As an Austrian: I like that Sundays are calm and quiet and not so stressed. I know that many people - especially when they are used to it - want to shop on Sundays, but I understand that no one wants to work then.
Supermarkets at major hubs like the airport or larger railway stations do actually operate on Sundays as well. But in general, yeah, most shops are closed and I honestly prefer it that way. There are even some online services available who deliver supermarked articles (some even on Sunday) right to your door. Of course, this service costs a bit extra but for those really in need there is this possibility.
It sucks. Why can we open shops on Sundays? It's typical Austrian backward thinking. This country views everything new and modern with distain and distrust.
@@arktomorphos I never felt the need to go shopping on a Sunday, even when I was in the U.S. for some month. It's all a matter of planning and time management. Btw, it's not typical Austrian behavior but a catholic/jewish one if you will. These religions demand that Sundays should be used to praise the lord and share time with your family and loved ones and reflect on your doings. In larger cities you even can make use of services that do basically the shopping for you and deliver the products right to your door step, either from those large supermarkets like Billa, Spar or Hofer directly or from a third-party service like Alfies, Gurkerl or HelloFresh. Don't forget that these shops/supermarkets need to be run by employees that have to work then and can't spend their time with family and friends. As someone who worked during my studies mostly at weekends I can assure you that this will cripple social lifes notably as they have to work when most of their friends have free time and/or vice versa. It's similar with paying with card vs. paying with cash. One leads you to spending way more than you might be able to afford or at least willing to spend whilst also allowing those retail stores to track your shopping behavior and optimize their stores to make you buy even more. Convenience comes with its own price tag.
@@arktomorphos ok. So you will work on Sundays so that lazy people can shop? It simply not necesary. There are six days a week to go shopping. Give those people one day of rest with their families.
yeah I agree, no matter which country you move to - if you don't speak the language spoken in that country, finding a job is going to be more difficult
It depends on what kind of job you're applying for. As a software engineer currently working for an Austrian based company that now surpassed 140 employees, most of the employees work remote full time and the ones in Vienna are mostly speaking in English when talking to each other. Only when all people are Austrian (or German) we switch to German. Even when out with friends we usually stick to English when at least one person is not a native German speaker but we might talk to each other in German here and there. When on the landside though, you might meet elderly people more often who often times don't speak English at all or are at least not used to it. But in Vienna most people up to 50 years of age should be perfectly fine to talk in English :)
@@sustainablesolutions7976 not true.... you might find some jobs (just like in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, etc), but most jobs in any country require a certain knowledge of the native language of the country
I think it's unfair to judge them for not speaking YOUR language. I understand that English is an international language, but it not an official language of Austria. If you decided to move there before learning their language, you could have paid someone to help you with the documents or something instead of demanding them to accommodate your needs. That should be on you. It's not their government's fault that you didn't learn the language. Regarding the shops opening hours...I'm from Slovakia where supermarkets are open from 6am until 10pm in most places, every day of the week, including Sundays but I would never complain about Austrians closing them on Sundays. Let them do things the way they want to do them. That's what makes Austria great. I like the way they've managed to preserve their culture and customs. I used to work in a shopping mall in Bratislava and on Sundays, we often had many Austrian customers because their stores were closed so it's not like they don't have other options if they really want to spend the day shopping :)
You can’t praise the education system, the health system, and a great infrastructure and in the same time complaining about paying too much tax… This is just nonsense, sorry!
Also, like so many people, they are confused about the tax system. Also, the tax rate they mention in the video is just wrong. 40% tax rate only applies to the part of your income _exceeding_ 35000€/year. With an income of e.g. 35k€ your overall income tax will be actually be just about 6%.
@@stevenr2463 Whether you personally find taxes in Austria too high doesn't change the fact that the number in the video is wrong. Source: my Austrian payslip. I fall right into the middle of the 34k-66k€ tax bracket, and my overall income tax is 11.2%. Even if I also count social insurance, the overall rate is still only 29.1%. You'd have to earn more than 415k€ annually to actually pay 40% income tax (if you're employed), or make a profit of 190k€ (if you run your own business).
why do you guys expect that during resolving your residential issues with the authorities they should speak english? If you can't speak German, bring the translator. They live in a german-speaking country, working on a governance job, they don't have to speak english, just because it's easier for you. i moved here 6 years ago. On the very first meetings in all these authorities i hired a translator. Why do i need to bother these people and ask them to speak english. Really should not be in a cons list. And shop working hours. Really? What's so hard to do shopping on the Saturday morning or Friday and have a free weekend?
Actually, shops being closed on the weekend is a GOOD sign. That means that you are in a country that respects workers and takes their rights seriously. They ensure that everyone gets at least one day off, instead of being exploited like in most other countries
It's easier if the shops open on Sunday. Everyone else does it (America, Canada, Britain, Spain, Australia, Brazil, etc). Quit being lazy. And quit being so defensive, you miserable g...
It’s called the lingua Franca and if you don’t like it then don’t be taking those American dollars and listening to English pop songs and English films when it suits you. As Austrians want to have their cake and eat it and pretend they don’t understand English when they want to be lazy or rude. Well tough, the world doesn’t work like that.
"they ask you how much you want to tip" - I'm Austrian, living in Vienna since 26 years, and never ever have I experienced this. possibly only in trourist traps? Most tourist traps are masked as "traditional austrian restaurants" ;)
Absolutely. When you receive the bill, you tell the waiter how much you want to pay. You may get a quaint look or an awkward silence if you give no tip, but in almost 40 years no waiter has ever asked me how much I want to tip.
In Austria (and Germany) you tip for the service. When you're satisfied with the service and the food you received you give a little extra. In comparison to the U.S. people here earn enough to make a living even without tips. As such, if you're not happy with the service don't tip. And no, we usually don't calculate 10% or 20% in our heads and give that as a tip, we usually just round to the next more or less fitting amount. I recently discussed the behavior of Viennese waiters with a colleague of mine who is from the U.S. and he always finds our waiters to be unfriendly and even impolite. I honestly find them usually either occupied or observing their tables and only act when you call them, which I prefer to the U.S. system where they touch you every couple of minutes to squeeze a few more $ tips out of you. Here it for sure is a matter of preferences and habbits I guess?!
1. There sare some open Supermarkets on Sunday in Vienna (Praterstern, FranzJosefs Bahnhof), but you can get the most important articles in gas stations. Most of them cooperate with the big supermarket chains Spar and Billa. 3. It's always strange when English-speaking people travel to other countries where English is not an official language and then demand it. In London, no official speaks German to me either. 4. Go around the Naschmarkt. There are some nice shops, where you can get many asian products, especially from China or South East Asia. 6. Well, we are not an english speaking Country. There are many people who don't want that all the time. There are also many people whose quality is simply not good enough for productive collaboration, and that's why many companies demand a certain level of German language skills. There are quite a few international companies where that isn't necessary, but it is limited. As with point 3 this applies in every country. 7. In summer, however, the wind is extremely important, otherwise the 36.38° in the shade would be unbearable. 9. There are many beautiful areas in Vienna, with nice coffee houses and where people like to live, away from the city center and Schönbrunn, where there are only tourists. 10. If you have the financial means, I would recommend buying a nice apartment. For example, with a loan for x years, as rents will be even higher in the next 5-10 years due to the extreme influx. Vienna is a beautiful City and they predict that the population will increase to 2.3 million in the next 26 years. By renewing the city everywhere and making it even more livable, this will certainly not lead to any loss of quality of life.
My rent was adjusted like 5 or 6 times in the past 3 years. From 275 € to 330 € for a 40m² "Gemeindebauwohnung". As I skimmed through the annual statement I rang Wiener Wohnen and asked why all these "price adaptations" occurred at random intervals and their statement was literally that the Austrian government ordered them to raise rents by a certain percentage while in media those politicians were cited to stop any "indexing adaptations" during times of high inflation. The truth will be somewhere in between IMO. Don't get me wrong, I can afford the price increase, but I'm definitely not the only one who had this price adaptation being applied and a 20% rent increase isn't nothing and is clearly more than the average inflation rate.
Austria is NOT an English-speaking country. We have one official language: German. Of course, there are parts of Austria with minorities where, historically, there are other official languages (Hungarian, Slovakian, etc) but never English. Yes, the younger generation speaks English, especially in the service industry. Still, people over 50+ often have had limited exposure to English. While they might know basic phrases, it's hard for some to communicate in English, especially doing business in English. If you are looking for English-friendly job opportunities, look at start-ups, universities, and big tech companies. Low-level employees in public services are not required to speak English; their main focus is serving the Austrian population who speak GERMAN (although I have to agree that we have a lot of bureaucracy and red tape when it comes to those services)
Ridiculous how many people make it their point to correct you guys, good job on dealing with all of those hater comments! Having lived here for almost 5 years now, I definitely can agree with you on many of the points that you are mentioning while disagreeing on some others, but it is your video, your perspective, your beliefs, and your personal experience. Appreciate you guys sharing about this beautiful city! All the best, Mila
About the negatives: Taxes: to fund such nice activities, public spaces, low rent housing, public transportation and so on, a lot of taxes are needed. I think in Vienna you get your value back English: They do not speak English very well and they coud (and probably should) improve, but in most UK cities you wouldn't even think of asking for German when doing paperwork. Austria is a German speaking country, so if someone doesn't speak English, you can't blame them for that. The same goes for jobs, most jobs in a German speaking country will require german, for logical reasons. Shopping on Sundays: the fact that shops are closed on Sundays should be a positive thing. Austria takes workers rights very seriously and they want to ensure that everyone gets at least a day off. It's the best way of avoiding complete exploitation like in a lot of other countries (looking at you, USA) I do agree with your other negative points, especially nightlife, hospitality and wind. But these three just seem like you want all the benefits without contributing anything. That is not very fair to everyone that cares and works to keep a city as complex and nice as Vienna running
Come on I mean English is a world spoken language and in my opinion it should be implemented especially in bureaucratic procedures no matter what. English is very well spoken in countries like Sweden or Finnland and they do not require their native languages for foreigners in comparison to Austria.
