Category: Austrian News

VIENNA — Motorists across Austria will once again be subject to the country’s seasonal winter tyre regulations from November 1. While many drivers associate the rule with a fixed calendar date, the legal requirement depends not only on the time of year but also on the actual condition of the roads. Under Austria’s situational winter tyre requirement, passenger cars and vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes must be equipped with winter tyres whenever roads are covered by snow, slush, or ice. The regulation remains in force until April 15. Winter…

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VIENNA – Vienna remains one of the world’s most influential urban centers, but a new international ranking suggests Austria’s capital lags behind Linz and Graz when it comes to quality of life. According to the Global Cities Index 2026 published by British economic research institute Oxford Economics, Vienna ranks 35th overall among 1,000 cities and metropolitan areas worldwide. However, in the category measuring quality of life, the Austrian capital places only 85th, well behind Linz and Graz. Linz achieves an impressive 12th place globally for quality of life, while Graz…

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Austria is set to experience its first frosty nights of the autumn season, with temperatures expected to dip below freezing in some areas as clear skies and calm winds create ideal conditions for overnight cooling. Cloudy conditions will linger across eastern parts of the country on Monday afternoon, while most other regions enjoy increasingly sunny weather. By evening, skies are expected to become mostly clear nationwide. A brisk wind affecting northern and eastern Austria will gradually ease during the afternoon. Daytime temperatures are forecast to reach between 12 and 18…

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VIENNA – Passengers using Vienna’s public transport network will likely face higher ticket prices from January 2027, as Wiener Linien prepares another fare increase linked to inflation. While the exact extent of the price hike has not yet been finalized, the operator has confirmed that fares will continue to be adjusted annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). A spokesperson for Wiener Linien said the company is currently finalizing the new fare structure and will publish detailed information later this autumn. “Like ÖBB and VOR, Wiener Linien will…

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Internet slang term narrowly beats “Peak” and “Crashout” in Langenscheidt’s annual youth language poll “Ragebait” has been named Youth Word of the Year 2026, narrowly defeating the terms “Peak” and “Crashout” in an online vote organised by German publishing house Langenscheidt. The result was announced on Saturday at the Frankfurt Book Fair, with “Ragebait” securing 36.5 per cent of the votes. The competition was remarkably close, with “Peak” finishing second with 33.8 per cent and “Crashout” taking third place with 29.7 per cent. What Does “Ragebait” Mean? The English term…

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Fraudsters are sending fake SMS messages, emails and WhatsApp notifications across Austria in an attempt to steal personal information and banking details. People across Austria are being warned about a renewed wave of fraudulent messages impersonating FinanzOnline, the country’s online tax service. The scammers claim that users’ access to FinanzOnline, their ID Austria account or their registration is about to expire, urging them to click on a link to avoid a possible suspension. Although the scam is not new, it continues to pose a serious risk to unsuspecting recipients. Fake…

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After an unusually warm start to October, a cold front is bringing a sharp change in weather, with frost, heavy rain and fresh snowfall expected in parts of the country. Austria is preparing for a significant drop in temperatures as the summer-like weather finally comes to an end. Following several unusually mild days at the beginning of October, a cold front reached the country on Thursday, ushering in a colder and more wintry period. The change will be felt most strongly in western Austria, where temperatures are expected to fall…

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BRUSSELS — Millions of products ordered online and imported into the European Union will soon be subject to a new €2 processing fee under plans aimed at tackling the growing flood of low-cost goods entering the bloc from countries such as China and the United States. According to a European Commission document, the new charge will take effect on 1 November and will apply to goods imported from non-EU countries. Responsibility for paying the fee will fall on online marketplaces rather than consumers, with national authorities tasked with collecting the…

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VIENNA — Austria is set to make continued employment beyond the statutory retirement age more financially attractive through a new tax-advantaged “Aktivpension” scheme approved by the National Council on September 23. The reform aims to encourage older workers to remain in the labor market by introducing tax exemptions and reducing pension insurance contributions for eligible employees and self-employed individuals. According to tax adviser and social insurance expert Wolfgang Höfle of TPA, the centerpiece of the initiative is a new “activity allowance” that will exempt up to €15,000 of annual earnings…

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