5 Things That Surprised Me When I Moved to Austria
When I first packed my bags for Austria, I thought I was ready for everything: the beautiful cities, the German language, and the famous cakes.
But real life is never quite like the travel blogs. Some things totally surprised me — in good ways, funny ways, and a few what-is-happening ways.
Here’s what caught me off guard when I moved to Austria — and what I learned along the way:
1. Sundays Are Really, Really Quiet
I wasn’t ready for how everything shuts down on Sundays. Shops, supermarkets — closed.
At first, it felt inconvenient (especially when I forgot to buy groceries on Saturday), but over time I learned to appreciate the quiet. Sundays here are for rest, nature walks, family time — a real pause from the busy week. Now I actually look forward to them!
2. Making Friends Takes Time — But It’s Worth It
At first, I worried I was doing something wrong. People seemed a little distant. There wasn’t much small talk, and I missed casual conversations in shops and cafés.
But slowly, through German classes and joining NIWA, I started meeting people who became real friends. Austrians might seem reserved at first, but once you connect, the friendships are deep and genuine.
Trust me — it’s worth being patient.
3. German Is One Thing. Austrian German Is Another!
I thought I was ready with my basic German skills — until someone said “Grüß Gott” instead of “Hallo” and left me completely confused.
Austrian German has its own flavor, full of cute words, different expressions, and an accent that can be a little tricky at first. It’s a fun challenge though — and honestly, nothing beats learning to say “Servus!” with confidence.
4. Nature Is Everywhere (Even in the Middle of the City)
I expected Vienna to be beautiful, but I didn’t realize how close nature would always be.
You can hop on a tram and be hiking in the woods within 30 minutes. There are parks everywhere. People bike, picnic, run, and just enjoy the outdoors way more than I was used to.
Moving here made me realize that living in a city doesn’t mean giving up green spaces — it’s actually the opposite.
5. Bureaucracy Is Part of the Adventure
Nobody warned me about the paperwork. Nobody.
Meldezettel? Anmeldung? Bank letters? Insurance forms? At one point, I felt like I needed a PhD in Austrian bureaucracy.
The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. Being part of communities like NIWA helped so much — talking to women who had already been through it made the whole thing way less scary.
If you’re moving here soon: save every piece of paper. Seriously.
Moving to Austria came with its fair share of surprises — some funny, some a little stressful, but all part of the adventure.
Every confusing moment, every unexpected tradition, every form I had to fill out helped me feel a little more at home.
