Welcome to Vienna Guide

Welcome to Vienna!

A Guide for Expats 2 LEGALLEGAL INFORMATIONINFORMATION

Photo Credits:

Fotolia: P. 6 l., P. 8 l., P. 10 l., P. 12 r., P. 13, P. 14 r., P. 15, P. 16 r., P. 18 r., b., P. 20 r., P. 22 r., P. 23, P. 24 r., P. 25, P. 26 r., P. 27, P. 28 l., r., P. 29, P. 30 l., r., P. 31, P. 32 l., r., P. 34 l., r., P. 36 m., P. 37, P. 38 m., P. 39, P. 40 m., P. 41, P. 42 m., P. 43, P. 44 m., P. 46 m., P. 48 m., P. 49, P. 50 m., P. 51, P. 52 m., P. 53, P. 54 m., P. 55, P. 56 m., P. 57, P. 58 m., P. 59, P. 60 m., P. 61, P. 62 m., P. 64 m., P. 65, P. 66, P. 68 m., P. 70 m., P. 71, P. 72 m., P. 73, P. 74 m., P. 76 m.

Hierner: P. 75

Mobilkom Austria: P. 48

Panther Media: P. 7, P. 26 b., P. 69

Pixelio: P. 17 Rainer-Sturm

Vienna Business Agency, Ingo Pertramer: P. 4, Peter Rigaud: P. 5

Vienna Business Agency: P. 6 m., r., P. 8 m., r., P. 10 m., r., P. 12 l., m., P. 14 l., m., P. 16 l., m., P. 18 l., m., P. 20 l., m., P. 22 l., m., P. 24 l., m., P. 26 l., m., P. 28 m., P. 30 m., P. 32 m., P. 34 m., P. 36 l., r., P. 38 l., r., P. 40 l., r., P. 42 l., r., P. 44 l., r., P. 45, P. 46 l., r., P. 48 l., r., P. 50 l., r., P. 52 l., r., P. 54 l., r., P. 56 l., r., P. 58 l., r., P. 60 l., r., P. 62 l., r., P. 64 l., r., P. 68 l., r., P. 70 l., r., P. 72 l., r., P. 74 l., r., P. 76 l., r., Cover inside

Although the research for this book was carried out with the greatest possible care it lays no claim to completeness. Much of the information is subject to continuous change, so that no liability can be accepted for the accuracy of the information or consistency with actual local conditions.

This work and all parts thereof are protected by copyright. It may not be used without the consent of the copyright holder. In particular, this applies to reproductions, imitations, translations or digital storage and processing.

VIENNA the world as in several previous years. Within the European Union Vienna is one „Vienna - a city for life.” is one of the City of the five most prosperous regions and of Vienna’s current slogans and indeed enjoys an excellent reputation as a city with each year Vienna captivates visitors from an outstanding standard of living, low crime all over the world. The city in the heart of rate and as a hub between East and West. Europe is famous for its history, musical tradition, wealth of superb sights and its In addition, Vienna is also one of the incomparable atmosphere. Formerly an “greenest” cities in the world. Approxima- imperial residence and capital of a multi- tely half the metropolitan area consists of ethnic empire, it is no coincidence that parks, forests and other green spaces. Part Vienna is today one of the most visited of the internationally recognised Donau- cities in the world. Auen National Park is even located within the city boundaries. In the west of the city, However, this historic importance should the fringes of the Vienna Woods extend to not obscure the fact that Vienna is also one the edges of the built up area. Not far from of the most dynamic cities in Europe with the city centre is the Prater, which with an an extremely high level of economic output. area of 6 km2 is the largest park in Vienna As one of the four headquarters of the and almost twice the size of Central Park in United Nations and home to a large num- New York. ber of other international organisations, such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the ADMINISTRATION AND Organization for Security and Cooperation POLITICS in Europe (OSCE) Vienna also possesses great political importance. Vienna is both the capital of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine federal Almost no other city in the world offers the provinces. The city has approximately same high quality of life as the Austrian 1.8 million inhabitants and is growing fast. capital. In recent years the internationally The Vienna metropolitan area is home to renowned Mercer survey of 221 cities has almost 2.5 million people, more than chosen Vienna as the best place to live in 25 percent of Austria’s population. 7 WELCOMEWELCOME TO TO VIENNA VIENNA

The City of Vienna is subdivided into INTERNATIONAL 23 districts. The first district (Inner City) ORGANISATIONS BASED comprises the historic centre where most I N V I E N N A of the municipal and national administrative buildings are situated. Municipal adminis- UN tration is carried out by the Vienna United Nations (since1979) with numerous City Administration under the direction of affiliated organisations, such as: the mayor. IAEA – The International Due to Vienna’s dual function as a city and Atomic Energy Agency a federal province, the City Council also UNHCR – United Nations High serves as the Vienna Provincial Parliament. Commissioner For Refugees Since the elections in 2010 Vienna has UNIDO – United Nations Industrial been ruled by a coalition government Development Organisation made up of the Social Democratic Party of UNCITRAL – United Nations Commission Austria (SPÖ) and the Green Party. Since on International Trade 2018 the position of Mayor of Vienna and UNPA – United Nations also Governor of the Province of Vienna Postal Administration has been held by Michael Ludwig (SPÖ). OPEC – Organization of the Petroleum During the course of elections for the City Exporting Countries (since 1965) Council the electorate of each municipal OSCE – Organization for Security and district also elect their District Councils, Co-operation in Europe (since which are led by the District Chairperson. 1995 as the successor to the CSCE) ICPDR – International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (since 1998) IPI – International Press Institute (since 1950) FRA – European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (since 2007) IIP – International Institute for Peace 8 WELCOMEWELCOME TO TO VIENNAVIENNA

HISTORY OF VIENNA TIMELINE 1200 BC Celtic settlement on the site of the present city of Vienna 1st century Roman military camp and civilian town of Vindobona 11th century Vienna is made a “civitas” (trading town) 1155 Heinrich Jasomirgott makes Vienna the capital of his margravate; one 1221 year later the duke makes Vienna his Vienna is granted a town charter official residence

1365 Founding of the University of Vienna 1469 Vienna becomes a diocese and St. Stephen’s becomes a cathedral 1529 First Ottoman siege of Vienna 1558 Vienna becomes the capital of the 1683 Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation Second Ottoman siege of Vienna

18th century Golden age of the Baroque in Vienna 1804 (Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace) Founding of the Austrian Empire 9 WELCOMEWELCOME TOTO VIENNAVIENNA

1814 – 1815 Reorganisation of Europe at the Congress of Vienna after the 1858 Napoleonic Wars Demolition of the city walls and construction of the Ringstrasse 1873 World Exhibition in the Vienna Prater 1890 – 1914 “Gründerzeit“ in Vienna, construction of many magnificent buildings along 1910 the Ringstrasse Vienna is the fourth-largest city in the world with more than 2 million 1914 – 1918 inhabitants World War I and dissolution of the Habsburg Monarchy 12.11.1918 Proclamation of the First Republic with Vienna as its capital 1922 Vienna becomes a federal state 12./13.03.1938 Annexation by the Third Reich 1939 – 1945 World War II with air attacks and destruction 1945 – 1955 Occupation of Vienna by Allied troops 15.05.1955 Signing of the Austrian State Treaty at Belvedere Palace 1958 Opening of the Wiener Stadthalle, a symbol of post-war reconstruction 1973 – 1979 Construction of Vienna International Centre 1972 – 1988 Construction of the Danube Island as a flood protection scheme and 1989 recreational area Fall of the Iron Curtain, Vienna regains its place in the heart of 1995 Europe both geopolitically and as a Austria joins the European Union business location 10 WELCOMEWELCOME TO TO VIENNAVIENNA

VIENNA AS A lation live in Vienna, the city generates BUSINESS LOCATION approximately one third of Austria’s total economic output. While until 1989 Vienna was located near the Iron Curtain and on the fault line Vienna also scores high marks as a reaso- between the Eastern and Western power nably-priced office location. Office rents in blocs, it is this position at the gates of East Vienna are considerably lower than in Hong Central Europe which today makes the city Kong, London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Moscow so attractive as a base for the activities of and New York but also very competitive in international corporations in CEE. Vienna is comparison with locations in Central and now a commercial hub at the heart of the Eastern Europe. new Europe.

Vienna offers a unique blend of tradition, C E E H U B culture and quality of life with all the attribu- tes of a top business location. The central Vienna is also the perfect location for location in the heart of Europe, close international corporate headquarters: economic ties and proximity to the growth Around 200 leading international compa- markets of Central and Eastern Europe, a nies steer their activities in CEE from the highly skilled workforce, high productivity, Austrian capital. a research and technology-friendly climate as well as its exceptional quality of life The importance of Vienna International combined with stable political and econo- Airport for European air traffic to Eastern mic conditions are crucial factors in and Central Europe must also be mentio- international competition which speak for ned in this context. No European capital is themselves. more than three hours away by plane.

Vienna is a highly productive and inter - Vienna also gets high marks from business nationally attractive business location and as a tax location. Compared with the rest in terms of its economic performance is of Europe, the metropolis on the Danube one of the most successful cities in Europe. offers an extremely favourable business Although a mere fifth of the Austrian popu- environment and attractive conditions. 11 WELCOMEWELCOME TOTO VIENNAVIENNA

VIENNA BUSINESS The staff at the Vienna Business Agency AGENCY are here to assist investors and provide competent and comprehensive consulting For over 30 years, the Vienna Business and support services and develop indivi- Agency has been the first contact point for dual solutions for businesses settling in international investors wishing to locate Vienna. A powerful team of regional experts their business in Vienna. and project managers will assist compa- The Vienna Business Agency offers a com- nies and investors from the very moment prehensive portfolio of services ranging they express their interest in the business from professional consultation for entrepre- location Vienna. Vienna Business Agency neurs, business founders and investors to consulting services are professional and the targeted award of grants and subsidies tailored to your specific needs. They are as well as the provision and development provided free of charge and on a confiden- of suitable land and worldwide location tial basis. marketing for the business region Vienna. The Agency also assists with the establish- Your contact for ment of the special business infrastructure your successful start in Vienna: needed for technology parks and even whole factories. Sabine Ohler Head of International Business Key services provided to international Tel: +43 (0)1 4000 86199 investors and people thinking about [email protected] locating their business in Vienna at a glance: CONGRESS CITY VIENNA . Information about right of residence, trade law and tax law Vienna is one of the world’s leading desti- . Arranging office and conference rooms nations for congresses and conventions during the start-up phase and has been topping the international sta- . Help with administrative matters tistics for years. In 2014 Vienna hosted 202 . Help finding personnel and premises major international congresses. . Information about offices, land, business parks and networking Further Information: communities in Vienna vienna.convention.at . Consulting services on all aspects of financing and funding . Establishing contact to public institutions, special interest groups (chambers), bank, lawyers or tax advisors . Integration and building of relationships within the Viennese business community 12 MOVINGMOVING

CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU MOVE TO VIENNA 

Personal Documents Birth certificates Put together all the personal documents Confirmation of school attendance and that you will need, such as Certificates and school reports.

Housing Passport Pages 35 – 39 Birth certificate Find a place to live in Vienna and choose the Marriage certificate perfect location for your new home. Insurance card De-Register in your Home Country Driving license Certificates and references Notify the authorities in your home country of your forthcoming relocation (e.g. residence registration authority, schools). and obtain any necessary documents that you do not yet have. Relocation and Removal Companies Pages 26 – 27 Residence Permits Organise your move to Vienna. Pages 19 – 25 Information regarding residence permits Other and entry requirements. Take important

Jobs and Recruiting Certificates of vaccination Page 34 – 35 Prescriptions etc. with you from home, Find a job in Vienna. Make arrangements for the import of your Family and Childcare, Education vehicles and comply with quarantine Pages 49 – 52 regulations that will enable you to bring Find suitable schools and childcare your centres in Austria. Before you leave, organise all necessary Pets. 13 MOVINGMOVING

CHECKLIST AFTER YOU ARRIVE IN VIENNA 

Compulsory Registration nection, phone home and have all your waste removed. Pages 14 – 18 Register with the relevant residence regis- Transport and Driving Licence tration authority within three days of moving into your new flat in Vienna. Pages 45 – 48 Check whether your driving license is valid Health Pages 52 – 55 or obtain a new driving license in Austria. Register with the relevant social insurance Learn German institution and apply for a social insurance Page 58 number and your e-card. If you are an em- Although many Austrians can speak one or ployee, your employer will do this for you. more foreign languages, a knowledge of German will be a huge advantage. Take the Banking, Taxes, Insurance, Legal opportunity to learn German at one of the Advice and Notaries many educational institutions. Pages 29 – 31 Open a bank account, obtain information Culture and Leisure Pages 59 – 76 about tax consultants, insurance compa- Enjoy the extensive range of cultural and nies and lawyers. leisure activities in a city with one of the highest standards of living in the world. Household Pages 35 – 44 Fall under the spell of a cosmopolitan Organise your household. Get in touch with city with a grandiose history and timeless the world with a broadband Internet con- dynamism. 14 MOVINGMOVING

COMPULSORY WHERE TO REGISTER REGISTRATION You can register at any of the Vienna regis- REGISTRATION DEADLINE tration service centres at the municipal district offices. You are not bound to register at According to the Austrian Registration Act the registration service centre in the district anyone who moves into a new or different in which you live. Once you have registered, place of residence must register/de-regis- you will receive a residence registration ter with the residence registration authority certiﬁcate for your place of residence. within 3 days of moving into their new home. This registration ensures that you Information about the Vienna registration will receive mail and be able to secure service centres can be obtained from tele- certain rights (e.g. voting rights for EU phone-number citizens, residents parking permit etc.). +43 (0)1 4000 76449 and online from

DOCUMENTS wien.gv.at/verwaltung/meldeservice/

To register you must fill in a residence The addresses of the Vienna registration ser- registration form („Meldezettel”) and if you vice centres can be obtained from wien. are living in rented accommodation have gv.at/verwaltung/meldeservice/stellen.html. the form signed by your landlord. This residence registration form can be obtai- Important - ned from all registration service centres at de-registering is necessary as well: the municipal district offices or can be All persons who move away from Austria downloaded from the Internet free of also have to de-register at the residence charge. registration authority.

