11 interesting facts to know before coming to AUSTRIA

Austria has some interesting cultural habits that can surprise even those who have lived there for decades, like us. In our latest video, we share 11 fascinating facts about Austrian life that will help both visitors and expats, especially in Vienna, the world's most livable city. From short workdays on Fridays to the love for nature and winter sports, Austria offers many unique experiences. Whether you're planning to visit or live in Austria, these tips will make your experience more enjoyable. Watch the video to learn more!

00:00 Intro
00:30 Friday is the best workday
01:03 Lunch at 11:30
02:26 Direct communication
03:00 Austrian Formality
04:09 Sunday is a day of rest
04:45 Love for Winter Sports
05:31 Love for Nature
06:20 Environmentalism
07:00 Strong Community Bonds
08:00 Tipping Culture
08:43 Road trip opportunities

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[PilatesmitAnnMarie]

Great video! You pictured the Austrian way of life very well :) Mahlzeit!

[DragonflyVienna]

Finally someone not saying that Austrian waiters are rude. Thanks. They just expect the same kind of respect they grant you and yes, they are most likely just direct. As are most of us.

Cheesr from Vienna! 🙂

[romana.in.wonderland]

Austrian, Viennese here. Great video! I would like to add, I enjoy a snack at work whenever I find the time and cook a warm dinner at home in the evening. The "restday" Sunday is due to Christian religion and deeply rooted in our culture. My grandmother used to go to church each and every Sunday. I do not ski but love ice skating, cycling, swimming and going to my gym. I do volonteer and enjoy a good street party in my neighbourhood so you are spot on on the community topic! I visited Budapest, Brno, Praha, Bratislava ... and mostly used the train system to go there.
I would like to add the fact that Austrians are really good in seperating their trash and recycling. And we do donate a lot for charities even on TV some are broadcasted year after year.

[tomf]

As native Austrian, I like your videos as they are mostly clichee-free and close to reality compared to other YouTubers claiming to know Austria well. As you correctly stated Austrians are very direct, I have to correct two statements in your video regarding eating habits. It is NOT generally common at all in Austria to eat lunch at 11:30! It is sometimes a habit among co-workers who have to start work very early e.g. 7am and have become very hungry before noon accordingly to go for lunch ahead of the crowds at 12:00 or 13:00 (typical time of Austrian lunch bandwidth, especially within working class). But that´s it. You cannot derive a general early lunch statement here because this will incorrectly resonate with international viewers. The same goes for the cold dinner statement that is misleading. This is also NOT a general rule in Austria, but rather a habit for specific segments of population only, e.g. people living alone or keeping a "eat less late" plan. For many Austrian families dinner is the only time to eat together during the week, so a warm dinner is in fact quite common, either self cooked or go-out vs. have it delivered. Most people especially within the working population rather have dinner as the main meal during the day, as work not always permits relaxed lunches. And therefore dinners are warm and rather big as hardly anyone has the luxury of great lunches. So maybe you have experienced it otherwise in your surrounding, but as a 50+ years Austrian I can assure you that´s not the norm and it should not be presented as one.

[borstibar]

❤❤❤ Dankeschön für den wunderbaren Beitrag. Ganz toll war der über die Tietel und die Namen bei einer Begrüßung.
Fur den Gast ist es nicht so wochtig aber eine gute Sache.
Schön ist es immer wenn man einen Gruß macht wenn man einen Raum betritt.
Ich danke dir da ich als Wiener immer gerne Gäste in innerer Stadt habe.

Gruss aus Wien ❤

[digitaleswerken]

Nice video and pretty accurate. But you missed that Austria is a country of train travelers.
With Vienna beeing one of the best connected city in Europe by train.

[massia.]

Great video as usual. I found these videos very useful for my last trip to Vienna this summer. Thanks!

[cookmaster]

Hi K&P- Your videos were very useful with planning our trip to Vienna, Salzburg and Hallstatt mid August. The surprising part about Vienna was the scorching hot temps the week of Aug 13 at nearly 95F . I thought i will escape the summer heat of Texas - USA, and it was a shock. Nevertheless we enjoyed our trip and thanks for the very good info we picked from your videos. One thing outstanding about Vienna was the metro train service, the connectivity and the frequency. Never had to wait for more than 7-8 mins anywhere.

[fbljczl]

@ point 3: Austrians are similarly direct as the Germans, but they phrase it more politely. They speak much more in the subjunctive mood.

[Wendi.Wednesday]

I am Austrian, and you are spot on with explaining the Austrians formality with our Dr. & Magister, Dr.Dr. etc. It is because Austria was a Monarchy a long long time ago. I find it annoying sometimes

[birgitp.]

Hello, as an Austrian from Burgenland, I agree with most of the statements mentioned in the video.
But I work Monday to Thursday 8 to 5 and Friday 8 to 12:30 and we have snacks in the office at lunchtime. Our only hot meal during the week is in the evening, and it's a big home-cooked meal. At the weekend we like to sleep late and then enjoy our brunch late in the morning, skip lunch and have a great dinner at home or out at a restaurant. So not all Austrians eat a lot at lunchtime.

[funprop]

Austria has been in my keen view for a long time
I am going to immigrate to austria soon
Hopefully so
I love almost everything about it
I love the slow, calm life
Out of the bustle of my place

[heidemarieheran]

It's really heartwarming, how you describe my homecountry. Thank you!

[LionKing-lk]

Great video enjoyed it a lot as an Austrian :)

[sanjivgoswami]

Wonderful video on Austria and Vienna, as always!

[Azukach]

As an Austrian i put Vienna on an extra plate, same as Uk and London... Its not the same.

[annakoller]

Only my grandmother had lunch at about 11:30, nobody else i know. She woke up and started to work early.

[robogal]

I have always worked on Friday till 6 or 7 pm. Some offices close earlier. In other jobs its a normal working day.

[jamiescott]

Good video. I am a relatively new immigrant to Austria, having moved here from New Zealand a year ago. I do struggle with the mix of direct and oftentimes indirect communication of Austrians. Also, coming from a relatively egalitarian society such as NZ, the formality and hierarchy of Austria does my head in sometimes. I am torn between sucking it up and becoming more formal just to try and fit in a little bit more (though unlikely as auslanders will always be auslanders here), or maintaining my own identity and the best bits of where I am from, which means I don't care what your titles are, I won't treat you any differently if you are a doctor or making my coffee.

[brigittescott-florek]

Normally we do NOT eat at 11.30 but between 12 and 1, only if you are up early you might be hungry..cold suppers are unusual for many ...