Living in Vienna, Austria by Anna (studying in Vienna)

What is it like to live in Vienna? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Imagine a place where old angry bored people live next door to happy partying students while a whole bunch of touristbusses drive by every other hour. That's Vienna. The old bored people are the viennese ones (you should not get in their way), the students are regular students from all over the world and the tourists are in fact annoying. It's fun to live here!
But Vienna is not only it's people. It's a mixture of city life and nature, an intercultural place, which has one of the highest rates of life quality!

What is the student lifestyle like in Vienna?

I think a students lifestyle in Vienna is very well balanced between studying, partying and relaxing. I can only speak for myself but it is actually quite the life of a student I imagined before moving here!

How much does it cost to live in Vienna?

It depends on where you live. The outer districts are cheaper then the inner ones. I'd say you can get around with about 400€ for a shared flat and about 400€ for a living (food and drinks, going out, do a little shopping,...). So not too much I think.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Vienna? Is there any advice you can give?

As it is a city with many different universities, there are lots of student residencies, shared flats etc. I'd recommend living in a shared flat with other students as it's a good way to get in touch and connect with people. The app "WG gesucht" is an easy way to find accomodation in Vienna, whether you look for a shared flat or anything else.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

There are various shops to get your ingredients from, e.g. Spar, Hofer (Aldi), Billa, Merkur... For more specific requests you can normally find a shop which is specialised, for example in Korean food. The qualitiy of vegetables and fruit is usually really good, the bread is delicious!

What places would you recommend visiting in Vienna?

Vienna is one big amazing place. You can basically walk down any street and find something to like and be fascinated by. Besides the usual touristic places (Stephansplatz, Mariahilferstraße, Schönbrunn, Belvedere...) I'd recommend the 7th district, as it is filled with beautiful streets and shops. There are also infinitely many museums, theaters, cinemas, restaurants etc. in Vienna, which are worth visiting. For a little nature I'd propose the "Donauinsel" or the "Prater", which are in or just outside the city. In summer you can also swim in the sidearm of the Donau ("Alte Donau")!

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

Vienna is popular for it's typical Austrian dishes like Schnitzel, Knödel, Kaiserschmarrn etc. But the city provides numerous other cultured culinary places where you can eat delicious food. I prefer the Asian cuisine, so I get to choose from Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and so on. A few non-asian places I sometimes visit are Filipino, Persian, Arabic, Italian, Mexican... I think there's at least one restaurant for almost every cuisine you can think of - and most likely it will be yummy! You can also find vegan only and vegetarian only places, like Swing Kitchen (Burgers), Vevi (Vietnamese) or Veganista (Ice Cream).

Is the nightlife good in Vienna? Where is good to go?

Vienna provides many bars, clubs and outside spots to drink, dance and have fun (drinking age is 16 for wine and beer or 18 for everything else alcoholic). I love sitting at the Donaukanal or in the Stadtpark with my friends, normally there's some music and just a chill atmosphere. I don't really go clubbing, so I sadly can't give any recommendation here. The irish bars are very nice tough and in summer there are various festivals all over the city!

What advice would you give future students heading to Vienna?

I don't think you can really prepare yourself for Vienna in a specific kind of way. Just be spontaneous, don't be afraid to try out new things, let your studies slip for having a good time with your friends. Vienna is a great place to live in, where every type of person finds its niche. Oh, and don't worry, you will get used to the permanent wind ;)