You will also need your passport. If you hold dual or multiple citizenships, you must present all documents which show your identity, place of birth and nationality.

16 MOVINGMOVING

Addresses and Opening Hours of the Registration Service at the Municipal District Ofﬁces

District Address Opening Hours: in the afternoon (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri) by appointment

1010 Vienna, Wipplingerstraße 8 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 1st District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-01550 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1020 Vienna, Karmelitergasse 9 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 2nd District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-02551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1030 Vienna, Karl-Borromäus-Platz 3 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 3rd District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-03551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1050 Vienna, Rechte Wienzeile 105 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 4th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-05551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1050 Vienna, Rechte Wienzeile 105 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 5th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-05551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1070 Vienna, Hermanngasse 24 - 26 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 6th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-07551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1070 Vienna, Hermanngasse 24 - 26 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 7th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-07551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1010 Vienna, Wipplingerstraße 8 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 8th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-01550 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1090 Vienna, Wilhelm-Exner-Gasse 5 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 9th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-09551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1100 Vienna, Laxenburger Straße 43 - 45 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 10th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-10551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1110 Vienna, Enkplatz 2 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 11th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-11552 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1120 Vienna, Schönbrunner Straße 259 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 12th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-12551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30 17 MOVINGMOVING

District Address Opening Hours: in the afternoon (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri) by appointment 1130 Wien, Dommayergasse 12/3, Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 13th District Stiege/3. Stock/Zimmer 301 – 306 Thu 8.00 – 17.30 Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-13551 1130 Wien, Dommayergasse 12/3, Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 14th District Stiege/3. Stock/Zimmer 301 – 306 Thu 8.00 – 17.30 Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-13551

1150 Vienna, Gasgasse 8 - 10 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 15th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-15551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1160 Vienna, Richard-Wagner-Platz 19 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 16th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-16551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1170 Vienna, Elterleinplatz 14 Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8.00 – 13.00 17th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-17551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1180 Vienna, Martinstraße 100 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 18th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-18552 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1190 Vienna, Gatterburggasse 14 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 19th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-19551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1200 Vienna, Brigittaplatz 10 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 20th District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-20551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1210 Vienna, Am Spitz 1 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 13.00 21st District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-21551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1220 Vienna, Schrödingerplatz 1 Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8.00 – 13.00 22nd District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-21551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30

1230 Vienna, Perchtoldsdorfer Straße 2 Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 8.00 – 13.00 23rd District Tel: +43 (0)1 4000-23551 Thu 8.00 – 17.30 18 MOVINGMOVING

ANMELDEBESCHEINIGUNG Customer Service Centre of FOR CITIZENS OF THE Municipal Department 35 EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA 1120 Vienna, Arndtstr. 67, Stiege 1, 1. Stock AND SWITZERLAND Telefon: +43 (0)1 4000 35338 Fax: +43 (0)1 4000 35310 Citizens of the EEA (all 28 EU states + Ice- [email protected] land, Norway, Liechtenstein) and Switzer- land who due to their nationality do not Opening Hours: require any further residency or work permit Mon, Tue, Fri 8.00 – 12.00 are additionally required to register with Thu 8.00 – 12.00 and 15.30 – 17.00 Municipal Department 35 within four months of entering Austria if they intend to Useful Links: stay in the country for more than three migration.gv.at months. einwanderung.wien.at staatsbuergerschaft.wien.at Information and advice about confirmation standesamt.wien.at of registration can be obtained from the 19 MOVINGMOVING

R E S I D E N C E RESIDENCE TITLE: PERMITS TIME LIMITED RIGHT OF SETTLEMENT AND ENTRY AND RESIDENCE RESIDENCE PERMIT I N A U S T R I A FOR A LONG-TERM STAY

The crucial factors here are how long you Third-country nationals [citizens of wish to stay and where you are from. Are countries which do not belong to either you only staying for a short period or do the European Union or the European you want to stay longer? Are you an EU Economic Area (EEA)], who wish to remain citizen, Swiss or a third-country national? in Austria for more than six months The following information provides you with require a residence title (unless they have an overview of this topic. a right of residence under EU law)

Citizens of an EU state, an EEA state or VISA: Switzerland do not require a residence FOR A SHORT-TERM STAY title. They must merely apply for confirmation of registration from the responsible Third-country nationals usually need a visa authority within four months of entering for a short stay in Austria (e.g. to visit rela- Austria: tives, holidays). Citizens of some countries, however, may stay in Austria for up to three Switzerland is neither a member of the EU months without a visa. nor the EEA and is thus a third-country. However, as Switzerland is linked to the Attention: In principle you are not allowed EEA by a series of bilateral agreements, to work with a visa (except for business tra- Swiss citizens enjoy the same status as vellers). Some exceptions apply to foreign EEA citizens in many areas. workers on limited contracts (= seasonal workers). Citizens of Croatia are subject to certain restrictions with regard to access to the Visa Categories: Austrian labour market. Type A: Flight Transit Visa Type C: Travel Visa Type D: Residence Visa Visas may only be issued by the competent Austrian authorities abroad or in an extremely small number of exceptional cases by certain border checkpoints, never however, by another domestic authority. A visa may only be extended within Austria in very specific exceptional cases. 20 MOVINGMOVING

PURPOSE OF STAYS Work or Employment Permit as a Secondment Worker; employment 1. Residence Titles for the longer than 6 months) Purposes of Employment: . Self-Employed Persons (if the alien has a contract to carry out a certain job for . “Red-White-Red Card” (grants a time- longer than 6 months; the AMS may be limited right of settlement and right to involved) employment with a specific employer anywhere in Austria) 3. Right of settlement . “Blue Card EU” (grants a time-limited right of settlement and the right to . Artist (self-employed or employed; employment with a specific employer activity is largely determined by the anywhere in Austria) artistic activity which suffices to cover . “Red-White-Red Card plus” (grants a the individual's living costs; Declaration time-limited right of settlement and un- of liability permissible; in the case of restricted access to the labour market) employment: AMS Document required: . “Long-Term Resident – EC” (after 5 Confirmation of Guaranteed Work or years of continuous residence and Employment Permit as an Artist) compliance with Module 2 of the . Special Cases of Salaried Employment Integration Agreement; documents the (for professions which are exempt from permanent leave to remain and the provisions of the Foreign Nationals includes the right to unrestricted Employment Act, proof of the access to the labour market) exceptional circumstances is required) . Research Workers (where there is a 2. Residence Permits hosting agreement with a certified research institute) . Inter-Corporate Transfer (ICT): An internationally operating company tempora- rily transfers certain third-country nationals to a branch office in Austria. . Secondment Workers (AMS Document required: Confirmation of Guaranteed 21 MOVINGMOVING

4. Education state-run school or a school with public status for people in employment Residence Permit - Student . declaration of liability permissible . in the case of a visa extension: . for degree programmes and university a transcript of grades is necessary training/university level courses at a the pupil must switch from non-regular university, university of applied enrolment to regular enrolment sciences, accredited private university, teacher training university, or recogni- Note: sed private teacher training university, Gainful employment is governed by the a recognised private study course or provisions of the Employment of Foreign recognised course of study at a private Nationals Act (AuslBG). The employment university (Universities Act 2005) must not have a negative impact on the . for university courses that do not exclu- student’s academic success. sively serve the learning of a language . declaration of liability permissible Residence Permit . in the case of a visa extension: a tran- Social Service Worker script of grades is required . Issued for a maximum period of 1 year Note: (cannot be extended) Gainful employment is governed by the . for work carried out for a non-party provisions of the Employment of Foreign political, non-profit organisation and Nationals Act (AuslBG). The employment which is not subject to the Employment must not have a negative impact on the of Foreign Nationals Act student’s academic success. . the work is not carried out for the purpose of pecuniary gain Residence Permit – School Pupil . obligatory declaration of liability from School Pupil the organisation for which the individual is working . state-run schools . private school with public status 5. Family Reunion . statute school – a private school with public status and an organisational statue . “Red-White-Red Card plus“ (grants a pursuant to § 14 para. 2(b) of the Private time-limited right of settlement and un- Schools Act, which does not correspond restricted access to the labour market) to any type of state school, e.g. Waldorf, . “Permit for Time-Limited Right of Settle- Montessori and Pestalozzi schools ment” (grants a time-limited right of settle- . certified non-school educational ment, self-employment without restriction, establishment employment only possible with an . non-regularly enroled pupil at a additional document issued by the AMS) state-run school or a . Residence Title “Family Member” (for private school with public status, members of the nuclear family of provided a residence permit Austrians who do not have freedom of is being issued for the first time movement; grants the right to settle and . regularly enroled student at a unrestricted access to the labour market) 22 MOVINGMOVING

. “Permit for Time-Limited Right of Settle- . If in the case of family reunification the ment – Family Members“ (for other residence title of the third-country family members of Austrians who do spouse or parent who has taken up not have freedom of movement; residence in Austria is valid for less time-limited right of settlement, no than twelve months, the residence title access to the labour market) of the family member will be limited to the shorter period. Residence titles are issued in the form of a . Certain residence titles (“Red-White- card (bank card format). Red – Card plus”, “Permit Granting Time-Limited Right to Settle”, “Permit Validity Granting Time-Limited Right to Settle – Time-limited residence titles are usually Family Member”, “Permit For Time- issued for a period of 12 months. However, Limited Right of Settlement - there are a number of exceptions: Except for Gainful Employment” and Residence Title “Family Member”) . The residence titles "Blue Card EU" and are issued for a period of three years, "Red-White-Red Card" are issued for a if the third-country national has period of two years, fulfilled Module 1 of the Integration unless the employment contract is for Agreement and has been legally and a shorter period (in which case, the continuously resident in Austria for residence title will be issued for the two years. duration of the employment plus three months). The residence title „Long-Term resident - EU” . If an application is made for a residence is issued for a period of five years. However, title for a shorter period, it will only be the limited validity of the card does not alter issued for the period requested. the right of residence for an indefinite . If the validity period of the passport is period. shorter than the usual issuing period of The validity of a residence title commen- the applied for permit, the residence ces on the date of issue. If an application title will only be issued for the validity for extension is made in good time and the period of the passport. residence title is granted, a person is legally and continuously resident in Austria. 23 MOVINGMOVING

GRANTING OF For information about which third-country RESIDENCE TITLES - nationals may enter Austria without a visa, FIRST-TIME APPLICATION please see the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (bmi.gv.at) Filing an Application From Abroad First-time applications must be made to Filing an Application in Austria the Austrian consular representation (em- The following groups may file a first-time bassy, consulate) abroad prior to entering application in Austria: Austria. Which particular consular representation is responsible for processing . Dependants of Austrians, EEA citizens the application depends on the applicant’s and Swiss citizens who are permanently domicile. resident in Austria and who after legal entry and during legal residence have The Austrian consular representation will not claimed the right to reside for more forward the application to the relevant than three months granted to them authorities in Austria who will then examine under EU Community law or under the the application to see whether it meets Agreement on the Freedom of Move- the requirements for the granting of a ment between the EU and Switzerland. residence title. If the applicant is eligible for a residence “Family members” (nuclear family) are title, the Austrian consular representation spouses, civil partners and unmarried will be informed. Where applicable (i.e. if minors (including adoptive and step- applicants are subject to visa requirements) children). Spouses must be aged 21 or over the Austrian consular representation will be when applying. instructed to issue a visa. The applicant may then travel to Austria with this visa and collect his or her residence title.

