Vienna, Austria

What to expect in... Vienna

16. Tiny showers without curtains
Sometimes, they just have a small piece of glass to block in all the water. Why can't they just invest in a shower curtain? I know they can afford it.



15. The poop deck
Their toilets have a little shelf for some reason. I've dealt with worse. It's best to build a toilet paper raft so the undercurrent can sweep it away.

14. Billa and Spar
You'll rarely find shopping carts or wide aisles in these grocery stores that are small enough to fit in some subway stations. But don't worry, the candy/chocolate aisle is still plenty big.
The cashiers will give you the authentic experience of feeling like you don't exist.

13. Serious Recycling
Austrians take their recycling pretty seriously, so you'll have to divide all your trash into several bins.

12. Dranks
The Viennese really appreciate quality beer, wine, tea, and coffee.
Be sure to try Almdudler soda —it's way good.

11. Turks
Turks make up a big part of Vienna's population, even a majority in some neighborhoods. They're not well integrated with the white population, to say the least.

10. Ritzy cafes
Here you can pretend you're an elitist intellectual. Cafes were once a big part of high Viennese society, but beware, you'll pay over 4 Euros for a slice of cake!

9. Palaces and churches
This is Europe, after all, and Vienna had a ton of money. Nowadays, the churches are more for tourists than worshipers.



8. A slower pace
Even though it's a city, it rarely feels like it.
Vacation days are plentiful, too.

7. Class
Like any city, there's flaws. But overall, this city's pretty clean and classy (Karlsplatz Station's a little shady tho.)

6. Reliable public transportation
It's fast, reliable, and comfortable. The best thing is that you rarely have to walk far to get connected to the system.
Cultural note - They take punctuality seriously here.

5. Yummy food and deserts!
Bratwurst, french fries 2.0, soups, real cheese, a variety of fresh breads, wiener schnitzel... Austria is so underrated!
It's nice to stop at a bakery for some quality bread to snack on.
Don't buy an official Sacher Torte cake... They're dry and overpriced.



4. The Ringstrasse
Most touristy things are close together in the Ringstrasse—a big, circular street in the city center.



3. Little place, big history
This little country made its mark on world history, especially while Vienna was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Vienna offers plenty for history buffs.



2. A friendly Viennese smile (not)
The Viennese aren't known for being smiley and bubbly.

It says, "Keep calm and get out foreigners"

1. Classical music feat. the Habsburgs
The Habsburg family made Vienna the center of western classical music. Austria is the home of Mozart, Haydn, Strauss, Mahler, Schubert, and many more. Expect to see Mozart cake, Mozart chocolate, and Mozart salesmen.
You can't leave Vienna without seeing a concert in the Musikverein or the Staatsoper.

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