@@henrietteursu "Singapore, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium rank behind the Netherlands, making up the top seven countries with the best non-native English speakers in the EF English Proficiency Index 2023, which is based on the EFSET English test results taken by 2.2 million adults." so maybe they just had bad luck?
Ich lebte 5 Jahre in London und das Essen war nicht wirklich gut - allgemein jetzt betrachtet. Als ich in London lebte, und Deutsch gesprochen hätte, dann hätten mich alle komisch angesehen (welcome to Austria - a german speaking country :) Ich lebe in Wien, bin 38 Jahre, die meiste Zeit in Österreich verbracht und habe noch nie erlebt das jemand von mir Trinkgeld verlangt hätte oder beleidigt war das ich vielleicht zu wenig davon gegeben habe (kann natürlich passieren - auch Österreicher sind nicht perfekt und manchmal arrogant). Manche Länder sind so dreist das sie das Trinkgeld schon in der Rechnung stehen haben das man als Kunde nicht mal selbst entscheiden kann wie viel man Trinkgeld geben möchte. Aber natürlich gibt es auch Nachteile. Leider kann man es keinem recht machen. Aber es ist schön das ihr euch für Wien entschieden habt :) Willkommen in der lebenswertesten Stadt der Welt!
I want to say something about the tipping in restaurants. It is common to tip at least 5% of the bill, if you were just having a coffee or drink and 10, 15, even 20% if you are eating at a restaurant. It depends if you’re going to a really fancy place or if you’re just having an easy lunch. Tipping is also a way to show if you are satisfied with the service and the food or drinks.
Lol we have the same couch! I love Vienna. I don’t think I’ll ever move. I can’t imagine a life where Vienna is not my base. I love travelling, but I love coming back to Vienna. I realise how close to perfect it is, and I have not seen any place I feel 100 comfortable in.
Hi, nice video. ❤I think it is a very good summary. I personally don’t think the city is overcrowded but it might depend on where you live and what you like to do. Also tips are not mandatory, many people don’t tip. That said service in restaurants is hit and miss for sure. 😅
We (me, my wife and two daughters) just visited Vienna in July 2024. I had a great experience. But my wife had a bad experience at a restaurant in the Belvedere Palace due to a rude waitress, just like what you mentioned. Thank you for sharing this. Initially we thought we were experiencing racism in Vienna because we are Asian (US citizens). Looks like it's not racism, which makes me feel better.
Supermarkets why should we have more asian and indian food? That is bad for the inviroment! The food we got from other countreys is already a big problem, quality (espezialy chinease fruits that is a health risk) transportation is bad for everyone. So crazy in my eyes when people want nore globaly shiped goots so the world can suffer more. Crazy. Opening hours? A christian countrey that protects there labour workers is a bad thing becouse you are spoilt? Wow just wow. High taxes? Yeas they are high - but guess why the quality of living is wo high too. Shaking my head about ignorant stuff people are thinking. The best thing is wondering why a german speaking countrey whants people with german skills? Wow so can i get a job in italy or uk with only german? No realy who would have thought so?
i want to add the tap water quality, it is next to perfect especially on the west side of the Danube. this might be crucial for some: its possible to get your medical supplies 24/7 if you are in need. Apotheken have nightshifts but it will change location etc. so if you are unlucky you are in for a drive. there is a website listing all open apotheken.
You're tripping. I've lived here for 15 years in different parts of the city. The water is hardened and chemically cleansed. It's one of the worst places for water.
Very well done and very well said! Agree in every point. Im originally from Guernsey, C.I. and have been living in Vienna for ages with my half German family. Just one thing: point 7 the wind. You should try Guernsey then 😂😂
Oh yes, inflation is an issue (10 of the bad). But thats not because Vienna is becoming so popular. Its the war in Ukraine and high energy prices due to no more cheap Russian gas. The US did a great job.
I've been in Austria for over 20 years. When speaking German, a lot of the younger people pick up on the accent (other side of the pond) and start to speak English to me. They basically light up and friendly kicks in with a smile on their face. Forget the older older ones, not all, but many. What I find odd is, like you say, Austria is surrounded by so many other countries. And with so many different countries there are so many different languages. English is known as the international language. Austrians love to travel, even to places I would never think of travelling, and I really think English is more the language that would make things easier for them, or anyone, as a tourist. If you ever listen in on a conversston in Austria, see advertisements or watch Austrian TV you would think they all speak English. So much English is thrown in here and there. Funny how so many when speaking German throw in English thinking it's cool or in some cases a sign of higher education or intelligence. As for Sunday shopping there are some places like by train stations or the airport that are open. Also more gas stations have little mini grocery stores in them. Again, what's funny with the Sunday shopping thing here is that if you cross the borders and head to a malls there, you'll see almost as many Austrian license plates as locals 🤔 What's odd here is that during the week when most are working the retail stores close at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon. Often I've been in these small retail stores and gotten into a conversation with the owners, and they say business isn't that good. I look at the opening hours and am not surprised. Austria is a great place to live with enough English speakers willing to help you out until you learn German, a must. One tip if you have a land line telephone... when you answer the phone always answer "hello" or "hi." If the caller starts speaking, interrupt them and ask...do you speak English? You'll instantly hear a click and no more Telemarketer 😂
I really appreciate your time considering all the main pros and cons about Vienna. I have just received permission to start my third master's degree in Vienna, and I am very worried if I will be able to find a job there. 😅😅
I live in Austria all my life and never had a waiter demand a tip. Its not mandatory to give tips in Austria and if the service wasn't satisfactory it's even expected that you don't tip.
I´m from Austria and lived in Vienna for 8 years. Yes the waiters are rude, that´s what they are known for, but no one ever asked me about how much I want to tip... What you said about reservations at some restaurants, I honestly can´t quite understand. I lived in London for a while and people are literally standing in line on the street for an hour our even longer to get into a popular restaurant. Maybe it´s cultural differences, but I´d rather make a reservation. You also have the oppertunity to stay as long as you like and you don´t have to leave as soon as you have finished your meal. I think your video is great and there are pros and cons to all places. I just pointed out the things that really surpised me
You guys had me sold on moving to Vienna but then, the cons got me thinking 😂😂 I have an Austrian citizenship as my grandfather grew up there, but I’ve never been. Currently living in Las Vegas where we moved to from London Uk. We escaped the bad weather and now we’re trying to escape the desert heat.
Love Austria I’ve lived there got two years such beautiful country with amazing culture and food compare to America I regret move here I’m planing to go back to Austria for my retirement
The constant complaining by expats about the fact that shops are closed on Sundays in Germany and Austria annoys me to no end. I've been living in Austria and Germany for close to 60 years and never ever have I had a problem to have everything I need at home, when only being able to go shopping Monday to Saturday from 7 a m to 7 pm (mind you opening hours were even shorter, when I was young). But 72 hours per week should really be enough. Sundays are for doing things like going hiking or biking or swimming or skiing, preferably WITH YOUR FAMILY. People who work in shops deserve that as well. It is called quality of life. And for the people, who are not able to organise their shopping in the 72 hours per week they have, there are still the shops in gas stations and train stations. Or countries like the US, the UK or Russia.
Its invconvinient and I can agree with Sundays but hours of opening are too short I wake up at 6 and I would like to do shopping for breakfast amost nothing is open at that time , After I come home from work everything is already closed .
The video was very informative, thank you for taking the time to make it! A) Having lived and loved London (apart from the weather) do you think I'd like it in Vienna? It feels a bit dull. B) I speak German at A2 level and planning on getting B2 but it will take some time. Do you think I'll find anything in the tourism business apart from waiting tables? It took me 7 days to get a job in London ❤ Thank you!
In regards to pharmacy and medical products, each of the Apotheken takes part in a so called "Bereitschaftsdienst" where a couple of those have also to operate at night/weekend. These change from day to day but guarantees that if you really need important drugs you can also get at weekends or at night. In really hard cases you have to call medical assistance anyway and they will probably bring you to one of the nearby hospitals where they also have own pharmacies usually. IIRC, at least someone told me so, there is even a law that demands pharmacies to be distributed in a way that they aren't to close to each other but also not to far apart from each other to avoid creating competition and keep prices rather even. It is one of the few business where it is really hard these days to get into AFAIK.
