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What you need to know before attending a Viennese ball

Ball season is in full swing in Vienna - and to the uninitiated a Vienna ball can seem like an intimidating event. But they aren’t the stuffy, elitist affairs you might think, and can be a whole lot of fun. Here’s what you need to know before accepting an invitation, or purchasing a ticket to your first ball.

Published: 20 January 2017 15:20 CET
What you need to know before attending a Viennese ball
A scene from the Kaffeesieder Ball. Photo: Andreas Bruckner

The Local spoke to Vienna local Matthias Brandstetter, who’s something of an expert on ball etiquette. He used to be a dance teacher and helped organise balls in Vienna, as well as hosting a Viennese ball in Thailand. He’s now running a real estate website called toprop.com

Here’s his tips for making the most out of a Viennese ball.

Do master some dance steps.

Most Austrian school students attend dancing lessons to prepare for what is the equivalent of a prom. Brandstetter says it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the Viennese Waltz (easier if you’re a woman, as you don’t have to lead) but he recommends also practising the foxtrot and the boogie as these tend to be common dances at most balls. The bigger Viennese balls will have an orchestra and a big band, so you can enjoy a variety of dances. At midnight, it’s common to dance the fin de siècle quadrille, which peaked in popularity in the late 1800s. If you want to go to a ball but don’t have a partner to dance with, you can even hire one! These are known as ‘Taxitänzer’ (and tend to be male). Some balls will even employ a Taxitänzer for the night. 

Do dress appropriately.

It will say what the dress code is on your ball ticket. Usually it’s a tuxedo or white tie (Frack) for men, and a formal, floor-skimming dress for women. “It’s awkward to show up to a ball wearing a dress that’s too short, and people do get sent home if they’re not dressed properly,” Brandstetter says.

Men are required to wear bow ties, rather than ties, and it’s usually mandatory for men to carry white gloves if they are wearing full evening dress. Brandstetter explains that in former times men wore white gloves at balls as it was considered rude to touch a lady with your bare hands, especially if you had become sweaty from dancing!

Two Viennese beauties at the Styrian Ball. Photo: Denise Pavlik

Do have fun!

Remember to enjoy the night. It’s about the memories you take home with you, not how good you are on the dance floor, Brandstetter says. “Have a look at what everybody else is doing and join in the fun.” At a smaller, less formal ball this could mean joining in some riotous disco dancing or limbo at some point during the night.

Get tipsy, but not drunk.

The food and drink at most Vienna balls tends to be on the expensive side – which is good as it’s not the done thing to get roaring drunk at a ball and pass out on the dance floor. Young Viennese people have been known to carry a hip flask filled with something strong but that’s generally a no-no.

Don’t drive to the ball.

Brandstetter recommends booking a taxi or taking the U-Bahn (subway train). Part of the fun of the Vienna ball season is seeing people parading around the city in their finest clothes. It’s also nice to go to a traditional coffee house on the way home for breakfast – many will stay open all night during ball season, or open very early. Brandstetter says Cafe Schwarzenberg is a favourite, as is Cafe Landtmann – but do make a reservation.

Brandstetter’s favourite ball is the Kaffeesieder Ball (which takes place on February 17th this year), and honours the guild of Coffee House Owners. He says it’s one of Vienna’s most beautiful and atmospheric balls, held in the imperial Hofburg palace. “The whole Hofburg is open and you can really explore it. But it’s not incredibly formal and has a down-to-earth feel. You can buy a ticket at most coffee houses in Vienna.” (Tickets cost €135). 

The recent Styrian Ball at the Hofburg. Photo: Shoshana Stark

He recommends choosing a ball that you’re interested in. There’s a ball in every Vienna district, for every organisation – from the Red Cross, to the fire brigade, and the lawyers and scientists guilds. The smaller balls tend to be less formal and elegant but are more about dancing, meeting people, and networking. The very formal balls, such as the legendary Opera Ball (23rd February), can be impossible to get a ticket to and are of course more exclusive and expensive.

For a different but very Austrian experience, Brandstetter recommends the Hunters Ball or Jägerball (30th January). Everyone wears traditional Austrian dress, a Dirndl for women and a Trachtenanzug for men. Brandstetter says these tend to be very flattering to most shapes and sizes, and are also more comfortable than formal evening wear, so you can enjoy the dancing even more.

The Bonbon Ball (24th February) is held at the Wiener Konzerthaus and is known for its fun and informal ambiance. It tends to attract a younger crowd.

