Vienna International Luxury Goods Guide

Vienna Albertina Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

In 2023, the Albertina museum celebrates its reopening 20 years ago, the renovation of the state rooms and the expansion of the museum from 2,000 to over 28,000 square meters today. With between 700,000 and one million tickets sold a year, the Albertina has been repositioned into a new museum rich in tradition.

January 10, 2023

Austria's Best Art Dealers Trade Millions in Vienna's Hofburg Palace

The Viennese trade fair landscape has become colorful and diverse, not only in appearance but also in level. This includes ART&ANTIQUE HOFBURG Vienna, which is the most important annual showcase of the Austrian art trade. The fair for art, antiques and design takes place this year for the 53rd time.

November 7, 2022

Inflation in Austria: Highest Value Since Post-War Period

Inflation in Austria is getting higher and higher. At 10.5%, it has now exceeded the magic limit of 10 percentage points and is thus considered the highest inflation in Austria since the post-war period. Read on if you want to know which products have become more expensive!

October 25, 2022

Vienna Among Europe's Most Expensive Cities

Living in cities is expensive. A study by management consultants Mercer ranks the most expensive cities in the world. Vienna is ranked high as one of the most expensive cities in Europe. Read on if you want to know where life is most expensive.

October 18, 2022

Global Wealth Report: Austrian Financial Wealth Increased

A new analysis of global wealth shows that private financial assets have increased internationally, but also in Austria. In this article you can find out how strongly Austria's economy has developed in recent years and how much the average Austrian has in his or her bank account.

September 21, 2022

Austria's Best Wines Are Awarded

One of the most famous Austrian wine competitions has tested 275 wines this year. SALON as the competition is called has chosen 21 of them as winners. For the first time, the wines were tasted and evaluated according to their origin and not by grape variety.

September 12, 2022

Vienna's Luxury Shops Struggle with the Loss of Russian Tourists

During the past two decades, Russian tourists with purchasing power have enriched the city centre's luxury shops, but since the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine, hardly anyone visits the Austrian capital. According to the latest statistics, fewer than one percent of tourists staying overnight in Vienna are Russians. Due to the loss of purchasing power, the tourism industry in Vienna suffers greatly.

August 15, 2022

Bregenz Festival: A Month of Culture and Music

In July and August, the Bregenz Festival presents a wide variety of musical selections, including the first stage production of Giacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly".

July 13, 2022

Expats in Austria Satisfied With Quality of Life but Complain About Rude Locals

According to the newly published "Expat Insider Study 2022", expats living in Austria have mixed feelings about the country. On the one hand, they praise the high quality of life in the country, but on the other hand they find the Austrian population unusually unfriendly. In the end, Austria was only ranked 24th out of a total of 52.

July 12, 2022

Art Collector and Billionaire Heidi Goess-Horten Deceased

The famous Austrian billionaire Heidi Goëss-Horten died unexpectedly this weekend at her home on Lake Wörthersee. Horten was best known for her great passion for art and her large collection of artworks. She passed away at the age of 81. If you want to learn more about this great Austrian personality, read her obituary here.

June 13, 2022

6.8% Inflation: How Private Households are Affected by Rising Prices

Inflation in Austria remains historically high and is pushing many households to their limits. Whether it's high gasoline prices or horrendous living costs, everyone is feeling the inflation. How the average household is affected by these problems and what impact they have on lower-income households, read here.

April 20, 2022

These Are the 10 Finest Hotels in Austria

After two lean years, Austrian tourism is looking forward to the new season. More hotel guests are expected again, and this is urgently needed. We present you the 10 best hotels in Austria. One of them, belonged to the controversial Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Read on if you want to know which one and where to book your upcoming luxory vacation.

April 6, 2022

Housing in Austria: Average Monthly Rents Remain Above Inflation Rate

Rental prices are not spared from the persistently high inflation. On the contrary - according to a recent study, rental prices remain above the current inflation rate. If you want to know how expensive rent is and how much the average tenant pays, read on.