Red-White-Red Card = Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte

Blue Card EU = Blaue Karte EU

Red-White-Red Card plus = Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte plus

Permit for Time-Limited Right of Settlement = Niederlassungsbewilligung

Long-Term Resident – EC = Daueraufenthalt – EG

Long-Term Resident – Family Member = Daueraufenthalt - Familienangehörige 24 MOVINGMOVING

. Foreigners no later than six months after GENERAL REQUIREMENTS the end of their legal settlement in FOR GRANTING A Austria, providing they required no RESIDENCE TITLE permit or documentation for such settlement under the terms of this Adequate Means of Subsistence federal law A residence title may only be granted if the . Foreigners no later than six months after applicant has a regular income so that he the loss of their Austrian citizenship or or she will not have to take recourse to Swiss citizenship or citizenship of an public funds (federal, provincial, municipal) EEA country during his or her stay. Income is deemed . Children within six months of their birth to be sufficient if it is at least equal to the if § 23 sec. 4 NAG applies. If a first-time ceiling at which supplementary benefit may application is made for a child in no longer be claimed. accordance with § 23 sec. 4 NAG within six months of the child’s birth, it is not The following ceilings for supplementary necessary to submit a copy of a valid benefit have applied since 1 January 2019: travel document if the child does not yet have one . For single persons: 933,06 euros . Foreigners who themselves are entitled . For married couples: 1.398,97 euros to enter the country without a visa, . An additional 143,97 euros for each during the permissible visa-free stay. child

Note: Supplementary benefit or welfare benefits The filing of an application does not that can only be claimed after a residence entitle the applicant to overstay a visa- title has been granted do not count as free period. income.

Health Insurance During his or her stay in Austria the foreign national must have health insurance coverage that covers “all risks” and provides benefits in Austria. 25 MOVINGMOVING

Accommodation Customer Service Centre The foreign national has to be entitled to Municipal Department 35 accomodation for at least one year (e.g. by 1200 Vienna, Dresdner Straße 93 presenting a tenancy agreement) that is regarded as adequate for the size of his or Service Hotline: +43 (0)1 4000 3535 her family by local standards. Mon, Tue, Fri, 8.00 – 12.00 Free accommodation that can be termina- Fax: +43 (0)1 4000 99 35220 ted at any time and without prior notifica- Thu 8.00 – 12.00 and 15.30 – 17.00 tion does not fulfil this requirement as [email protected] the foreign national has no claim to the provision of the accommodation. HELP Service Center Useful information about the European No Threat to Public Order or Safety Union and dealing with Austrian The stay may not endanger public order or authorities safety or Austria´s relations with other Ballhausplatz 1 / states. Entrance Schauflergasse 1014 Vienna Contact Details: Hotline: 0800-222-666 [email protected] Ministry of the Interior Mon – Fri 9.00 – 17.00 PO Box 100, 1014 Vienna, Hotline: +43 (0)1 53 126-3557/2744 Sources, Editorial Status November 2013: Superior Authority Ministry of the Interior and the City of (Residence Title) Vienna, Municipal Department 35 26 MOVINGMOVING

RELOCATION Many removal firms specialise in the trans- SERVICES port of household goods such as furniture. These companies also assist with clearing A large number of relocation companies out and cleaning homes in the event of a are available to advise and assist you with new move. Furthermore, many companies your move to Vienna. As well as providing offer complex specialised transport ser- logistical support with moving your furniture vices, for example, for expensive musical and other household goods, many reloca- instruments or particularly valuable items of tion companies will also help with dealing furniture. A large number of these compa- with authorities, finding a house, and nies are based in Vienna and, in some choosing schools and childcare facilities… cases, have specialised in particular destinations. The staff at the Expat Center will be pleased to help you find a suitable removal firm.

28 WORKINGWORKING

WORK PERMITS EMPLOYMENT PERMIT

Anyone wishing to take up employment in If you do not have one of the aforementio- Austria in accordance with the Employment ned residence titles, your future employer of Foreign Nationals Act requires a work must apply to the relevant regional office of permit. In addition to working for an the Public Employment Service Austria employer, the definition of employment (AMS) for an employment permit for you. also includes training schemes such as This is restricted to a specific workplace apprenticeship training, and parasubordi- and a specific job and is valid for a nate employment such as a freelance maximum period of one year from the date employment contract. of issue. If the application is turned down, the employer may appeal against the decision. Only if the permit is granted may RESIDENCE TITLES THAT the employer employ you at the company. DO NOT REQUIRE AN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT

If you have a residence title „Long-Term Resident – Family Member” or a „Red- White-Red Card plus” you may take up employment without any further requirements. 29 WORKINGWORKING

BANKING open Monday to Friday 8.00-12.30 and 13.30-15.00. Many banks remain open for Many jobs require that you open an slightly longer on Thursday afternoon Austrian bank account which is fairly easy (usually until 17.00). A small number of to do. All you need is a valid passport or branches are also open on Saturday. ID-card and your residence registration form (Meldezettel). It is advisable to open More detailed information about services a current account that offers the greatest and opening times can be obtained from degree of flexibility where your employer the individual banks. can deposit your salary.

All the big Austrian banks offer online banking, so that after you have opened your bank account you will hardly ever need to visit a branch for normal banking transactions. Bank opening hours vary, although in Vienna most branches are 30 WORKINGWORKING

TAXES is taxed at progressive rates. While low incomes are taxed at a very low rate, higher Each person who is registered as having income earners pay a higher tax rate. This their main residence in Austria is liable for approach ensures an equitable social income tax irrespective of any place of balance that contributes to the high level of employment abroad. To prevent double social peace in Austria compared to other taxation Austria has concluded bilateral countries. A maximum tax rate ensures that agreements with all neighbouring countries monetary incentives are not lost. and EU states. This ensures that income taxes are paid only in the country where the person who is liable for taxation is TA X R E T U R N registered as having their main residence. An income tax return (Form E 1) must be filled in and submitted to the responsible PAYMENT OF TAXES tax office if an individual has annual income TO THE TAX OFFICE in excess of EUR 730 in addition to their main source of taxable income. This can In the case of employees the employer be done electronically online. However, is responsible for carrying out payment anyone who is subject to income tax of income tax and mandatory social insu- may voluntarily file an income tax return. rance contributions. Employees therefore As a whole series of tax-deductable receive their wage or salary net of these de- expenses may be claimed (e.g. commuting ductions. The self-employed with a busi- allowance, specialist literature etc.) ness licence, freelancers and independent significant income tax refunds may contractors are responsible for paying their become due. own taxes and social insurance.

INCOME TAX SYSTEM

The Austrian income tax system is based on the amount of a person´s income which 31 WORKINGWORKING

Information on Taxes http://bruttonetto.akwien.at/ (Online calculation of taxes Federal Ministry of Finance after input of gross salary) 1030 Vienna, Hintere Zollamtstraße 2b arbeiterkammer.at/ Tel: +43 (0)1 514 33-0 arbeitnehmerveranlagung/ Tel: +43 (0) 50 233 765 (help with filing an income tax return) (Bürgerservice der Finanzämter) The team at the Expat Center will be plea- bmf.gv.at sed to advise you about suitable experts – help.gv.at from tax consultants for individuals to solutions for companies. 32 WORKINGWORKING

INSURANCE There are a number of social insurance providers in Austria, including the District The Austrian social system includes Health Fund for Vienna, the largest health several compulsory forms of insurance for insurance provider for employees in people living in Austria who have taken up Vienna. Social insurance providers may not an occupation. These provide financial be chosen freely, and depend partly on the protection in the event of illness, accident, location of the workplace and partly on the unemployment and after retirement. In nature of the employer (public sector addition, anyone who wishes to do so may employees, for example, have their own purchase additional insurance protection, social insurance provider). All statutory e.g. by taking out a supplemental private health insurance providers in Austria are health insurance policy. members of the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Organisations. Statutory social insurance (SV) cover for employees includes health insurance, accident insurance, pension insurance and HEALTH INSURANCE unemployment insurance. The self-employed are also legally required to insure Statutory health insurance provides free themselves. In the case of business medical treatment by physicians and owners, this is done when they register hospitals in the event of illness. Some their business. The self-employed are not insurance providers require the person who covered by unemployment insurance but is insured to make a co-payment (e.g. the this can be taken out on a voluntary basis. Statutory Insurance Organisation for Commercial Businesses). People with Employees are automatically covered by health insurance coverage currently only health, accident and pension insurance. pay a prescription charge Status 2018: The employer is responsible for registering 6 euros for each drug that is prescribed. the employee with the relevant insurance institute and coverage commences on the Family members who are not insured with date the employee starts work. Social insu- a statutory health insurance provider or rance contributions are directly deducted scheme in their own right (e.g. children from wages and salaries by the employer. under the age of 18 or students up to the 33 WORKINGWORKING

age of 27, spouses and partners with E-CARD children) are co-insured without paying contributions. A small contribution has to You receive your e-card free of charge from be paid for co-insured partners without your health insurance provider. The e-card children. is an electronic insurance card in a bank card format which contains all personal For Blue and White Collar Workers details which are of relevance for the (Dependent employees): insurance provider. You must therefore take it with you whenever you visit a doctor or Regional Health Insurance go for treatment at a healthcare facility. Organisation for Vienna (WGKK) Additionally, many healthcare providers 1100 Vienna, Wienerbergstraße 15 – 19 requiere you to present a picture-ID as well Tel: +43 (0)1 60 122 0 together with your e-card to prevent abuse. wgkk.at The card also entitles the holder to additional services such as Mother-Child Pass For the self-employed and freelancers Examinations or screening examinations. The e-card also serves as a European Statutory Insurance Organisation for Health Insurance Card and entitles the Commercial Businesses (SVA) owner to free treatment at all state health- Vienna Branch care facilities throughout the EU. 1030 Wien, Hintere Zollamtsstraße 1 Tel: +43 (0)1 546 54 0 If your e-card is lost, stolen or damaged, Fax: +43 (0)1 546 54 385 please contact the service line of the Aus- Information Centre: trian social insurance providers by calling Tel: +43 1 (0)50808 27500 +43 1 (0)50124 33 11 (charged at the local sva.or.at call rate, no additional prefix required from within Austria) and request a new e-card. The old e-card will then be cancelled for insurance purposes.

For more information about the e-card: chipkarte.at 34 WORKINGWORKING

LEGAL SERVICES . Giving contracts and declarations AND NOTARIES probative force . Attesting signatures and documents LAWYERS . Establishing signatory powers . Notarising shareholders’ meetings and Lawyers in Vienna are able to assist with a assemblies wide range of legal matters – be it the pur- . Carrying out probate proceedings on chase of a home, dealing with a “difficult” behalf of courts of law employer or family matters. . Supervising proceedings for prize Lawyers are independent, obliged to draws, competitions etc. maintain confidentiality and exclusively serve the interests of their clients. Lawyers The website of the Chamber of Civil do everything to secure or uphold your rights. Notaries in Vienna provides a list to help The Vienna Bar Association (RAK) has com- you find a notary in your area or one piled all sorts of tips for you about your rights. who offers additional services or foreign- You can contact the Bar Association by language interpreters. calling +43 (0)1 5332718-0. For further information see: notar.at Further information: rakwien.at

NOTARIES JOB EXCHANGES, A country´s legal culture is one of the most RECRUITING important pillars of economic stability and social peace. Austrian notaries are a PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT cornerstone of the country´s legal system. SERVICE AUSTRIA - AMS A notary is not just an expert advisor who can assist with a wide range of legal issues Jobseekers in Vienna may avail themselves and with concluding important contracts of the services of the Public Employment that shape your future, a notary also offers Service Austria – AMS. This is a public legal certainty in the following areas: service tasked with matching employers 35 WORKINGWORKING

with prospective employees. In addition to job advertisements in a variety of Austrian this work carried out in its capacity as a media, above all in the weekend editions national public employment service, the of the leading national newspapers AMS supports jobseekers by subsidising training courses and providing advice and information. ONLINE JOB EXCHANGES

The AMS has twelve branches in Vienna; a Online job exchanges are a fast and list with the addresses, opening hours and unbureaucratic means of finding jobs or contact information is available online at: employees. ams.at/wien/sfa/sfags.html

The AMS is also a member of EURES, the CORPORATE DATABASES European job network. EURES stands FOR SPECULATIVE for European Employment Services and APPLICATIONS is a cooperation network at the European level, the purpose of which is to assist A speculative application to a company jobseekers find employment anywhere can often produce the desired result and within the EEA and also to help employers lead to a new job. Classified directories find suitable employees throughout in online address databases can be a Europe. valuable tool in this respect. Further information can be found online on the EURES portal: ec.europa.eu/eures Further information: ams.at

PRIVATE RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

In addition to the public employment service, private consulting and employment agencies can also help find employment for employees or staff for employers. Highly-qualified employees and executives are often placed by private recruitment offices. A list of personnel consultants and executive search companies can be found on the AMS website. ams.at/wien

JOB ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE MEDIA

A good source of information about vacancies or suitable candidates are the 36 LIVINGLIVING

