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Travel: Where to find famous faraway sites whilst staying in Austria

Travel to some parts of the world still looks uncertain for this summer, so where can you go in Austria to find sun, sea (sort of) and other faraway attractions, which you might be missing out on? 

Published: 29 April 2021 12:34 CEST
Updated: 2 May 2021 11:12 CEST
Sun sets over the mountains of Carinthia as people sail on the Worthersee lake (ALEXANDER KLEIN / AFP)
Sun sets over the mountains of Carinthia as people sail on the Worthersee lake (ALEXANDER KLEIN / AFP)

Ibiza or Paris in Vienna?

Last summer, Vienna’s public transport network Wiener Linea boasted it could offer the same experience on the river beach at the Danube as in Ibiza, but “without the oligarchs”. This was a veiled allusion to Austria’s “Ibiza Affair” which brought down the previous coalition government. 

READ MORE: Austrian far-right leader resigns over ‘Ibiza affair’

This year again, many will flock to the city’s Copa Kagrana beach near Vienna’s Uno City and enjoy cocktails on the city’s sand beach in between dips in the “Donau” as the sun sets. 

Another option for those missing Parisian charm is to make your way to the capital’s Servitenviertel, a charming network of cobbled streets and pavement cafes which has been described as the “Little Montmartre” of Vienna.

 
 
 
 
 
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Norway or Italy in Hallstatt? 

Hallstatt, a tiny village of around 800 people regularly attracted one million visitors a year before the coronavirus pandemic hit. It became one of the most instagrammed places in the world in 2019, according to the magazine Harpers Bazaar. One reason for its popularity is it is rumoured to be the inspiration for the fictional Norwegian-themed village of Arundel in the film Frozen.

 
 
 
 
 
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Now is the perfect time to see it before it is swamped with tourists again once international travel resumes. 

If you prefer southern Europe, news organisation CNN has also compared picturesque Hallstatt  to Italy’s Cinqueterre. Both locations feature instagrammable houses set under dramatic cliffs, overlooking water.

The Caribbean in Carinthia?

If you are looking for warm, turquoise waters for swimming, there is no need to fly all the way to the Caribbean. The beautiful Wörthersee Lake has everything you require. This is one of the largest lakes in Carinthia and also one of the warmest, staying at an average balmy 20 °C between June and September. 

READ MORE: The 10 best places for open water swimming in Austria

 
 
 
 
 
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Barcelona Gaudi-style architecture and Icelandic thermal waters in Styria 

Lovers of strange architecture should seek out buildings in Austria by the eccentric architect  Friedensreich Hundertwasser. His Hundertwasser Haus in Vienna is one of the city’s top tourist attractions, but for those looking for something off the beaten track should head to the Rogner Bad Blumau in Styria. 

The volcanic thermal waters are surrounded by buildings which show off Hundertwasser’s love of tree gardens on roofs and feature his typical curves and colourful facades. The bath’s Vulkania healing lake even features underwater music. 

Frolic in Provencal lavender fields or Tuscan vineyards in Southern Styria

Southern Styria is often described as the Tuscany of Austria, due to its vineyards, gentle rolling hills and small farms and forests populated by deer. It’s also the perfect place to pretend you are frolicking in a Provencal style lavender field at the Wunsum organic farm. Situated in pretty Kitzeck, the highest wine-growing town in Europe, the farm features the largest lavender fields in Styria. 

 
 
 
 
 
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Useful links 

Vienna Tourist Information

Hallstatt Tourist Office

Visit Wörthersee

Rogner Bad Blumau

Biobetrieb Wunsum (German language)

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VIENNA

How do I lower my rent if I pay too much in Vienna?

If you live in an older building, a so called "Altbau", the price per square meter is regulated. If you are paying too much rent, there are ways to lower it and claim your money back.

Published: 24 April 2024 12:53 CEST
How do I lower my rent if I pay too much in Vienna?

Vienna is known for offering its residents affordable rents. However, if you live in one of the older apartments in Vienna (Altbau), you should know that there is a limit on how much rent can be charged per square meter.

Some landlords rent out their flats more expensively than they are actually allowed to. The City of Vienna’s rent calculator can help you determine if you are paying too much.

If you believe that your rent is too high, there are three different options on how to bring it down and also get the money back from the time when you paid too much.

Hire a company to take on your case

In Vienna, several companies, known as Prozessfinanzierer in German, will take on your case individually and try to reduce your rent. This could not only result in a lower rent for the future but also in you receiving a refund for the period you overpaid. It is even possible to pursue this after you leave your apartment. 

However, the City of Vienna has warned against using these services. If you are successful, the companies could claim a great portion of the refunded money, ranging from 30 percent to even half. MeinBezirk also reported occasions when employees of these companies have gone door to door, pretending to be city officials to secure contracts with excessively high commission payments.

Tenant protection organisations argue, as cited in Der Standard, that the companies may prioritise their profits over the best interests of tenants, negatively impacting tenant-landlord relationships.

However, these companies typically operate on a ‘no win-no fee’ basis, which means that you do not have to pay anything if the reduction attempt is unsuccessful. 

READ MORE: Gemeindebau: How do you qualify for a social housing flat in Vienna?

Get help from the Mietervereinigung

Another option is to get help from the Mietervereinigung. This is a tenants’ association that supports tenants’ rights and interests. A yearly membership costs around €69 in Vienna (it also operates in Austria’s other federal states).

Once you are a member, you can go to them for help. They will assist you with claiming back your rent if you have been overpaying, and can also help with rental problems such as mould, contracts, painting, disputes with landlords and housing standards. 

The association also offer education and information to help you understand your rights and responsibilities under landlord-tenant laws. This includes workshops and seminars about topics related to housing rights and regulations.

The association is also known for publishing guides, brochures, and online resources with practical tips for dealing with common rental issues.

The Mietervereinigung offers services and guidance for its members over the phone, online or through meetings in person. 

Altbau in Alsegrund, district 9 in Vienna. Photo by Melloo on Unsplash

Do it yourself

The third option you have as a tenant is to go to the arbitration board yourself.

The arbitration board is an independent entity established to help resolve conflicts between tenants and landlords outside of the court system. However, this can sometimes be complicated.

You often need certain legal expertise to be successful and the process can be complex and time consuming.

READ NEXT: How does urban gardening work in Vienna?

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