Also I would like to know if It would be easy to move somewhere if I will be thinking to move to another english speking country in the Europe after completing studies here in Vienna. Thank you
Hi.. Maya and Danny.. just watched your this one video. I found it very much helpful as I will be moving to Vienna in the coming few months.. I am just worried about the part time jobs for students. Speacially when I am coming from Asia and english speaking nations. Can you or anyone in the comments section reply with honest reviews. I am still confused about this point.
Hi! I agree with Danny and Maya that your English should be enough (for the first couple of months I would say though), but the exact language skills requested will be determined more by the field of work that you will be applying for. E.g. working at a restaurant part-time as a student could be a bit trickier if you don’t speak any English at all, whereas working at an international marketing firm could be a bit easier language-wise. Also, consider that as a student (BA or MA or even PhD in most cases), the work limit is 20h/week (unless the job is directly connected to the degree you’re getting), and you would have to fight AMS (Austrian work market) for quite some time to prove to them that you really need this job. Sometimes, it can take several months just to get an okay from AMS for you to work at a restaurant. I would definitely suggest considering international organizations and/or working online. Best of luck in your move to Vienna and I’m sure you’ll love it here! Mila
As an Austrian living in Vienna and travelling to a lot to different countries, they most responsed comments here are what you have experienced. German culture has a lack of understanding and think everyone has to adapt to them. English is the world language, not german. Also our waiters a very rude. Fact. It is the same like smoking was allowed inside for a very long time, because here big old traditional companies and politics control a lot. German culture fears any change. Whenever I come back from visiting other countries, I can feel how oldschool and rude the german society is. It is getting better in small steps, but so much way to improve.
The point about taxes is just plan wrong (or at least only half the truth). As an employee you _dont_ pay >40% with an income between 32000 and 64000€. In Austria (like in most countries) we have a marginal tax system, with progressive tax brackets only applying to the _part_ of the income _exceeding_ the respective threshold. If you earn 64k€ per year your effective income tax rate is actually just 15%. Even if you factor in social security you only pay 33% of your income. At 32k€ the rates are only about 6% and 23% respectively. That might still sound like much, but keep in mind that this already includes healthcare, unemployment, pension, etc. Only if you are self-employed the rates are higher - because then you also pay the employer's part.
basically, everyone who passed even mandatory school years in Austria has atleast some knowledge of English as it's part of the curriculum in ground school already. whether people can (or feel comfortable trying to) actually _speak_ English is a completely different matter: unless they're working in tourism, IT, or in some int'l corporation, most people don't really get any practice past their school years (university life is a different matter). Austria is, however, *NOT* an English speaking country: the official language is Deutsch. and that's the language you'll have to deal with if you want to live here, sort out paperwork, get a local job, yadda yadda. (sidenote: people around this corner of Europe spoke German [or rather earlier versions of] long before what is now known as Germany was a thing. history and stuff.) also, tipping culture is still a big thing in Vienna (and many other places all over Europe): you tip your waiter, you tip your cab driver, your hairdresser, the plumber (if you don't want to wait 2 weeks next time you need to call them up), your postman, the pizza delivery guy, the mechanic at your car's inspection, etc etc. the continually increasing tourism, and most of today's short-term tourist's stubborn ignorance of any local customs, led to waiters 'pushing' for tips when serving tourists. seriously, summer season downtwon Vienna, it's like +50, +60% work effort [and in the summer heat] for -40 to -70% in my wallet at the end of the shift, mostly depending on where the tourists are from. fun side fact: credit card handlers charge you (as in, the restaurant) extra if you want that "would you like to tip?" show up on your CC terminal when people pay by card: even those giants are aware of the issue, and - of course - capitalize on it
I would say vienna is mostly safe. Young men and women need to be aware of certain areas. Especially young men. Do not argue or get provoked by young muslim men. If they get you into a fight they will bring more ppl. It is not as bad as in germany yet but it is getting there
@@73dines If you had problems with what you thought were Christians, they weren't Christians. Also, it's a common fact that Islam is destroying countries and cultures everywhere. Let's deal with reality.
It was a bit hard to understand but I guess you said "Schlosspark is the biggest Park in Vienna" = No it isn´t, not even close. The by far biggest Park in Vienna is the "Prater" in the 2nd District Leopoldstadt = 6 square kilometers of natural greenery (includes riparian forests + 12 huge meadows + 7 lentic waters (= 7 former natural sidearms of the River Danube before the Danube River was laid into a man-built riverbed in the 19th century in order to protect the city from floods) + additionally imbedded are the Prater Amusement Park with its old Giant Ferris Wheel + the National Football Stadium + a horse race course + a horse trotting track for hamess racing) and till the 17th hundreds it was the Emperor´s private hunting ground and in 1766 it became a public park = an Emperor´s gift for the public.. Followed by "Lainzer Tiergarten" in the 13th district Hietzing = 2,4 square kilometers of natural greenery of forests and meadows + free living Wildlife (foremost deers of different kinds + also few boars if you are lucky to see them) also a former aristocratic hunting ground before it became a public park after WW1. Then there is also the "Donauinsel/Danube Island" which is 21 km long + 250 meters wide which is also an entire public greenery zone for hiking + biking + jogging + swimming/sunbathing The Schlosspark has 1,6 square kilometers including all the buildings + including the Zoo for which you have to pay a ticket for the entry. Schlosspark is just Vienna´s biggest "gardens with flowerbeds" but it is not the biggest public park. And according to the taxes there are also lots of tax-returns as well where the goverment is paying back money (the more taxes you pay the more you will get back) - if - you do your tax avaraging which you can do yearly. But it is a huge bunch of paperwork of course but those high earners who have to pay those mentioned 40% are hireing a tax accountant to do that stuff for them anyway.
Stores being closed on Sundays is not unique to Austria, it still heavily improves the quality of living especially for people which do work at the stores closed. I know you only think about your comfort, but sometimes you could think about other people as well, even more so when there are still places open on sundays where you can get groceries and the opening times are way longer in the city than on the countryside. The nightlife aspect is absolutely ridiculous, Vienna has a great nightlife. Obviously musical tastes are different, so you might not get the same kind of music when going out in the uk, but nightlife will mostly either involve electronic or dance music, which is similar to a lot of other european cities. If you want different music, theres lots of places playing alternative stuff or having themed nights, you just have to go out and look for them. Also the point with the wind is ridiculous, its not worse than in many other cities and if you move to a certain place, you should be aware of the climate. And overcrowding is not an issue as well, tourist crowds are reaching similar levels to pre covid times and it only really is highlighted in the city center, and even there its not too bad. If you dont like it, just go to restaurants which are located in the surrounding districts. I get Vienna isnt perfect, but it seems like some of the issues are only raised cause you needed it to make a top 10 list or you being inconsiderate towards our culture. Also most waiters wont be angry with you because of how much you tip. Nearly all know people tend to tip according to what they are able to afford. Theres also this prejudice of people not being hospitable in Austria, when in reality its just a misconception. Once you get to talk with them they are really being nice and want to help you out, it just seems at first that people are uninterested. Especially with waiters in the first district our touristy places, they are constantly under pressure and sometimes service a couple of hundred guests.
As someone who has been living in Vienna almost my whole life, I don't think the point about the waiting staff, particularly about tipping culture, was very inaccurate. Yes, the service may seem lacking if you are used to american service for example, but I don't remember ever being asked to tip or have gotten worse service, even though I have tipped low due to financial issues. This might be an experience limited to the city center, which is overpriced most of the time anyway
They do speak very well english, but they don´t want to.. You did not mention that in Austria (Vienna) you get 14th Salary in year. And about english speakers...like this is Austria, the Public Employment Service (AMS) found me a job and it turned out that they wanted me to speak in a foreign language, where I contacted the AMS again to cancel the meeting, because I wanted to speak only in German and they canceled for me :D
I'm from Vienna and that tipping scenario is actually very uncommon here 😂 most Austrian servers don't care all that much if they get tipped or not. And when you do, they don't care if it's just 20 cents or multiple euros. Most people "tip" when there's some small change, as if to say "keep the change" but that's about it! Unlike in the states, Austrian servers are paid fair wages and aren't dependent on tipping to make ends meet.
As person living in Vienna I like living here but I wonder how Vienna can be best place to live when shops close at Sunday , at Saturday at 18 and during the week at 20, I love living here but I consider that so invconvinient that makes me wonder how worse is living in other places that this is the best in the world.
It's a matter of planning your needs, your purchases. If you do this, you will acquire the typical Austrian trait of planning everything in advance. You also need to know exactly all weekends and holidays, as well as the opening hours of all the shops. All Austrians do this.
You overestimate english in Austria. Look which people arrive in Austria. Many of them speak no english. As a medical worker i speak serbian/croatian, bulgarian and russian with my patients, i would also need turkish, arabic, farsi and urdu. Very rarely i speak french, never italian, and also rarely english. English is not the language that connects everybody here, it is german. I am happy about everybody who learns german here. The worst german learners are women from traditional countries, and the second worst are those who speak english well.
The city has relatively lower 'rent cost' and offers affordable transportation. BUT all other things are much expensive than any other place in Europe, even market, clothing, cosmetics, bikes, eating, cafe... everything is more expensive %10-30 UP
Thats not true. If you compare the costs for food, its cheaper then in Germany. In Austria we dont have so much garbage low quality food from Niedersachsen and if you compare the quality its cheaper in Austria.Costs for Internet and your phone is far cheaper in Austria. There are some ranges where its more expensive then in Germany, but if you sum it up, the first mentioned products are more important.
