Your ultimate guide to Vienna’s Ball Season
Opulent robes, artfully decorated ballrooms and the joyous sounds of the waltz echoing through the rooms: No other event compares to the glitz, glamour and elegance of Vienna’s many balls. With around 450 taking place throughout the season, it’s no surprise Austria’s capital is commonly referred to as the world capital of the Waltz. Read […]
Perchten and Krampus: Everything You Need to Know About Austria’s Beautifully Eerie Winter Tradition
On cold and dark winter nights, the sound of heavy drums and shrill bells cascades through the narrow streets. Fearsome, shaggy creatures emerge from the mist, horns glinting in the fire, the air filled with the sound of clattering chains while children are pressed tightly against their parents. It’s that time of the year when […]
The ins and outs of the Austrian school system: What you need to know
Primary school, secondary modern school, grammar school, commercial academy, technical college and more: anyone familiarising themselves with the Austrian school system will encounter a multitude of educational pathways. Here, you’ll find an overview over what types of schools there are, how long it takes until graduation, and what kind of leaving certificates you get depending […]
Hiking in Austria: The nation’s favourite sport at a glance
Hiking is one of the most popular leisure activities in Austria. Around two-thirds of the population regularly hit the trails – with almost half citing hiking as their main activity during their holidays. The numbers reflect this sentiment in impressive style: With around 726,000 members, the Österrichischer Alpenverein (Austrian Alpine Club) is the country’s largest […]
Traditional Clothing in Austria
The joyous tones of an accordion, happy chatter, a sea of colourful clothes: Whether public festivals, fairs or weddings, Austrian traditional clothing, better known as “Tracht”, is an integral part of Austrian culture – and a lot more than just a simple piece of clothing. With more than 800 different types of Tracht worn across […]
Heurigen vs. Buschenschank: What’s what?
Your guide to Austria’s much-loved wine taverns The irresistible smell of fresh bread, a glass of crisp white wine in your hand, animated conversations under chestnut trees – a visit to Austria’s wine taverns is not just your regular lunch or dinner, but a visit steeped in tradition. So what exactly makes Heurigen and Buschenschank […]
On-Site courses in Austria
Would you like to attend a language course in Austria? Learn German from A1 to C2 at the Language Center of the University of Vienna!For more than 100 years, the German courses at the University of Vienna have been open to people from all over the world above the age of 16. We offer German […]
From Gröstl to Gugelhupf: A guide to Austrian cuisine
Enjoyment from Lake Constance to Lake Neusiedl Nine federal states, countless traditional dishes: Austrians know a thing or two about great food. While classics such as Wiener Schnitze and Kaiserschmarrn are arguably the best-known specialities, each province also boasts its very own unique delicacies. Here is an overview of the most important ones: What is […]
From Melange to Einspänner: Austrian coffee at a glance
Melange, Einspänner, Fiaker and Franziskaner: If you browse through the menus of Austrian coffee shops, you’ll come across numerous coffee specialities – Vienna in particular is known for its coffee house culture. But what exactly are all these creative names all about, and where did this variety come from in the first place? Here’s an […]
From Vorarlberg to Vienna: Austrian dialect explained
From “Griaß di” to “Baba”: if you want to communicate in Austria, you’ll often need a lot more language prowess than just the basic vocabulary from your last German lesson. Although the country is small, there’s an astonishing variety of dialects with fluid transitions in the border regions of the different federal states. From Lower […]