Useful facts

Shopping

Opening hours
Opening hours vary between stores and are different in rural and urban areas. Stores are usually closed on Sundays by law, except for supermarkets in train stations and mini-markets at gas stations, which are allowed to sell groceries on Sundays and public holidays. There are also some bakeries with cafes open. Restaurants are open on Sundays, but often close on Mondays. General opening hours are:

Supermarkets and drug stores from 7.30 a.m.-7.30. p.m. during the week, Saturday until 6 p.m.

Fashion, electronics and furniture stores from 9 a.m.-6 or 7 p.m.
 

Payment
One can usually either pay in cash or with debit card (including all functions such as Quick or Paypass) in Upper Austria. In some shops it is also possible to pay with credit card, but in this case it is advisable to be careful and also bear in mind that not every store accepts them.
 

Traditions and customs

Everyday life in Upper Austria is characterized by numerous rituals and traditions. Dependent on the region, certain customs are still alive. Oberösterreich Tourismus gives an overview of all the Upper Austrian traditions.

The calendar at www.brauchtumskalender.ooe-volkskultur.at  explains diverse regional customs, as well as their origins and significance.
 

Religion in Austria

The majority of people in Austria are a member of the Roman Catholic Church. There are also other religions, such as Protestants (4.7%) and Muslims (4.2%), as well as some other smaller religious groups. Masses in Roman Catholic Churches take place at different times. They are announced in the church or on the homepage of the respective church community or municipality.
 

Holidays

• New Year's Day: 1^st of January
• Epiphany: 6^th of January
• Easter: March or April
• National holiday: 1^st of May – no religious holiday
• St. Florian: 4^th of May – no school, but no general holiday
• Ascension Day: May
• Whitsun: June
• Corpus Christi: May or June
• Assumption of Mary: 15^th of August
• National Day: 26^th of October – no religious holiday
• All Saints' Day: 1st of November
• Immaculate Conception: 8^th of December – it is a holiday but many shops stay open
• Christmas: 25^th of December - many people don't work on 24 December either
• Boxing Day: 26^th of December