Hey, born viennese here. Good review all in all, but tbh the "cons" were just the only little parts you didn't quite get. Like clubs is DJ and good alternative rock is open airs(there ale A LOT and some of the biggest in Europe). We don't really offer much non mainstream music in mainstream enviroment - doesnt fit. For the birocracy you need someone who guids you tough that and everyone with valid reasons has the right to get someone whos "on your side" in all this nonsense. BTW these PPL speak the same english than all the others, they just pretend they dont so they have less work and take a break for 20min before the next one they "dont understand"^^ (kinda Austrian thou, getting a job at the governemnt just to be lazy and give a crap about it^^). The pharmacy stuff 100% contolled by the state not morphing with a cooperation is something good though, so is the free sunday for worker rights (most say it has religous reasons, but that incorrect - you would get 200% + some extra bonuses with a full impolyment. any company can choose to pay that or stay closed). The waiter thing is something different here... He is the ambassador/diplomat and executive of the Cafe where many different PPL have to be able to have a good time, just as they personally like it without their privatspher getting penetrated in a way they don't like. PPL who are known better get prefered. If you go there every day, the day will suddenly come where he looks at you, smiles and gives you a warm welcome and immediately the hole cafe will open up to yyou and you're one of them forever, no matter who, from where or what political views you have - they observed you all this time and if they come to the consense that you're a decent person, they will not just have your back but stand infront of you in any stuation. All the rejection and acted sideeyes you get before is just tests or telling you what wasnt cool rn to "educate" you about the culture of this coffee. it'S funny and i love it :)
Yes, not even close. For 64k€ it's 15% effective income tax (and about 33% if you also include social security). Maybe they are self-employed, then they'd also have to cover the employer's part.
1:51 Renaissance architecture not so much - rather recommend Florence or Prague on that. Maybe you meant baroque architecure? 10:04 Dont get me started PS: Nice tats!
One factual error to note: some supermarkets close to the city center do open on Sundays and I am pretty sure you can cover all basic necessities there should you find yourself pressed. I have other disagreements with the video, but I guess they are matters of personal perspective.
The quality of life here in Vienna is unbeatable, but only if you can speak good German - if you can't then you're doomed to social exclusion. Get learning!
So when I move to Britain I can expect that they speak german? Sorry you english speaking people, learn languages, I speak three, my sister speaks 8, most speak at least 2, get your language skills going guys.
Pls, I’m thinking of migrating to Austria. I’m a Nigerian btw. So I want to know, can I get part time job while i School? If yes, how easy is it, considering the Langauge barrier? I will be waiting for your reply. Thanks
You need to inform the school and they have to be okay with it. If it is part time keep in mind that you will have to pay an extra fee for the health insurance
to actually get a work permission in austria from another country outside of the EEA its required to learn german on C1... german is the official language so go with it or find another country
#6 of negatives is just such a English native-privilege one, sorry. 😅 Why would have many jobs for English native speakers if English is not the national language? I mean that's such a weird thing to even note. Literally no one else would go to, say, Nigeria and say "oh but they don't really offer a lof of jobs for Germans or Italians". And anyone mentioning "high taxes" - guys, all the nice things people always praise about Austria, they don't just fall from the sky!
I find it a bit sad and funny that some people here in the comments are almost attacking you for sharing your thoughts, experiences, likes, and dislikes ... not sure why people are so angry that you moved a country and did not immediately speak perfectly German ...as if it almost threatens them in a way .. yes guys English is an international language and one of the official languages of the EU ( which Austria is part of ) not sure what is the big deal to be able to speak to people who are legally allowed to move here and help them with documents at the beginning ... I don't come from an English speaking country. Still, I will speak English when I travel or when I meet people who moved to my country and don't know yet perfectly the language. and regarding supermarkets being closed on a Sunday, and that it is for people to have a resting day ... lol bullshit ... no one said you must work 7 days a week ... in countries where you have 7 days supermarkets people have two days off when they choose, how come the hospitals, airports and transport system works 7 days a week but not supermarkets ... lol. anyway, cute video, ignore the bitterness of some middle Europeans ( 110% sure that's what they you ). keep enjoying Vienna with its minuses as no place is perfect! but Vienna is close to 😎
It's not so much the "no English", as the "expect everything to be done in English". That said: most of the information for administration etc. is actually available in foreign languages (including English) if you ask for it. But the official language is of course still German.
@@stephanweinberger I don't think that's what they think, most people don't "expect" things to be done in English, it's more about being a bit more understanding to people who are new in the country, you can't expect someone to know perfect German so quickly ... it takes time.. and at the end of the day a language is about communication and if there is an international language that can help in communication then why some see it as a threat to their country or culture .. it's funny and bit sad ... it's just a bit helpful at the beginning that's all. Yes if you have lived in Austria for a few years and you don't speak the language it might show a lack of interest in being part of society here but that's not what this video was about....
This title gets awarded by a fringe manager magazine. Besides the ruling SPÖ no ones gives it much weight. Most citizens in Vienna mock about the title.
Why isn't this "terrible" for ALL Austrians, Germans....? Hm? - What do all the sales staff - and their relatives - who have Sunday off say about this?
@@petersfluege For me as a consumer it’s terrible because when I am working the shops are open and when I am done and want to go into the city after work to buy/get something then most shops are closed. So I can only go shopping on Saturday when the city is crowded with people. When you have lived in other cities too where all shops are open till at least 9 pm then you know how convenient this can be ;)
@@marijanWS It might be more convenient for consumers, but I prefer knowing workers get one more day off. It really isn't necessary at all, and there are still a few shops open on sundays even. Workers shouldn't sacrifice their free time for small convenieces like that, the customer is king mentality is kinda fucked up.
@@marijanWS Hi, yes, it's maybe "convenient" for you. BUT, 1. On Sundays and public holidays, ALL families can be together, including all the sales staff. 2. We know that small businesses cannot afford to open on Sundays. It's the big businesses that do. The small businesses die. You and your aunt won't be able to start a business. I lived in Austria for 48 years, 3 years in Germany and 12 years in Switzerland. I have never heard a European say that they want to shop on Sundays/public holidays (except December). You have to understand the bigger picture...
Some bad things you mentioned changed with/after the pandemic. Nightlife is totally different now, lots of people are partying at home now. Also if you moved here during the pandemic, you cam here with missing the majority of international tourists. It was just as crowded before 2020. 🥲 And as for Sunday closed supermarkets: Billa Praterstern 😬 (Joke, don't go!)
As an Austrian: I like that Sundays are calm and quiet and not so stressed. I know that many people - especially when they are used to it - want to shop on Sundays, but I understand that no one wants to work then.
Supermarkets at major hubs like the airport or larger railway stations do actually operate on Sundays as well. But in general, yeah, most shops are closed and I honestly prefer it that way. There are even some online services available who deliver supermarked articles (some even on Sunday) right to your door. Of course, this service costs a bit extra but for those really in need there is this possibility.
@@Kessra And don't forget all the many gas/patrol stations with an included little shop. You get most of the essentials there.
It sucks. Why can we open shops on Sundays? It's typical Austrian backward thinking. This country views everything new and modern with distain and distrust.
@@arktomorphos I never felt the need to go shopping on a Sunday, even when I was in the U.S. for some month. It's all a matter of planning and time management.
Btw, it's not typical Austrian behavior but a catholic/jewish one if you will. These religions demand that Sundays should be used to praise the lord and share time with your family and loved ones and reflect on your doings. In larger cities you even can make use of services that do basically the shopping for you and deliver the products right to your door step, either from those large supermarkets like Billa, Spar or Hofer directly or from a third-party service like Alfies, Gurkerl or HelloFresh.
Don't forget that these shops/supermarkets need to be run by employees that have to work then and can't spend their time with family and friends. As someone who worked during my studies mostly at weekends I can assure you that this will cripple social lifes notably as they have to work when most of their friends have free time and/or vice versa.
It's similar with paying with card vs. paying with cash. One leads you to spending way more than you might be able to afford or at least willing to spend whilst also allowing those retail stores to track your shopping behavior and optimize their stores to make you buy even more.
Convenience comes with its own price tag.
@@arktomorphos ok. So you will work on Sundays so that lazy people can shop?
It simply not necesary. There are six days a week to go shopping. Give those people one day of rest with their families.
About the language barrier: imagine moving to UK and pointing out that it is not easy to find a job without English knowledge :) of course it's not :)
yeah I agree, no matter which country you move to - if you don't speak the language spoken in that country, finding a job is going to be more difficult
Good point. Thanks for your feedback 🙏🏻
It depends on what kind of job you're applying for. As a software engineer currently working for an Austrian based company that now surpassed 140 employees, most of the employees work remote full time and the ones in Vienna are mostly speaking in English when talking to each other. Only when all people are Austrian (or German) we switch to German. Even when out with friends we usually stick to English when at least one person is not a native German speaker but we might talk to each other in German here and there. When on the landside though, you might meet elderly people more often who often times don't speak English at all or are at least not used to it. But in Vienna most people up to 50 years of age should be perfectly fine to talk in English :)
English is generally known and in many countries you can work just fine knowing english - except in the German, Italian or French speaking areas.