HOUSING are only entitled to a fee if a contract is actually concluded. In accordance with the legal FINDING ACCOMMODATION regulations, this fee depends on the gross monthly rent and the term of the contract. Finding an apartment On 1 September 2010 a new law came into using a relocation company force which laid down the following scale With their comprehensive range of reloca- of fees for estate agents: tion management and other support For contracts of services, relocation companies can make a significant contribution to speeding up . up to 3 years: 1 months rent your move and reducing the level of stress . More than 3 years: 2 months rent and worry involved. From coordinating the . Additionally 20% VAT of the fee for the relocation process, finding temporary real estate agent and court registration accommodation, carefully selecting your fee (Vertragsvergebührung, 36% of new home and coordinating the tenancy 1 monthly rent) agreement to buying furniture or renting Information about foreign language cars – all relocation services are offered in speaking estate agents can be obtained a full package. from the Expat Center. Further information about relocation companies can be found in the section on Finding an apartment using newspapers relocation companies. and property websites Privately-owned housing in particular is Finding an apartment frequently advertised in daily newspapers. using an estate agent If you rent a house or apartment directly Vienna boasts a large number of estate from the owner without using the services agents, some of which are members of in- of an estate agent, you will not be charged ternational networks, and have an extensive any commission, however, nor will you range of properties on their books. Estate have access to the professional support agents can help you find a suitable flat, ar- they offer. Austrian daily newspapers also range viewing appointments, tenancy frequently contain advertisements placed agreements and the hand-over of keys. by estate agents, which are usually clearly Estate agents are not paid by the hour and marked as such. 37 LIVINGLIVING

In recent years there has been an upsurge Building Cooperatives in the number of online accommodation In addition to “normal” rental apartments, exchange services. But caution: Not all the it is also possible to obtain an apartment apartments offered here are available free of from a residential building cooperative. For commission, as estate agents also use such these apartments, tenants are required to sites to advertise. As the flats offered are pay a fairly large amount of money as soon usually taken within a very short time, you as they move in to contribute towards should ideally visit the online portals several construction costs. From a legal point of times a day and respond to any new adver- view, cooperative society apartments are tisement you see as quickly as possible. also available to persons without Austrian citizenship. This also applies to subsidised cooperative society apartments. Various TYPES OF HOUSING forms of financial assistance are available for families/individuals on low incomes. Rental Apartments Information can be obtained from the Vienna The majority of Viennese apartments are Housing Service (see Housing Advice). rental apartments, most of which (especially in old buildings) are subject to the Aus- Community-Owned Housing trian Tenancy Act (MRG) which lays down The very many council flats in Vienna are exact rules regarding maximum rent and available not just to Austrians, but also to the possibility of limiting the length of a ten- EU citizens, Swiss nationals and foreign ci- ancy agreement. The law thus offers far-rea- tizens who have equivalent status and who ching protection to tenants and prevents have a “residence permit for a long-term abuse by landlords. If a tenancy agreement stay” under the Law on Residence and falls within the scope of the Tenancy Act, the Settlement in Austria. Applicants must be provisions of the law take binding prece- able to prove that their income does not ex- dence and the tenancy agreement may not ceed a certain limit and that they have had be amended to the detriment of the tenant their main place of residence in Vienna for - not even by contractual agreement. Too at least two years. The criteria for being put many people are not sufficiently aware of on the list for community-owned housing the regulations relating to the protection of can be obtained from the Vienna Housing tenants provided by the MRG. This is why Service. we recommend that you have an expert check your contract. 38 LIVINGLIVING

Privately-Owned Homes At the click of a mouse, you can even have Of course you are certainly welcome to buy apartments reserved. an apartment or a house of your own. But before foreigners can conclude a sales City of Vienna - Tenants Assistance agreement with legal effect, they have to The “Mieterhilfe” team (Tenant’s Assistance obtain an official permit. The responsible Team) provides advice on all matters authority for this is MA 35 – Competence relating to housing and tenancy law, care- Centre Property Acquisition (see Vienna taking, running costs statements, tenancy Housing Service) This does not apply to agreements, passing on apartments and EU-citizens and some other groups of for- community-owned apartments. eigners, for details please check wien.gv.at The staff of the “Mobile Mieterhilfe” (Mobile Tenants Assistance) provide on-site help to investigate complaints and find solutions to HOUSING ADVICE problems relating to apartments, residential construction and housing improvement. Vienna Housing Service Are you looking for an apartment? The Other Advisory Centres Vienna Housing Service offers an overview The Vienna Arbitration Board for Disputes of all subsidised apartments in Vienna: Relating to Housing Law (Municipal Rental apartments, cooperative-society Department 50) is responsible for asserting apartments, condominiums and renovated the rights of tenants, landlords and - to a apartments. Vienna Housing Service staff limited extent - owners. will be happy to advise you on subsidised residential housing. The advisory services The Austrian Tenants Protection Associa- are free of charge and there is no need to tion, the Austrian Tenants and Owners arrange an appointment. Property Association and the Austrian During the Vienna Housing Service’s Tenants Interest Group (MIG) also provide opening hours, you can obtain fast and advice on rental matters. efficient help on all aspects of house hunting. Details of the latest apartment offers and future projects are also placed online where you can access them 24/7. 39 LIVINGLIVING

Further Information: Austrian Tenants Association – Central Ofﬁce Vienna Housing Service 1010 Wien, Reichsratstraße 15 Information Centre Tel: +43 (0) 1 05 0195 1010 Vienna, Bartensteingasse 9 Mon – Thu 8.30 – 17.00, Tel: +43 (0)1 4000 8000 Fri 8.30 – 14.00 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 19.00 mietervereinigung.at [email protected] wohnservice-wien.at Austrian Tenants Protection Association City of Vienna – Tenants Assistance 1070 Wien, Döblergasse 2 1010 Vienna, Rathausstraße 2 1020 Wien, Praterstraße 25 Tel: +43 (0) 1 4000 - 25900 Tel: +43 (0)1 523 23 15-0 Mon – Fri 8.00 – 17.00 Wed 14.30 – 17.30 [email protected] Thu 14.00 – 16.30 mieterschutzwien.at Municipal Department 35 – Competence Centre Property Austrian Tenants and Owners Acquisition Property Association 1200 Vienna, Dresdner Straße 93, Block C 1010 Wien, Lichtenfelsgasse 1/9 Tel: +43 (0)1 4000 35246, Tel: +43 (0)1 512 53 60 Fax: +43 (0)1 4000 99 35240 By appointment only Mon – Fri 8.00 – 12.00, [email protected] Thu also between 15.30 and 17.30 mieterbund.at zuwanderer.wien.at Austrian Tenants Interest Group (MIG) Mobile Local Urban Renewal Ofﬁces 1100 Vienna, Antonsplatz 22 Municipal Department 25 Tel: +43 (0)1 602 25 31 1070 Vienna, Kaiserstraße 45 Fax: +43 (0)1 602 25 31 20 Tel: +43 (0)1 522 72 54 Mon and Wed 15.00 – 18.30 Fax:+43 (0)1 522 72 11 mig.at Mon – Wed 9.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00 Thu 9.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 19.00 If you require advice in English, we will find Fri 9.00 – 13.00 someone at the various information centres [email protected] who is able to assist you. gbstern.at

Central Arbitration Board for Disputes Relating to Housing Law (Municipal Department 50) 1190 Vienna, Muthgasse 62 Tel: +43 (0)1 4000 74498 Fax: +43 (0)1 4000 9974500 [email protected] 40 LIVINGLIVING

UTILITIES E-Control Energy Hotline Tel: +43 (0) 810 10 25 54 WATER SUPPLY e-control.at

Vienna’s Exceptional Water Quality The E-control tariff calculator calculates the The City of Vienna is rightly proud of the out- tariffs of all the listed gas and electricity standing quality of the water it supplies to the providers to help you find the best deal. city´s households, which is some of the best A link to the tariff calculator is provided at in the world. Most of the water originates from expatcenter.at under the menu item springs in the northern Kalkalpen, which are Living/Domestic Infrastructure. located in an untouched, well-protected region. As a result, Vienna´s mountain spring The amount of energy used (gas, water is free from contamination by trade and electricity, district heating) is regularly read industry. You can therefore drink water from from the meter. As meters are usually regis- the tap without hesitation. There is a flat-rate tered in the name of the flat owner or charge for water consumption which is col- building administrator, you should talk lected as part of the building service charge. to your landlord about your preferred energy supplier before signing a tenancy Further information: agreement. If you subsequently wish to wien.gv.at/wienwasser switch providers, you must comply with any necessary notice periods. If there is no meter, an electrician (for electricity) or a ENERGY SUPPLY fitter and plumber (for gas) must draw up a notification of completion which either Choice of Energy Provider they, the tenant or the owner then submits In Austria consumers may choose their own to the utility. energy providers. The energy hotline of the energy regulator E-control provides assis- WASTE DISPOSAL tance with all matters relating to energy. Be- fore moving into a new flat, call the hotline to Waste Disposal obtain an overview of the various power Waste disposal in Vienna is organised by suppliers and their current tariffs. Municipal Department 48 (MA 48). Due to 41 LIVINGLIVING

rising levels of environmental awareness, Hotline staff are available to answer your there has been a consistent policy of questions from Monday to Friday. separating waste in Vienna, as elsewhere in Austria, since the mid 1980s. As a result, MA 48 Waste Hotline recyclable materials can be recycled, thus Tel: +43 (0)1 546 48 saving resources. Waste Separation Vienna has an extremely good quality of Different types of waste are collected in se- recycling in an international comparison. parate containers which are clearly marked Each year some 25,000 tonnes of waste with different coloured stickers according glass, 15,000 tonnes of scrap metal and to the specific type of treatment the waste 5,500 tonnes of plastic bottles are requires. collected. Just recycling the plastic bottles collected in Vienna saves close to 10,000 Waste paper must be disposed of in the tonnes of crude oil that would otherwise be waste-paper collection bins which are needed to manufacture new bottles. marked with a red sticker. In apartment The Waste Hotline run by MA 48 provides blocks these are found at the designated advice about how to avoid waste and area for bins. In less densely populated separate it properly as well as valuable areas, they might be on street corners or at information about changes to the laws special waste collection points. Small-sized governing waste disposal. The Waste scrap metal, such as tins, must be placed 42 LIVINGLIVING

in the bins with the blue sticker. Bulky and Municipal Waste Collection Centres – large pieces of scrap metal can be dispo- Opening Hours sed of free of charge at the municipal Mon – Sat 7.00 – 18.00 waste collection centres. Plastic bottles are collected in containers at more than 2,300 recycling collection points and at Vienna's TELEVISION, waste collection centres. The colour code INTERNET AND TELEPHONE is yellow. Biodegradable waste is collected in the bio bins (colour code brown) or in the Public Broadcasting – skips at the municipal waste collection cen- Austrian Broadcasting Company (ORF) tres. This waste is processed to valuable Under the terms of the TV and Radio compost. White and coloured-glass also Licence Law all households and compa- belongs in the specially marked containers nies or institutions with broadcasting and is recycled. There are separate bins for reception equipment (TV, radio, etc.) which remaining household waste. is in use or operational are obliged to pay a licence fee. This fee is collected by Municipal Waste Collection Centres the Licence Information Service (GIS). The The 19 municipal waste collection centres equipment must be registered as soon as have bins for waste paper, plastic bottles, it is in the house. scrap metal, organic waste, and white and coloured glass as well as disposal Further information and registration forms facilities for bulky waste and small quanti- can be found on the GIS website at ties of hazardous waste from your home. orf-gis.at. Alternatively, you can call the Residential hazardous waste includes, service hotline or contact the GIS by e-mail. for example, batteries, used oil and cleaning agents. Used furniture and junk Licence Information Service (GIS) that can be reused can also be handed Tel: +43 (0) 810 00 10 80 in at the municipal collection centres – it Mon – Fri 8.00 – 21.00 will then be given to charity. You can find Sat 9.00 – 17.00 the addresses of the municipal waste col- [email protected] lection centres at expatcenter.at under the menu item Living. 43 LIVINGLIVING

Cable / Satellite TV Numerous mobile telecommunication Internet / Telephone providers offer mobile Internet in combina- Almost all Viennese households can be tion with telephone services. supplied with cable television, Internet and ATTENTION: Even users who only wish to telephony from a variety of providers. receive cable television and do not wish to These communication services are often use Austrian Broadcasting Company offered in packages. Ask your landlord if services still have to pay the GIS licence your apartment is already wired for TV, fee. What counts is not actual viewing Internet and landline telephony. If this is not behaviour, but the operational readiness of the case, you must first have an engineer the equipment. from one of the telecommunication The best way to obtain an overview of the providers (e.g. Telekom Austria) lay a cable many providers and tariffs is to carry out an in your flat so that you can use the relevant Internet search. The Chamber of Labour services. Alternatively, if you do not wish or also offers a tariff check at: tarifrechner. are unable to have a cable connection, you arbeiterkammer.at. can receive television programmes via A comparison of Internet and telephone satellite and obtain a wireless Internet providers can also be found at: tarife- connection via a special mobile modem. check.at. 44 LIVINGLIVING

