Exploring the Culture of Austria

Throughout history, Austria has always played a special role in the center of
Europe: as a bridge-builder, meeting place, and venue for cultural exchange.
Austria is a country of diverse possibilities, from historic cities like Vienna to
the stunning views of the Alps. Austrian culture is known for its characteristic
way of enjoying life (Gemutlichkeit), art, strong coffee, healthy lifestyles, and
sports. Popular national pastimes include attending concerts, playing music,
and taking walks (Spaziergänge).

Family Dynamic

In the culture of Austria, a typical person could be described as open-hearted, but cautious in dealing
with unfamiliar things. Austrians don’t mind working hard, to satisfy their basic needs and in order to be
able to design their surroundings according to their wishes. A lot of time and effort is invested in making
a cozy “nest.” Austrians want to be proud of the home they have created for themselves and they like
showing it to others. Austrians also value their country’s beautiful landscape and work hard to preserve
it.

Most host families live in suburban areas. Mealtime is a family affair and a time for family members to
share their day. As both parents often work, shared meals are extremely important. Older children are
expected to know how to prepare their own lunch.

Teenage Life in Austria

Austrians love sports and Spaziergänge (taking walks). Soccer and biking are popular, but the country is
most famous for winter sports like alpine skiing. Outside of school, students have a good amount of free
time (although a big chunk of it is dedicated to homework). Most of this time is dedicated to family and
after-school activities. On the weekends, it’s common for teenagers to participate in youth and
community activities, or just take off on their own to hang out in local cafés.

Austrian teenagers enjoy visiting each other’s houses, relaxing and chatting in the beautiful local cafes,
watching movies and going out to dance clubs. As Mozart’s homeland, music is highly appreciated, and
many people play music or attend concerts. Soccer is the favorite sport, although winter sports
obviously have an important role.

Official Language

The official language of Austria is High German, although each region also has its own dialect. Other
languages spoken are Turkish, Serbian, Slovene, Croatian, and Hungarian.

Communication Styles in Austria

A typical Austrian could be described as open-hearted, but cautious in dealing with unfamiliar things.
Although they put a lot of emphasis on punctuality, orderliness, and thoroughness, they also like life to
be social, warm-hearted, and lively. Austrians tend to be direct communicators, and don’t usually “beat
around the bush.” They prefer speaking honestly and clearly to arrive at a point. At first, they may
appear reserved and value modesty in most interactions. In the culture of Austria, maintaining eye
contact during conservation is considered polite and respectful.  Austrians usually dress well and take
pride in their appearance.

Communication Styles in Austria

A typical Austrian could be described as open-hearted, but cautious in dealing with unfamiliar things.
Although they put a lot of emphasis on punctuality, orderliness, and thoroughness, they also like life to
be social, warm-hearted, and lively. Austrians tend to be direct communicators, and don’t usually “beat
around the bush.” They prefer speaking honestly and clearly to arrive at a point. At first, they may
appear reserved and value modesty in most interactions. In the culture of Austria, maintaining eye
contact during conservation is considered polite and respectful.  Austrians usually dress well and take
pride in their appearance.

From social etiquette and shared values to popular hobbies and attitudes towards work, we provide a
general overview of Austrian people.

It is commonly known that Austrian people are typically conservative and value tradition, as well as
family, fairness, the environment, and a good work-life balance. As with any country, there is much to
learn about the people and culture before moving there and starting a new chapter.

Whether you are moving alone or with family, it’s wise to read up on Austrian etiquette and culture as
well as what to expect in the business world. Then, of course, depending on who you are, you might
want to know more specific information about topics such as human and civil rights, LGBT+ rights,
and women’s rights in Austria.

To help you get more acquainted with the country, however, this guide to Austrian people and the
nation’s population includes the following information:

The Austrian people in numbers and facts

Today, the population of Austria stands at around 8.95 million people. According to government

figures, Roman Catholics make up 57% of the population, while predominantly Sunni Muslims make up
8%, and about 25% are unaffiliated with any religion. Despite its turbulent past, the Jewish population
in Austria has risen steadily but still remains small at around 10,000 people.

Importantly, the Austrian Federal Constitution demands respect and promotion of ethnic groups living
in Austria. As a result, the Volksgruppengesetz  of 1976 includes special rights for Croatian, Slovenian,
Hungarian, Czech, and Slovak ethnic groups, as well as for Roma.

In terms of language, German is the official language and mother tongue of Austria. Around 98% of the
country’s population speaks it. Bavarian, a dialect of German, is also spoken by nearly seven million
people in the country. Serbian is the largest minority language spoken in Austria, at 2.4%, followed by
Turkish at 2.3%. Other languages, such as Croatian, Hungarian, and Slovenian, are also spoken by
minority groups in Austria. And fortunately for English-speaking expats, English is taught as the first
foreign language at most schools; resulting in a generally high level of English proficiency nationwide.

