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AUSTRIAN TRADITIONS

The 8 habits that prove you’ve really settled in Austria

Living anywhere as an international resident will have an impact on your life, but if you recognise any of these habits then you have truly embraced the Austrian lifestyle.

Published: 17 August 2022 10:28 CEST
Updated: 6 November 2023 09:05 CET
The 8 habits that prove you've really settled in Austria
Got yourself a pair of house shoes? Then you've embraced the Austrian way of life. Photo by Lisa Fotios / Pexels.

Life in Austria can be similar to many other European countries, but there are some aspects that are distinctly Austrian.

Here are eight habits that show you’ve integrated into the Austrian way of life.

FOR MEMBERS: 23 essential articles to help you navigate life in Austria

Indulging in coffee and cake

Coffee and cake is almost as integral to the food culture in Austria as the Wiener Schnitzel.

So say goodbye to the diet, ignore any thoughts of guilt and get stuck into a slice of Sachertorte, Punschkrapfen or Linzer Torte. 

Preferably with a delicious coffee on the side.

READ MORE: Caffeine, war and Freud: A history of Vienna’s iconic coffee houses

Participating in winter sports

Austria, especially the west of the country, is a winter sports enthusiasts dream.

The Alps offer an almost endless choice in ski resorts, gondolas and mountain huts, with winter sports options ranging from skiing and snowboarding to snowshoeing and Langlaufen (cross-country skiing).

Needless to say, if you live in the Alps, winter sports quickly become a central part of the lifestyle during the cold months. After all, it’s healthy, fun and even a bit dangerous (if that’s your thing).

It’s also a great way to explore the landscape of Austria and get a deeper understanding of the central role of winter sports in Austrian culture.

Downing tools for lunch

Lunch in some other countries (especially places like the UK) is often a sad sandwich while sitting at a desk. 

In Austria however, lunch is an important part of the day and many people sit down at midday with their colleagues or families to enjoy a proper cooked meal.

This is a prime example of the healthy work-life balance that residents in Austria enjoy, and is a much-better habit to embrace than working through a lunch break.

Wearing house shoes

In most Austrian households, people do not wear outdoor shoes inside. Instead, they opt for house shoes, otherwise known as slippers in English or Schlapfen in some Austrian dialects.

Also, many Austrian homes do not have carpet on the floor, which means walking around with bare feet or just socks in the winter can get cold – fast.

So if you’ve invested in a pair of house shoes or, even better, you have a backup supply for guests, then you have fully embraced life in Austria. 

READ ALSO: ‘I’ll probably return to the UK’: Moving to Austria as a Brit post-Brexit

Being punctual

Typically, Austrians are punctual people and don’t appreciate lateness.

For this reason, many international residents make an extra effort to be on time (or early), and it’s not uncommon to become stressed if you know you will be five minutes late.

As frustrating as this can be, it’s actually incredibly polite to be early for a meeting and not a bad habit to pick up.

sparkling water

(Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash)

Drinking sparkling water

People like to drink sparkling mineral water in Austria.

In fact, sparkling water is so popular that if you order a Mineralwasser (mineral water) in a cafe or restaurant, the sparkling variety is often served unless stilles Wasser (still water) is specified.

Want to be more Austrian? Then simply switch from still to sparkling water.

Stripping off

Countries in Central Europe are much more comfortable with nudity than other nations, and it’s no different in Austria.

The main place to expect an encounter with naked people in Austria is at the sauna. There are even some saunas that have a naked-only admission policy and won’t let people in if they are wearing swimming gear.

People also like to get naked at lakes – especially at the more remote or quieter locations – or at least go topless (for the women). 

The reality is, no one bats an eyelid. So put your prudish instincts aside and don’t be afraid to strip off.

READ ALSO: What are the rules on working overtime in Austria?

Taking sick leave

Employees in Austria are entitled to six weeks of paid sick leave (the number of weeks increases the longer the worker has been employed in the same company).

This means workers are more likely to take sick leave if they are unwell, rather than dragging themselves into the workplace and infecting their colleagues.

The downside though is that Austria has strict rules when it comes to taking sick leave with explicit orders to stay at home. Workers can even expect to be monitored by private detectives to make sure they really are resting at home, as reported by The Local.

For international residents in Austria, this can be hard to tolerate. But the upside is that you’re not expected to show your face in the office when sick, simply to comply with a culture of presenteeism.

And that’s a habit worth embracing.

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AUSTRIAN TRADITIONS

The ten weirdest taboos you must never break in Austria

Blending in with the locals in a new country can be challenging. We will guide you through some Austrian taboos to keep in mind.

Published: 15 April 2024 12:44 CEST
The ten weirdest taboos you must never break in Austria

Don’t enter the office break room at lunchtime without saying “Mahlzeit”

While working in Austria, you will quickly get used to the word “Mahlzeit”, which translates to “bon appétit” or “enjoy your meal” in English. 