POST PETS

Post Ofﬁces and Post Partners Keeping a Pet in Vienna Letters and parcels can be posted at There are an estimated 100,000 dogs, branches of the Austrian Post. There is a 250,000 cats and a large number of other dense network of post offices in Vienna animals living in Vienna. The Ombuds Of- and there are also a number of post offices fice for Animal Protection of the City of with extended opening hours (e.g. the post Vienna will assist you if you have any ques- office at the Westbahnhof railway station tions regarding the acquisition of pets and and the Post Office 1010 Vienna). If you advise you on how to look after your pet take a trip into the surrounding countryside, properly. Further information can be obtai- you might perhaps notice the many post ned from the tieranwalt.at website. If you partners. These are usually shops or tobac- wish to bring your pet with you from abroad conists, which now offer the services we will be pleased to help you plan the previously carried out by post offices that move. The Expat Center can provide you have been closed. Mail which could not be with information about the formalities and delivered (e.g. parcels) should be collected where to find the right contact persons. from the post office branch that serves your address. This information will be shown on Keeping a Dog the yellow slip that the postman leaves in Please note that owners of certain breeds of your letter box or at the door of your flat. dogs are required to take a special dog training course. All dog owners are also obliged Redirections to pay for a dog licence (guide dogs being Before you move to Vienna do not forget to the only exceptions). By law dogs must al- arrange to have your post redirected from ways be kept on a lead and wear a muzzle your previous address. The Austrian Post when out on the street. All Viennese parks Office also offers a redirection service with have special dog zones where animals have which mail that is sent to your old address the space they need to exercise. Further can be forwarded to your new address. information about keeping a dog can be Within Austria parcels and EMS items can found in the City of Vienna's Dog Guide at also be forwarded to your new address wien.gv.at using this service. 45 LIVINGLIVING

TRANSPORT AND Authority customer service centre. If neces- DRIVING sary, tickets for single journeys can also be bought on trams and busses. There are no PUBLIC TRANSPORT separate tariffs for Viennese night busses. Since 2010 the Underground has also Vienna Transport Authority operated a 24 hour service at weekends. The very well-developed public transport network means it is not necessary to have Timetable information can be obtained your own car in order to get from A to B in from the Vienna Transport Authority Vienna. You will usually get to your destina- website. All you have to do is enter your tion faster and more cheaply by taking own location and the desired destination. public transport. The public transport The system automatically identifies the service in Vienna is regarded as one of the nearest stops and calculates the fastest best, most modern and efficient anywhere connection. in the world. Five Underground lines and more than 100 tram and bus lines ensure Vienna Transport Authority that practically any address in Vienna can Customer Service Centre be reached using public transport. (annual season ticket sales etc.) 1030 Vienna, Erdberg Underground Station All of the underground railways and trams Mon – Wed, Fri 8.00 – 15.00 as well as most bus routes are operated by Thu 8.00 – 17.30 the Vienna Transport Authority. Tickets for single journeys as well as passes for longer General Information periods of time (day, weekly, monthly pas- Tel: +43 (0)1 7909 100 ses) are available from the Vienna Transport Mon – Fri 6.00 – 22.00 Authority ticket offices. Non-transferrable Sat, Sun, Bank Holidays. 8.30 – 16.30 annual season tickets must be ordered from [email protected] the ticket offices and the Vienna Transport wienerlinien.at 46 LIVINGLIVING

Rapid Transit Railway System therefore being constantly expanded. The rapid transit railways (S-Bahn) run by In 2010, cyclists had approximately 1,170 Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are espe- kilometres of cycle paths at their disposal. cially important for the many commuters In recent years, many one-way streets in to Vienna as they connect the city to the Vienna have been opened up for contra- surrounding rural areas. At the same time, flow cycling. Cyclists are now allowed to they also provide rapid access to outlying ride the wrong way down some 200 km of districts and suburbs. The 13 rapid transit one-way streets. Further information about railway lines currently transport some the cycle path network can be obtained 300,000 passengers per day. from wien.gv.at. Also worth mentioning is the Citybike system, The timetable of the S-Bahn and all other which enables you to rent and return bicycles ÖBB routes can be obtained online from at 110 bike stations across the city (see the fahrplan.oebb.at. chapter on Leisure). citybikewien.at

E-Bikes CYCLING E-bikes are an especially environmentally- friendly yet comfortable alternative to cars The Vienna Cycle Path Network and their purchase is subsidised by the Vienna possesses a well-developed City of Vienna. More detailed information network of cycle paths that criss-crosses can be obtained from unter wien.gv.at. the entire city. Especially in the inner city, this network of cycle paths is a good, low-price and fast alternative to car travel. CAR TRAVEL IN VIENNA Studies show that in the inner city, a bicycle is the fastest means of transport for Driving Licence distances of up to 5 kilometres. In addition EU and EEA driving licences are valid in to this, it is environmentally friendly, so Austria and need not be exchanged for an whoever uses a bicycle instead of a Austrian licence. In general, holders of a motorised form of transport makes an driver´s licence from non-EU or non-EEA important contribution to climate pro- states must successfully pass a behind- tection. Vienna´s network of cycle paths is the-wheel driving test and also exchange 47 LIVINGLIVING

their licence for an Austrian one within City of Vienna Motor Vehicle six months of taking up residence in Department Austria. It is the driver's responsibility to 1090 Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 1 provide a vehicle in the relevant vehicle Tel: +43 (0)1 3131 0 category for the test. Only holders of the Mon – Wed 8.00 – 12.30 following non-EU and non-EEA driving Thu 8.00 – 12.30 and 13.30 – 17.00 licences do not have to take this practical Fri 8.00 – 12.00 driving test, but they do have to exchange their licence: Contact for Diplomats Mr. Gerhard Ecker All Classes: Andorra, Guernsey, Isle of Federal Police Central Bureau Man, Japan, Jersey, Monaco, San Marino, 1090 Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 1 Switzerland Tel: +43 (0)1 313 45 0

Class B: Australia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel, Parking Canada, South Africa, South Korea, USA As in many other European cities, short-term parking may apply to individual The holder of a foreign driving licence streets or to entire areas. In these must be at least 18 years old. The driving short-term parking areas you are required licence authorities are responsible for to put a prepaid parking voucher behind transferring non-EU and non-EEA driving your windscreen from the minute you park licences, in Vienna this is the Motor Vehicle your car. Short-term parking areas are only Department. marked as such at the entrance to the

Short-Term Special parking regulations apply in all districts of Vienna except in the 13th, 19th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd district. For details please check wien.gv.at 48 LIVINGLIVING

respective district. Special parking regula- use a free 10-minute parking voucher. tions apply in all districts of Vienna except Park & Ride facilities on the outskirts of in the 13th, 19th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd district. Vienna are a convenient way to switch from For details please check wien.gv.at. your car to public transport, e.g. the Under- Holders of a disability pass may park for ground, tram or bus. On top of that, they unlimited periods free of charge in all are an amazingly cheap alternative to the short-term parking zones if they place the parking garages in the inner city (3 euros pass behind the windscreen. per day). A list of all Park & Ride facilities and parking garages can be found at par- Parking vouchers are available in most keninwien.at. tobacconist shops, filling stations, Vienna Transport Authority ticket offices and from Only people who are registered as having all ticket machines in the Underground their main residence in Vienna can obtain stations. It is also possible to pay the a resident's parking permit (Parkpickerl) for parking fee by mobile phone. Further their district if they have no access to a information is available at handy parken.at. garage space. If you are only making a brief stop, you can 49 LIVINGLIVING

F A M I L Y A N D Platforms such as internations.org or CHILDCARE vienna-expats.at offer great ways of exchanging opinions and views with other FAMILY AND COMMUNITIES expatriates in online-forums or organized real-life meetings. They offer you the Expat Communities chance to gain valuable information as Moving to another country with your whole well as hearing personal stories and family always poses a particular challenge. recommendations from fellow expats in Especially at the beginning of your stay, similar situations. sharing with like-minded people is often a useful way of learning to how to make the These networks are all English-speaking most of the city and all that it offers. There and welcome expats from all countries. are a number of expat communities that However, there are also a number of can help you make contact with people networks designed mainly, or in some from your own country or who are in a simi- cases exclusively, for expatriates from lar situation and who can provide support. specific countries. These are, on the one 50 LIVINGLIVING

hand, the more than 100 Austrian-Inter - also be held outside registry offices at national friendship societies organised particularly beautiful, stately or simply under the umbrella of the Federation of very typically Viennese locations. Further Austrian-Foreign Societies - PAN (dach ver - information can be obtained from the City band-pan.org) and include the Austrian- of Vienna website wien.gv.at International chambers of commerce, which are so important for business The team at the Vienna Business Agency contacts. Expat Center can also help with tips about the most romantic locations, catering ser- On the other hand, there are a host of vices and music - as well as everything else more informal organisations, such as you need to know for the most wonderful special groups in the Xing network (Piefke day of your life. Connection, clubfrancophileviennois, ...) Birth of a Child This list could be continued indefinitely Infants who do not hold Austrian citizenship with international women’s organisations, are not subject to visa requirements for the mothers' clubs, sports clubs, churches, first six months of their lives. This means start-up entrepreneurs’groups and the like. that during this period they do not require an entry permit or residence title to legally We therefore recommend that you seek reside in Austria, provided that their mother personal advice on this subject from the or other person who is solely responsible Expat Center so that you can find an for their care and upbringing is a lawful organisation that best meets your needs! resident. If a child remains resident in Austria, it will be granted a further permit for Getting Married in Vienna a time-limited right of settlement upon Whether you meet the love of your life in application. For parents, this means that Vienna or simply want to marry your within six months: present partner, you can marry or enter into a civil partnership at one of the ten . A birth certificate must be issued Viennese registry offices. The responsible (registry office – please ask your registry office is the one in the district in relevant district office for details) which you live. Wedding ceremonies can . The child must be included on the 51 LIVINGLIVING

parents’ passports (your embassy) City Administration and half by private . A Residence Registration Form must organisations. Generally, childcare facilities be issued (district authorities) fall into the following categories; nurseries . An application for insurance coverage (children under the age of three), kinder - must be submitted to the relevant gartens (children aged 3- 6) and various social insurance organisation provider kinds of day-care facilities for children of . An application must be made for a sett- school age (all-day schools, after-school lement permit or resident permit (MA 35) care facilities, special groups for studying and leisure activities). The costs are scaled Important information on all matters according to parental income. Children are relating to the birth of a child in Vienna can generally registered for a place in a child- be obtained from the City of Vienna care facility in January/February and take up website, wien.gv.at. the place in autumn. To obtain a place at one of the 360 kindergartens run by the City of Vienna, please contact the service centre CHILDCARE of Municipal Department 10 in your district.

Municipal Childcare For further information: Vienna has a dense network of childcare fa- Tel: +43 (0)1 277 55 55 cilities, half of which are run by the Vienna [email protected] 52 LIVINGLIVING

Privately-Run Childcare Facilities HEALTH Please visit kinderdrehscheibe.at (only available in German) for information about THE HEALTH SYSTEM private childcare facilities in the Vienna area and to enquire about available places. The Austrian Healthcare System The Health Consumer Powerhouse study Kinderdrehscheibe published in 2007 named the Austrian 1050 Vienna, Wehrgasse 26 healthcare system as the best in Europe. Tel: +43 (0)1 581 06 60 Vienna has an extensive network of [email protected] medical doctors and hospitals. To use the Mon 9:00 – 13:00 healthcare system you must be insured Tue 13:00 – 17:00 with one of the Austrian social insurance Thu 9:00 – 13:00 institutions. For a small fee they will issue you with an e-card, which you must take Of course, the question “in whose care with you whenever you visit a doctor or go can I leave my child” is one of the most for treatment at a healthcare facility (see important you will face at the start of your the chapter on insurance). new life in Vienna. As finding the right form of childcare can be extremely Once you are insured, your first point of time-consuming, especially if you are contact if you become ill will usually be a having to do it at short notice, we general practitioner near your home. If recommend that you contact a relocation necessary, the doctor will then refer you to agency. They have the relevant contacts a specialist or a hospital. To avoid long and will be able to provide efficient waiting times, we recommend that you help. You can also consult the Expat arrange an appointment in advance. Many Center when you come to Vienna on GPs also make house calls, if necessary. matters such as “Where can I find a foreign-language kindergarten?” Physicians and Hospitals Vienna has an extensive network of doctors and hospitals. There are, of course, many doctors in Vienna who also speak a foreign language. The Viennese Medical

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Association has set up a special service for bed in a public hospital. Please ask your foreign patients where you can enquire health insurance provider for further informa- about a doctor with foreign language skills. tion on this matter.