Common personality traits and stereotypes of Austrian people

Contrary to popular belief, not all Austrian people waltz around wearing Lederhosen and listen to
classical music. That said, the classical music scene in the country, in particular Vienna, is unparalleled.
Nevertheless, there is far more to Austrian people than orchestras and opera.

To begin with, Austrians are generally known to love good food. And with influences from Italian,
Hungarian, and Bohemian cooking styles, Austrian cuisine is diverse, to say the least. Interestingly, there
are also many regional variations and dishes that are much lighter than you may have been led to
believe.

Common personality traits and stereotypes of Austrian people

Contrary to popular belief, not all Austrian people waltz around wearing Lederhosen and listen to
classical music. That said, the classical music scene in the country, in particular Vienna, is unparalleled.
Nevertheless, there is far more to Austrian people than orchestras and opera.

To begin with, Austrians are generally known to love good food. And with influences from Italian,
Hungarian, and Bohemian cooking styles, Austrian cuisine is diverse, to say the least. Interestingly, there
are also many regional variations and dishes that are much lighter than you may have been led to
believe.

Interestingly, newcomers to Austria often mistake this type of ribbing as offensive, but typically it is all
meant to be in good fun. Therefore, try and put on your thickest skin and use your own sharp tongue to
engage with the unique jesting of the Austrian people.

The culture and values of Austrian people

Culture and social etiquette in Austria

If you are at all familiar with Germany, then you will be able to adapt fairly easily to the nuances of
Austrian etiquette. For instance, like Germans, Austrians tend to be polite, formal, and reserved to some
degree. As a result, you can expect a certain level of formality in social situations.

Generally, you will shake someone’s hand when you first meet them, and certainly in business settings.
You should also greet people with their professional titles, for instance, ‘Doktor’ or ‘Herr’ (Mr). In
general, first names are only used with friends, family, and people you know well. 

Austrian culture and society

Generally speaking, Austrian etiquette and society follows the norms of Germany. This means that
Austrians are polite, formal, and have a level of reserve. They also follow many of the same languages,
religions, and traditions as Germany. 
Catholicism is an integral part of Austrian society. However, the Austrian constitution enshrines freedom
of religion and there are many minority religions in the country. Nevertheless, in 2018, over 56.9% of
the population identified as Catholic, while 7.9% identified as Muslim in 2016. 

German is the official language of Austria. As such, 98% of Austrians speak German as their native
language. Of course, there are also many regional dialects within the country. Nevertheless, speaking
German will bring you far more social and business opportunities. However, some regions recognize
Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian as official languages, too. This is because they see an influx of
immigrants from these countries. Additionally, most local schools teach English as the main foreign
language.

Austria is a largely egalitarian society. Whether discussing gender, class, or other divisions, Austria offers
a greater degree of equality than many other countries. In fact, on the Power Distance dimension,
Austria scores 11, which means that the country places emphasis on equality and participative
communication. As a result, it has a very strong social welfare system that covers health, education,
employment, and retirement needs. 

Read our Guide to managing culture shock

Politically, Austria is a very democratic society. As a Federal Republic, it has a parliament made up of five
political parties that include conservatives, liberals, and greens. All Austrians can vote from the age of
16. Perhaps because of its reasonably diverse political landscape, patriotism does not play the same role
in Austria as it does in other countries such as the United States. In addition, anti-immigrant and anti-
Islam sentiment is on the rise in Austria and has become a recent political flashpoint. As a result, these
groups are sometimes marginalized in society. Although the traditional class system is now far less
prevalent, it does still exist to a certain extent and is largely built across economic lines.

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Gender roles in Austria

In Austria, both genders are more or less equal. This is especially true among the younger generations.
In fact, Austria’s constitutional law protects gender equality. As such, Austrian etiquette generally sees
that women and men are treated the same in society. Nevertheless, there are still some inequalities. For
instance, while women are certainly gaining pace in education and employment, there is still a
significant gender pay gap. 

In fact, statistics show that 19.2% of women aged between 25 and 64 hold an academic degree.
Conversely, only 15.9% of men do so. Similarly, in 2019, the employment rate of women from 15 to 64
years was 69.2%, an increase of 4% over the past 10 years. That said, 2018 figures show that women are
still earning 20.4% less than men. 

Despite this, traditional gender norms often still prevail in Austria. As such, this is still a country of
nuclear families where men are the head of the household. However, younger urban couples are
becoming more equal, with men becoming more involved in household chores and childcare.
Additionally, government assistance is pushing gender equality in the home. For example, when having
a child, parental leave can be split between the mother and father, enabling women to return to work.