At the Vienna Boys' Choir Ball (27th January) guests not only dance to the waltz but also to plenty of samba and bossa nova, as this year's host country is Brazil. And, of course, the Vienna Boys' Choir opens the ball with a performance.

 

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RENTING

‘Betriebskosten’: What are the extra costs renters must pay in Austria?

Renting an apartment in Austria means you’ll have to budget not only for the rent, but other somewhat hidden monthly costs and expenses.

Published: 30 April 2024 11:29 CEST
'Betriebskosten': What are the extra costs renters must pay in Austria?

Understanding operating costs or the specific expenses landlords or property agencies charge renters, is crucial for staying on top of your monthly payments when renting a place in Austria. These extra costs, known in German as Betriebskosten, are strictly regulated by Austria’s Tenancy Act. 

Here are the operating expensses that are chargeable to tenants, according to the MieterHilfe Public Association:

  • Water/wastewater and costs of leak testing, plus excess consumption due to burst pipes, but does not include disproportionate additional consumption for commercial operations;
  • Rubbish removal (and also clearing out floors and cellars);
  • Clearing out abandoned property;
  • Pest control, with costs such as extermination and periodic inspection or removal of pigeon droppings. Installation of pigeon screens is not included;
  • Sweeping fees (chimney sweep);
  • Electricity for lighting and communal facilities, such as the stairwell, but also replacement of light bulbs, fuses or switches;
  • Insurance premiums for fire, liability and water damage;
  • Insurance premiums for glass breakage and storm damage provided that more than half of the tenants have agreed to this being passed on;
  • Management fee (there is a set administration fee per square metre of usable space and building construction year)
  • House cleaning, including wages and social payments if there is a caretaker, plus materials; 
  • Public charges, unless there is a prohibition on passing them on – offsetting of property taxes is permitted;
  • Ongoing operating costs for communal facilities (lift, heating, playground, green areas, common rooms, etc.).

However, costs such as maintenance and repair work can never be charged under operating expenses.

The same goes for any ‘disproportionate additional costs or consumption due to commercial operations ‘, which refers to costs that are significantly higher than what would be considered normal for residential use or costs that are incurred due to the operation of a business within the rented property. 

READ ALSO: Tenant or landlord – Who pays which costs in Austria?

Vienna’s association for tenants MieterHilfe has a calculator that uses average values to show whether the Betriebskosten you pay are comparatively low, medium or high. The association notes, however, that even low values could be considered unauthorised billing in some cases. In contrast, high values could be correct – the calculator only shows if you are paying too much compared to other properties in the city.

You can check the values HERE. You will need to know either the total usable area of the building or the usable area of the flat and the operating cost share—this information is usually shown in a payment statement you receive from property management. 

What if I believe I am being unfairly charged?

If you think you are paying too much, but the charges are legal – such as for water electricity etc, then you would need to raise this issue with property management. They could take measures to save on operating costs, such as replacing old light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones or setting lights to a timer instead of a traditional light switch, for example.

There are many possible reasons for high or low values, according to the City of Vienna. For example, you may pay comparatively low for water one year because of a small number of residents, while the following year, there are leaking sanitary facilities and a burst water pipe that raises costs.

Buildings with many communal areas and green spaces often tend to have higher operating costs, especially for water, electricity, and housekeeping. 

However, things are different if you think you are being unduly charged—that is, there are charges in the operating costs that do not belong there, such as unapproved construction repair.

READ ALSO: Renting in Austria – The key things foreign residents need to know

If you are unsure of the costs, there is a significant deviation from average prices for no particular reason, or you believe that you are being charged for something not legally admissible as an operating cost, you could have a free check carried out by MieterHilfe or a tenant protection organisation. 

If there is a suspicion of unauthorised billing that cannot be dispelled between tenants and the property management company, this will be clarified at the arbitration board. The arbitration board is an independent body that mediates disputes between tenants and landlords. It is a point of contact before the courts in case of difficulties or legal disputes, and its decision is legally binding.

Property management companies and landlords must settle the operating costs for the previous year by 30 June at the latest and disclose them to tenants. This deadline is set to ensure that tenants have sufficient time to review their cost statements and raise any concerns before the new rental year begins. All expenses must be itemised in the statement, providing transparency and allowing tenants to see exactly what they are being charged for.

They are obliged to provide tenants with a detailed summary of the statement and the invoice documents. If the operating costs per square metre exceed €2, a more detailed review is recommended, according to the City of Vienna.

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