Arrival in Vienna
Day of arrival is Sunday. After consultation with our booking office, you can also arrange an alternative day of arrival.
- Taxi: You can take a taxi from the airport or railway station to your accommodation. Price from the railway station: EUR 15,- to EUR 19,-. Price from the airport: approx EUR 30,-.
- Bus: At the airport you should ask at the "Mazur" counter for a shuttle bus. Costs: districts 1- 11: EUR 15,-, districts: 12-23: EUR 18,-. It is cheaper to take the "City Air Terminal" bus from the airport to the "Wien-Mitte" station and then a taxi to your accommodation (EUR 6,- departure every 20 minutes from 6.30 am to 12.00 pm and every hour from 12.00 am to 6.30 am).
Transfer
If you have booked a transfer, and given us the precise details of your arrival in advance you will be met by a driver holding an Actilingua sign with your name. You will be met by a driver either at the airport (in the arrivals hall) or the railway station (on the platform direct).
Entry regulations
Please be sure to check your travel documents in good time before your departure and ensure that you adhere to the applicable regulations. Information about the current conditions of entry is available from the Austrian representation (consulate/embassy) in your country.
Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out traveller health insurance policy before your departure. Please bring the insurance policy or an international health insurance certificate with you.
First day at school
You are expected at school at 8.30 am on Monday for the allocation to courses: Actilingua Academy, Reisnerstr. 61, 1030 Wien.
Public transport to the school
- Schnellbahn (suburban rail network) station: "Rennweg" (S1,2,3,7,15)
- or U-Bahn (underground) U4/U3: "Landstraßer Hauptstraße" station and U1, U2, U3 station "Karlsplatz", 3 minutes walk to Schwarzenbergplatz, tram "71" to station "Rennweg"
- Tram "O": stop "Rennweg".
Your first course day
Please bring your passport, a copy of your proof of payment and the voucher. Please send the placement test at least till Tuesday one week before course start, otherwise it is possible that tuition starts on Tuesday. You will receive books and other teaching materials at the school. We recommend bringing a dictionary with you. You are informed of your exact lesson times on the first day of the course. You have lessons either in the morning or afternoon, depending on your course level.
Useful tips
- Information and tourist office: Kärntnerstraße 38, 1010 Vienna (9.00 am - 7.00 pm), tel.: 513 88 92.
- Banks: Banks are open in Vienna Monday to Friday from 8.00 am - 12.30 pm and from 1.30 pm - 3.00 pm, on Thursday util 5.30 pm. Money can be changed and eurocheques cashed in every bank. The nearest bank branches to the school are: ERSTE (Fasangasse 1) and CA (Rennweg 33).
- Post Office: There are post offices in every district of Vienna. The main post offices are located at the railway stations. Nearest post office to the school: Hafengasse 24 (tel. 798 32 99) or Marokkanergasse 17 (tel. 712 45 43).
- Telephone: We recommend using a "Telefonwertkarte" (phone card, available at all post offices and tobacconists) for international calls. The cards are available in denominations of ATS 50 and ATS 100. ATS 1, 5, 10 and 20 coins can also be used.
- Voltage: 220 V / 50 Hz.
- Public Transport: Vienna has underground (U-Bahn), trams, buses and suburban rail network (Schnellbahn). The transport network is very efficient. Tickets are available at all tobacconists and the ticket-offices in the underground stations. There are weekly tickets (ATS 155), monthly tickets (ATS 560), daily tickets (ATS 60), "shopping tickets" (ATS 50,- valid from Mo - Sa 8:00 am - 8:00 pm) and single tickets ( ATS 19 when purchased in advance).
- Taxis are not very expensive in Vienna and can also be afforded by night-owls - useful because public transport does not regularly operate after midnight. There are taxi ranks almost everywhere, and one can also order a taxi by telephone from a café or restaurant: 31 300 or 60 160. In addition there are night buses leaving from the centre (Schwedenplatz) to all parts of Vienna. Costs: ATS 25 or ATS 10 with monthly pass. If you buy 10 tickets you get one ride free of charge.
- Currency: The currency in Austria is the Austrian Shilling (ATS). There are bank notes in the denominations ATS 20, 50, 100, 500, 1.000, and 5.000. Austrian Shilling is 100 Groschen.
- Water: The tap water in Austria is potable and tastes excellent.
- Shopping hours: Normal opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm. Some shops are also opened until 8:00 pm. On Saturday most shops close at 5.00 p.m.. Shops are closed on Sundays and public holidays. Food stores at major railway stations are also open on Sundays.
- Clothing: We recommend that you bring clothing for warm and cold weather in both the winter and summer months.
- Newspapers: Foreign newspapers are available at railway stations and at larger newsagents. There is also a selection of current newspapers at the school.
Theatre, Opera and Concerts
On the first day of your course you are given a welcome kit. It contains a wealth of information on Vienna, tips from Actilingua and your personal Actilingua Card which entitles you to a number of discounts at various museums, theatres, restaurants and shops. The daily theatre programme is contained in every newspaper. A monthly calendar of events (cinema, theatre,...) is available at the school. Ticket-line: 588 30-0.
