Category: Austrian News

One week before Christmas, the question comes up again: what do people in Austria actually eat on Christmas Eve? Festive meals are a long‑standing tradition, but the dishes vary widely from one province to another. According to a recent iglo study, 43 percent of Austrians say they always serve a special dish on December 24, while another 28 percent stick to a traditional meal that can occasionally be changed. Raclette, cold platters, and soup are the favorites If you’re still undecided about your own Christmas dinner, the most popular choices…

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Gift vouchers remain the most popular Christmas present among Viennese residents in 2025. According to the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, around one third of the population – approximately 495,000 people – will give vouchers this year. The average value has risen to 150 euros, about 25 percent more than in 2024. Altogether, this amounts to a remarkable Christmas voucher volume of 74 million euros. “Gift vouchers are a safe choice,” says Margarete Gumprecht, Chair of the Retail Division. “They strengthen local businesses while offering recipients maximum flexibility.” Where the voucher…

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Anyone who wants to secure money from the tax office in good time at the turn of the year should keep an eye on deadlines and new rules for employee tax assessment. This is pointed out by the tax consulting company BDO. For the 2025 assessment year, extended benefits for teleworking apply, and the five-year period for the 2020 assessment expires on December 31, 2025. Home office becomes location-independent teleworking A new development is that the previous home office is being expanded to include location-independent teleworking. This means that working…

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Vienna, Austria — Public transport users across Austria will face higher ticket prices beginning 1 January 2026, as regional transport associations and Vienna’s municipal operator introduce new fare structures to secure long‑term service quality and respond to rising operational costs. Vienna: First Major Fare Adjustment in Over a Decade Wiener Linien, Vienna’s public transport operator, confirmed that its new fare structure will take effect on 1 January 2026, marking the first significant price adjustment to the city’s ticket system in more than 13 years. The network has expanded substantially in…

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Vienna is heading into yet another pre‑holiday weekend wrapped in thick fog. According to the latest forecast, the city won’t be shaking off its grey blanket anytime soon. Expect single‑digit temperatures and, with a bit of luck, perhaps a warm cup of punch at a Christmas market to brighten the mood. It’s a dreary December in the capital. And no, the grey isn’t coming from artificial snow on Christmas trees — it’s the weather right outside the door. Fog has become a constant companion for people making their way through…

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Vienna will not only see higher public transport fares and parking costs next year — several other municipal fees will also increase beginning January 2026. MeinBezirk provides an overview of what residents can expect. Budget Background A few weeks ago, the City of Vienna presented an initial outline of its 2026 budget. The projected deficit stands at 2.65 billion euros, with planned expenditures of 22.16 billion euros. The full draft budget was published on November 14. Some fee increases had already been announced earlier. As of January 1, the annual…

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For most people in Austria, Christmas is all about family. A new survey shows that three out of four Austrians see the holiday primarily as a family celebration. Interestingly, it is the younger generation that holds on to rituals most strongly, while older adults are increasingly letting go of traditional customs. Christmas as a Family Affair According to a recent ImmoScout24 survey, 76 percent of respondents plan to celebrate Christmas with their families. Only a small minority spend the evening with friends or on their own. Two-thirds (66 percent) celebrate…

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Christmas Eve is exactly two weeks away, and as every year, many people are wondering whether we’ll see snow for the holidays. A reliable forecast won’t be possible until December 19, but the current weather trend is sending a clear message. No Snow in Sight Across large parts of Austria, temperatures are unusually mild for December. According to current forecasts, the weather is unlikely to change much before Christmas. Meteorologists say there is absolutely no sign of a winter cold spell. Instead, the next two weeks are expected to remain…

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High pressure will determine the weather in the eastern Alpine region on Tuesday. This means mostly sunny and dry weather. On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, we can expect sunny and dry weather in Austria. “Thin high cloud cover will not interfere. However, there will be persistent fog or high fog in the inner Alpine basins and valleys, as well as generally in the lowlands in the north and east, on the eastern edge of the Alps, in southeastern Styria, and in the Rhine Valley,“ according to weather experts at GeoSphere…

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