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Meeting and greeting people in Austria 

Austrian etiquette dictates a certain level of formality in social situations. This is because most Austrians
tend to be more reserved, at least until they feel a level of connection with others. Therefore, formal
greetings are very much the norm.

As such, you will find that handshakes are very common. Generally, you will shake someone’s hand
when you first meet them, and certainly in business settings. In addition, you should offer formal verbal
greetings, such as “Guten Morgen” (good morning), “Guten Tag” (good tag), or “Guten Abend” (good
evening). But, informally – or between family and good friends – women might lightly hug or offer
two light air kisses on the cheek. You can also add verbal greetings such as “Hallo” (hello) or “Servus”
(hi).

Because of the formality of Austrian etiquette, you should always greet Austrian people with titles. This
is especially true in business meetings. Try and use professional titles, if available – like “Doktor” – or
“Herr” (Mr). In general, first names are only used with friends, family, and people you know well. 

Austrian etiquette also dictates that you should never show up at someone’s home without warning.
Instead, you should always call ahead and make plans to visit someone in their home.

Conversation and communication in Austria

Once again, Austrian etiquette requires a certain level of reserve in conversation. In general, you should
expect a formal, polite style of communication. That said, with better acquaintance, this should become
more warm and open. Similarly, Austrians tend to be very direct, honest, and straight to the point.
However, this is tempered with a subtle – often cynical – humor. You should also remember that
Austrians don’t tend to ask personal questions until they know you quite well. You might also find this to
be true when dating Austrian men and women.

When it comes to conversational topics, you can never go wrong with talking about Austria’s stunning
natural beauty and regional diversity. However, Austrians also love enriching conversation, so try to
avoid banal small talk about the weather (unless it is especially pertinent). Instead, try and engage
people in topics they are interested in.

Of course, being a rather conservative society, there are also some topics that you should avoid. This
includes WWII and the Holocaust because they are still very sensitive topics in Austria. Migration is also
a divisive topic, so be careful with this.

Body language in Austria

Austrian etiquette allows for a very continental style of body language. If you are European, you will
probably be very familiar with how to act. In general, Austrians allow a certain amount of physical
contact with people they know, such as hugging and light touches. However, you generally wouldn’t
touch during a conversation as this would be more of an invasion of privacy. Similarly, you should
respect personal space, so keep at least an arm’s length between someone you are talking to. 

Conversely, eye contact is very important during conversations. Austrians see this as polite and a sign of
respect – although you probably shouldn’t stare. Similarly, hand gestures are not that common. In
conversation, words are more important than using your hands for emphasis.
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Clothing and dress code in Austria

Austria’s Catholic traditions mean that people here tend to be quite conservative and this applies to
their dress sense, too. They also dislike attracting attention to themselves. As such, you won’t usually
see very skimpy or overly outrageous outfits. Instead, aim for quiet elegance and sophistication. You
should also remember that Vienna is separate from the rest of the country, and people tend to dress up
more for the opera or theatre, so feel free to go all out. You can never be overdressed for these
occasions.

In general, casual dress for women involves dresses or skirts in summer or pants and sweaters in winter.
For men, pants and collared shirts are always appropriate. In addition, Austrians usually favor dark, solid
colors or simple patterns. Athletic gear is also frowned upon, as are sneakers and Birkenstocks. For
business, men usually dress formally. This means dark suits with a dress shirt and tie. Similarly, women
favor conservative dresses or a skirt suit.

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Dining etiquette in Austria

When it comes to eating, Austrian etiquette follows the norms of polite Western dining. This means not
gesturing with utensils and not having your elbows on the table. Additionally, you should not begin
eating until everyone has been served and the host says “Guten Appetit”. Of course, there are a few
other rules particular to the country, as follows:

 Hosts will always offer a second service – if you don’t want this, just offer a polite “Nein, danke”
(no, thank you).

 Dinner is often the main meal for socializing.

 Formally, the host usually gives the first toast – guests return this later. You should raise your
glass and maintain eye contact, and say “Prost” (cheers).

 The person who extends the invitation for a meal out usually pays the bill – don’t argue. 

 Put your napkin on your lap as soon as you sit down.

 Try to finish everything on your plate.

 Put your knife and fork together on your plate with the handles to the right to indicate that you
have finished your meal.

Socializing in Austria

Coffee houses have a long tradition in Austria. Because of this, they are an integral part of the country’s
social life. Whether you slip in for a quick coffee and catch up or end up sitting down for a long, lingering
meal with friends, you will likely get to know the country’s coffee houses very well.
In addition, people usually socialize at restaurants, bars, and go to the theater or movies. In this sense,
socializing is very similar to the rest of the world. Because of Austria’s fantastic natural landscapes,
socializing outdoors is also common. This might mean walks, hikes, and outdoor sports. 

