January 11, 2018

17 Things to Know Before Visiting Vienna, Austria

As an expat living in Vienna, Austria I can finally say I feel as though I am blending in with the Viennese (I’ll feel more confident when I can speak German fluently). Believe it or not, Austria ranks as one of the most unfriendly countries in the world. Nevertheless, Austrians may be cold at first, but I have found these 17 things have helped me feel more like a local and less like an out of place tourist.

17 Things to Know Before Visiting Vienna, Austria

1. Main Greeting –

Unlike Germany where the go-to greeting in the afternoon may be ”Guten Tag,” the Austrian greeting most frequently used is Grüβ Gott (God Bless (you)). It is custom to return the blessing back to them.

2. Transportation is NOT free –

Many tourists truly believe the transportation in Vienna is free because there is not a machine or person collecting or stamping a ticket. However, you DO need to purchase a transportation ticket OR you get to enjoy a €103 fine. A one way ticket costs €2.30. You will be KICKING yourself if you end up with the fat fine vs the cheap ticket. There are also 24 hr, 48 hr, 72hr and weekly passes. Just PURCHASE a ticket!!! They are available by any UBahn station. We have been checked 4 times since moving to Vienna 4 months ago. If you do ride public transportation (recommended) that brings me to #3 & #4…

3. Give up your seat! –

It is customary to give up your seat to any elders, mothers with children, or the blind/handicapped when they get on any form of public transportation. Seriously, I’ve seen people get scolded for not doing the right thing.

4. We know you’re having fun, but be quiet.

If you find yourself on public transportation, know that Austrians tend to keep to themselves. I always take public transportation to work, and I can tell who the tourists are because they are talking VERY LOUD. So do yourself a favor and use an inside voice.

5. Drink water from any tap –

Austrians are very proud of their quality of water. Drink from any water fountain, sink, or ask for tap water at restaurants. The water comes straight from the Austrian Alps!

6. Getting on an escalator –

STAND TO THE RIGHT, WALK ON THE LEFT. I’m pretty sure this is standard in most places, but some tend to forget. So avoid getting run over by agitated Austrians and move to the right.

7. Bring your own bag when shopping for food or clothes –

Customers have to pay for bags at most places, so save the environment and bring a recyclable bag.

8. RECYCLE –

One of my favorite things about this city is their recycling system!! Take care of our environment and be sure to sort your materials (aluminum, plastic, clear glass, colored glass, etc) They’ve got it all and it’s fabuloussss.

9. Know the phrase, “Sprechen sie Englisch” –

aka. Do you speak English? Although many people speak English, especially in the First District, at least come in with this phrase instead of assuming everyone speaks English.

10. Open Container Policy –

No need to pregame an outing to save money. You can enjoy your cold brew or hot glüwein while walking around the beautiful city.

11. Google Maps, saves the day. –

No more carrying around your hotel map.. Google Maps now has Vienna’s public transportation routes AND you can download the maps while off line. With other Vienna transport apps, such as Wien Mobil, you have to know the stop in order to calculate the route. With Google Maps you can enter in a landmark and it will tell you how to walk, drive, or take public transportation. BLESS YOU 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY!

12. Cozy & Coffee –

If you don’t know already, Vienna has a big coffee culture. In the United States, most people get their coffee on the run. In Vienna, the coffee houses/cafes are a must-do experience. Sit and take in the coffee and strudel aroma, watch local elders read the daily newspaper, and enjoy a fresh cup of joe. Most places do not have coffee “to go,” so try a Starbucks or Anker if you just can’t sit still.

13. No more tipping calculations –

Wait what would 20% be? Waiters and waitresses in Vienna (and most of Europe) are on a salary, so unlike the U.S, they don’t rely heavily on tipping. Most round up to the nearest Euro.

14. Sundays are for sleeping (or resting). –

Mostly everything is closed on Sundays in Vienna, so if you are visiting, Sunday may be a good day to arrive.

15. Buying food at a local grocery –

The biggest adjustment for me when grocery shopping was the checkout process. Once your food is scanned and paid for you are expected to get the hell out of the way. You have to bag your own groceries, so you have two options before being pushed to the side.

First, while the food comes through the scanner you can quickly place the food into recyclable bags. Second, you place all your food back into your basket as they get done scanning the items. If you do the second option, you can move towards a counter at the front of the store to then organize your groceries into bags. GUYS! Seriously, it is a process and I have to mentally prepare myself before checking out. I’ve literally been pushed aside by people behind me because I was not moving fast enough. You’ve been warned.

16. Buy a Vignette before leaving Vienna –

If you are planning on driving to another country or city, perhaps Salzburg, you need something called a vignette for your car. They are available at almost every gas station, so stop before you leave the city. This is like paying the tolls, and it should be placed in your front windshield.

17. Visit viennawurstelstand.com –

Each week this site writes up 32 of the top things to do over the week/weekend. It could be anywhere from local pop up flea markets, to night club parties, to local festivals! The site is in English and is a one stop shop for all local events.

Prost to Wien!