctor: 141
- Rescue: 144
- Mountain rescue: 140
- Accident and breakdown assistance: 120 (ÖAMTC), 123 (ARBÖ)
- Missing Children Hotline : 116000
Dangerous situations
You should exercise caution or avoid certain circumstances even though Austria is generally a safe country. These are some instances of potentially hazardous circumstances you could run across in Austria:
- The action for interference with property, based in Austrian property law and unknown in this form, at least in other German-speaking countries, can be costly and problematic for foreigners. When a car parks on private property (such as a supermarket parking lot) or when pedestrians (hikers) use a private path, for instance, a case for interference with ownership may arise. Though all expenses must be paid by the defendant, which can be rather costly, the case itself has little effect. Important advice: pay heed to signage and never enter or use any properties or paths designated “private” or equivalent. One can find a wealth of information regarding this online.
- Pickpockets and con artists should be avoided, particularly in busy tourist areas and big crowds (markets, public transportation). Hotel chains and eateries are covered by this as well. High season ski regions are notorious for high-priced equipment theft. Nothing priceless should be visible even in parked autos. Never part with anything and never take gifts or offers from total strangers.
- Events where a lot of alcohol is drank, particularly in rural regions (church parties, tent parties, etc.), can occasionally become a little rough and lead to fights. Generally speaking, groups of young people that linger out in the nights in bigger towns or apartment buildings and consume alcohol they have brought with them are safe. Unpleasant circumstances are easily avoided with a little common sence. Avoid getting into any disputes or provocations and leave any possible trouble.
- You never want to undervalue the risk of abrupt weather changes when trekking in the mountains! One can get into problems in the mountains even in mountainous places. Before leaving, always look up the weather and dress appropriately. Stow adequate food, water, and a first aid kit. Do not stray from the well indicated routes. Please phone the mountain rescue service if you become lost or hurt.
Avoid Pickpockets in Crowded Areas
Pickpockets remain a menace in busy places like markets, public transportation, and tourist destinations even if thefts, muggings, and auto crime are among the lowest in the industrialized world. As is the case all around Europe, they are growing increasingly competent and professional. Pickpocketing can be prevented by:
- Put your valuables in a safe location—like a money belt or zipped pocket—and near to your body.
- Never carry around big sums of money or pricey stuff like laptops, jewelry, or cameras.
- Particularly in crowded and boisterous areas, be mindful of your surroundings.
- Never take up offers of assistance from total strangers to carry your bags or give you instructions. Maybe they want to take advantage of you or divert your attention.
- Should you believe someone is attempting to pickpocket you, back away and alert them to the security guards or police.
Lock Your Bike to a Solid Object
Major towns like Vienna, Salzburg, and Innsbruck are frequent sites of bicycle theft, whereas rural areas virtually never see it. Particularly during the summer, bicycles are a popular and practical means of seeing Austria. When leaving your bike alone, though, you should always tie it to a substantial item, such a fence, a post, or a bike rack. You ought to as well:
- Securing your bike’s frame and wheels requires a strong and dependable lock, such a chain or U-lock.
- Never leave your bike in a garage, park, alley, or other remote or dark location.
- Make sure the local authorities or a bike shop are registered with your bike, and note its model, color, and serial number.
- Should your bike be stolen, notify it to the police and provide them the specifics of the incident as well as the location.
Be Respectful and Friendly to the Locals
A worry and something that could make your stay unpleasant is racism. There are incidents of obvious hostile looks, just as in the rest of Central Europe; big cities like Graz or Vienna are also not unusual places for police to question people without warning. But racism is almost never violent. In the farthest reaches of Austria, non-white people are rare. If you catch elderly people staring at you strangely, don’t panic. Most of the time, they have no malicious intentions and are either curious or wary of strangers. Breaking the ice usually just takes a little conversation.
To prevent any unpleasant or difficult circumstances, try to pick up some basic German phrases and be kind and courteous to the people. You ought to as well:
- Say “please” and “thank you,” shake hands and smile, and tip 10% in cafés and restaurants.