As in much of the rest of Europe, it is legal to drink in Austria at 16. Drinking is very much part of the
culture. In fact, Austrians tend to drink far more than the average European.

Relationships in Austria

Surprisingly, Austrians tend to take a reasonably casual approach to dating. Nevertheless, conversation
is important on a date. As such, on a first date, you will probably end up at a café, bar, or restaurant
where you can easily talk. Later on, you might do other simple things like going to the movies, the
theater, or perhaps just for a walk. In general, Austrians split the check during dates – at the very least,
you should make the effort. 

As part of their casual approach to relationships, most Austrians end up meeting their significant
other’s parents early on in the relationship. But, again, this is usually in a very offhand manner, such as
casually showing up to a family brunch. Although people do still meet through friends or in real-life
situations, many Austrians now also use dating apps and websites. 
Just like in their other social interactions, Austrians can be conservative when it comes to dating. Often,
they may come off as shy. Certainly, flirting is not really a thing. Conversely, they are very at ease with
public displays of affection. So much so, in fact, that the country is cracking down on this a bit. That said,
kissing is not banned in Vienna’s underground trains.

Find love in Austria with our Expatica Dating site

Most Austrians date with a view to eventually getting married. However, the younger generation tends
to delay marriage until they feel they know their partner well and are financially secure. In
addition, same-sex marriage has been legal in Austria since January 2019. As such, Austria generally
takes a tolerate view of same-sex relationships, although this is less so in rural areas and among the
older generation.

Work and business culture in Austria

Austrian etiquette requires a high level of formality in business. Organization, punctuality, and details
are very much appreciated.

Here are a few points to remember when it comes to working in Austria: 

 Schedule meetings well in advance – try for six weeks for executive-level meetings. 

 The summer (July and August) and Christmas holidays are write-offs, so most people are away
or non-responsive.

 Always be punctual – call if you are going to be late, and try not to cancel last-minute. 
  In emails and written correspondence, be sure to use the correct title of the person you are
writing to.

 Indulge in a little light conversation before getting down to business in meetings. 

 Don’t waste people’s time – make sure you run meetings with a detailed agenda and according
to hierarchy.

 Business relationships are usually kept very formal and there is a strict divide between private
and working lives. 

 Business cards should have German translations if possible.

 When answering a phone, state your name and company and offer a greeting like “Guten
Morgen”.

 At a business lunch or dinner, business is only discussed at the invitation of the host. 

 Introductions go a long way in business in Austria, so try and get one from a mutual contact. 

 Avoid hard-selling, high-pressure tactics, and confrontations. 

Read our Guide to managing cultural differences at work

Shopping and services in Austria

In keeping with the politesse of Austrian etiquette, interactions with retailers and public service staff
come with a degree of formality. As such, you should always greet sales staff when entering and leaving
a shop. In general, Austrian customer service is decent – although not quite amazing – and is often
delivered in an aloof manner. By extension, service is usually included, so you should only need to tip
minimally. 
Again, thanks to the rigid formality of Austrian culture, queuing is very much a part of daily life.
Therefore, make sure to fall in line if you see a queue, otherwise, you could be in for some stern words
and dirty looks. 

Celebrations in Austria 

In general, celebrations in Austria tend to be reasonably low-key. Nevertheless, Austrians certainly do

celebrate milestone occasions – like birthdays, graduations, and weddings – as well as religious festivals
(Easter, Christmas) and important holidays such as New Year’s. In general, celebrations are marked by
gatherings, meals, and drinks. However, on religious occasions, this might also include mass at the local
church. 

Gifts in Austria

In Austria, you might bring a hostess gift to a casual celebration at someone’s house. Often, this means
flowers, chocolate, or alcohol. In addition, gifts are usually appropriate for major celebrations like
birthdays, weddings, and Christmas. However, gifts should always be moderate, and not overly lavish or
expensive. In addition, adults will often give gifts to their friend’s children, rather than their friends. In
general, gifts are opened immediately instead of keeping them for later. Being polite and formal,
Austrians will often send a thank you card or message for major occasion gifts, such as wedding
presents.

Tips on culture and etiquette in Austria

Here are a few useful dos and don’ts to remember while living in Austria: 
  Always be punctual and avoid canceling last-minute

 Maintain a level of reserve, formality, and politeness 

 Try not to call attention to yourself

 Never drop by someone’s house unannounced

 If hosting a party, take your role as host seriously and see to the formalities

 Austrian etiquette is important, so pay attention to dining norms

 Maintain personal space and privacy

 Weekends are for families, especially Sundays when most Austrians visit their parents or
grandparents

 Invites should always be extended well in advance 

 Appearances matter, so maintain a high level of grooming and presentation

Useful resources