6 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Vienna

During my 4-day trip to Vienna, I had the opportunity to explore this city with its grand architecture and artistic history. I learned a couple of lessons along my trip so I wanted to share my top tips for tourists.

Public Transportation Only Looks Free

Vienna’s public transportation works on a city-wide honor system. There are no barriers at the stations and no formal ticket check. However, this doesn’t mean that it is free and there are undercover ticket inspectors who will give you a high fine without a valid ticket. Most locals get the yearlong public transportation pass which is why you never see them purchasing a ticket. The Vienna City Card and Vienna Pass have unlimited public transportation included in their 72-hour pass and can be added onto any other pass.

Quiet and Civilized

Vienna is known for their ease of living, work – life balance, and respectful nature. As you take a walk down Vienna’s cobbled streets, you find a sense of calmness wash over you. The Viennese operate in a calm and relaxed state and they are never late. This quiet and civilized manner created the famous Viennese coffee house culture is considered an ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by UNESCO. An entire day sitting and sipping “where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill.”

For tipping round, up the bill. Anywhere between 5-15% is normal and tips are paid in the initial amount that you hand over. Example: The bill 8.5 Euro then I hand over 10 Euro.

Wien not wine

Vienna is the only world capital producing large quantities of wine within city limits. Home to over 1,700 acres of vineyards, most which produce white wine grape, are a fantastic excuse to venture out of the city centre and into the country. Some of the most popular wines include but are not limited to Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Weissburgunder and for the red are Zweigelt and St. Laurent.

Smoking is everywhere

Surprisingly, Vienna still allows smoking in outside public areas. This is mostly avoidable when using public transportation, going to museums and airports. However, smoking is allowed in restaurants and bars so remember to air out your clothes. You might find the occasional non-smoking areas of restaurants but don’t hold yourself back because you might miss out on something spectacular.

Restroom fee

Spare change is necessary as many public restrooms require that you pay to get in and there are attendants who monitor the restrooms. Some cafes and restaurants may allow you to use their facilities without a charge and it’s always best to carry hand sanitizer. Every location charges something different so be sure to carry a 50 Euro cent or 1 Euro just in case.

Language

While English is widely spoken in Vienna, it doesn’t hurt to learn some German ahead of time. The local dialect is Viennese, like German, but it does have some different words.