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ESPEN
Congress
VIENNA INFORMATION
Language
German is the official language in Austria. English are common in hotels and tourist places.
Opening Hours
Most shops are open from 09:00 to 18:00 and till 17:00 on Saturdays in the main cities. In Vienna,
some shops are open on Sundays.
Public transportation
The public transport system in Vienna is one of the most modern and efficient in the world with
5 underground lines, 32 tram routes, 90 bus routes (including 20 night services). At peak times the
underground runs every three minutes on average, trams and buses every three to five minutes.
All registered delegates and accompanying persons are offered a public transport pass. To receive your
pass, please exchange your “transportation voucher” for the pass at the Bag & Transportation pass delivery
desk located within the Registration area.
Safety
Vienna is a safe city to walk around. Assaults are rare. However, common sense must also be used. At
night, try to stick to busy areas. As in any city, keep a close eye on your valuables at all times.
Taxis & Transport
The concierge of your hotel can call a taxi for you, or you may want to call the following taxi companies:
Tel. 60160, Tel. 40100, Tel. 31300, Tel. 81400. By taxi, the journey from the city centre to the Congress
Centre takes between 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the traffic.
Travelling to the Reed Messe (stops: “Messe Prater” or “Krieau”) by Underground (U-Bahn) from
Wien Mitte: U4 (green line) to “Schottenring” then U2 (violet line) to “Messe Prater” or “Krieau”.
Underground (U-Bahn) from Wien-Nord (Praterstern): U2 (violet line) to “Messe Prater” or “Krieau”.
Time
Austria follows the Central European Time (CET) which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). At the time of the Congress, summer
daylight saving is in operation which is two hours ahead of GMT.
Tipping
Service is normally included in restaurant, hotel and taxi bills, however further tip can be given for good
service. It is common, to round up the bill.
Travel Insurance
A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is recommended. Neither the
Organising Secretariat nor ESPEN will be held liable for illness, accidents or thefts suffered by
Participants or Accompanying Persons during the Congress or their stay in Austria before, during or after
the Congress. Participants are strongly recommended to seek insurance coverage for health and
accident, lost luggage and trip cancellation.
VAT
The standard V.A.T. rate in Austria is 20%. There is a reduced V.A.T. rate of 10%. The reduced VAT rate
applies to tourism services, food and agriculture. Everybody who visits Austria as a tourist and who is
not a resident of an EU country is eligible for the VAT reimbursement. Note that value added tax in
Austria is almost always included in the price that is indicated in shops. A minimum value of EUR 75
must be purchased to be eligible for V.A.T. refund. More information at www.globalrefund.com
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