@@sustainablesolutions7976 not true.... you might find some jobs (just like in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, etc), but most jobs in any country require a certain knowledge of the native language of the country
I think it's unfair to judge them for not speaking YOUR language. I understand that English is an international language, but it not an official language of Austria. If you decided to move there before learning their language, you could have paid someone to help you with the documents or something instead of demanding them to accommodate your needs. That should be on you. It's not their government's fault that you didn't learn the language.
Regarding the shops opening hours...I'm from Slovakia where supermarkets are open from 6am until 10pm in most places, every day of the week, including Sundays but I would never complain about Austrians closing them on Sundays. Let them do things the way they want to do them. That's what makes Austria great. I like the way they've managed to preserve their culture and customs.
I used to work in a shopping mall in Bratislava and on Sundays, we often had many Austrian customers because their stores were closed so it's not like they don't have other options if they really want to spend the day shopping :)
You can’t praise the education system, the health system, and a great infrastructure and in the same time complaining about paying too much tax… This is just nonsense, sorry!
Also, like so many people, they are confused about the tax system. Also, the tax rate they mention in the video is just wrong. 40% tax rate only applies to the part of your income _exceeding_ 35000€/year. With an income of e.g. 35k€ your overall income tax will be actually be just about 6%.
Taxes in Austria are far too high. I know what Im talking about. Sorry.
@@stevenr2463 I also know what I'm talking about. I'm paying taxes in Austria too and have the numbers directly from my payslip...
@@stevenr2463 Whether you personally find taxes in Austria too high doesn't change the fact that the number in the video is wrong. Source: my Austrian payslip. I fall right into the middle of the 34k-66k€ tax bracket, and my overall income tax is 11.2%. Even if I also count social insurance, the overall rate is still only 29.1%.
You'd have to earn more than 415k€ annually to actually pay 40% income tax (if you're employed), or make a profit of 190k€ (if you run your own business).
why do you guys expect that during resolving your residential issues with the authorities they should speak english? If you can't speak German, bring the translator. They live in a german-speaking country, working on a governance job, they don't have to speak english, just because it's easier for you. i moved here 6 years ago. On the very first meetings in all these authorities i hired a translator. Why do i need to bother these people and ask them to speak english. Really should not be in a cons list. And shop working hours. Really? What's so hard to do shopping on the Saturday morning or Friday and have a free weekend?
Actually, shops being closed on the weekend is a GOOD sign. That means that you are in a country that respects workers and takes their rights seriously. They ensure that everyone gets at least one day off, instead of being exploited like in most other countries
It's easier if the shops open on Sunday. Everyone else does it (America, Canada, Britain, Spain, Australia, Brazil, etc). Quit being lazy. And quit being so defensive, you miserable g...
It’s called the lingua Franca and if you don’t like it then don’t be taking those American dollars and listening to English pop songs and English films when it suits you. As Austrians want to have their cake and eat it and pretend they don’t understand English when they want to be lazy or rude. Well tough, the world doesn’t work like that.
Came to say this about language about bureaucracy and jobs.
As an Austrian, I do not really see a language barrier here
"they ask you how much you want to tip" - I'm Austrian, living in Vienna since 26 years, and never ever have I experienced this. possibly only in trourist traps? Most tourist traps are masked as "traditional austrian restaurants" ;)
YEEEP! 100% true!
Absolutely. When you receive the bill, you tell the waiter how much you want to pay. You may get a quaint look or an awkward silence if you give no tip, but in almost 40 years no waiter has ever asked me how much I want to tip.
In Austria (and Germany) you tip for the service. When you're satisfied with the service and the food you received you give a little extra. In comparison to the U.S. people here earn enough to make a living even without tips. As such, if you're not happy with the service don't tip. And no, we usually don't calculate 10% or 20% in our heads and give that as a tip, we usually just round to the next more or less fitting amount.
I recently discussed the behavior of Viennese waiters with a colleague of mine who is from the U.S. and he always finds our waiters to be unfriendly and even impolite. I honestly find them usually either occupied or observing their tables and only act when you call them, which I prefer to the U.S. system where they touch you every couple of minutes to squeeze a few more $ tips out of you. Here it for sure is a matter of preferences and habbits I guess?!
@@Kessra what the heck does that have to do with my comment?
@@manuelk8747 ? cool down and take the comment for what it is?! No need to act personally offended ...
1. There sare some open Supermarkets on Sunday in Vienna (Praterstern, FranzJosefs Bahnhof), but you can get the most important articles in gas stations. Most of them cooperate with the big supermarket chains Spar and Billa.
3. It's always strange when English-speaking people travel to other countries where English is not an official language and then demand it. In London, no official speaks German to me either.
4. Go around the Naschmarkt. There are some nice shops, where you can get many asian products, especially from China or South East Asia.
6. Well, we are not an english speaking Country. There are many people who don't want that all the time. There are also many people whose quality is simply not good enough for productive collaboration, and that's why many companies demand a certain level of German language skills. There are quite a few international companies where that isn't necessary, but it is limited. As with point 3 this applies in every country.
7. In summer, however, the wind is extremely important, otherwise the 36.38° in the shade would be unbearable.
9. There are many beautiful areas in Vienna, with nice coffee houses and where people like to live, away from the city center and Schönbrunn, where there are only tourists.
10. If you have the financial means, I would recommend buying a nice apartment. For example, with a loan for x years, as rents will be even higher in the next 5-10 years due to the extreme influx. Vienna is a beautiful City and they predict that the population will increase to 2.3 million in the next 26 years. By renewing the city everywhere and making it even more livable, this will certainly not lead to any loss of quality of life.
Rents didn't rise due to popularity, but because they are indexed to inflation, which has been high..
Well there was and still is a rapid population growth in Vienna. And this then leeds to higher prices.
My rent was adjusted like 5 or 6 times in the past 3 years. From 275 € to 330 € for a 40m² "Gemeindebauwohnung". As I skimmed through the annual statement I rang Wiener Wohnen and asked why all these "price adaptations" occurred at random intervals and their statement was literally that the Austrian government ordered them to raise rents by a certain percentage while in media those politicians were cited to stop any "indexing adaptations" during times of high inflation. The truth will be somewhere in between IMO. Don't get me wrong, I can afford the price increase, but I'm definitely not the only one who had this price adaptation being applied and a 20% rent increase isn't nothing and is clearly more than the average inflation rate.
Austria is NOT an English-speaking country. We have one official language: German. Of course, there are parts of Austria with minorities where, historically, there are other official languages (Hungarian, Slovakian, etc) but never English. Yes, the younger generation speaks English, especially in the service industry. Still, people over 50+ often have had limited exposure to English. While they might know basic phrases, it's hard for some to communicate in English, especially doing business in English. If you are looking for English-friendly job opportunities, look at start-ups, universities, and big tech companies. Low-level employees in public services are not required to speak English; their main focus is serving the Austrian population who speak GERMAN (although I have to agree that we have a lot of bureaucracy and red tape when it comes to those services)
Ridiculous how many people make it their point to correct you guys, good job on dealing with all of those hater comments! Having lived here for almost 5 years now, I definitely can agree with you on many of the points that you are mentioning while disagreeing on some others, but it is your video, your perspective, your beliefs, and your personal experience. Appreciate you guys sharing about this beautiful city! All the best, Mila
Thank you very much for your feedback.
About the negatives:
Taxes: to fund such nice activities, public spaces, low rent housing, public transportation and so on, a lot of taxes are needed. I think in Vienna you get your value back
English: They do not speak English very well and they coud (and probably should) improve, but in most UK cities you wouldn't even think of asking for
German when doing paperwork. Austria is a German speaking country, so if someone doesn't speak English, you can't blame them for that. The same goes for jobs, most jobs in a German speaking country will require german, for logical reasons.
Shopping on Sundays: the fact that shops are closed on Sundays should be a positive thing. Austria takes workers rights very seriously and they want to ensure that everyone gets at least a day off. It's the best way of avoiding complete exploitation like in a lot of other countries (looking at you, USA)
I do agree with your other negative points, especially nightlife, hospitality and wind. But these three just seem like you want all the benefits without contributing anything. That is not very fair to everyone that cares and works to keep a city as complex and nice as Vienna running
Come on I mean English is a world spoken language and in my opinion it should be implemented especially in bureaucratic procedures no matter what. English is very well spoken in countries like Sweden or Finnland and they do not require their native languages for foreigners in comparison to Austria.
@@henrietteursu "Singapore, Austria, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium rank behind the Netherlands, making up the top seven countries with the best non-native English speakers in the EF English Proficiency Index 2023, which is based on the EFSET English test results taken by 2.2 million adults."
so maybe they just had bad luck?
Ich lebte 5 Jahre in London und das Essen war nicht wirklich gut - allgemein jetzt betrachtet.
Als ich in London lebte, und Deutsch gesprochen hätte, dann hätten mich alle komisch angesehen (welcome to Austria - a german speaking country :)
Ich lebe in Wien, bin 38 Jahre, die meiste Zeit in Österreich verbracht und habe noch nie erlebt das jemand von mir Trinkgeld verlangt hätte oder beleidigt war das ich vielleicht zu wenig davon gegeben habe (kann natürlich passieren - auch Österreicher sind nicht perfekt und manchmal arrogant). Manche Länder sind so dreist das sie das Trinkgeld schon in der Rechnung stehen haben das man als Kunde nicht mal selbst entscheiden kann wie viel man Trinkgeld geben möchte.
