Austria is easily accessible for any French traveler. While you don’t necessarily need specialized knowledge before arriving, it’s always interesting to learn a bit about the customs and traditions of the country you're visiting. That’s why we've put together some interesting (and hopefully useful) information about Austria. We cover customs, specialties, language, landscapes, and more. Who knows, you might learn something new.
In Austria, people don’t speak Austrian but German—or more specifically, Austrian German. This language, derived from German, is mainly distinguished by its pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
But if you don’t speak German or Austrian German, don’t worry; they also speak very good English, so you should have no trouble being understood!
In Austria, you’ll enjoy the same kind of scenery as in Switzerland—mountains, lakes, forests, and wide-open plains—but without the Swiss and their famously legendary friendliness (apologies to any Swiss readers, this may be an overgeneralization, but we really had some less-than-friendly encounters during our visit there) or all their money (yes, Austria is more affordable than Switzerland!).
Austria is a perfect mix of stunning landscapes for hiking, rich art (particularly classical music, more on that later), history (after all, it’s the country of Empress Sissi), and beautiful cities.
Austria is famous for its classical music. The country has been home (whether by birth or by adoption) to some of the greatest musicians and composers of all time: Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss, Brahms, Gluck, Schoenberg… It’s become a temple of classical music, and even today, you can enjoy concerts and performances, whether at the Opera, in churches, during ball season, at festivals, or even at the New Year’s Concert.
The Viennese balls are a true tradition and cultural heritage that has endured for centuries. In Vienna, the capital, over 400 balls are held each winter, attracting Austrians and foreign dance and classical music enthusiasts, as well as romance lovers. Between January and February, two months of little rituals (dress code, opening fanfare, dance sequence, interludes…) unfold to everyone’s delight.
However, seeing and participating in these balls comes at a cost: entry fees are over €100 per person, not to mention the requirement to know how to dance the Viennese waltz (which can be learned in accelerated courses called Ball-Blitzkurs, offered once a week), and you'll need suitable attire (evening gowns for women and tailcoats for men).
Staying in winter mode, let's talk about skiing in Austria. While we haven't tried it ourselves, we’ve heard it’s a top destination for high-quality ski slopes. If you're a ski lover, this could be a sign to make Austria your next travel destination!
While in Vienna, we noticed self-serve newspapers on street poles. They aren’t free, but it's based on an honor system where you’re meant to pay at a designated spot before taking a paper. It's charming to see, as it would be nearly unthinkable in France.
If you’re coming to Austria and enjoy food, you won’t be disappointed, as there are many local specialties:
In Austria, bread and amuse-bouches served at the start of a meal are billed (similar to Portugal), adding an extra €2–€6 to the meal cost.
Service tips are also expected in restaurants. Often included in the bill (10–15% of the total), sometimes they’re not, in which case remember to leave an appropriate tip. Another tip we found in our research: at high-end hotels, it’s customary to tip €1 per bag to the porter.
Si jamais tu viens en véhicule dans le pays, saches qu’il te faudra acheter une vignette (ou e-vignette) pour circuler sur les autoroutes et les voies rapides.
Ces vignettes peuvent être achetées :
Comme on ne s’était pas du tout renseigné en amont pour acheter la vignette, une fois dans le pays on a découvert un peu en panique sur la route qu’on ne pouvait pas avoir de vignette valide pour le jour J… Heureusement que les stations essence étaient là pour éditer des vignettes utilisables de suite. C’est très pratique !
Le prix de la vignette diffère en fonction de la catégorie du véhicule et du temps passé dans le pays.
Pour un véhicule standard (de moins de 3,5 tonnes), les tarifs sont :
Ne pas s’acquitter de la vignette et tout de même rouler sur les autoroutes et voies rapides peut entrainer une amende pouvant aller de 120€ à 3000€.
Et en parlant de règlementation, saches que tu dois avoir les feux de croisement allumés 24h/24h quand tu conduits en Autriche, même en plein jour. Oui c’est bizarre, mais depuis ce tour d’Europe on s’est rendu compte que c’est comme ça dans énormément de pays.
Si tu souhaites louer une voiture en Autriche, on te conseille de passer par le site DiscoverCars. Cette plateforme compare des centaines de loueurs pour te proposer les meilleures offres, sans frais caché.
Le kilométrage illimité, la couverture partielle ainsi qu'une protection en cas de vol sont inclus dans le prix de chaque location.
An interesting option if you want to avoid flying: there’s a night train from Paris to Vienna. Sleeper tickets start at €49.90 per person (with seated options starting at €29.90, though less comfortable for overnight travel).
The train passes through Paris, Strasbourg, Munich, Salzburg, Linz, St. Pölten, and Vienna. There are three weekly trips in each direction, and each journey takes 9.5 hours.
It’s a great way to make the most of your time in Vienna, as you arrive in the morning and depart in the evening!
This bonus fact is more interesting than essential: Austria is a Catholic country with significant spiritual and economic influence from the Church. Each Austrian citizen pays 1% of their income to the Church. Refusing could mean not having a burial on sacred ground—a “grave” consequence!
We hope you learned something useful to help you prepare for your trip and enjoy Austria once you’re there 😊. Some extra “tips” await you at the end of the article; don’t miss them!
If this article has inspired you to discover Austria, you can book your tickets here:
Feel free to share your experiences and tips for other travelers in the comments.
1.If you want to attend a classical concert without spending a fortune, many churches offer daily concerts for under €50 (even €30). You can save even more by buying standing tickets just before the performance for less than €5.
2. In Austria, 65% of purchases are made in cash, twice the rate in France.
So, plan to carry cash while traveling in Austria, as many shops (restaurants, small supermarkets, etc.) still don’t accept credit cards. It’s surprising, but it’s also a choice by locals to protect their data privacy. In October 2022, a petition was even launched to reject any cap on cash payments.
3. To save on groceries, go to Lidl or Billa—two of the cheapest supermarket chains in the country.
4. Like Switzerland, Austria is especially strict and attentive to cleanliness and environmental care. Avoid littering (it’s more about respect than ecology), or you may face a fine.
In general, make sure to follow rules: speed limits, signs, queue etiquette, etc.
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