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Vienna International Guide - Austrian Lifestyle, Travel, Arts, Culture
Get updated news about developments in Vienna's inter-cultural environment: lifestyle, travel destinations, art exhibitions, restaurant- & event-suggestions
Austrian Airlines Introduces Biometric Recognition System for Contactless Boarding
Starting November 9, AUA Austrian Airlines plans to test a facial recognition system for fast and contactless boarding in Vienna that has already been tested by Lufthansa.
November 5, 2021
Money Laundering, Tax Offenses and Terrorist Financing on the Rise
The Austrian Ministry of the Interior reported an increase in money laundering, tax offenses, and terrorist financing in 2020. Read more details about this disturbing trend and its causes.
November 4, 2021
COVID-19 in Austria: Concerns About Transition to 2.5G Rule in Workplace
Due to increased COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Austria is considering transitioning from the 3G rule in the workplace to a 2.5G rule in the coming weeks. Some government officials are expressing concerns about the implementation of this change. Read about the potential requirement change and the concerns that some have about it.
November 3, 2021
COVID-19 in Austria: Booster Vaccinations Now Available to Everyone in Vienna After Six Months
Mayor Michael Ludwig has announced that the City of Vienna is now offering COVID-19 booster vaccinations to everyone in Vienna six months after they received their second dose. Read about the specifics of Vienna's booster vaccination campaign and where and when to get a third shot.
November 2, 2021
African Union and European Union to Strengthen Cooperation on COVID-19
Representatives of the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), including Austrian Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal, recently met in Kigali, Rwanda. The COVID-19 pandemic, especially unequal vaccine distribution, was a central topic of discussion. Read more about the meeting and the effort to increase vaccine access around the globe.
October 29, 2021
Tourists Return to Vienna
Vienna saw a notable increase in overnight stays in September compared to September of last year. This is a positive sign for the tourism industry in Austria, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read about the changes in tourism levels in the Austrian capital.
October 28, 2021
Greenpeace: 80% of Austrian Short-haul EU Flights are Substitutable by Train
According to a Greenpeace report, 80 percent of Austria's short-haul flights can be replaced by rail travel. For 53 percent of all top-30 short-haul flights within the EU, there are direct overnight train connections, the report states.
October 27, 2021
ÖBB Austrian Railways to Improve and Expand Local and Long-Distance Travel Services in 2022
Starting on December 12, 2021, ÖBB - Austrian Federal Railways will change its annual timetable, which will bring a number of improvements and expansions to local and long-distance services for the rail year 2022. In total, ÖBB Austrian Railways is investing over 4.1 billion euros in modern trains by 2027. Find out about international and domestic connection extensions.
October 26, 2021
Smart Borders: Austrian Green Light for Implementation of EU-wide Entry/Exit System
Austria has passed a law to help implement the EU-wide entry/exit system (EES) as stipulated in the EU's "Smart Borders Package." Read more about the new law and what it means for border controls and law enforcement cooperation in the EU.
October 25, 2021
Hedy Lamarr Award 2021 for Outstanding Achievements by Women in Information Technology
The City of Vienna announced the winner of the 2021 Hedy Lamarr Award for outstanding achievements by women in information technology. Find out who won this year for her work on innovative learning methods and immersive experiences.
October 25, 2021
How and Where to Get Vaccinated for Free Against Influenza in Vienna
The City of Vienna is offering free influenza vaccines between November 2, 2021 and March 31, 2022 to all people over the age of 7 months who live, study or work in Vienna. A total of 450,000 vaccine doses are available. Find out when and where to sign up and where to get the vaccination here.
October 25, 2021
Corona Measures - The Viennese Way
The City of Vienna intends to continue on the "Viennese Way of Safety" with a general FFP2 mask requirement and 2G rules for late-night bars and clubs. According to Mayor Ludwig, the low infection figures prove the effectiveness.
October 22, 2021
The Virtual Open Day at the Austrian Parliament
The Austrian Parliament Open Day will take place virtually on the upcoming Austrian National Day. Read about the event, how to participate in it, and what National Council President Sobotka said about it.
October 21, 2021
The 80s Are Back: Albertina Modern Shows "Art of the Eighties"
The Albertina Modern has a new exhibition on display entitled "The 80s. Art of the Eighties." The exhibition has many works from some of the most notable artists of the 1980s. Read about the exhibition and view some examples of works currently on display.