Aber natürlich gibt es auch Nachteile. Leider kann man es keinem recht machen. Aber es ist schön das ihr euch für Wien entschieden habt :) Willkommen in der lebenswertesten Stadt der Welt!
I seriously did not expect to scroll down and see so many comments being defensive.
I want to say something about the tipping in restaurants. It is common to tip at least 5% of the bill, if you were just having a coffee or drink and 10, 15, even 20% if you are eating at a restaurant. It depends if you’re going to a really fancy place or if you’re just having an easy lunch. Tipping is also a way to show if you are satisfied with the service and the food or drinks.
Lol we have the same couch! I love Vienna. I don’t think I’ll ever move. I can’t imagine a life where Vienna is not my base. I love travelling, but I love coming back to Vienna. I realise how close to perfect it is, and I have not seen any place I feel 100 comfortable in.
We agree with you, Vienna has it all!
Hi, nice video. ❤I think it is a very good summary. I personally don’t think the city is overcrowded but it might depend on where you live and what you like to do. Also tips are not mandatory, many people don’t tip. That said service in restaurants is hit and miss for sure. 😅
I totally agree! Thanks for your feedback Tomasz 🙌🏻
We (me, my wife and two daughters) just visited Vienna in July 2024. I had a great experience. But my wife had a bad experience at a restaurant in the Belvedere Palace due to a rude waitress, just like what you mentioned. Thank you for sharing this. Initially we thought we were experiencing racism in Vienna because we are Asian (US citizens). Looks like it's not racism, which makes me feel better.
Yes, there are a lot of unfriendlies in Vienna. Not all, however, a high percentage.
Supermarkets why should we have more asian and indian food? That is bad for the inviroment! The food we got from other countreys is already a big problem, quality (espezialy chinease fruits that is a health risk) transportation is bad for everyone. So crazy in my eyes when people want nore globaly shiped goots so the world can suffer more. Crazy. Opening hours? A christian countrey that protects there labour workers is a bad thing becouse you are spoilt? Wow just wow. High taxes? Yeas they are high - but guess why the quality of living is wo high too. Shaking my head about ignorant stuff people are thinking. The best thing is wondering why a german speaking countrey whants people with german skills? Wow so can i get a job in italy or uk with only german? No realy who would have thought so?
Good point. Thanks for your feedback 🙏🏻
Please invest in lapel microphones. The audio is difficult to hear, especially with background music.
We have a better one now :), that video is a bit older. But thanks for your feedback.
i want to add the tap water quality, it is next to perfect especially on the west side of the Danube. this might be crucial for some: its possible to get your medical supplies 24/7 if you are in need. Apotheken have nightshifts but it will change location etc. so if you are unlucky you are in for a drive. there is a website listing all open apotheken.
You're tripping. I've lived here for 15 years in different parts of the city. The water is hardened and chemically cleansed. It's one of the worst places for water.
Very well done and very well said! Agree in every point. Im originally from Guernsey, C.I. and have been living in Vienna for ages with my half German family. Just one thing: point 7 the wind. You should try Guernsey then 😂😂
Oh yes, inflation is an issue (10 of the bad). But thats not because Vienna is becoming so popular. Its the war in Ukraine and high energy prices due to no more cheap Russian gas. The US did a great job.
Thank you for you feedback :) really appreciated!
I've been in Austria for over 20 years. When speaking German, a lot of the younger people pick up on the accent (other side of the pond) and start to speak English to me. They basically light up and friendly kicks in with a smile on their face. Forget the older older ones, not all, but many.
What I find odd is, like you say, Austria is surrounded by so many other countries. And with so many different countries there are so many different languages. English is known as the international language. Austrians love to travel, even to places I would never think of travelling, and I really think English is more the language that would make things easier for them, or anyone, as a tourist.
If you ever listen in on a conversston in Austria, see advertisements or watch Austrian TV you would think they all speak English. So much English is thrown in here and there. Funny how so many when speaking German throw in English thinking it's cool or in some cases a sign of higher education or intelligence.
As for Sunday shopping there are some places like by train stations or the airport that are open. Also more gas stations have little mini grocery stores in them.
Again, what's funny with the Sunday shopping thing here is that if you cross the borders and head to a malls there, you'll see almost as many Austrian license plates as locals 🤔
What's odd here is that during the week when most are working the retail stores close at 6 p.m. and Saturday at noon. Often I've been in these small retail stores and gotten into a conversation with the owners, and they say business isn't that good. I look at the opening hours and am not surprised.
Austria is a great place to live with enough English speakers willing to help you out until you learn German, a must.
One tip if you have a land line telephone... when you answer the phone always answer "hello" or "hi." If the caller starts speaking, interrupt them and ask...do you speak English? You'll instantly hear a click and no more Telemarketer 😂
Thank you for your feedback 🙏🏻
Vienna is a fascinating city ❤
It is 😍
I really appreciate your time considering all the main pros and cons about Vienna.
I have just received permission to start my third master's degree in Vienna, and I am very worried if I will be able to find a job there. 😅😅
Don’t worry, you will find it 100%
@@Maya_and_Danny I am very thankful for your comment 🙏
Wishing you guys more success))
My partner and I are considering moving to Vienna in a few months. This was super informative, thank you :)
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy Vienna guys 😌
I live in Austria all my life and never had a waiter demand a tip. Its not mandatory to give tips in Austria and if the service wasn't satisfactory it's even expected that you don't tip.
I´m from Austria and lived in Vienna for 8 years. Yes the waiters are rude, that´s what they are known for, but no one ever asked me about how much I want to tip...
What you said about reservations at some restaurants, I honestly can´t quite understand. I lived in London for a while and people are literally standing in line on the street for an hour our even longer to get into a popular restaurant. Maybe it´s cultural differences, but I´d rather make a reservation. You also have the oppertunity to stay as long as you like and you don´t have to leave as soon as you have finished your meal.
I think your video is great and there are pros and cons to all places. I just pointed out the things that really surpised me
You guys had me sold on moving to Vienna but then, the cons got me thinking 😂😂
I have an Austrian citizenship as my grandfather grew up there, but I’ve never been.
Currently living in Las Vegas where we moved to from London Uk.
We escaped the bad weather and now we’re trying to escape the desert heat.
Vienna is a Great place! And definitely worth moving to, the positives greatest outweigh the negatives. :)
Love Austria I’ve lived there got two years such beautiful country with amazing culture and food compare to America I regret move here I’m planing to go back to Austria for my retirement
Thank you 🙏🏻
The constant complaining by expats about the fact that shops are closed on Sundays in Germany and Austria annoys me to no end. I've been living in Austria and Germany for close to 60 years and never ever have I had a problem to have everything I need at home, when only being able to go shopping Monday to Saturday from 7 a m to 7 pm (mind you opening hours were even shorter, when I was young). But 72 hours per week should really be enough. Sundays are for doing things like going hiking or biking or swimming or skiing, preferably WITH YOUR FAMILY. People who work in shops deserve that as well. It is called quality of life.
And for the people, who are not able to organise their shopping in the 72 hours per week they have, there are still the shops in gas stations and train stations. Or countries like the US, the UK or Russia.
Its invconvinient and I can agree with Sundays but hours of opening are too short I wake up at 6 and I would like to do shopping for breakfast amost nothing is open at that time , After I come home from work everything is already closed .
you never really arrived in vienna. you´re just tourists who decided to stay for years.
Haha keep gatekeeping. No one cares what you think.
The video was very informative, thank you for taking the time to make it!
A) Having lived and loved London (apart from the weather) do you think I'd like it in Vienna? It feels a bit dull.
B) I speak German at A2 level and planning on getting B2 but it will take some time. Do you think I'll find anything in the tourism business apart from waiting tables? It took me 7 days to get a job in London ❤ Thank you!
You need to learn Viennese German.
And how to swear in Turkish and Arabic.
In regards to pharmacy and medical products, each of the Apotheken takes part in a so called "Bereitschaftsdienst" where a couple of those have also to operate at night/weekend. These change from day to day but guarantees that if you really need important drugs you can also get at weekends or at night. In really hard cases you have to call medical assistance anyway and they will probably bring you to one of the nearby hospitals where they also have own pharmacies usually. IIRC, at least someone told me so, there is even a law that demands pharmacies to be distributed in a way that they aren't to close to each other but also not to far apart from each other to avoid creating competition and keep prices rather even. It is one of the few business where it is really hard these days to get into AFAIK.
Thank you for the info 🙏🏻
Also I would like to know if It would be easy to move somewhere if I will be thinking to move to another english speking country in the Europe after completing studies here in Vienna.
Thank you
It will be, you might need a company to sponsor you
Great Video, guys 👏
Thank you 🙏🏻
Hi.. Maya and Danny.. just watched your this one video. I found it very much helpful as I will be moving to Vienna in the coming few months.. I am just worried about the part time jobs for students. Speacially when I am coming from Asia and english speaking nations. Can you or anyone in the comments section reply with honest reviews. I am still confused about this point.
