Top Austria hotels
Etiquette Vienna
29 Reviews What I committed in Vienna, that lot of Viennese are fair. It is strange for me to see newspapers put into box (and not locked) and it is written: "put 1 euro there and bring newspaper". It means...
See All 261 Local Customs in Vienna
The Austrian People Salzburg
14 Reviews In Salzburg the people are very polite and all the people that I met spoke English (although some fluently, others only a bit). However, I think that when visiting another country you should try a few...
See All 92 Local Customs in Salzburg
Food and Drink Innsbruck
7 Reviews ... is another well-established Cafe-Konditorei in Innsbruck (the oldest in Innsbruck/Tyrol). Konditorei means pastry shop and you can expect self-made cakes and pastries. The Munding can be found in...
See All 41 Local Customs in Innsbruck
Tipping Vienna
7 Reviews Although the US has a fixed percentage and Austria may not, tips in Salzburg or Vienna or Innsbruck are very welcome (just like in south Tirol, an Italian province at the border with Austria). And...
See All 261 Local Customs in Vienna
Desserts Salzburg
10 Reviews There's no way to escape it when you are in Salzburg: MOZART everywhere and everything. And when too much of a good thing is too much, there's one Mozart-item you don't want to miss: the Mozartkugel....
See All 92 Local Customs in Salzburg
Music Innsbruck
3 Reviews As I was saying, we followed the sounds of the music into the park. Where we came upon a small bandstand in which there were about 12 - 15 people playing. I swear one of the songs they played was...
See All 41 Local Customs in Innsbruck
festivals / Festwochen Vienna
23 Reviews From the 14th March until the 26 th March 2003, the 5th French speaking film festival will take place at the Votiv Cinema in Vienna! Films presented during this festival are from France, Egypt,...
See All 261 Local Customs in Vienna
Beer and Wine Salzburg
7 Reviews I'm not a beer drinker at all but beer is a tradition in Austria so I just had to try it . Its very good actually especially on a hot July day . My husband was in his glory as he loves beer anyway. He...
See All 92 Local Customs in Salzburg
Seasons Innsbruck
3 Reviews The summer high season is in July and August, when crowds will be bigger and prices higher. The heat can be very uncomfortable during the summers in the cities. Some institutions also will close down...
See All 41 Local Customs in Innsbruck
Kaffeehaus Vienna
17 Reviews Unlike the fast-paced, take-out coffee experience that is customary in America, Vienna has an unrushed café culture. Along with coffee, the waiter will serve a glass of cold tap water. Small food...
See All 261 Local Customs in Vienna
Dining Salzburg
12 Reviews All of the food I tasted in Salzburg was first class, and I went out of my way to try the local dishes. One of these was Viennesse Beef! Served with a mint sauce and...
See All 92 Local Customs in Salzburg
People Innsbruck
3 Reviews When in Innsbruck/Tyrol --- or Austria in general you will hear a lot of folk-music mostly connected with some serious YODELING :) But how does one do that : holladiholladiridio????...
See All 41 Local Customs in Innsbruck
dress - codes Vienna
3 Reviews Although there is no formal dress code in the sense that you won't be let in without a tie, you will for sure get better service and experience less arrogance and grumpiness if you dress up a little....
See All 261 Local Customs in Vienna
historical costumes Salzburg
5 Reviews Watch out for the parades - especially on sundays and special festivities like Easter-Sunday, when I took this picture. A band in tradtional costumes parading through the city, with great music like...
See All 92 Local Customs in Salzburg
Old Town Innsbruck
5 Reviews Beautiful paintings everywhere you look. During the guided tour this painting was explained to us. But I have to admit, I forgot what it was.... sorry!!! It still is beautiful to look at though...
See All 41 Local Customs in Innsbruck
X-mas / Weihnachten Vienna
19 Reviews I've been in a fair few European capitals in December but I think it's highly unlikely that anyone does Christmas better than the Viennese. The place seems somehow made for Christmas and you will have...
See All 261 Local Customs in Vienna
Street Performers Salzburg
3 Reviews You know that Salzburg is a city of (mostly classical) music, don't ya? If not you'll quickly learn from the musicians playing on the streets. Even in cold winter. This one on the picture played...
See All 92 Local Customs in Salzburg
Traffic Innsbruck
2 Reviews Austria requires Toll stickers on all vehicles travelling on their motorways and highways. You can purchase these stickers from post offices and petrol stations or the Austrian Automobile Clubs....
See All 41 Local Customs in Innsbruck
ball - season & carneval Vienna
4 Reviews The highlight of Vienna's social calendar, and the most important event, in the Viennese culture lives, is the Opera Ball that happens every year, into the Viennese Opera House. "Rich dance for the...
See All 261 Local Customs in Vienna
Market Day on Thursday Salzburg
2 Reviews Every Thursday, even in winter a nice flower market is held on Residenzplatz in the New Town. I was quite surprised when I stumbled across this small, charming market right as I started my sightseeing...
See All 92 Local Customs in Salzburg
Innsbruck Card Innsbruck
1 Review Innsbruck Card includes free travel on public transport facilities, access to 21 sightseeing attractions and a return trip to the top of 'Nordkette' (7658 ft.), the Olympic 'Patscherkofl' (7372 ft.)...
See All 41 Local Customs in Innsbruck
museums Vienna
24 Reviews Schoenbrunn castle - the former summerresidence of the austrian emperors. The big park around the castle Schoenbrunn is a great place for a walk, or to go jogging, BUT is Off limits for dogs...
See All 261 Local Customs in Vienna
Coffee Salzburg
1 Review One of the truly Austrian habits is to spend some time weekly at the coffeehouse. "It's Austria!", they say. It's really relaxing to sit and drink nice coffee with a piece of cake! Isn't it marvelous!