October 21, 2021
Covid-19 in Austria: 3-G Rule at Work as of Nov. 1 - In-Company Tests Remain Free of Charge
Both employers and employees in Austria will only be allowed to enter their workplace after Nov. 1, 2021, if they have been vaccinated, have recovered in the past six months or have recently been tested.
October 20, 2021 · Updated: October 21, 2021; 07:10
Colonial Legacy: Restitution of Cultural Assets as Part of Austria's New Africa Strategy
The Austrian Foreign Ministry under Michael Linhart is developing a new Africa strategy for Austria. A motion for a resolution has been filed in parliament that requests that the foreign ministry includes restitution of cultural artifacts and assets as part of this strategy. Read more about the motion.
October 20, 2021
Opening of the Memorial Exhibition "80 Years of Deportations Vienna-Riga"
Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig recently opened a new memorial exhibition entitled "80 Years of Deportations Vienna-Riga" at Vienna's central train station. The exhibition is intended to remind the public about the horrors of the Shoah and to commemorate the victims. Learn more about the new exhibition.
October 19, 2021
Asylum Seekers and Migrants Should Get Vaccinated
The Austrian Minister for Integration Susanne Raab recently visited a mobile vaccination station at the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) Vienna to highlight the importance of making vaccines easily available to those with migration backgrounds. The ÖIF Integration Center Vienna has hosted the station multiple times and will do so again. Read more about the initiative and find out when the vaccination station will be at the ÖIF next.
October 18, 2021
Covid-19 in Austria: Vienna Launches Vaccination Booster Offensive
Vienna is continuing its campaign to get people vaccinated against COVID-19 and has launched its offensive to administer the booster vaccination. Vienna's Mayor Michael Ludwig and other officials recently held a press conference to discuss Vienna's progress on vaccinations and announce the plan for the booster shots. Read more about where Vienna stands in the pandemic fight and the roadmap for boosters.
October 18, 2021
Fundraising Soirée for Descendants of the Author of the 1920 Austrian Constitution
The Jewish Museum Vienna held a fundraiser for the descendants of the author of the 1920 Austrian Constitution, Hans Kelsen. Prominent guests attended and spoke at the event, including a former chancellor and Kelsen's granddaughter. Read about the event and the exhibition being displayed to honor Mr. Kelsen's legacy.
October 15, 2021
Vienna's Praterstern to Be Transformed into a Greened and Cooled Lounge Oasis
Vienna's Praterstern is beginning its transformation into a greened and cooled lounge oasis and should be finished by the summer of 2022. Read about the specifics of the revitalization of Praterstern and view some projections of what the area will look like once it is complete.
October 14, 2021
UPDATE: Current Situation for Arriving and Departing Passengers at Vienna International Airport
Flight operations at VIA Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien) are still restricted. The most important changes and information for arriving and departing passengers at Flughafen Wien are available below.
October 14, 2021
Messe Wien Celebrates 100 Years
Messe Wien, the largest trade fair in Vienna, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this fall. To celebrate the occasion, Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig attended a presentation of a new book that details the one-hundred-year history of the Messe Wien. Read about the new book and the significance of Messe Wien.
October 13, 2021
Heidi Horten: Austria's Richest Woman Sells Luxury Yacht for 160 Million Euros
Heidi Goëss-Horten, the richest Austrian woman, is selling her luxury yacht, the Carinthia VII, for an astonishing 160 million euros. Read about Ms. Goëss-Horten's "dream ship" and why she has finally decided to sell it.
October 12, 2021
Gartenbaukino: Reopening of the Iconic Viennese Cinema
The Gartenbaukino in Vienna is finally reopening after being closed for nearly a year and undergoing roughly seven months of renovation. Read about the renovation of this iconic Viennese cinema and look at some of the upcoming events from its program for 2021/2022.
October 12, 2021
Wiener Linien: 3,000 New WienMobil Bikes in Vienna in 2022
Wiener Linien has announced that its new bike-sharing service "WienMobil Rad" will be replacing "Citybike Wien" in 2022. They also announced there will be more bikes available in more locations. Read about the new bikes, how much they will cost, and where they can be found in Vienna.
October 8, 2021
Austrian Government Promises to Provide More Money for Childcare
Austrian Minister for Women and Integration Susanne Raab announced that the federal government will be providing more money for childcare. Read more about what Raab said about this expansion of childcare in Austria.