You will be fine with just English mostly
Hi! I agree with Danny and Maya that your English should be enough (for the first couple of months I would say though), but the exact language skills requested will be determined more by the field of work that you will be applying for. E.g. working at a restaurant part-time as a student could be a bit trickier if you don’t speak any English at all, whereas working at an international marketing firm could be a bit easier language-wise. Also, consider that as a student (BA or MA or even PhD in most cases), the work limit is 20h/week (unless the job is directly connected to the degree you’re getting), and you would have to fight AMS (Austrian work market) for quite some time to prove to them that you really need this job. Sometimes, it can take several months just to get an okay from AMS for you to work at a restaurant. I would definitely suggest considering international organizations and/or working online. Best of luck in your move to Vienna and I’m sure you’ll love it here! Mila
welcome to vienna! you will love it :)
As an Austrian living in Vienna and travelling to a lot to different countries, they most responsed comments here are what you have experienced. German culture has a lack of understanding and think everyone has to adapt to them. English is the world language, not german. Also our waiters a very rude. Fact. It is the same like smoking was allowed inside for a very long time, because here big old traditional companies and politics control a lot. German culture fears any change. Whenever I come back from visiting other countries, I can feel how oldschool and rude the german society is. It is getting better in small steps, but so much way to improve.
The point about taxes is just plan wrong (or at least only half the truth). As an employee you _dont_ pay >40% with an income between 32000 and 64000€.
In Austria (like in most countries) we have a marginal tax system, with progressive tax brackets only applying to the _part_ of the income _exceeding_ the respective threshold.
If you earn 64k€ per year your effective income tax rate is actually just 15%. Even if you factor in social security you only pay 33% of your income.
At 32k€ the rates are only about 6% and 23% respectively. That might still sound like much, but keep in mind that this already includes healthcare, unemployment, pension, etc.
Only if you are self-employed the rates are higher - because then you also pay the employer's part.
Thanks for the information
I am interested in Austria
How can you help me move to Austria
Am in need of unskilled job
Thank you
basically, everyone who passed even mandatory school years in Austria has atleast some knowledge of English as it's part of the curriculum in ground school already. whether people can (or feel comfortable trying to) actually _speak_ English is a completely different matter: unless they're working in tourism, IT, or in some int'l corporation, most people don't really get any practice past their school years (university life is a different matter).
Austria is, however, *NOT* an English speaking country: the official language is Deutsch. and that's the language you'll have to deal with if you want to live here, sort out paperwork, get a local job, yadda yadda. (sidenote: people around this corner of Europe spoke German [or rather earlier versions of] long before what is now known as Germany was a thing. history and stuff.)
also, tipping culture is still a big thing in Vienna (and many other places all over Europe): you tip your waiter, you tip your cab driver, your hairdresser, the plumber (if you don't want to wait 2 weeks next time you need to call them up), your postman, the pizza delivery guy, the mechanic at your car's inspection, etc etc.
the continually increasing tourism, and most of today's short-term tourist's stubborn ignorance of any local customs, led to waiters 'pushing' for tips when serving tourists. seriously, summer season downtwon Vienna, it's like +50, +60% work effort [and in the summer heat] for -40 to -70% in my wallet at the end of the shift, mostly depending on where the tourists are from.
fun side fact: credit card handlers charge you (as in, the restaurant) extra if you want that "would you like to tip?" show up on your CC terminal when people pay by card: even those giants are aware of the issue, and - of course - capitalize on it
Criteria: 1. Stability 2. Education 3. Quality in Healthcare 4. Density 5. Culture 6. Enviroment.
I would say vienna is mostly safe.
Young men and women need to be aware of certain areas.
Especially young men.
Do not argue or get provoked by young muslim men.
If they get you into a fight they will bring more ppl.
It is not as bad as in germany yet but it is getting there
I am living in a 18th district and I had only problems with young christians.
i am living in 20. and never had real troubles at all
@@73dines If you had problems with what you thought were Christians, they weren't Christians. Also, it's a common fact that Islam is destroying countries and cultures everywhere. Let's deal with reality.
I love Vienna ❤
Such a beautiful city
I agree with flats being cheap, but go to the supermarket and u get a shock, prices are beyond
It was a bit hard to understand but I guess you said "Schlosspark is the biggest Park in Vienna" = No it isn´t, not even close.
The by far biggest Park in Vienna is the "Prater" in the 2nd District Leopoldstadt = 6 square kilometers of natural greenery (includes riparian forests + 12 huge meadows + 7 lentic waters (= 7 former natural sidearms of the River Danube before the Danube River was laid into a man-built riverbed in the 19th century in order to protect the city from floods) + additionally imbedded are the Prater Amusement Park with its old Giant Ferris Wheel + the National Football Stadium + a horse race course + a horse trotting track for hamess racing) and till the 17th hundreds it was the Emperor´s private hunting ground and in 1766 it became a public park = an Emperor´s gift for the public..
Followed by "Lainzer Tiergarten" in the 13th district Hietzing = 2,4 square kilometers of natural greenery of forests and meadows + free living Wildlife (foremost deers of different kinds + also few boars if you are lucky to see them) also a former aristocratic hunting ground before it became a public park after WW1.
Then there is also the "Donauinsel/Danube Island" which is 21 km long + 250 meters wide which is also an entire public greenery zone for hiking + biking + jogging + swimming/sunbathing
The Schlosspark has 1,6 square kilometers including all the buildings + including the Zoo for which you have to pay a ticket for the entry. Schlosspark is just Vienna´s biggest "gardens with flowerbeds" but it is not the biggest public park.
And according to the taxes there are also lots of tax-returns as well where the goverment is paying back money (the more taxes you pay the more you will get back) - if - you do your tax avaraging which you can do yearly. But it is a huge bunch of paperwork of course but those high earners who have to pay those mentioned 40% are hireing a tax accountant to do that stuff for them anyway.
Thanks for your feedback 🙏🏻
Prater Allee , you have right , also top for some short distance cycling
Sunday is a day off in all EUROPEAN countries ❤
definitely not all
Stores being closed on Sundays is not unique to Austria, it still heavily improves the quality of living especially for people which do work at the stores closed. I know you only think about your comfort, but sometimes you could think about other people as well, even more so when there are still places open on sundays where you can get groceries and the opening times are way longer in the city than on the countryside. The nightlife aspect is absolutely ridiculous, Vienna has a great nightlife. Obviously musical tastes are different, so you might not get the same kind of music when going out in the uk, but nightlife will mostly either involve electronic or dance music, which is similar to a lot of other european cities. If you want different music, theres lots of places playing alternative stuff or having themed nights, you just have to go out and look for them. Also the point with the wind is ridiculous, its not worse than in many other cities and if you move to a certain place, you should be aware of the climate. And overcrowding is not an issue as well, tourist crowds are reaching similar levels to pre covid times and it only really is highlighted in the city center, and even there its not too bad. If you dont like it, just go to restaurants which are located in the surrounding districts. I get Vienna isnt perfect, but it seems like some of the issues are only raised cause you needed it to make a top 10 list or you being inconsiderate towards our culture. Also most waiters wont be angry with you because of how much you tip. Nearly all know people tend to tip according to what they are able to afford. Theres also this prejudice of people not being hospitable in Austria, when in reality its just a misconception. Once you get to talk with them they are really being nice and want to help you out, it just seems at first that people are uninterested. Especially with waiters in the first district our touristy places, they are constantly under pressure and sometimes service a couple of hundred guests.
Nice video!
Thanks!🙏🏻
An annual pass is €365,- per year .. not €265,-
Correct 365€/year 1€/day
365e if you pay all at once or 396e (in total) if you opt for a monthly payment (33e per month)
Also worth noting: for 3€/day you can get a ticket that's valid for _all_ public transit in all of Austria.
As someone who has been living in Vienna almost my whole life, I don't think the point about the waiting staff, particularly about tipping culture, was very inaccurate. Yes, the service may seem lacking if you are used to american service for example, but I don't remember ever being asked to tip or have gotten worse service, even though I have tipped low due to financial issues. This might be an experience limited to the city center, which is overpriced most of the time anyway
Much wind (there is a geographical reason for this) means also clean air and no fog.
They do speak very well english, but they don´t want to.. You did not mention that in Austria (Vienna) you get 14th Salary in year. And about english speakers...like this is Austria, the Public Employment Service (AMS) found me a job and it turned out that they wanted me to speak in a foreign language, where I contacted the AMS again to cancel the meeting, because I wanted to speak only in German and they canceled for me :D
I'm from Vienna and that tipping scenario is actually very uncommon here 😂 most Austrian servers don't care all that much if they get tipped or not. And when you do, they don't care if it's just 20 cents or multiple euros. Most people "tip" when there's some small change, as if to say "keep the change" but that's about it! Unlike in the states, Austrian servers are paid fair wages and aren't dependent on tipping to make ends meet.
Pro's: if you live in Favoriten, you don't need German.
Con's: if you live in Favoriten, you can easily get stabbed.
Oida! 😅
Great video 👌🏻
Thanks for the visit
As person living in Vienna I like living here but I wonder how Vienna can be best place to live when shops close at Sunday , at Saturday at 18 and during the week at 20, I love living here but I consider that so invconvinient that makes me wonder how worse is living in other places that this is the best in the world.
