Erasmus Experience in Vienna, Austria by Dora

Why did you choose to go to Vienna, Austria?

There are several reasons why I chose Vienna. First of all, it is very close to my hometown, Budapest. The two cities are very similar and I have visited Vienna before for its famous Christmas markets so I thought, why not? I imagined spending my December here, with all the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas markets) and Christmas lights, drinking Glühwein and walking among the imperial buildings. Secondly, I studied German in high-school so it seemed to be a good opportunity to improve my language skills. Last, but not least Vienna still means Western-Europe to me even though it is very close to Budapest.

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How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I arrived in September and I could finish my courses before Christmas. It means that I lived 3 months in Vienna. I got an Erasmus scholarship, 450 euros per month.

What is the student lifestyle like in Vienna?

Vienna is one of the best cities for students in the world. Although the price range is quite high, you can find really good deals for students. For example, you can get a semester ticket for the public transport for 150 euros, you have to buy it once and then it is valid for the whole semester (5 months). I took a step-aerobic class here and for the whole semester it costed 26 euros (1, 5 hours per week for 5 months). You can also find cheap lunch menus, happy hours for students in several pubs and student prices in museums.

The city is a great mixture of culture, partying and education. If you are interested in culture and history, Vienna is your place. The architecture is amazing, there are a lot of green parks, there are plenty of cultural events: opera and theater plays, exhibitions, festivals. There is always something to do, you never get bored. And of course, if you are an exchange student, you are even more busy. If you are a party animal, there are a lot of student parties every week. Some of them are organised in a palace!

Would you recommend the city and the University of Vienna to other students?

I would definitely recommend Vienna! First of all, it is located in the middle of Europe so you can travel to lot of places from here. By bus, you can reach Budapest (Hungary) in 3 hours, Bratislava (Slovakia) in 1, 5 hours, Prague (Czech Republic) in 4 hours. You can also go to Italy, Switzerland, Croatia, etc. But it is worth to stay in Vienna and explore the imperial city of the Habsburgs as well. You can also visit beautiful places in Austria: Graz, Salzburg, Melk, Innsbruck - they are definitely worth to see! And you can also go skiing in the winter- how cool is this place!?

What is the food like?

The most famous Austrian dishes are the following: Wienerschnitzel (deep-fried veal), usually eaten with the famous Erdapfelsalat (potato salad). You can find Würstelstands all over the city which sell the famous Austrian Frankfurter and sausages. Vienna is famous for its cafés: you should order a Wiener Melange or a Verlängerter and spend hours in a traditional café. You shouldn't miss the famous cakes in Vienna: go to a café and order an Apfelstrudel (apple pie) or a Sacher cake. If you are not into the Austrian cuisine, there are several other options. You can find cheap and still good Turkish and Chinese food (döner or noodles) but there are also really good Japanese, Italian, Thai, Pakistani restaurants. Vienna is a multicultural city, you can easily find something yummy for your own taste!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Vienna?

I booked my accommodation with: OeAD housing. This was the easiest way to find a place to stay but if you are already in Vienna, it is better to search for a room/flat to rent because it can cost less money and you can find better places.

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How much does it cost to live in Vienna?

• Housing: approx. € 300-500 per month.
• Insurance: approx. € 50 per month.
• Food, personal expenses: € 220-300 per month.
• Utilities (phone, mail. etc. ): € 15-30 per month.
• Entertainment: € 50-150 per month.
• Public transport: € 150 per semester.
• OEH-Beitrag (Student Association Fee): € 17 per semester.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available in the University?

Well, Austrian German is different from the one that is spoken in Germany, they use different expressions and it is a different dialect but I think you can get used to it if you practice the language everyday. Furthermore, there is nothing to worry about, almost everyone speaks English. There are a lot of language courses offered either by Universities or language schools. At the WU you can take Business German classes as well.

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to Vienna from your city?

The easiest and most economical way to travel from Budapest to Vienna is coming by bus. It takes 3 hours and costs approx. € 20. I usually travel by Eurolines.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Vienna?

If you are an exchange student, there will be a lot of parties organised for you. Every Monday there is a party in Ride Club for exchange students and every Wednesday there is a karaoke party in the Loco bar. Drinks are extremely cheap if you go early! (between 7 and 8 pm: € 0, 5 for long drinks and cocktails). My favourite place is Travelshack, they have special exchange nights on Tuesdays but it is also fun if you go on weekends, this is the place where all the exchange students party! There is no entrance fee. If you want to dress up and try something fancy, you should go to Volksgarten or to Passage. The entrance fee is approx. € 10-12.

Is it good to eat out in Vienna? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are a lot of good places to eat out in Vienna. My favourite ones:

• Natsu: the cheapest and best sushi in town! The ramen soup is also very good.
• Fresh Soup & Salad: soup, salad, curry - try the Hühnersalad "Madras"!
• Vapiano.
• Der Wiener Deewan: all you can eat, pay as you wish Pakistani restaurant.
• Nykke at WU campus: everyday you can choose from 4 options: soup, pasta, wok or curry and you get one bowl according to your choice for 4, 8 euros. You can also get a menu: soup/salad + bowl for 6, 8 euros. It is also a café, the atmosphere is really cosy.
• Mensa at WU campus: you can choose between several options. There are always two different 3-course menus (soup, main dish, salad, 2dl soft drink for 5 euros), there is a stand for pasta, pizza, salad and there is also a "global" stand - it offers Asian, Turkish, American food.

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What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Vienna is the city of culture. There are a lot of opera and theater plays, exhibitions, concerts, festivals, etc. If the weather is good, I would recommend to walk around in the city, visit the imperial buildings, go to parks. Start from the Stephansplatz, go to the Hofburg, visit the Museumquartier, walk along the Ring to see the Parliament, the Rathaus, the old University. Explore the neighbourhood of Mariahilferstrasse, visit the area called Spittelberg - it is the Montmartre of Vienna! Go to Schönbrunn, visit the palace inside, take a nice walk in the garden! Go to the Opera or to see a theater play or listen to a classical music concert in one of the several churches! Go to the Gasometer Concert Hall to see your favourite bands! Visit the Leopold Museum, the Hundertwasserhaus, the Albertina, the Kunsthistorische Museum! During winter, try to explore all of the Christmas markets. I would recommend the one in Schönbrunn and the one in Spittelberg.

Is there any other advice that you could give to future students who are going to Vienna?

Vienna offers you so many things - don't hesitate, come and explore this wonderful city!