October 7, 2021
Antisemitic Vandalism at Auschwitz-Birkenau Highlights Alarming Trend
One day after an Austrian delegation, including President Van der Bellen, Foreign Minister Schallenberg, and EU Minister Edtstadler spoke at the opening of the new Austrian exhibition at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial, the museum reported antisemitic vandalism at the camp. The shocking incident underscores a larger trend of antisemitism in Europe and around the world. Read more about the incident, the trend of antisemitism, and what is being done to combat it.
October 7, 2021
Austrian-Japanese Society Hosts the 5th Japanese Film Days in Vienna
After being canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Austrian-Japanese Society (ÖJG) will host the fifth "Japannual" Japanese Film Days in Vienna at the Film Casino in Margareten. With over 20 films included this year, the festival brings a broad overview of current film events in Japan to Vienna. Read more about the festival, some of the movies included this year, and how to get tickets.
October 5, 2021
Modigliani in Vienna on the 100th Anniversary of his Death
To mark the 100th anniversary of Amedeo Modigliani’s death, the Albertina Museum in Vienna is honoring him with an exhibition including around 130 works. The exhibition includes works from three continents and some pieces from his counterparts, including Pablo Picasso. Read more about the new exhibition, learn about Modigliani, and view some examples of the works that are now on display.
October 5, 2021
Auschwitz-Birkenau: Austrian Delegation to Visit Largest Mass Murder Site in Human History
At the invitation of the Director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum Piotr M.A. Cywiński and Austrian National Council President Sobotka, an Austrian delegation including President Van der Bellen and Foreign Minister Schallenberg will attend the opening of the new Austrian national exhibition "Distance - Austria and Auschwitz" in the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum at the former Nazi concentration camp. Read more about the important new exhibition, who will be attending the opening, and the schedule for the rest of the president's trip to Poland.
October 4, 2021
Long Day of Escape: UNHCR Event in Austria on Refuge, Human Rights and Coexistence
Escape, human rights and peaceful coexistence are the focus of the UNHCR event series "Long Day of Escape", which took place for the 10th time this year.
October 1, 2021
Klimaticket: Austrian Low-Priced Public Transport Ticket Launches on 26 October
After long and intensive negotiations, a "milestone" has now been reached for public transport and climate-friendly mobility throughout Austria, Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler was pleased to announce the launch of the "Klimaticket" (climate ticket) from October 26, 2021. With the ticket, public transport users will in future be able to travel throughout Austria for one year for 1,095 euros. A joint ticket for the entire eastern region (Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland) is also available at 915 euros per year.
October 1, 2021
United Nations Vienna: Newton's Space Sapling Planted
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs was provided with a special apple tree grown from seeds which were taken into space, and the Ambassador of the UK, Corinne Kitsell and UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo planted the sapling which can be seen by visitors to the Space Exhibition at the VIC.
September 28, 2021
Fair for Art Vienna 2021: The Red Carpet for Art
As an important art fair in Vienna's cultural autumn, "Fair for Art Vienna" sends an important signal for the art market and Vienna as an important city of culture. "Fair for Art Vienna" proved last year that a fair of its format can be held safely and successfully thanks to a well thought-out hygiene and health concept. Safety will also be a top priority in 2021.
September 27, 2021 · Sponsored Content
Studying in Austria: Significant Increase Among Foreign Students in the Corona Winter Semester 2020/21
After declining student numbers in previous years, both the number of foreign students and the number of students with Austrian citizenship increased by 4.6% and 2.6%, respectively, in the Corona winter semester 2020/21. The CEU - Central European University accounts for a good portion of the increase in foreign students. Detailed information on university statistics can be found below.
September 24, 2021
Update: Travel from the United States to Austria
As a result of the increased spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant in the United States, Austria recently removed the US from its list of countries with low epidemiological risk. Here is an update of what this means for travelers from the United States coming to Austria.
September 24, 2021
Real Estate in Austria: Purchase Prices of Houses and Apartments Up 10.7 Percent
The Austrian House Price Index - prices on the residential real estate market - continue to rise. With an increase of 10.7% compared to the 1st half of 2020, the price increase for houses and apartments was significantly above the average of recent years. Detailed information on the house price index can be found below.
September 23, 2021
American Photography at the Albertina: Trevor Traina Back in Vienna
Former U.S. Ambassador to Austria Trevor Traina was at the opening of the new exhibition "American Photography" at the Albertina Museum in Vienna. Mr. Traina holds one of the largest private collections of photographs in the world, and he loaned some of these pieces to the Albertina for the exhibition. "American Photography" includes photographs from 1945 to the present and focuses on everyday motifs that had previously been considered unworthy of portrayal. Read more about the exhibition and view a selection of photographs included in the exhibit.
