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WHAT'S ON IN AUSTRIA

What’s on: 10 things to do in Austria this December

December is the month when demon-looking goats roam the Austrian streets, local artists present their designs, unique film festivals take place, and people gather to listen to traditional folk music.

Published: 20 November 2023 11:29 CET
Updated: 1 December 2023 11:57 CET
Krampus, the German/Austrian folk demon that parades through Austrian cities in December.
Krampus, the German/Austrian folk demon that parades through Austrian cities in December. Photo: Jody Marx / Pixabay

In Austria, December is closely associated with the numerous Christmas markets; nevertheless, there are also many other interesting events to check out.

Experience the Krampus Parade

The Krampus parade is a traditional Austrian procession with its origins in folk tales about Krampus, an anthropomorphic creature who punishes children if they have not behaved well with gifts of coal – and the occasional spanking.

Krampus appears looking like a cross between a goat and a demon, with shaggv black or brown hair, goat horns, a forked tongue, vicious sharp fangs, and cloven hooves. During the parade, participants dress up as the creature and roam the streets of the town while the audience gathers to watch them.

Many cities in Austria organise a yearly Krampus parade which normally take place on either St. Nicholas Eve (December 5th) or St. Nicholas Day (December 6th). Specific dates and locations are typically announced on each region’s homepage, or the tourist website of the region. A few of the more famous Krampus celebrations occur in early December in Salzburg, Innsbruck, and the town of Ischgl.

WAMP Design Market

December not only hosts Christmas markets all over the country but also specific design markets, mainly in the bigger cities. On December 9th, WAMP Design Market welcomes visitors to its special Christmas edition. WAMP stands for “Where Art Meets People” and It is an open-air market featuring local and international artists and designers. The design market adds its name to a list of events that bring its visitors in close contact with the creative community.

Kunst and Design Markt Innsbruck

Another design market worth visiting during December is Kunst and Design Markt Innsbruck. More than 100 exhibitors and artists within fashion, jewellery, clothing, wood design, ceramics, furniture, stationery, decoration, art, and graphic design are participating. The event takes place on December 2nd to 3rd in Innsbruck.

Visit a colourful acrobatic dance show

‘Africa! Africa!’ is a colourful circus and dance show touring through Austria during the winter months. The show is performed in Graz from December 12th to the 14th. It presents the traditional heritage from Ethiopia to the Ivory Coast, from Morocco to South Africa, as well as the development of Afro-American and Afro-European culture in a global setting. The show was developed by and features over fifty dancers, acrobats, musicians and artists, from ten different countries.

Enjoy traditional folk music in Salzburg

The Salzburg Advent Singing is a traditional musical and cultural event held annually in Salzburg around Christmas. This year it takes place from December 1st to 17th. The event running for the last 75 years, is known for its enchanting performances of folk music, small vocal ensembles, and Alpine melodies, carrying messages of happiness and peace.

The event is hosted at the Grosses Festspielhaus, a prominent venue in Salzburg’s city centre. It is characterised by an intimate and festive atmosphere, drawing around 36,000 visitors from 38 different countries each year. Central to the event are presentations of gentle, reflective, and joyful folk melodies, performed by musicians and vocalists. The inclusion of Alpine folk traditions and costuming communicate the spirit of Christmas.

The event has become a cherished tradition, bringing together locals and visitors to celebrate the holiday season with the rich cultural heritage of Salzburg its Alpine regions.

Vienna International Film Awards

The Vienna International Film Awards (VIFA) take place from December 2nd to 10th. VIFA admits short films in various genres and categories from across the globe. For 9 days, visitors can enjoy public screenings of award-winning independent films.

The festival is run by a small group of volunteers, film enthusiasts, and professional film judges. The objective of VIFA is to provide support to independent filmmakers, promote their talent, and give them a chance to present their work to industry professionals with substantial experience in their field. The judges consist of international filmmakers and industry professionals.

The Human Rights Film festival

During the same time frame, The Human Rights Film Festival also takes place in Vienna (November 30th- December 10th).  This film festival features documentaries, narrative films, and short movies that address various aspects of human rights. The purpose is to raise awareness, motivate discussion, and inspire action on human rights challenges globally.

Tango Weekend in Graz

During the weekend of December 1st to 3rd, professional tango dancer Eleonora Kalganova, accompanied by Sebastian Arce, is offering a two-day tango course in Graz. Eleonora Kalganova is a dance artist and teacher who focuses on exploring improvisation, flow, and communication as a process and performance in Argentinian tango.

Vienna New Years Eve Trail

Want to celebnrate the New Year in Vienna? Follow a party trail which winds from Freyung through Am Hof square, Graben, Stephansplatz, and Kärntner Strasse to Neuer Markt, with Graben hosting dance schools offering waltz courses in the afternoon and an open-air ballroom in the evening. The activities take place from 2 pm to 2 am and restaurants and bars along the trail serve punch, sparkling wine, and snacks. Six locations across the city offer free entrance to the festivities, involving entertainment such as show programs, waltzes, rock, pop, disco, blues, funk, soul, and DJ lines.

Classical concerts on Fridays in Vienna

On every Friday at 7 pm, the famous Wiener Symphoniker holds short classical concerts in the Great Hall of the Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna. These concerts are typically around 1 hour long, and each occasion features a specific program.

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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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