Viennese Medical Association – Service Point for Foreign Patients EMERGENCIES 1010 Vienna, Weihburggasse 10 – 12 Tel: +43 (0)1 515010 Emergency Numbers Mon – Wed 8.00 – 16.00 Rapid assistance in an emergency can be Thu 8.00 – 18.00, Fri 8.00 – 14.00 obtained by calling either the European [email protected] Emergency Number 112 or the emer- aekwien.at gency number of the ambulance service 144, the ﬁre brigade 122 and the police At praxisplan.at you can search for doctors 133. The emergency number of the Out-of- by their specialities and/or languages. For Hours General Practitioner Service is 141. a list of doctors for complementary or This line is also staffed during the night alternative medicine, please visit aerzte- from 19.00 – 7.00, on weekends from austria.at. Fri 19.00 to Mon 7.00 and all day on bank holidays. Hospitals in Vienna Every patient has the right to be treated in Late Night and Weekend a public hospital as a standard class Dental Services patient. As a standard class patient in a pu- Information/Recorded Information Service: blic hospital, the costs of your hospitalisa- Tel: +43 (0)1 5122078 tion will be settled directly with your health zahnaerztekammer.at under the menu insurance provider, although you may be item “Notdienste” required to make a small contribution to the costs. If you are admitted to a private hos- University Clinic of Dentistry pital or choose to pay for a private bed in a Sensengasse 2A, 1090 Vienna public hospital you will pay much higher Tel: +43 (0)1 400 70 – 2000 costs. Some health insurance providers, bgzmk.at however, will cover the costs of a private Central Admissions, General Outpatient 55 LIVINGLIVING

Clinic and Dental Emergencies that leads to inflammation of the brain, the 07.30 am – 1.00 pm on weekdays meninges and the central nervous system. 08.00 am – 1.00 pm on Saturday and There is no specific drug therapy for public holidays tick-borne encephalitis and the only effective protection is the TBE vaccination Pharmacists / Weekend Pharmacy Service (in German: FSME). The vaccination Approximately 400 chemists are at your consists of several doses of vaccine given service day and night. Please refer to your at specific intervals, so we recommend that daily newspaper or the notice board at your you have the first one during the winter. nearest pharmacy for the addresses of For detailed information, please ask your chemists with out-of-hours service. family doctor.

Travel Vaccines INOCULATIONS Detailed information about any vaccinations needed for your country of destination Childhood Immunisation Programme can be obtained from the The legally required inoculations are given to children of school age free of charge. If Vaccination Service for Travel Abroad you have any questions regarding the 1030 Wien, Thomas-Klestil-Platz 8/2 vaccinations your child needs, please (TownTown) ask your GP or the City of Vienna Family Tel: +43 (0) 1 4000 – 8015 Counselling Service – MA 11. Mon – Fri 8.00 – 12.30 Uhr, Details of the family counselling service in Thu 15.00 – 17.00 Uhr your district can be found at wien.gv.at/ magwien.gv.at/ma15/impfst.htm (German, English, Bosnian/Croatian/ Serbian, Turkish) or the Centre of Tropical Medicine of TBE Vaccination SMZ-Süd Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Spital Tick-borne encephalitis is spread by ticks 1010 Vienna, Kundratstr. 3 and is also prevalent in Vienna and the Tel: +43 (0)1 601 9124 34 surrounding area. TBE is a viral infection 56 LIVINGLIVING

u n i v e r s i t y

matura (hiGh-school leavinG certificate) matriculation exam

uPPer staGe hiGher-level medium-level vocational school academic secondary secondary technical secondary technical aPPrenticeshiP school ProvidinG and vocational and vocational General education colleGe colleGe Polytechnic school

lower level secondary new lower General school ProvidinG secondary school secondary school General education 1st level – 12/13 levels

Primary school/elementary school

EDUCATION 9th year . Polytechnic school or vocational THE SCHOOL SYSTEM intermediate school (PTS/FMS) or . Vocational intermediate school School Levels (BMS) or The Austrian School System . General or . higher-level secondary technical 1st – 4th year and vocational school (AHS, . Primary school / elementary school BMS, BHS) 5th – 8th year 10th – 12th/ 13th year . General secondary school . Apprenticeship/ . New lower secondary school vocational school or AHS . Lower level secondary school , . higher-level academic school with providing general education (AHS) general education, Medium-level 57 LIVINGLIVING

secondary technical and grants will assist you if your child wishes to vocational college or continue his or her education. In addition . Higher-level secondary technical to public schools, there are also privately and vocational college run schools. Moreover, Vienna also has a (BMS or BHS) number of bilingual schools. In order to attend university it is generally necessary to first pass the high school School Advisory Service leaving exam, which in Austria is called the The school Information Centre Vienna is the Matura examination. place to go for parents and students who need information about school matters. Starting School To be admitted to a primary school a child Vienna School Board must first be registered for school. Parents 1010 Vienna, Wipplingerstraße 28/ will usually receive a letter from the Vienna Ground Floor, Room E 1011 School Board in the year the child has his Tel: +43 (0)1 525 25 7700 or her sixth birthday requesting them to Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 8.00 – 15.00 have their child registered at a school. If Tue 8.00 – 17.00 your child has come to Austria during the [email protected] school year and is still of school age (in stadtschulrat.at Austria children are required to attend school until they are 15), please contact the Regional School Information Centre for school board (school inspectors) in the dis- Foreign Pupils (REBAS 15) trict where you live to apply for a place. If 1150 Vienna, Gasgasse 8 – 10 / your child is still of school age, he or she Staircase 4 / 1st Floor / Room: 134 will definitely be given a place. If your child Tel: +43 (0)1 891 34 15361 and is no longer of compulsory school age, the +43 (0)1 89134 15362 two school advisory services for immi- Mon – Thu 13.00 – 15.30, Fri 8.00 – 12.00 58 LIVINGLIVING

Consultations on appointment: Factsheets Tue 13.00 – 15.00, Thu 14.00 – 18.00 Fri 8.00 – 12.00 The Vienna Business Agency Expat Center [email protected] has drawn up fact sheets especially for expatriates with detailed information about International Schools in Vienna schools and universities in Vienna. These Vienna has a wide variety of international can be obtained directly from the Expat education and training institutions. Besides Center or by e-mail. English-language kindergartens and primary schools, the city also boasts a number of European and international secondary LEARNING GERMAN schools as well as national and international universities.We would be pleased to e-mail Language Schools you detailed descriptions and lists: Just The language spoken in Austria is German, drop us a line at international@wirtschafts- although the vocabulary and grammar agentur.at have a few specific characteristics that set them apart from the German spoken in Studying in Vienna other countries. In addition to standard Vienna offers an exceptionally wide range of German, the Viennese dialect, known as courses, universities, colleges, universities “Wienerisch” is also widely spoken and of applied sciences and private universities. understood. Although many Viennese For a full list, please see wegweiser.ac.at. speak a foreign language, especially Foreign students require a residence permit English, it is advisable to learn some to come to Austria. To apply for a residence Austrian German as quickly as possible. permit, please contact the Austrian em- There are a large number of courses bassy in your country. Obtaining a residence offered by a wide range of providers. permit is contingent upon having a place at An overview of them can be found at a university in Austria. Everything you need the website of the association “Campus to know about studying, accommodation, Austria” (campus-austria.at). scholarships and residence can be obtained from the Austrian Exchange Service ÖAD at oead.at. 59 LIVINGLIVING

ART AND CULTURE Address: 1010 Vienna, Stephansplatz stephanskirche.at SIGHTSEEING-HIGHLIGHTS Hofburg St. Stephen’s Cathedral The Vienna Hofburg was repeatedly enlar- St. Stephen´s Cathedral is the symbol of the ged and rebuilt between the 13th century Austrian capital and also one of the most and 1918 and thus boasts a wide variety of important Gothic buildings in Austria. The architectural styles – from Gothic to Renais- architectural history of the building dates sance and Baroque. For more than 600 back to the 12th century but the cathedral years the Vienna Hofburg was the main started to take on its present form in the residence of the imperial family. It was from middle of the 14th century. St. Stephen´s here that the Habsburgs governed their has four towers. The south tower - affectio- realms, first of all as the rulers of the nately called “Steffl” by the city´s inhabitants Austrian lands, then from 1452 onward as – is just under 137 metres high and you emperors of the Holy Roman Empire and have to climb a total of 343 steps to reach then after 1806 as Austrian emperors until the top. However, once you get there, you the end of the monarchy in 1918. The have a wonderful view over the roofs of the historic core of the palace is the Schweizer- city. Anyone who spends New Year´s Eve in hof (13th century), which is accessed from Vienna should definitely be on St. Stephen´s Michaelerplatz. The extensive complex Square at midnight. The “Pummerin”, the covers more than 240,000 square metres cathedral bell in the north tower weighing with 18 wings, 19 courtyards and 2,600 over 21 tonnes rings in the New Year. rooms. Today the Hofburg houses a large number of attractions including the Imperial Tours of the catacombs and ascents up the Silver Collection, the Sisi Museum and the tower are also possible. Imperial Apartments. The Austrian National 60 LIVINGLIVING

Library and the Spanish Riding School are Mid September to mid July also part of the complex. (except for bank holidays), Monday to Saturday 11.00, 14.00, Guided Tours: daily at 10.00, 11.30 and 15.00 and 16.00, Friday and Saturday 15.30; children’s tours and themed tours also 13.00. are also available. Address: 1010 Vienna, Universitätsring 3 Address: 1010 Vienna, Hofburg parlament.gv.at hofburg-wien.at Town Hall and Rathausplatz Parliament Vienna Town Hall was built in Neo-Gothic Parliament is located on the Ringstraße. style according to plans drawn up by the The foundation stone for the building was German architect Friedrich von Schmidt laid in 1874. The building was designed by and construction was started in 1872. The Theophil von Hansen in Graeco-Roman tower at the centre of the front of the buil- style with neo-Gothic influences. The sta- ding is 98 metres high and is topped by the tues on the roof represent famous philoso- “Rathausmann”, a 3.5 metre figure in the phers, writers and statesmen, including form of a standard bearer. Together with the Socrates and Plato. In front of the building statue and its base, the tower reaches a is the Pallas-Athene Fountain with a four height of more than 103 metres. Today the metre-high statue of the Greek goddess of square in front of the town hall is used for wisdom. Parliament can be entered from a wide range of events. In summer it hosts the Ringstraße through the visitors’ centre. the Film Festival, in the pre-Christmas sea- The Parliament building is home to both son the famous Christkindlmarkt opens houses of the Austrian Parliament, the there and from the middle of January to Nationalrat and the Bundesrat, sessions of early March you can skate on the Vienna which can be visited during the course of Ice World ice rink. a guided tour. Address: 1010 Vienna, Rathausplatz 1 Guided Tours: In German and English: wien.gv.at Mid July to mid September, Monday to Saturday 11.00 – 16.00 on the hour; 61 LIVINGLIVING

Karlskirche was built there which was given the name At the southern end of Karlsplatz is the “Schönbrunn“. During the reign of Maria Karlskirche, one of the most important Theresia in the 18th century the palace was Baroque churches north of the Alps. The completely redesigned and in 1752 the zoo foundation stone was laid in 1716 and the of the same name was built. In 1830 chief architect was Johann Bernhard Emperor Franz Joseph – who later married Fischer von Erlach. After his death the Sisi – was born here. The monarch also church was completed by his son (1723 to spent the last years of his life in the palace, 1737). The magnificent dome of the church where he died in 1916. Today, the palace is one of the dominating elements of the grounds – with the palm house, zoo and Vienna skyline and can be reached with a maze – are an important recreational area panorama lift. In winter, the square in front for the Viennese and one of the main tourist of the church is used for a Christmas attractions. The palace has 1,400 rooms, market, while in summer, events include 45 of which are open to the public. Schön- open-air cinema performances. brunn palace is a UNESCO world cultural heritage site. Address: 1040 Vienna, Kreuzherrengasse 1 karlskirche.at Guided Tours: Several different tours are available (Imperial Tour, Grand Tour, etc.). Schönbrunn Palace Audio guides are available in 12 languages, “Empress Sisi`s palace” is the most-visited tour descriptions in 18 languages (both can tourist sight in Vienna. Moreover, the former also be downloaded from the website). summer residence of the Habsburgs is one of the most beautiful Baroque complexes Address: 1130 Vienna, Schönbrunner in Europe. The land had been in the Schlossstraße 47 possession of the Habsburgs since the schoenbrunn.at 16th century and in 1642 a summer palace 62 LIVINGLIVING

Belvedere Palace extensive collections of the imperial family, The palace complex that was built in the the museum was inaugurated by Emperor 18th century for Prince Eugene of Savoy Franz Joseph I in 1891 and opened to the consists of two palaces, the Upper and public in the same year. The main building Lower Belvedere, which are separated contains the Picture Gallery, the Egyptian from one another by the Baroque gardens. and Near Eastern Collection, the Collection On 15 May 1955 the Austrian State Treaty of Greek and Roman Antiquities, the Cham- was signed in the Upper Belvedere. Today ber of Art and Wonders and the Coin the palaces house the collections of the Cabinet. The Picture Gallery includes some Österreichische Galerie Belvedere – which of the greatest works of Western art, such as includes the largest collection of paintings Raffael´s “Madonna in Green”, the portraits by Klimt in the world – and are also used of the Infanta by Velazquez and masterworks for special exhibitions. by Rubens, Rembrandt and Dürer.