September 22, 2021
Travel from Austria to the U.S. - Biden's New Policy Will End the Need for National Interest Exceptions
As announced by Biden and the White House around the UN General Assembly, as of early November it will again be possible for all adult foreign nationals, i.e. including Austrians and other foreign nationals entering the U.S. via Vienna, to enter the U.S., thus also eliminating the need for national interest exemptions (NIE). More details in the article.
September 22, 2021
International Luxury Travelers to Visit Vienna
The Vienna Tourist Board (WienTourismus) is targeting international luxury travelers in a fall advertising campaign across Europe and the USA in an attempt to boost Vienna's tourism industry. This campaign will include advertising for culinary events in Vienna like "Feed Your Soul," it will market Vienna as a destination for business meetings, and it will target Ultra High Net Worth Individuals. Read more about Vienna's various offers aimed at international luxury travelers.
September 22, 2021
Covid-19 in Austria: Vienna Once Again Adopts a Special Approach
Vienna's mayor Michael Ludwig announced at a press conference that as of October 1, Vienna's regulations will differ from those of the rest of Austria, namely that 2G will apply to night-time catering and larger events. What does this mean?
September 21, 2021
Jewish Museum Vienna: Restitution to Ephrussi Family after Decades
The Jewish Museum Vienna has restituted the Franz Adam painting “Camp Scene from 1848 in Italy” to the Ephrussi family. Following the authorization by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner, ownership of the painting was returned to the heirs of Viktor Ephrussi. The painting was in the Museum of Military History in Vienna after being confiscated from Viktor Ephrussi by the Nazis. Read more about the painting's history and its restitution to the Ephrussi family.
September 14, 2021
Jewish Museum Vienna: Barbara Staudinger to Succeed Danielle Spera After 12 Years
Dr. Barbara Staudinger has been unanimously selected to succeed Dr. Danielle Spera as the managing director of the Jewish Museum Vienna. Dr. Spera has served as the director of the museum since 2010, and her contract will expire in June 2022. Read more about Dr. Staudinger and some of the responses to her selection.
September 13, 2021
Foreign Culture is Central Element of Austrian Diplomatic Soft Power
At the International Culture Conference 2021, Foreign Minister Schallenberg spoke about the importance of foreign culture as an instrument of soft power and diplomacy. He also highlighted some of the various new initiatives and programs to promote foreign culture, such as the "International Music Dialogues," the “On the road again” initiative for visual artists, “Repair of the Future - the Global Casting of Tomorrow,” and more.
September 10, 2021
Back to School: 82 Percent of Austrian Teachers Vaccinated
As the school year begins, statistics show that 82 percent of Austrian teachers have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is a much higher proportion than that of the general population, which is 65 percent fully immunized. The willingness to vaccinate varies by federal state, type of school, gender, and age group. Read more about the results of the study, such as where each federal state ranks on the list.
September 9, 2021
Corona Virus in Austria: Almost 1,500 New Infections Nationwide
To date, there have been 698,948 positive test results in Austria. As of today, 10,812 people have died as a result of Corona virus across Austria, currently with 1,438 new infections Austria-wide, 171 are being cared for in intensive care units. Read on to get all the latest stats.
September 7, 2021
Number of Naturalizations in Austria Continues to Rise Despite Covid
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, naturalizations in Austria have increased in the first half of 2021. During this time Austria granted citizenship to 5,057 people. In the same period, however, Vienna experienced a decrease in the number of naturalizations. Read more about the details of this trend and how they vary among the federal states of Austria.
September 3, 2021
Number of Anti-Semitism Incidents in Austria Doubled
The Anti-Semitism Reporting Office of the Jewish Community Vienna (IKG) presented its semi-annual report for the first half of 2021. The report showed that the number of incidents had doubled from the same period of the previous year. It attributed the increase mainly to Israel-related anti-Semitism and anti-Semitism surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 3, 2021
Greater Flexibility: Austrian Airlines Improves Booking Platform
Austrian Airlines (AUA) has improved its booking platform to provide more flexibility when booking. The platform now allows customers to book flights from the entire route network of Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS. This new booking platform provides multiple new benefits to customers, including a broader selection of destinations, free 48-hour booking reservations, and more. Read about all the advantages the new platform has to offer.
August 31, 2021
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