- Particularly while touring sacred places like cathedrals, monasteries, and cemeteries, dress modestly and respectfully.
- Don’t laugh or say anything offensive about politics, religion, history, or the Nazi era.
- Make no assumptions about any comparisons between Austria and Germany. Such statements could irritate Austrians, who are proud of their own identity and culture.
Do Not Walk on Cycling Lanes or Cross Them as You Would Any Other Road
Especially in Vienna, do not cross cycling lanes like you would any other road or walk on them. On the “Ring” in Vienna, for instance, there are some hard-to-see cycling routes, and some riders move quickly. Not only is walking on bike paths considered rude, but it also greatly raises your risk of being struck by a bicycle.
It is advisable to:
- Prior to crossing a bike lane, look both ways and wait for a clear opening or a green light.
- Use the sidewalks and pedestrian crossings that are marked for that purpose; never jaywalk or wander onto the road.
- Seek out the marks and indications, including arrows, symbols, or colors, that denote the existence of bike lanes.
- Neither park your automobile nor bike on the bike lanes, nor block or hinder them.
Stay Healthy In Austria
Know Your Health Insurance Options
You are entitled, as a visitor from the EU, to free or very cheaply cover any urgent medical treatment. Treatment not deemed emergency is not covered. Just show the doctor or hospital your passport and European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to obtain medical care. But you should read the street sign because not all doctors and hospitals take the EHIC. Should the sign read “All Funds” or “No Funds,” it indicates that the facility in question does not accept your EHIC. In such scenario, you might have to use a private supplemental health insurance or pay for the treatment yourself.
If you are a foreign visitor without travel insurance, you will have to for the whole expense of your care up front, unless an emergency arises. Considering the United States, medical expenses are still rather low even if they can be high. Before leaving, though, it is wise to think about getting travel insurance that will pay for liability, repatriation, and medical bills.
Be Prepared for Mountain Emergencies
With its very effective rescue helicopter network, any place in Austria may be reached in less than fifteen minutes. When you get lost, break your leg skiing, or have altitude sickness, this is quite helpful. Please be aware, nevertheless, that most travel insurances and your EHIC do not cover helicopter mountain rescue. Should a medical situation arise in the mountains, a helicopter rescue will be launched without your express request. The corresponding expenses, however, come to €1,000.
Getting mountain sports insurance is highly advised to avoid this costly load. Joining the Austrian Alpine Club or your health insurance company are the two ways to get this coverage. For €48.50 a year, membership offers automatic insurance coverage for mountain rescue expenses up to €22,000. It also entitles you to savings on lodging, gear, and instruction.
Drink Tap Water with Confidence
Generally speaking, Austrian tap water is safe to drink and of very high quality. It satisfies the strictest requirements for purity and hygienic conditions and is routinely checked and watched by the authorities. Actually, the water quality in Vienna and Graz is reputed to be on par with that of the well-known bottled water brand Evian. With refilling your reusable bottle, you can save money and plastic while drinking tap water with confidence.
It is noteworthy, meantime, that the tap water in some parts of Lower Austria, like the Weinviertel and the Waldviertel, may have high nitrate levels, which can be harmful to health, particularly for young children and expectant mothers. It is advised to drink bottled water or to find out beforehand the quality of the water in these places.
Get Vaccinated for Tick-Borne Encephalitis
Meningitis, paralysis, or death are among the major consequences of the viral infection known as tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) that affects the central nerve system. TBE spreads by the biting of an infected tick, which are prevalent in Austria’s grassy and forested regions, particularly in Lower Austria, Styria, and Carinthia. When ticks are most active, from April to October, there is the greatest chance of infection.
It is highly advised that everybody intending outdoor activities in the spring or summer get vaccinated in order to avoid TBE. There are three doses in all, and they should be given at least one month previous to the trip. Depending on the person’s age and state of health, the immunization has a three to five year efficacy. Costing about €30 per dosage, the immunization is accessible at most Austrian pharmacies and travel clinics.