Guided Tours: 30-minute short tours, 60- Guided Tours: A variety of themed and minute overview tours or 60-minute group exclusive guided tours, audio guides in tours. Tours are offered in seven langua- German, English, Italian, French, ges. Tourist folders in 11 languages are Japanese, Russian and Spanish. available for download (from the website). Address: 1010 Vienna, Burgring 5 Address: 1030 Vienna, Prinz-Eugen-Straße khm.at 27 (Upper Belvedere) or Rennweg 6 (Lower Belvedere) Museum of Natural History belvedere.at Directly opposite the Kunsthistorisches Museum is the Museum of Natural History (abbreviated to NHM), the “architectural MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES mirror image” of the art museum. The natural history museum takes you through Museum of Fine Arts the history of the earth, lets you experience The Kunsthistorisches Museum (abbreviated the variety of nature in the form of the KHM) is considered to be one of the finest taxidermy specimens. The highlights of the art museums in the world. Built to house the museum include the Venus of Willendorf 63 LIVINGLIVING

and the skeleton of a dinosaur. A tour of the exhibition, the museum also puts on regular museum´s roof offers a unique and breath- special exhibitions. Another Wien Museum taking view of the historic city centre. depandance is the Hermesvilla in the Lainzer Tiergarten. Emperor Franz Joseph Guided Tours: Various tours: Tour of the had the palace built for his wife, the most impressive objects (NHM Highlights), Empress Elisabeth, in the 1880s. The per- night tours (NHM Darkside), roof tour manent exhibition is dedicated to the history (NHM Over the Roofs of Vienna) and many of the building and the imperial couple who more. Guided Tour in English: were frequent visitors there. The Hermes- Friday 16.00, Saturday 15.00 villa also regularly organises special exhibitions. Address: 1010 Vienna, Burgring 7 nhm-wien.ac.at Guided Tours (main building): Tours through the permanent exhibition on the Albertina first Sunday of the month at 12.00 and The Albertina has one of the largest and 15.00, various themed tours - free admis- most important collections of graphic art in sion on the first Sunday of every month. the world. It comprises more than 60,000 drawings and watercolours and over one Address (main building): million old master prints – including works 1040 Vienna, Karlsplatz by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, wienmuseum.at Rubens, Raffael, Gustav Klimt, Albrecht Dürer and Egon Schiele. MUSEUMSQUARTIER (MQ) The MuseumsQuartier (MQ) is an architectu- Guided Tours: Public tours on Saturday, rally outstanding art complex located near Sunday and Bank Holidays at 15.30, Wed- the centre of Vienna in the former imperial nesday at 18.30. Group tours and chil- stables. It houses a number of different dren’s tours are also available. Audio museums and institutions, including the guides in German, English and Italian. Museum of Modern Art (MUMOK) with a Plus: Junior Audio Guide. major international collection. The main focus is on the genres pop art, Photorealism Address: 1010 Vienna, Albertinaplatz 1 and New Realism. Other top attractions are albertina.at the Leopold Museum, the Kunsthalle Wien and the ZOOM Children´s Museum. Wien Museum Wien Museum is the name of a group of Address: 1010 Vienna, Museumsplatz 1 City of Vienna museums; the main building mumok.at with the History and City Life Collection is located on Karlsplatz, while there are several Sigmund-Freud-Museum satellite museums scattered throughout the For almost half a century - from 1891 to city. The Museum on Karlsplatz was 1938 – Sigmund Freud lived and worked in opened in 1959 and shows how Vienna has an apartment in Berggasse 19. The former developed from the Neolithic Age to the home and office of the founding father of Roman settlement of Vindobona and into psychoanalysis is now open to the public the 20th century. As well as the permanent as a museum. As well as original items of 64 LIVINGLIVING

furniture, the exhibition also includes nume- Tours for groups are offered in eight rous personal belongings, and film and languages and by prior appointment (tele- sound recordings of Freud and his family. phone or e-mail). Attached to the museum is a library, which with an inventory of 35,000 volumes is the Address: largest European library devoted to psy- 1030 Vienna, Untere Weißgerberstraße 13 choanalysis. (KunstHausWien) or 1030 Vienna, Kegelgasse 34-38 (Hundertwasserhaus) Guided Tours: daily between 10.00 and kunsthauswien.com bzw. 16.00 by appointment hundertwasserhaus.at

Address: 1090 Vienna, Berggasse 19 Technical Museum freud-museum.at The Technical Museum (TMW) is dedicated to the history of technology. Among the Kunst Haus Wien many, sometimes historic, demonstration Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000) models from the areas of rail transport, was one of the most significant, but also ship building, aviation and industry etc. – controversial, Austrian painters and archi- the fully functional steam engines are tects. The Kunst Haus Wien is home to the especially worthy of mention. However, the only permanent exhibition of Hundert- museum also boasts one of the largest wasser´s works in the world. The building collections of historic musical instruments. is in characteristic Hundertwasser style, The Road Vehicles department features with only very few straight lines. The floor milestones of Austrian motor vehicle history is uneven and colourful ceramic tiles - including the oldest vehicle in existence and mosaics are the dominant visual to have been preserved in its original elements. Not far from the house is the condition (from 1888). Hundertwasserhaus; an apartment block that was ‘designed and decorated by the Guided Tours: a wide range of themed tours artist. Address: Guided Tours: Public tours on Sundays and 1140 Vienna, Mariahilfer Straße 212 Bank Holidays at 12.00, tmw.at 65 LIVINGLIVING

MUSIC AND THEATRE of Fasching (carnival season) the traditional Opera Ball is held, attracting prominent Tickets can be purchased from a variety of guests from Vienna and all over the world. places. Either at the venue itself, from many Tip: In April, May, June and September branches of Libro, ticket offices, hotlines and selected opera and ballet performances online sales sites. Below is a small selection: are screened on a video wall in front of the opera. WT Wien Ticket GmbH Hütteldorfer Straße 2f Guided Tours: July to September between 1150 Vienna 10.00 and 15.00. Tours are offered in eight Tel.: +43 (0)1 513 11 11 different languages. Fax: +43 (0)1 513 11 11-33 [email protected] Address: 1010 Vienna, Opernring 2 viennaticketoffice.com wiener-staatsoper.at

State Opera Vienna Volksoper The Vienna State Opera is Vienna´s most The Volksoper is the second-largest opera important opera house and one of the most house in Vienna after the State Opera. It famous in the world. Work commenced on was opened in 1898 as the “Kaiserjubilä- the building in 1861 according to plans by ums-Stadttheater”. Today, the programme the architects August Sicard von Sicards- focuses on operas from the 18th, 19th and burg and Eduard van der Nüll. Eight years 20th centuries, classic musical, ballet and, later, the opera house was opened with a of course, operettas. premier of Mozart´s Don Juan. During World War II the opera caught fire; the Address: 1090 Vienna, auditorium and stage were destroyed and Währinger Straße 78 then rebuilt. Each year on the last Thursday volksoper.at

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Burgtheater for the first time in 1801. The man who built (Austrian National Theatre) the theatre and became its first director K.k. Theater nächst der Burg, k.k. Hof-Burg- was Emanuel Schikaneder, the librettist of theater, Burgtheater, Burg: In the course of the Magic Flute. In 1803 and 1804 Ludwig its history, the Burgtheater has had a variety van Beethoven lived in the building for a of names. In Vienna, it is often simply refer- while. Major structural changes carried out red to as “the Burg”. The theatre is regar- in the early years of the 20th century and ded as one of the leading stages in Europe. in the 1960s mean that not much of the It was opened in 1888 with performances of original building is still visible. The Grillparzer ´s “Ester” and Schiller´s “Wal- programme includes opera, dance perfor- lensteins Lager”. The building in Neo-Baro- mances and concerts. Together with the que style can seat 1,300 and is thus one of Raimund Theater and the Ronacher, the the largest theatres in Europe. Each season Theater an der Wien makes up the at least 30 pieces are played alternately. Vereinigte Bühnen Wien holding company.

Guided Tours: Tour “Burgtheater – Behind Address: the Scenes“ Monday to Thursday 15.00 1060 Vienna, Linke Wienzeile 6 (German with an English summary) or Fri- theater-wien.at day to Sunday 15.00 (German and English) Musikverein Address: Since the day it was founded the Musikver- 1010 Vienna, Dr. Karl Lueger-Ring 2 ein has been dedicated to “performing burgtheater.at extant classical works”, a goal to which it is still committed today. In 1863 the architect Volkstheater Theophil von Hansen was commissioned The German Volkstheater opened in 1889 to draw up the plans for the building, which as a civic counterpart to the imperial court was opened seven years later with an theatre (Burgtheater) with a performance of inaugural concert. The building, which is Ludwig Anzengruber´s “Der Fleck auf der built in the Greek Revival style, houses one Ehr“. The aim of the theatre was to intro- of the most beautiful concert halls in the duce classic and modern dramas to a world, the Golden Hall, which is also famed wider audience. After World War II the thea- for its incredible acoustics. tre was renamed the Volkstheater. Today, the repertoire includes Austrian, German Guided Tours: Daily except for Sunday; and international classics as well as come- Tours in English: Monday and Tuesday, dies and musicals. The theatre also houses Friday and Saturday at 13.00, Wednesday the Red Bar, where cabarets and concerts and Thursday at 14.00; Tour groups on are held. request

Address: 1070 Vienna, Neustiftgasse 1 Address: volkstheater.at 1010 Vienna, Bösendorferstraße 12 musikverein.at Theater an der Wien The Theater an der Wien – now also known as “The New Opera House” – was opened 68 LIVINGLIVING

LEISURE Viennese Markets Some of Vienna´s traditional markets have WEEKEND TIPS metamorphosed from being just places to buy groceries to popular tourist attractions. Event Center Rathausplatz Nevertheless, even today the emphasis is Over the past decades, the Vienna City Hall on the tremendous variety of goods. There Square has established itself as a popular are a total of 17 traditional markets scattered event center. Besides the numerous events across the city, including the Brunnenmarkt organized by the city, events such as the in the 16th district, which draws approxima- Life ball, the Christmas market or the ope- tely 60,000 visitors each week. Other well- ning of the Vienna Festival, invite thousands known names include the Meiselmarkt in the of people to revive the vibrant metropolis 15th district, the Hannovermarkt in the 20th and enjoy the pleasure of being together. district and the Rochusmarkt in the 3rd district. Many markets offer organic food The Film Festival with productions from the and at farmers’ markets you can buy home- worlds of opera, operetta, ballet, jazz, and made products from the countryside. world music is considered an absolute However, the most important, most famous magnet for visitors. Modern highlights draw and most colourful food market in Vienna is up to 700,000 visitors under their spell. definitely the Naschmarkt. You can get any- Each year, the Vienna “Sylvesterpfad” (New thing here: fruit, bread, fish and meat, count- Year’s Trail) assembles up to 800,000 do- less specialities from abroad – especially mestic and foreign visitors in Vienna‘s city from Turkey, Greece and Asia. In recent center. years, the Naschmarkt has become a popular meeting point and large numbers of cu- Another crowd puller is the Vienna “Eis - linary establishments have opened stands traum” (Ice Dream) allowing up to 640,000 there, and many businesses have been guests from all over the world to ice-skate converted into bars and restaurants. Thus in the middle of the city, beginning each the market bustles with life in the evening year in late January and lasting until early too. Going to the market on Saturday is March. even more worthwhile, as to the south of the Naschmarkt (near the U4 station Kettenbrü- wien-event.at ckengasse) is Vienna´s biggest flea market. 69 LIVINGLIVING