It's a matter of planning your needs, your purchases. If you do this, you will acquire the typical Austrian trait of planning everything in advance. You also need to know exactly all weekends and holidays, as well as the opening hours of all the shops. All Austrians do this.
Is shopping an essential necessity for quality of life? And what about the quality of life of the retail workers?
Beautiful city.
It really is!
Why should be any englisch service in a german speaking administration ???
You overestimate english in Austria. Look which people arrive in Austria. Many of them speak no english. As a medical worker i speak serbian/croatian, bulgarian and russian with my patients, i would also need turkish, arabic, farsi and urdu. Very rarely i speak french, never italian, and also rarely english.
English is not the language that connects everybody here, it is german.
I am happy about everybody who learns german here. The worst german learners are women from traditional countries, and the second worst are those who speak english well.
Thanks for info 😊
Welcome 😊
The city has relatively lower 'rent cost' and offers affordable transportation. BUT all other things are much expensive than any other place in Europe, even market, clothing, cosmetics, bikes, eating, cafe... everything is more expensive %10-30 UP
That is true, saving on rent though makes a big difference, since the other things you mentioned are optional.
Thats not true. If you compare the costs for food, its cheaper then in Germany. In Austria we dont have so much garbage low quality food from Niedersachsen and if you compare the quality its cheaper in Austria.Costs for Internet and your phone is far cheaper in Austria. There are some ranges where its more expensive then in Germany, but if you sum it up, the first mentioned products are more important.
@@mikkyo3509 Austria or Vienna :) It is not the same, this is a city comparison.
Hey, born viennese here. Good review all in all, but tbh the "cons" were just the only little parts you didn't quite get. Like clubs is DJ and good alternative rock is open airs(there ale A LOT and some of the biggest in Europe). We don't really offer much non mainstream music in mainstream enviroment - doesnt fit. For the birocracy you need someone who guids you tough that and everyone with valid reasons has the right to get someone whos "on your side" in all this nonsense. BTW these PPL speak the same english than all the others, they just pretend they dont so they have less work and take a break for 20min before the next one they "dont understand"^^ (kinda Austrian thou, getting a job at the governemnt just to be lazy and give a crap about it^^).
The pharmacy stuff 100% contolled by the state not morphing with a cooperation is something good though, so is the free sunday for worker rights (most say it has religous reasons, but that incorrect - you would get 200% + some extra bonuses with a full impolyment. any company can choose to pay that or stay closed).
The waiter thing is something different here... He is the ambassador/diplomat and executive of the Cafe where many different PPL have to be able to have a good time, just as they personally like it without their privatspher getting penetrated in a way they don't like. PPL who are known better get prefered. If you go there every day, the day will suddenly come where he looks at you, smiles and gives you a warm welcome and immediately the hole cafe will open up to yyou and you're one of them forever, no matter who, from where or what political views you have - they observed you all this time and if they come to the consense that you're a decent person, they will not just have your back but stand infront of you in any stuation. All the rejection and acted sideeyes you get before is just tests or telling you what wasnt cool rn to "educate" you about the culture of this coffee. it'S funny and i love it :)
You do not pay more than 40% taxes for the mentioned salaries.
Yes, not even close. For 64k€ it's 15% effective income tax (and about 33% if you also include social security).
Maybe they are self-employed, then they'd also have to cover the employer's part.
bro lower the music volume
Since when is austria an englishspeaking countrey?
Seit Balisto Keksriegel.
1:51 Renaissance architecture not so much - rather recommend Florence or Prague on that. Maybe you meant baroque architecure?
10:04 Dont get me started
PS: Nice tats!
Yes you are right, we meant Baroque 😅
Complaining about too little varieties in Supermarkets is quite ridiculous. Even so to complain about that you don´t get medicine in Supermarkets.
🕊
One factual error to note: some supermarkets close to the city center do open on Sundays and I am pretty sure you can cover all basic necessities there should you find yourself pressed.
I have other disagreements with the video, but I guess they are matters of personal perspective.
The quality of life here in Vienna is unbeatable, but only if you can speak good German - if you can't then you're doomed to social exclusion. Get learning!
Totally true! Thanks for your feedback.
living in vienna since 30 years: never witnessed that is that windy
considering all those endless fields full of wind turbines, it's definitely more windy than other places. Otherwise they wouldn't build them there :)
So when I move to Britain I can expect that they speak german? Sorry you english speaking people, learn languages, I speak three, my sister speaks 8, most speak at least 2, get your language skills going guys.
Pls, I’m thinking of migrating to Austria. I’m a Nigerian btw. So I want to know, can I get part time job while i School? If yes, how easy is it, considering the Langauge barrier? I will be waiting for your reply. Thanks
For a hospitality job, you should be good just with English.
You need to inform the school and they have to be okay with it.
If it is part time keep in mind that you will have to pay an extra fee for the health insurance
to actually get a work permission in austria from another country outside of the EEA its required to learn german on C1... german is the official language so go with it or find another country
#6 of negatives is just such a English native-privilege one, sorry. 😅 Why would have many jobs for English native speakers if English is not the national language? I mean that's such a weird thing to even note. Literally no one else would go to, say, Nigeria and say "oh but they don't really offer a lof of jobs for Germans or Italians".
And anyone mentioning "high taxes" - guys, all the nice things people always praise about Austria, they don't just fall from the sky!
medicines in the supermarket? hehehe wow
Come on, we are the most liveable city and the most angriest city...
Deal with it....
Oh just an edit, oida i was net
School visa in viana plz
I find it a bit sad and funny that some people here in the comments are almost attacking you for sharing your thoughts, experiences, likes, and dislikes ... not sure why people are so angry that you moved a country and did not immediately speak perfectly German ...as if it almost threatens them in a way .. yes guys English is an international language and one of the official languages of the EU ( which Austria is part of ) not sure what is the big deal to be able to speak to people who are legally allowed to move here and help them with documents at the beginning ... I don't come from an English speaking country. Still, I will speak English when I travel or when I meet people who moved to my country and don't know yet perfectly the language. and regarding supermarkets being closed on a Sunday, and that it is for people to have a resting day ... lol bullshit ... no one said you must work 7 days a week ... in countries where you have 7 days supermarkets people have two days off when they choose, how come the hospitals, airports and transport system works 7 days a week but not supermarkets ... lol. anyway, cute video, ignore the bitterness of some middle Europeans ( 110% sure that's what they you ). keep enjoying Vienna with its minuses as no place is perfect! but Vienna is close to 😎
Thank you for your feedback 🙏🏻
It's not so much the "no English", as the "expect everything to be done in English". That said: most of the information for administration etc. is actually available in foreign languages (including English) if you ask for it. But the official language is of course still German.
@@stephanweinberger I don't think that's what they think, most people don't "expect" things to be done in English, it's more about being a bit more understanding to people who are new in the country, you can't expect someone to know perfect German so quickly ... it takes time.. and at the end of the day a language is about communication and if there is an international language that can help in communication then why some see it as a threat to their country or culture .. it's funny and bit sad ... it's just a bit helpful at the beginning that's all. Yes if you have lived in Austria for a few years and you don't speak the language it might show a lack of interest in being part of society here but that's not what this video was about....
This title gets awarded by a fringe manager magazine.
Besides the ruling SPÖ no ones gives it much weight. Most citizens in Vienna mock about the title.
Oh yeah, opening times are terrible here in Vienna
True 😅
Why isn't this "terrible" for ALL Austrians, Germans....? Hm? - What do all the sales staff - and their relatives - who have Sunday off say about this?
@@petersfluege For me as a consumer it’s terrible because when I am working the shops are open and when I am done and want to go into the city after work to buy/get something then most shops are closed. So I can only go shopping on Saturday when the city is crowded with people. When you have lived in other cities too where all shops are open till at least 9 pm then you know how convenient this can be ;)
@@marijanWS It might be more convenient for consumers, but I prefer knowing workers get one more day off. It really isn't necessary at all, and there are still a few shops open on sundays even. Workers shouldn't sacrifice their free time for small convenieces like that, the customer is king mentality is kinda fucked up.
@@marijanWS Hi, yes, it's maybe "convenient" for you.
BUT, 1. On Sundays and public holidays, ALL families can be together, including all the sales staff.
2. We know that small businesses cannot afford to open on Sundays. It's the big businesses that do. The small businesses die. You and your aunt won't be able to start a business.
I lived in Austria for 48 years, 3 years in Germany and 12 years in Switzerland. I have never heard a European say that they want to shop on Sundays/public holidays (except December). You have to understand the bigger picture...
Some bad things you mentioned changed with/after the pandemic. Nightlife is totally different now, lots of people are partying at home now. Also if you moved here during the pandemic, you cam here with missing the majority of international tourists. It was just as crowded before 2020. 🥲
And as for Sunday closed supermarkets: Billa Praterstern 😬 (Joke, don't go!)
😂 loved the recommendation for Billa at Praterstern
also, many small Turkish/Kurdish/Armenian/Serbian/... corner stores are open on Sunday.
hahaha the wind lol and nightlife look at u don´t come in any club in whole europe be patient once u also be adults ;-)