March 30, 2022

Real Estate in Austria: Highest Annual Increase in Purchase Prices of Houses and Apartments Since Records Began

Prices on the Austrian residential real estate market show a year-on-year price increase of 12.3% for 2021. This is the highest annual increase since the index series began in 2010 and is significantly higher than in previous years.

March 29, 2022

Dalí and Freud at the Belvedere - An Obsession

Salvador Dalí and Sigmund Freud: one man's art, another man's theories. The theories of Freud clearly fascinated Dalí, perhaps to the point of obsession – his greatest desire was to someday meet his idol. With this exhibition the Lower Belvedere celebrates its reopening.

February 28, 2022

Marina Tower: Completion of the Highest Residential Tower in Vienna

The highest residential tower in Vienna with 140 meters and 41 floors is successfully completed in these days.

February 10, 2022

Heidi Horten Collection: Billionaire's New Museum to Open as Early as Summer 2022

A museum project in the heart of Vienna is eagerly awaited. The Heidi Horten Collection in the renamed "Palais Goëss-Horten" will showcase one of the most high-profile private collections in Europe.

February 4, 2022

Vienna: "A Uniquely Wonderful Place for Expats"

The Expat City Ranking reveals the best and worst cities for expats around the world. Vienna dominates the "Quality of Urban Living Index". Find out why.

February 2, 2022

Demand for Luxury Real Estate in Austria Increased by 12 Percent Due to the Corona Situation

Luxury real estate demand increased by 12 percent in Austria in 2021, according to the Engel & Völkers Group. Read more about the luxury real estate trends in Austria and around the world.

January 17, 2022

"Golden Sunday" Returns: Austrian Non-Food Retailers Allowed to Remain Open on December 19

In an attempt to recoup some of the billions of euros retailers lost out on due to the lockdown in the middle of the holiday season, the Austrian government has announced that non-food retailers will be allowed to remain open on Sunday, December 19 for what is known as "Golden Sunday." Learn which stores the exception applies to and when you can do some last-minute Christmas shopping on Sunday.

December 17, 2021

Vienna Opera Ball 2022: Canceled Twice in a Row

The Austrian government has announced that the 2022 Vienna Opera Ball has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. However, the Viennese Opera Ball in New York City is still scheduled to take place. Read more about the two popular events.

December 9, 2021

Luxury Goods Group: Swarovski Drops Further in Ranking

The famous Austrian crystal glass manufacturer Swarovski has fallen a further 3 places on the global ranking of luxury goods sales. The company's sales also halved between 2017 and 2020 from 3.5 billion euros to 1.7 billion euros. Read about Swarovski's decline in sales and the general downturn in the luxury goods industry.

December 8, 2021

New 153-Meter Luxury Tower V22 in Vienna to be Completed by 2025

Construction is currently underway on a new 153-meter luxury tower in Vienna's 22nd district. The project, known as VIENNA TWENTYTWO or V22, is expected to be fully complete by 2025. Learn more about one of Vienna's largest urban development projects and see what it is expected to look like upon completion.

December 7, 2021

Vienna Ranked Fourteenth Most Expensive City in the World

While Tel Aviv is the most expensive city in the world and tops the Cost of Living Index 2021, Paris and Singapore are tied for second, followed by Zurich and Hong Kong in fourth and fifth place, respectively. Vienna comes in fourteenth place after Tokyo and jointly with Sydney. Damascus, Syria, was named the world’s cheapest city. See the full list of the world's most expensive cities to live in 2021.

December 1, 2021

Salzburg Festival: Kristina Hammer Appointed New Festival President

The Swiss-Austrian marketing professional Kristina Hammer will be the new president of the Salzburg Festival (Salzburger Festspiele), taking over from long-term president Helga Rabl-Stadler.

November 25, 2021

Casinos Austria: Dutchman Erwin van Lambaart Appointed New CEO

The current head of Holland Casino, Erwin van Lambaart (58), will take over from Bettina Glatz-Kremsner the management of the partly state-owned gaming group Casinos Austria AG on April 1, 2022.