“Mahlzeit” is something common to say among Austrians during lunchtime at their workplace. It can be seen as rude if you pass by a colleague taking a bite of a lunch sandwich without greeting them with a “Mahlzeit”. 

When greeted with ‘”Mahlzeit”, you should (as a sign of politeness) respond with the same word, even if the other person is not eating.

Don’t use German words instead of Austrian ones

In general, the German spoken in Austria is not like the one spoken in Germany. Many words are completely different, and in Austria, locals tend to prefer using the Austrian versions of the words.

Some examples of the differences come with the words tomato and potato. In Austria, tomatoes are called “Paradeiser,” while in Germany, they go by “Tomaten.” In addition, potatoes in Austria are called “Erdäpfeln,” whereas people refer to them as “Kartoffeln” in Germany.

Paradeiser or Tomaten? Photo by Alex Ghizila on Unsplash

Don’t be late

 In Austria, arriving late is considered bad manners, whether for work or a casual meet-up with friends. You do best if you always try to arrive a few minutes before the agreed-upon time. Arriving late can be seen as a lack of respect for those kept waiting.

To maintain good relations with the locals, sending a text saying “Sorry” if you are about to be late could be a good idea, as well as arriving with a valid excuse. 

Don’t forget to use the titles

It is often important to refer to people correctly according to Austrian standards, especially in formal settings.

When you talk to strangers in more formal settings, you are often expected to refer to them by their titles, such as “Doktor”, “Herr” (Mr.), or “Frau” (Mrs./Ms.), along with their last name. In Austria, this is seen as a sign of respect and good manners.

The titles are also very important when communicating in writing, such as in emails, where it can be important to know what the person studied to be able to refer to them in the correct way, such as “MSC” and the last name if the person completed a Master of Science.

Don’t insult the Austrian food such as Leberkäse

Some things from the Austrian cuisine might not look that tempting to you, such as Leberkäse with its pink colour, soft consistent and dripping fat. But even if they do not, try not to criticise the dish too much in front of a local. Austrians are generally proud of their cuisine, and it is a bad idea to express negative opinions about the less “attractive” options.

A good idea is to talk about the dishes you actually like and avoid showing too much surprise if you are served dishes like brain with egg (Hirn mit Ei).

In Austria, Leberkäse is a fast and convenient option when you are hungry. Photo by Allen Rad on Unsplash
 

Don’t ask people to speak High German

Austrians take pride in their dialects, and even though most of them also speak what is known as “High German,” they sometimes prefer not to do so.

As a foreigner who has learned more standardised German, it can sometimes be challenging to understand the various dialects, and tempting to ask if they can change their way of speaking. But even if most of them would do so, it is something they prefer not to continue doing for a longer period of time. 

Therefore, while living in Austria, it’s a good idea to become familiar with the dialect spoken in the area where you live. However, most Austrians will pick up on your difficulty if you don’t understand their dialect and try to “tone it down” so you can talk. 

Don’t miss out on bureaucratic procedures

To become a successful and legal resident of Austria, you must get involved with quite a bit of paperwork. Make sure to always check what you need to do when you, for example, arrive in Austria, change addresses, or file your taxes as a freelancer.

There are many specific rules in Austria for how to do things, and if you do not submit certain papers on time, you might have to pay a fee. For example, if you do not change your address on time (within three days of moving), or if you do not cancel it when going abroad for some months, it could become expensive

Don’t ignore the traffic rules as a cyclist and pedestrian

You cannot cross the street if the light is red in Austria. Even if there are no cars visible, you have to stay put on your side of the street until the light changes to green. If you fail to do so, you will receive some angry comments from other pedestrians and might also have to pay a high fine.

Also, for cyclists, you have to follow a lot of written and unwritten rules, such as putting reflectors on your wheels and only using the bike path if you do not want angry locals to scream at you.

Parked bikes in Vienna. Photo by aestelle on Unsplash
 

Don’t call people “Du” in a formal setting

Using “Du” to address someone in a formal setting is a big no-no in Austria and often seen as a lack of respect towards the person. In certain settings, such as at universities, government offices, medical appointments, and business meetings, using “Du” is considered especially rude and inappropriate.

To make sure that you do not offend anyone, when you are unsure or when the setting is formal, address people with “Sie” instead of “Du”. Calling people “Du” in Austria is something you do when you are familiar with someone or in an informal setting.

Don’t forget to tip

When you visit a restaurant or café in Austria, it is considered good manners to leave a bit of a tip. If you do not, you might receive disapproving looks from the staff.

Most people in Austria tend to tip, either by rounding up the bill or leaving a small tip of 5-10%. However, if you did not like the service, you can express it by choosing not to tip. Or if you really liked it, you can choose to add a higher percentage of tip to the bill.

Woman paying for her consumption. Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash
 

Do you agree with our tips? Do you have any other unspoken rules to add? Leave a comment below!

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