15+ facts about life in Austria that might surprise even the most seasoned tourists

Austria is a country in central Europe that, although not as revered as others, is worth visiting. It attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world who want to know the famous ski resorts and also its rich historical and cultural heritage. The landscapes enchant and inspire, and anyone who has felt it at least once certainly wants to visit the country again.

With that in mind, we at awesome.club, we have prepared a post with some fun facts about Austria that may surprise even the most experienced travelers. Check out!

The waste incinerator known as Spittelau is one of the trademarks of the capital Vienna. Tourists are delighted by the appearance of the building: the walls are decorated with colorful mosaics and the golden domes shine brightly in the sun. The famous architect and painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser worked on the design of the building. He was an avid environmentalist and only agreed to take on the project when he was convinced that a new factory downtown would not harm the environment. Even though you know German, you probably won’t be able to understand Austrians. if ask for tweet at the supermarket checkout (which means bag, in German), they will most likely look at you with disdain, since there the most correct to say Sackerl. Although in the country you learn literary German at school, there are several dialects there. In fact, because of them, the local population is able to recognize which city or even district their interlocutor is from.
Here’s a forum user account of it: “Austrian German is a headache for foreigners. Imagine you are learning German, which is already a difficult language, and when you finally find someone to talk to, you hear a completely different language. In 9 Austrian regions, each has its own dialect. Sometimes they don’t even understand each other.” © Afloat / Pikabu

Austrians don’t usually use the quilt. When arriving at a local hotel, the bed may not be covered with the quilt, as is customary in other countries. This is usually where the sheet is folded instead of completely covering the bed. Locals are often straightforward🇧🇷 They don’t usually beat around the bush to make it clear that they’re not happy about a situation. Don’t be shocked if, when communicating with one of them, you hear unpleasant comments about their appearance or behavior. This is explained by the concern for honesty, which many may confuse with rudeness. If you ask one of them, “Does this dress look ugly on me?”, prepare to hear the truth. They will say what they think directly. To people from other cultures, Austrians seem very tough, but deep down they are just saying things as they are. © Mariana Bernasconi / Quora It is considered rude not to look people in the eye while toasting.🇧🇷 When Austrians are toasting, they look deeply into the eyes. And many believe that if the other person doesn’t, it can bring bad luck, as well as being impolite.

You’re unlikely to meet an Austrian who doesn’t know how to ski🇧🇷 They usually learn this early in childhood by going to ski resorts with their parents. When children are of school age, sport classes are a priority. It’s no wonder that local skiers usually win many medals at world championships. “Skiing is not cheap, so many Austrians only do it once or twice a year. However, we are good at skiing and we value it more than football.” © Jakob-Manuel Krobath / Quora Austrians greet each other in a special way compared to the rest of Europe🇧🇷 It is common to hug a person when greeting them, in the same way as to give two kisses on the cheek. And no matter the degree of proximity. It could be with old friends or new acquaintances. If Austrians have to share a bed with more than one person, chances are they will each receive a separate blanket. This is privacy related and ensures that no one gets cold at night.

Austrians are in a hurry when they are at the supermarket checkout. They try to get their goods into the bags as quickly as possible because that speeds up service and helps people who might be running late. The country has a tax on dogs. No matter size or race, everyone has to pay the same amount. However, each city sets the tax rate independently, but on average, owners pay €72 for the first pet and €105 for each subsequent pet. Anyone who fails to pay the tax can be fined a much higher amount. In Vienna, it is common to see community gardens🇧🇷 Walking through the streets, it’s easy to trip over wooden pots filled with soil. In them, flowers, vegetables or herbs are grown for their own consumption. It’s a shared area, and neighborhood people work together actively. There is even an association that coordinates everything and the local government also financially supports the development of these gardens.

Austrians can enter college at any age. Because university studies are free, anyone can attend at any time. Your classmate may well be a little old man who has decided to update his knowledge or acquire new ones. In some countries, staring at a stranger for a long time is considered pretty weird, but in Austria it’s different. Locals may regard you with undisguised interest, whether on public transport or on the street. This is not something weird for them, on the contrary, this is how they can express admiration. “You haven’t lived long enough in Vienna if you still feel guilty about staring at people on the subway. © toffmon / Reddit

What curiosity did you find most interesting about Austria? Could he get used to people staring at him or being extremely sincere? Tell us in the comments section.