Address: Donaupark 1040 Vienna, Wienzeile – The 800,000 square metre Donaupark is between Getreidemarkt and Kettenbrücke just down the road from the Copa Cagrana wienernaschmarkt.eu and the UN building. It was opened in 1964 as part of the Vienna International Gardens Danube Island Festival and is now a popular place to while The Danube Island was created as part of away time and go walking for tourists and Vienna`s sophisticated flood protection locals alike. The centrepiece of the park is scheme between 1972 and 1988 by the Danube Tower, opened in the same dumping excavation material to form an year, which is now one of the city´s artificial island in the Danube. To turn the best-known landmarks. At 252 metres it is island into an attractive park area, hun- the tallest building in Austria. You can take dreds of thousands of trees and bushes a high-speed lift to the 150 metre high were planted. The island is more than viewing terrace and the revolving restaurant 21 kilometres long and up to 250 metres which slowly turns on its own axis to give a wide. Together with the Old Danube and spectacular view of the city from. New Danube, the island is a nature reserve which offers a habitat to many species of donauturm.at sometimes rare fauna. A lively area of bars and restaurants has developed around the Viennese Coffeehouses Copa Cagrana (U1 station Donauinsel). What would the city be without its coffee- Since the mid 1980s, the middle section of houses and cakes? Sachertorte, apple the island has hosted the Danube Island strudel, “topfenkolatsche” and “Vanille - Festival, Europe´s largest open-air free kipferl” are not just culinary ambassadors music festival, which usually takes place on throughout the world, they are also wonder- a weekend in June and draws up to three fully suited to Viennese coffeehouse culture. million visitors. Nowhere in the world is this as omnipresent as in the Austrian capital. A genuine, donauinsel.at, donauinselfest.at, unadulterated coffeehouse experience can copacagrana.com be found in the long-established cafés in the 70 LIVINGLIVING

inner city, where you can sit and read the The City Bikes have become an integral newspaper for hours while sipping a element of the Viennese transport system. Viennese melange and a glass of water. At present bicycles can be hired and returned at 116 bike stations. All you have The Viennese Heurige to do, is register once using your bank or The Viennese heurige (wine tavern) is almost credit card or the Citybike Tourist Card. The as famous as the Great Ferris Wheel and has first hour is free, after that you pay by the been the subject of many a song and provi- hour. Thanks to the well-developed network ded the setting for many a film. Fine Vien- of cycle paths in Vienna, the bikes are an nese wines accompanied by a few tasty environmentally-friendly, low-priced alter - culinary treats from the region, a convivial native to the car and co. atmosphere, and sometimes magnificent views over Vienna, tempt both the Viennese citybikewien.at and tourists to while away the time. Genuine New Danube Water Ski Lift heurige can be recognised by the bunch of pine branches and the board with the word Those who are slightly more daring should “Ausg’steckt“ written on it, which hang out- try out the water ski lift or Wakeboardlift Neue side when the tavern is open. The term “Heu- Donau. Not far from the city you can be rige” does not just describe the tavern itself, drawn across the Danube by a lift – and that it also refers to the wine from the current vin- since 1982. No previous knowledge is requi- tage, which can be called this until 11 No- red, anyone can try their hand at gliding vember (St. Martin’s Day). Oberlaa, Grinzing, across the water. However, if you’d rather just Döbling (Neustift, Sievering ..), Stammers- watch, then you can grab a seat in the Wake dorf, Strebersdorf and Mauer are some of Up beach bar on the bank of the Danube. the most popular Viennese heurige areas. Address: 1220 Vienna, Am Wehr 1 wakeboardlift.at SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES Segway Tours City Bike Rental Segways are electrically-driven, two-whee- Like many other European capitals Vienna led, self-balancing transport machines for can now be explored on a rental bike. one person. In recent years, the number of 71 LIVINGLIVING

Segway users in Vienna has risen dramati- former flak tower in Esterházypark is a very cally. Segways are a fun alternative to ex- special attraction. The main wall is 34 ploring the city on foot. You can either hire metres high and offers a variety of routes the machine and set out on your own or for beginners and experienced climbers sign up for one of the guided segway tours alike. The centre is run by the Austrian that are now offered by many companies. Alpine Club. oeav-events.at/flakturm. Aus- tria’s largest boulder park is the Edelweiß pedalpower.at or viennasightseeingtours.com Center in the Walfischgasse in the 1st district, not far from the opera, edelweiss- Climbing in Vienna center.at. The Austrian Tourist Club (ÖTK) Test your dexterity and coordination, over- also runs a climbing centre in the inner city come your fear of heights, have an adven- where sports enthusiasts can climb to their ture. You can do all this in Vienna´s hearts’ content on 870 m² in the Bäcker- climbing centres and at the climbing straße. oetk.at. garden in the Gänsehäufelbad public swimming baths. The latter was opened in 2007 Golf in Vienna and is the first large climbing garden facility Golfers in Vienna have a choice of four in Vienna. Thirty three platforms with heights different golf courses and a practice course of up to eight metres, five courses and eight in the Prater. Nor is there any obstacle to flying foxes are just waiting to be climbed. golfing enjoyment in winter. Austria´s Further information can be obtained from largest indoor golf centre boasts a hochseilklettergarten.at. Austria’s largest spacious 3,000 m² golf hall. Everyone is climbing centre is located in the 22nd welcome from beginners to pros. district. Spread over 1,200 m² it has something for everyone, from beginners to expe- Further information can be obtained from rienced sports climbers. See kletter- the website of the Austrian Golfers Asso- hallewien.at for more information. The ciation at golf.at and at golfhalle.at. 72 LIVING

Public swimming pools around the city through the green belt, and Vienna might not be by the seaside, but it is several themed walks and educational definitely a city that loves swimming. One of trails run through the metropolitan area. the best-known open-air pools is the Wiener The trails through the Vienna Woods to the Gänsehäufel. Actually, it is a wooded, sand west of the city, in the vineyards around island that is used for swimming. The name Stammersdorf and in the alluvial forests of stands for the former “piles” (of sand) which the Lobau are especially attractive. in past centuries were allegedly used for breeding geese. In 1907 it was opened as the “Strandbad der Commune Wien am F O R K I D S Gänsehäufel”. The Gänsehäufel´s success triggered a veritable swimming boom, and Prater other public swimming pools such as the While adults seeking exercise and relaxa- Kongressbad in Ottakring were built. Today, tion tend to congregate in the green of the these institutions have cult status. Another main avenue, children throng the “Wurstel- historically interesting public pool is the prater” amusement park with its many Amalienbad, which when it was opened in rides. Ghost trains, a miniature railway, the 1923 was one of the largest in Europe. After rollercoaster and big dipper, the hall of being damaged during the second World mirrors and carousels. 250 attractions War it was rebuilt on a smaller scale. promise fun and action, including the The Therme Oberlaa has a special claim to highest swing ride in the world. However, fame. It was opened in 1974 as the only the most famous attraction is the Giant thermal spa in Vienna to date. A large park Ferris Wheel, which was constructed in was set out around the spa centre. 1897 to celebrate Emperor Franz Joseph´s golden jubilee and which today is Vienna´s wien.gv.at/freizeit/baeder most famous landmark.

Hiking in Vienna prater.at As one of the greenest cities in Europe, Vienna has an extensive network of hiking Zoom Children’s Museum trails. No less than 13 well-signposted At the ZOOM Children´s Museum in the paths, a circular trail that takes you right MuseumsQuartier children are welcome to 73 LIVINGLIVING

ask questions and investigate to their Special children´s tours are offered for hearts’ content. Children should explore children between the ages of 6 and 12. the world with all their senses. The museum is divided into four different areas: In Guided Tours: every Saturday at 14.00 the animated film studio children can expe- and Sunday at 10.00 and 14.00 riment with animated films and sound, while in the Zoom Studio they paint, cut, Address: 1010 Vienna, Seilerstätte 30 build, spray, assemble, make felt, glue and hausdermusik.at model – in other words explore a variety of artistic techniques. The Ocean is a play Schönbrunn Zoo and adventure area for small children while Schönbrunn is not only the oldest zoo in the interactive exhibition introduces the world, it is also one of the most children to science, art, culture and beautiful and most modern. In the last architecture in a way that make these fields few decades a large number of new facili- come alive. The museum also offers ties have been built and the enclosures guided tours and workshops in English. renewed to comply with the standards of modern zoology. This has been rewarded Address: 1070 Vienna, Museumsplatz 1 with continuously rising visitor numbers (MuseumsQuartier) and a significantly improved public image. kindermuseum.at Thus children can be introduced to the diversity of the animal kingdom in the heart Haus der Musik of the city. Especially popular with the Conduct an orchestra, listen to what you youngest guests are the giant pandas, the heard while you were still in the womb, elephants and many baby animals that are experiment with music, play on giant born in Schönbrunn year after year. instruments or record your own CD: You can do all of this in the Haus der Musik. The Address: 1130 Vienna, U4 Station Hietzing Sound Museum invites you on a musical Zoo (in Park Schönbrunn) journey of discovery through the centuries. zoovienna.at 74 LIVING

Geocaching the outskirts of the city – you can be The fun way of exploring nature or a city: sure of finding something to suit you in Geocaching – or GPS treasure hunt – is a Vienna. modern form of the paper chase. However, the treasure (the cache) is almost incidental But before you get started you should here, the main thing is the search itself. know what you´re looking for. The inner The coordinates of the hiding places are city is best known for its luxury boutiques, published on the Internet, participants then exquisite jewellery shops and confectio- use their GPS device, and increasingly, ners. However, all the major international smart phones to find them. Alternatively, you clothing stores are also represented. set off with a detailed map. Once you have The inner city is also ideal if you are looking found the “treasure” (caches are often for souvenirs or high-quality collectors´ hidden under branches, in grass or in items (e.g. coins, art, antiques). bushes), you register the find in a logbook and hide the cache again in the same The Mariahilfer Straße extends from the place. Caches can be found all over the Ring to the Gürtel (Innere Mariahilfer world. There are 20,000 of them listed in Straße) and beyond (Äußere Mariahilfer Vienna. This makes exploring the city a lot Straße). Along the shopping mile and its more exciting! side streets, shoppers will find a particularly wide and varied range of goods. The geocaching.com best way to get there is by public transport. A trip to the Mariahilfer Straße is especially delightful in the run-up to SHOPPING Christmas when various Christmas markets enrich the offerings. In a number of There´s no reason why you shouldn’t shop “Grätzeln“ (Viennese for “little districts”), until you drop in Vienna. Whether you want clusters of certain businesses have grown to stroll through the luxury shopping streets up. In the 7th district, for example, in the of the inner city, spend a day on the Maria- area around Neubaugasse, you will find hilfer Straße, Vienna´s longest and most large numbers of antique shops, while the frequented shopping mile, or take a trip nearby Spittelberg is well-known for its to one of the giant shopping centres on small art shops. 75 LIVINGLIVING

Bulky goods such as furniture, large FILMS AND READING electrical appliances or household goods are best bought from one of the large Open-Air Cinema shopping centres that are mainly to be What would summer in Vienna be without found in the outer districts or on the outs- the open-air cinemas. In recent years, it kirts of the city along the main roads lea- has become impossible to imagine the ding into the city. They have large parking warm summer months without the open-air facilities and are usually easily accessible. screenings. Films are shown in the most diverse of locations. Each year, the “Cinema on the Roof” of Vienna´s main library WINING, DINING AND shows films on a specific topic. The NIGHTLIFE Volxkino is a travelling cinema that offers a wide range of cineastic highlights at You will quickly notice that Vienna is a true continuously changing sites – and what´s centre of enjoyment. With its rich tradition more, its free. The “Cinema under the of multinational influences you will find Stars” on Karlsplatz, in the heart of the city, yourself plunged into a world of culinary is also free. diversity. Most expats easily find new favourite dishes, but nevertheless appre- Foreign-Language Cinemas ciate the wide range of ethnic restaurants If you prefer to watch films in the original offering excellent quality. That might just language (sometimes with sub-titles) you possibly help ease the occasional pang of will find a host of foreign-language cinemas homesickness. in Vienna. The Admiral cinema in the Burg- The websites wien.gv.at and wien.info pro- gasse, the Artis in the inner city, the Bellaria vide a good overview of shopping facilities, in the Museumsstraße, the Burg cinema, the restaurants and exciting clubs in a wide De France on Schottenring – to name just a range of languages under the menu item few. Particularly worth mentioning is the Leisure. Schikaneder in the 4th district. This cinema 76 LIVING

has been in existence since 1911 and im- 250,000 books are available for loan or to presses visitors with its multi-functional thea- be read on the premises. tre. Four rows of couches and nine rows of cinema seats can seat 87. At the Schikane- Address: 1070 Vienna, der you can also enjoy a drink in a congenial Urban-Loritz-Platz 2a atmosphere before or after the film. buechereien.wien.at kino.at Foreign-Language Bookshops The Vienna Business Agency Expat Center Austrian Film Museum has a list of foreign-language bookshops The Austrian Film Museum is located in the which it is pleased to send out on request. building of the Albertina in the first district. The museum was founded in 1964 and its exhibits are the films themselves. Retrospectives are dedicated to the great directors of film history as well as less well-known new names. Mainstream and avant-garde films, auteur films and Hollywood greats are all shown at the film museum. The archives currently hold some 20,000 films.

Address: 1010 Vienna, Augustinerstraße 1 filmmuseum.at

Main Library Vienna Libraries have a network of 40 branches throughout the city and a collection of approximately two million items. Since 2003 the main library has been located in the 7th district. Spread over 2 floors, some