11 Austrian life hacks that will make you feel like a local
In Austria, fitting in is about more than just language.
Here are 11 ‘life hacks’ that will make you feel like a local wherever you might live in Austria.
1. Use the 24-hour clock and tell time the “German” way
While in English this is largely limited to the military, in Austria, people use the 24-hour clock to tell the time.
This means 2pm is 14:00 and 8pm is 20:00. If you book a table at a restaurant or organise to meet a friend, telling them you’ll meet them at “14” or “20” is completely normal.
But that’s not all. There is also a “German” way to tell the time – as in how to tell the time in the German language.
For example, in German, saying half three (halb drei) means 2.30, not 3.30. It’s half way to three, not half an hour past two.
This is confusing for English-speakers at first, but once mastered it makes life so much easier – especially when booking appointments or arranging to meet friends.
2. Say hello to people
This tip probably applies more to people living in the countryside than Vienna, but it’s well worth mentioning.
Basically, in smaller places, people will expect a greeting, such as “Hallo”, “Servus” or “Griaß di” – even if you don’t know them.
In fact, failure to greet others could have you labelled as unfriendly, arrogant or badly educated, at least according to the Kurier. The article might be five years old, but the advice definitely still applies today.
3. Always carry cash
Austrians love cash. They always have and probably always will.
Even though card payments and digital banking are gaining in popularity in Austria, there are some places that will still only accept cash. Or the staff will grudgingly dust off the card reader so someone can pay by card.
So, to avoid feeling like a tourist that is inconveniencing someone, always carry cash.
4. Fall in love with the mountains
Austria is famous for the Alps in the west of the country and there is an ongoing love affair between the locals and the mountains.
Even people that live in the cities will regularly visit the mountains for skiing in the winter or hiking in the summer.
And for people that live in the Alps, exploring the mountains is a big part of the lifestyle.
5. Look people in the eye during “Prost”
“Prost” is the Austrian version of “cheers”.
If you have a drink with a group of friends, you should expect to toast with “prost” – and to make eye contact with each person.
Not only is it considered polite, but failure to lock eyes could result in bad luck. At least according to some locals.
6. Don’t cross the road when the light is red
In the UK, it’s acceptable to cross the road at a zebra crossing (Schutzweg) or junction when the light is still red. As long as the road is clear.
But in Austria, people wait until the pedestrian light has turned green – even if it means waiting on the side of the road without any cars going past.
This is because there are fines for jaywalking in Austria and people follow the rules.
7. Learn some dialect
Austria is officially a German-speaking country, but few people speak high German (Hochdeutsch).
Instead, most regions have their own dialect, although there is no exact number for how many different dialects exist in Austria.
For international residents, this makes learning the language even harder because even though high German is taught in language schools across the country, most locals don’t speak it.
The best way to tackle it is to learn a few dialect words in the area where you live, to really make you feel like a local. Read More...