November 24, 2021

Südbahnhotel am Semmering: Former Grand Hotel Has New Owner

The former luxury hotel an hour's drive south of Vienna, which has been little used for decades, has been bought by the foundation of a Viennese entrepreneur and is to be revitalized. The focus is to be on cultural events. However, it will take years for the hotel to be fully developed.

November 5, 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

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

The Rich in Austria: Dollar Millionaires Up 5.3 Percent to Record 163,300

The number of so-called high net worth individuals (HNWIs) in Austria grew by 5.3 percent from 2019 to 2020 to 163,300 dollar millionaires. This is 8,200 more HNWIs than in the same period last year.

July 17, 2021

Vienna Selected as Most Desired Luxury Travel Destination

Vienna has one yet another award. After being selected as the most liveable city of the world for a number of years already, Vienna has now been awarded the prize for the "Most Desired Preferred Destination" by the luxury travel network "Traveller Made".

May 26, 2021

Vienna Also Opens on May 19.

Finally, Vienna has also officially confirmed that the long-awaited opening will take place on May 19. The planned relaxations also bring further steps towards normality in the retail sector. You can find out exactly what this means below.

May 6, 2021

Lockdown Ends in Vienna and Lower Austria: What's Permitted Now

On Monday, the hard lockdown finally came to an end in Vienna and Lower Austria. With the end of the hard lockdown, stores and body-related service providers, museums, zoos and other leisure businesses are allowed to reopen. What residents of Vienna and Lower Austria are now allowed to do again, read below.

May 3, 2021

Why Austria Is NOT One of the Best Countries in the World

Why a top "Quality of Life" rating is not enough to rank among the "best" countries in the world, and why expat destinations like Canada, Japan, Germany, Australia and even Switzerland are uncatchable ahead of Austria.

April 30, 2021

Austrian Residential Property Market: Prices Continue to Rise

The real estate market in Austria continues to boom. Last year again surpassed the record set the year before, with both sales and the value of properties sold continuing to rise in 2020 compared with 2019. The most expensive district outside Vienna remains Kitzbühel in Tyrol. Housing prices in a five-year comparison: Austria: +26%, Vienna: +21%, Burgenland: +47%, Vorarlberg: +45%, Carinthia: +18%. Find out how the Austrian real estate market works.

April 28, 2021

Driving a Car in Austria: How to Import a Vehicle for Personal Use

What is required to register your car in Austria that you have purchased abroad? What do you need to look out for when buying a car? What costs do you have to bear? You can find all tips for importing your own vehicles (Eigenimport) to Austria here.

August 4, 2019 · Updated: April 1, 2021; 13:13

Coronavirus in Austria: What Are the New Rules?

As of February 8, the Austrian COVID-19 measures have been relaxed again. The exit restrictions apply again only from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. However, there are still contact restrictions. Retailers, schools and museums are allowed to open again, although only under stricter conditions. Body-related service providers such as hairdressers are also allowed to offer their services again, but only on presentation of a negative PCR or antigen test result.

February 9, 2021

Share of E-Cars in New Registrations Exceeds 10 Percent

For the first time ever, electronic cars made up more than 10 percent of the new registrations of motor vehicles. Although the numbers of new registered vehicles is far lower compared to last year, the e-mobility sector has seen an obvious increase in numbers over the recent months.

December 11, 2020

The Vienna Service Office - The Embassy of the City of Vienna inside the Vienna International Centre

The Vienna International Centre hosts a branch office of the City of Vienna, whose sole purpose is to offer the staff of the UN organizations and their relatives rapid and individual assistance with questions of daily life and to provide them with urgently needed information.

November 19, 2020

Austria's Second Hard Lockdown: So what applies now? - Live Updates

The new COVID-19- emergency measure regulation brings beyond the already existing measures intensified exit regulations and an extensive closing of business. The retail stores for basic supplies (food, pharmacies, post office, banks, etc.) will remain open. The Ordinance came into force on 17 November 2020 and is valid up to and including 6 December 2020.

November 16, 2020

Austria's Hard Lockdown: So what applies now?

