National Holiday

📣 Traveler notes

Austria is a highly visited, landlocked, German-speaking country in Central Europe. It is renowned for its historic cities, villages, and magnificent Alpine landscapes, making it a major destination for both winter and summer tourism.

• Use formal greetings and honorifics when addressing strangers or elders.
• Remove shoes when entering most private homes.
• Public display of Nazi symbols is strictly prohibited by law.
• When drinking, tradition requires making eye contact while toasting.
• Smoking is largely prohibited in public indoor venues.
• Avoid referring to Austrians as 'Germans'.
• Formal greetings and polite language are valued. When meeting people, it is customary to use appropriate formal greetings (e.g., 'Grüß Gott') and may involve shaking hands and eye contact. In most private homes, removing shoes upon entry is standard practice. Addressing strangers or elders formally (e.g., using 'Sie') is appreciated.