Saint Joseph's Day

📣 Traveler notes

Austria is a highly visited, landlocked, German-speaking Central European country. It is a popular destination year-round, drawing tourists for both summer explorations of historic sites and winter alpine sports.

• Address older generations and professionals by their proper titles (e.g., Prof., Dr.).
• Use formal pronouns (Sie for strangers/older people; Du for friends).
• Communication, especially in business, tends to be formal and reserved.
• Do not refer to the inhabitants as 'Germans,' as their culture is distinct.
• Smoking is strictly prohibited in most indoor public areas.
• Be prepared for local customs, such as removing shoes when entering private residences.
• Use formal greetings such as 'Grüß Gott' (upon entry) and 'Auf Wiedersehen' (when leaving public areas). Always shake hands and maintain eye contact. Be mindful that removing shoes is customary in many homes. When toasting, make eye contact and say 'Prost.' Public display of neo-Nazi symbols is illegal.