The details of new COVID-19 measures were announced today. For the next two and a half weeks up to and including December 6, Austria will have a second respectively third full lockdown as in spring. What will now apply with regard to curfews, contacts, shopping, hospitals and health services, sports, professional activities, body related services, education, schools and kindergartens?

November 14, 2020 · Updated: November 14, 2020; 17:25

Vienna Is the Sixth Largest City in the European Union

After London pulled out and Bucharest moved up, Vienna has consolidated itself in sixth place among the largest cities in the European Union. But who is the new European leader, and who are the other cities ahead of Vienna in the ranking? What are the reasons why living in Vienna is so popular with other Austrians, expats, migrants and refugees?

November 9, 2020

Second Coronavirus Lockdown: Which Rules Apply for your Business in Austria?

The exponential increase of the Austrian COVID-19 infection numbers has made drastic measures necessary. On November 3, 2020, the new COVID-19 Protection Measures Ordinance will come into force and remain in force until at least November 30, 2020. In order to cushion the economic impact, short-time working will be upgraded and loss of sales compensated. The new rules and economic measures for the gastronomy, tour operator, tourism and leisure industry can be found below.

November 2, 2020 · Updated: November 6, 2020; 10:13

Second Coronavirus Lockdown in Austria: Which Rules Apply?

The Austrian government has announced the Second Coronavirus Lowdown and presented stricter measures against the virus, which will apply from Tuesday, November 3 starting at 0:00 am. From then on, night-time exit restrictions will apply in Austria between 20.00 and 6.00 hours. Most events will be cancelled, restaurants will no longer be allowed to serve guests, and most leisure facilities will have to close for a month for the time being.

October 31, 2020 · Updated: November 2, 2020; 09:29

Prostitution in Austria Prohibited Again: Here Are the New COVID-19 Rules

Prostitution in Austria is basically legal and regulated by law. Due to the coronary crisis, it was temporarily forbidden for clients to enter prostitution facilities until the end of June. Since July 1, 2020, however, the government has again permitted entry to prostitution bars, brothels and running houses in Austria. Following the updated COVID-19 rules for sex workers and their clients. However, due to November's new COVID-19 Protection Measures Ordinance, which came into force on November 3, 2020 and will remain in force until at least November 30, 2020, all facilities for the practice of prostitution will again be closed as of November 3.

July 11, 2020 · Updated: November 2, 2020; 07:55

Second Lockdown: Warning of Medical Bottlenecks

The reason for the second Austrian lockdown is the explosive growth in coronavirus numbers and the danger of overloading intensive care. What is the situation in hospitals and nursing homes?

October 31, 2020

Investor Survey: Vienna Among Top 3 Locations for Real Estate Investments

Despite the Covid-19 crisis, Vienna is still one of the most attractive European metropolises for real estate investments. According to a recent survey among investors, London, Berlin and Vienna make up the Top 3 locations in which real estate is highly sought.

October 19, 2020

Art Enjoyment at the "Fair for Art Vienna"

Austria's largest art and antiques fair sets an example for the Vienna art market even in times of Corona. During these times, the fair's focus on the Austrian art trade certainly proves to be an organizational advantage. Nevertheless, one or the other international new discovery of recent years stands out, such as the Chongqing-Chinese Li Hua, who, coming from classical Chinese calligraphy, is increasingly moving towards more expressive and colorful compositions.

October 11, 2020 · Sponsored Content

Dutch Opera Director Lotte de Beer Becomes New Head of Volksoper

The Dutch opera director Lotte de Beer, artistic director of the Dutch ensemble Operafront, will direct the Volksoper Wien from September 1, 2022 onwards. She was able to secure the position, for which more than 30 international and national applications were submitted.

October 6, 2020

Tourism Conference: Clear Regulations and Low Infection Rates Are Prerequisites

Tourism in Austria will be possible with clear regulations and low infection rates, according to Tourism Minister Köstinger. The Federal Minister met with representatives of the federal states to discuss how and in which form winter tourism will be possible this year.

September 29, 2020