Inside Austria
Inside Austria is our weekly newsletter that looks at some of the news, talking points that you might not have heard about as well some of the quirkier things about life in Austria. It’s published each Saturday, but if you are a member you can receive it early in your inbox. Just visit your newsletter options.
Inside Austria: Renewing my ID Austria was easier than I thought
The ID Austria is the digital identification for anyone with ties to the Alpine country. The Local Austria's Amanda Previdelli shares how it was that she found out (almost too late) hers was expiring and how surprisingly nice (even pleasant?) the renewal process was.
Inside Austria: No one prepares you for Austrian kindergarten
Vienna kindergartens teach your child the local way fast, but they also make you feel like a new arrival all over again, writes The Local Austria editor Amanda Previdelli
Inside Austria: The best gifts to bring to friends and family when you are visiting home
If you are heading to that long overdue family visit soon, here are the tips for the best and easy “Austria” gifts that The Local Austria's Amanda Previdelli deems worthy of crossing seas and oceans with.
Inside Austria: where to go in Vienna with kids when it’s too cold to be outside
If you're running out of ideas on what to do in Vienna during these cold days, The Local Austria's editor Amanda Previdelli has a couple of suggestions that are great for grown-ups too.
Inside Austria: Semesterferien and why they can be a nightmare for working parents
Austria’s Semesterferien are not a public holiday, but the country still feels different for a week in February. For working parents, especially foreign residents without family help, it can be a logistical hell, writes The Local Austria's Amanda Previdelli
Inside Austria: The most outrageous things I’ve seen in Austrian bureaucracy
Austrian bureaucracy regularly throws up obstacles for foreigners living in the country and editor Amanda Previdelli recalls some of the more memorable things she's seen or experienced over the years. Share your own stories below.
Inside Austria: What Austrians can teach you about living in cold weather
Austria has been hit by some extreme wintery weather and whilst many foreign residents are shivering, Austrians seem generally unfazed. The Local Austria's editor Amanda Previdelli explains how you can take a tip from the locals and enjoy the cold.
Inside Austria: The bizarre Austrian dinner habit I resisted for years, but now love
Learning to eat like Austrians means letting go of old rituals and discovering new ways to feel at home, as The Local's Amanda Previdelli explains in this week's Inside Austria.
Inside Austria: How to make the most of Vienna’s Christmas markets this year
Vienna’s Christmas markets are magical but often packed, and knowing when and where to go can completely change the experience in Austria’s capital. Here are some of our editor's best tips to making the most out of your visit.
Inside Austria: How Austrian Christmas traditions helped me survive winter
Winter in Austria can be a tough time for many and seasonal depression can hit hard. But The Local Austria's editor Amanda Previdelli says once you start embracing Austrian seasonal traditions, then the days no longer seem so grey or the season so long - well until January.
Inside Austria: Why are Austrians still devoted to the old world of cash and paper bills?
From cash-only cafés to bills arriving by post, Austria’s devotion to the old offline world is charming… until it isn’t. The Local Austria's editor Amanda Previdelli explains what it's like living in a country so attached to cash, paper trail and privacy.
Inside Austria: Why does it feel like nobody likes to speak English in Austria?
In Austria, English proficiency is high, but the willingness to use it seems low. From doctors to daily chats, why do the locals seem so reluctant to speak the language they are apparently so good at?
Inside Austria: Why the country slows down for summer and how to prepare
In this week’s Inside Austria we look at how Austria comes to a near standstill during the summer months, and practical tips to survive the nationwide holiday shutdown.
Inside Austria: Heatwave impact on power supply and cheapest pools to cool off
In this week’s Inside Austria we look at whether Austria’s power supply can cope with the summer heat, and the most affordable outdoor pools to visit as temperatures soar.
Inside Austria: Heatwave challenges and your travel health checklist
In this week’s Inside Austria we look at how Austria’s homes and offices are coping with extreme heat, and what you should pack in your travel first-aid kit this summer.
Inside Austria: Where the locals holiday and Vienna's summer cinemas return
In this week’s Inside Austria we look at the favourite summer destinations for Austrian holidaymakers, and why open-air cinema is one of Vienna’s best seasonal traditions.
Inside Austria: Austria mourns, and the far-right blames immigrants
This week’s Inside Austria explores how Austria is grappling with the school shooting in Graz — from calls for reform to far-right attempts to twist the narrative. Plus, what else made headlines across the country.
Inside Austria: Where are the dads on leave, and can Austria make the World Cup?
In this week’s Inside Austria we look at Austria’s shockingly low rates of paternal leave – and why it matters far beyond parenting. Plus, we preview Austria’s World Cup qualifying campaign and what’s ahead for the long Pentecost weekend.
Inside Austria: Hot summers, long weekends, and what’s changing in June
In this week’s Inside Austria, we look at why Austria is bracing for another scorching summer and how Ascension Day quietly shuts down half the country. Plus, from rising passport fees to new train routes and summer festivals, we’ve rounded up what’s changing in Austria this June.
Inside Austria: Eurovision politics, your next day off, and what’s really behind rising prices
In this week’s Inside Austria, we unpack the controversy swirling around JJ’s comments on Israel, help you plan for the long weekend, and look at what’s happening in Austria.
Inside Austria: Eurovision, long holidays and summer travel plans
In this week’s Inside Austria, we look at Austria’s Eurovision journey, why the country’s school holidays are so long (and controversial), and how people here are planning their summer trips despite inflation.
Inside Austria: What Vienna’s election means for foreigners, allergy season explained, and this week’s top stories
In this week’s Inside Austria, we unpack what the Vienna election results mean for foreign residents, take a closer look at allergy season and what’s blooming (or bothering you), and round up the key stories you may have missed — from missed parcel deliveries to Austria’s scorching summer forecasts.
Inside Austria: Shut out of democracy, asparagus obsession, and scared of blackouts
In this week’s Inside Austria we look at what the Vienna municipal election results mean for international residents, explore Austria’s obsession with asparagus, and share the latest stories from across the country — from bike theft to blackout fears.