See All 92 Local Customs in Salzburg
Events Innsbruck
2 Reviews If you have the opportunity to travel to Innsbruck at the end of November until some days before the 24th of December, you can enjoy the Christmas market. There is one in the Old Town at the Golden...
See All 41 Local Customs in Innsbruck
Sponsored Links
you will hear the greeting "servus", but it really is only used with friends or in the mountains at certain altitudes where everyone uses the familiar "du" instead of "Sie". Austrians are a bit more linguistically formal than Germans (in a positive way in my opinion) and you should stick with "Gruss Gott" and "Auf wiederschauen" in general.
As in the Southeastern part of Germany, the common greeting across Austria is "Gruss Gott!" and not "Guten Tag!".Also, just in case you have learned that Saturday is "Sonnabend" (mainly used in Northern Germany, I believe), it is usually called "Samstag" in Austria.Both variations are understood in German-speaking countries, but if you're looking to fit in Austria, it is preferable to use "Gruss Gott!" and "Samstag".
When you come from Germany there is no border control.If you come with the car don't forget to buy the pickerl.From Italy it is the same.If you come from Slovenia or Hungarry there is sometimes much jam before the border.Especially in summertime at the end of the holidays.In General there is no problem at Austrian borders.
Christmas is celebrated on the 24th of December in the early evening. People have a Christmas tree and usually sing songs under it. Afterwards presents are exchanged. Since Dec. 25th and 26th are religous holidays, people usually spend those with family, friends and relatives. X-mas means big lunches and dinners plus loads of biscuits and other X-mas bakery and of course delicous wine.The X-mas season - Advent starts 4 weeks before X-mas. In this season you can find X-mas markets in most towns and villages. People have X-mas parties with their companies, organisations, clubs, etc. Streets and gardens are decorated with lights and X-mas decoration.A main difference to X-mas in other countires is probably that here the Christkind brings the presents and NOT Santa Claus.
For all you out there who are able to speak German - a little tip:depending on your age and on how close you are to people you visit in Austria or meet you more often use "Du" instead of "Sie". Especially among friends it is NOT common to use the formal way. It'S not wrong, but just a little akward .... There are parts of Austria such as Tyrol and Vorarlberg where people rather tend to use th "Du" all the time (that's even weird to me as an Austrian)Some useful phrases you might constantly hear and wonder what they mean:"Servas" or "servus" = Hi, but can also be used in the sense of bye byeWhen entering a store: "Gruess Gott!"Saying hello: "Grias di" (sing.) or "Grias eich" (pl.)In case you have any questions concerning funny words you hear/ heard feel free to ask ;)Oh and don't bother: even Germans have difficulties understanding us partly =)
In November a lot of restaurants in Austria and Hungary advertise Martinigansl - St Martin's Goose. The official day to celebrate is 11th November, although the whole month of November has been adopted for Martinigansl eating.The tradition is in honour of St Martin, whose birthday it is on 11th November apparently, having been born in 316 AD, in what is now the Western part of Hungary - so he's 1689 this year. His life has been recorded in some detail, but the reason for his beatification was that he cut his robe in half and shared it with a freezing pauper, after which deed, Jesus appeared in his dream wearing the said robe.
The Lederhosen to many people is a special sign of their Alpine citizenship and a proof of their cultural heritage. Owing a pair of Lederhosen still is a sentimental tradition of descendants of Austrians throughout the entire world. In the Alps people wear the Lederhosen for special occasions like 'Oktoberfest', 'Sonnwendfeier' and 'Kirtag' (Kirchtag).
In Austria, the press is subsidised heavily, which explains why they give papers away at the weekend... Well almost... If you buy from a newspaper stand or a street vendor (Kolporteur) you of course have to pay for the paper. However, charitably there are honesty bags on street corners - the idea being that you take your newspaper and you put the correct change in the coin money box to pay for it. Strangely enough, most money boxes don't rattle even though there are no papers left - yes you've guessed it most people just nick the papers. Every now and again a policeman might catch someone and give them a slapped wrist and a fine, but for the most part a blind eye is turned and this kind of petty theft is encouraged.
If you travel in the countryside be on the lookout for country fairs, or Dorffest. Besides the many stands selling the local dishes you could see a parade. You'll have a chance to see how the locals earn their living and have a glimpse of traditional customs and the old way of life.
The schnapps burning is a local tradition normally carried out on 26th December. You have a quarter pint of schnapps (or more if you want!) and a load of sugar cubes. The waitress sets the schnapps alight and then you have to melt the sugar cubes over the schnapps using forks. It takes quite a long time but it was worth the wait. The schnapps now has a syrupy texture and is much sweeter.I am not sure if all places do this but we were lucky to find one that did just outside Bad Goisern
Hotel Imperial Vienna
6 Reviews and 237 Opinions the hotel imperial is located downtown within walking distance of many of the sights of vienna. this...
Hotel Sacher Salzburg Salzburg
9 Reviews and 310 Opinions I stayed here for a weekend in the spring of 2011. The staff were lovely, the food (especially the...
Best Western Hotel Goldener Adler Innsbruck
5 Reviews and 245 Opinions I really cannot praise this hotel more highly. It stands in the heart of the old town just a few...
Reviews and photos of Austria attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Austria sightseeing.
More Cities in Austria
More Regions in Austria
Q: My husband, my 8 month old baby and I are going to Vienna at the end of May, we will be going for one week, probably 4 days in...
A: Definitely Prague! It's more interesting, it's more bautiful, it's friendlier, it's cheaper and I can't think of in what way it would make a difference to parents of a...
Read 9 Replies
Sponsored Links
