What to Know Before Visiting Vienna, Austria

Planning a trip to Vienna, Austria and not sure where to start? Here are some basics to know before your trip! Be sure to also check out our guides on what to do in Vienna and where to eat and drink in Vienna (coming soon)!

Orienting: Vienna is filled with imperial, baroque, and/or historical structures and palaces, odes to its musical history, and charming coffee shops. Fortunately, the city’s popular tourist attractions are conveniently located within a walking distance from one another. The Hofburg Palace, the Spanish Riding School, the Vienna State Opera, and the Albertina are practically neighbors, while several other destinations are just a stroll away. As a first-time visitor, I highly recommend staying in the vicinity of these attractions. The primary exception to this is the Schönbrunn Palace and for the wine lovers, the vineyards, which will require a short drive (see “Getting Around” below).

Language: The native language in Vienna is German, but almost everyone we encountered spoke fluent English. While I attempted to learn a few basic words (as I believe everyone should), my pronunciation may have been far from perfect. However, it’s crucial to know the word “danke,” which means “thank you.” Additionally, it’s convenient that the German word for “hello” is simply “hallo.”

Currency & Tipping: The currency in Vienna is the Euro, which makes translating to USD pretty easy. The tipping standard is 5-15%, and we usually went with 10-15%.

Getting Around: As mentioned above, most of Vienna’s attractions are fortunately within walking distance of one another, and we walked to/from almost all places. For destinations requiring a short drive, Ubers and cabs (ordered through the app “Bolt”) were readily available.

-Kasey