What NOT to Do On a Trip to Austria
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you plan a trip to Austria. While most travel blogs will tell you the best things to see in Austria, we want to be sure you know what NOT to do on your Austria vacation.
Don’t Miss Out on the Top Destinations in Austria
It’s hard to narrow down all of the beautiful destinations in Austria, but when choosing towns, there are my favorite towns in Austria.
- Innsbruck is a fantastic town in the Alps that has hosted the Winter Olympics
- Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and it’s one of the best-kept Old Towns in all of Europe
- Vienna, Austria’s capital city should not be missed! There are so many palaces, opera houses and cafes.
- Linz has some great museums for kids, and is more of a modern city than other Austria cities on our list. It is known as Upper Austria’s Art and Culture Capital.
- Graz is Austria’s second largest city, and it is where Arnold Schwarzenegger is from. It’s in Southern Austria, so it’s a different vibe than the other cities on our list.
- Mayrhofen is a small ski village with about 4,000 residents. It’s only about an hour from Innsbruck, and it’s just a darling little mountain village surrounded by the beauty of Tyrol.
- Hohen Tauern National Park is the best place to experience alpine scenery and beautiful lakes. It’s a great place to go if you want to relax and enjoy amazing scenery.
- Salzkammergut Lakes is another destination in Austria known for natural beauty and scenic lakes. Some of the Sound of Music was filmed here, and it’s a popular weekend getaway for Austrians.
- Vaduz, Liechtenstein isn’t in Austria, but it’s close enough for a day trip and you’ll be in a new country! Vaduz is the capital, with a few museums, easily explored in a day trip from Innsbruck.
Don’t Miss Out on the Culture in Vienna
Vienna has had many iterations, having been the seat of the Holy Roman Empire and later it was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The arts have always been a huge part of Vienna, and remain so to this day. From Opera to art, and palaces throughout the city, there are so many ways to experience Austrian culture.
It’s best to do some research ahead of time and prioritize what you want to see because there’s a lot and it can be overwhelming.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Vienna
Don’t Just Visit the Cities in Austria
Austria has amazing cities, like Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck. But there’s much more to Austria than the larger cities. Austria has fantastic natural attractions as well, with the Austrian Alps. Skiing and hiking are everywhere in Austria, with quaint mountain towns scattered throughout the country. Even if you are staying in the cities, you can easily access parks and lakes nearby.
Don’t Skip the Regional Folk Museums
Austrians take great pride in their history and their culture, which shows in the regional folk museums. For example, Innsbruck has the Museum of Tyrolean Regional Heritage, which is fantastic. It really helps you get a better understanding of the people of each Austrian region that you visit.
Don’t Forget to Say grüß Gott When Entering a Place
Austria is more formal than some other countries, so a proper greeting is expected when you enter a store, restaurant, or any place. grüß Gott means “greetings to God” and is a common greeting in Austria.
Don’t Be Late
Austrians are very punctual so make sure you are on time for whatever activity you have scheduled. Whether it’s dinner, a meeting, a sporting event or a party, Austrians will be on time. There’s no buffer built into the schedules in Austria; meetings and classes start at the time they are scheduled for.
Don’t Wear Your Shoes in Homes
It is considered bad manners to leave your shoes on when entering someone’s home in Austria. There is usually a pile of shoes at the door, which will remind you to remove yours.
Don’t Expect Attentive Service
Austrian service is effective and efficient, but it’s not the over-the-top service you might expect in other destinations. Servers are typically well-trained and knowledgeable, but they’re not usually effusive, attentive, or fast. Austria also has a strong cafe culture, where restaurant patrons can linger for hours without being rushed. However, this also means you must request your check when you are ready. They won’t automatically bring it to your table.
Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Austria
Don’t Forget to Have Some Cash
Most places in Austria will take credit cards, but you may run into a few places that still only accept cash. If you are visiting the Christmas markets, many of the vendors are still cash-only, and street food vendors often only take cash as well. If you need to use the restroom in train stations, you might also need some small change to enter.
Don’t Skip the Cafe Culture
Austria is known for its cafe culture, and you’ll see coffee & dessert shops all over Austria. Sacher Torte was invented here, so that’s a must-try, but there are tons of delicious pastries and cakes to try when you visit Austria. Make sure you set aside time to relax and enjoy the leisurely pace of Austrian cafes.
Don’t Worry About Tourism Infrastructure
While Austria may not seem as popular as other destinations like France or Italy, there is still a fantastic tourism infrastructure for visitors.
- You’ll find English speakers throughout the country, especially at major attractions.
- Public transportation is easy to use and will get you just about anywhere you want to travel within Austria or the surrounding countries. Buses are also easily available for getting around Austria.
- Hotels and home rentals are plentiful, too!
Because public transportation is so easy to use, you really don’t need to rent a car in Austria. Even tiny villages like Hallstatt have bus and ferry service several times each day. Just be sure that you buy a ticket for each ride and that you validate it upon entry. You don’t need a ticket to board, but there is usually someone on the train checking that you have a ticket and they will check that it’s been validated.
Also, if you buy a “Wochen” ticket, it’s good for 7 days, but it’s not any 7 days. They are valid from Monday through Sunday. If you arrive on a Friday, your Wochen ticket will only be good for Friday and Saturday and then you’ll need a new ticket on Sunday for the following week.
Don’t Expect Small Talk and Smiles
Austrians are not smiley, friendly people. It’s not to say that they are rude, but they don’t go around smiling at everyone or chatting up strangers like we do in America. Hence, our point about the service in Austria. It is professional, not friendly. If you are moving to Austria, it may be hard to make friends at first.
Don’t Be Loud
Likewise, you’ll notice that Austria is fairly quiet. Even on a busy train or in a public park, people just don’t make a lot of noise here. They are somewhat reserved. So, if you’re visiting Austria and you don’t want to stand out as a tourist, then mind your volume and your surroundings.
Don’t Over-Schnitzel
Austrian food is hearty and filling, and there are a million different ways to serve schnitzel. You can get some really good international food in Austria, so don’t feel bad if you don’t eat authentic Austrian cuisine every day.
Don’t Expect a Lot of “Sound of Music” Hype
The movie, set in Austria, is a favorite among many Americans. But it’s not really a thing in Austria. Of course, you can take “Sound of Music” themed tours and visit some of the sites from the movie but don’t expect that Austrians love this movie as much as Americans.
Don’t Plan to Shop on Sundays
Many stores in Austria are closed on Sundays, so if you are planning on shopping during your trip, make sure you take care of it on Saturday or you might have to wait until Monday. As a tourist, it’s not a huge inconvenience as restaurants will still be open.
Don’t Be Upset with Smoking
If you are from the United States, you are probably not used to cigarette smoke, but in Austria, there are still a lot of smokers. Some places even allow smoking indoors, so it’s just something you will have to contend with. Don’t complain; it’s just part of the culture here.
Don’t Confuse Germany and Austria
Sure, they are neighboring countries with a lot of shared history and a shared language, but they are two different countries. Just because you’ve been to Germany doesn’t mean you should skip Austria, or vice versa. Each culture has evolved, and you can really appreciate the difference between the two.
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Mark went to school in Vienna and later taught here, so Austria has a special place in our hearts. Don’t let these don’ts keep you from planning a trip to Austria. It’s a beautiful country with nature and culture and it’s worth visiting in any season. Want more tips for traveling in Central Europe?