How to Make Friends in Austria

Austria despite its diminutive size is one of the most advanced countries of the world and is well known for its high degree of artistic as well as financial achievements. Apart from these it is a land blessed with natural beauty and exquisite scenery. So whether you are a man or woman, if you wish to make friends in Austria, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Respect personal space

Overall social interaction in Austrian society maintains a formal stance. So upon first meeting an Austrian, introduce yourself with your name and politely shake hands; the greeting “Gruss Gott” which means ‘May God greet you’ is very common even when you may also use Guten Morgen Guten Tag and Guten Abend, according to the time of the day. Don’t rush to shake hands with someone you have just met and above all avoid swooping on him/her to hug or kiss since people here are quite protective of their personal space. Sometimes Viennese men may kiss the hand of a woman. But if you are a foreigner, don’t take a similar license since it is not expected of you and may come as a shock to z lady acquaintance. However be sure to maintain eye contact since a distant or shifty gaze while talking to a woman is considered inappropriate and rude.

Above all, keep in mind that Austrians make a clear distinction between friends and acquaintances. They tend to have a small circle of intimates – including family and old friends – and it usually takes time for an outsider to be accepted into this inner group. So don’t impose yourself upon your newly-made Austrian acquaintances by being too hearty or socially effusive. It may be a while before you are accepted as a friend but once you are, it is usually for life.

Follow correct forms of address

An important aspect of the formal Austrian social culture is the high regard paid to names and titles. People tend to address one another formally using Sie rather than the familiar du for “you”. Though younger people are now increasingly using informal modes of address. Ideally use the word du – or its plural ihr – when addressing small children or close friends.
As people get to know you better they may start t use the du form but the privilege of initiating the change belongs to the older person. Indeed it is common here to celebrate the change in relationship with a little ritual, like by linking arms and drinking glasses of wine or beer.

Within an organization, it is usual to refer to people by their title – like ‘Frau Doktor Schmidt’ or ‘Herr Generaldirektor Hoffman’. This also goes when you are directly addressing people. Upon being newly acquainted with a man or woman here, use last names and appropriate titles until specifically invited by the person use his/her first name. All women over eighteen are addressed as Frau, even if they are not married. Follow up the Frau or Herr with the professional title and then surname during your initial interactions even though later on the person  may ask you to address him/her by their first name.

Where to meet people

This will depend on how long you are in the country – if you are in Austria for a short while, going on a trip is a great way of getting to know people. You could join an excursion to an interesting place that is popular with locals  and not only tourists. However if you are in the country for an extended stay, you could look around for a club to join or a course to take. Most towns have a good selection of clubs and groups catering to a wide range of activities and hobbies, ranging from sports, mountaineering to cultural pursuits like ballroom dancing.

Austrians are quite fond of meeting friends in a restaurant or a coffee shop. When entering such a place, it is usual to greet everyone present as also to wish people a good meal which is why you may hear, Mahlzeit, Gesegnete Mahlzeit or Guten Appetit. Finally it is customary to bid people farewell with ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ or ‘Auf Wiederschauen’ when you leave the restaurant or coffee-house.

One little-known but great way to meet people in Austria is to use public transport. Train journeys are not only lovely – passing through picturesque countryside – but are often a good way to strike up an acquaintance with a fellow traveler. However for this it is important to know German which is the most widely-used language in Austria. Although in the more cosmopolitan areas of the country people are fluent in English, in most other places English is seldom spoken and indeed foreigners who can speak nothing else may even be viewed with suspicion by the locals. And even if your German is a little rusty, Austrians will usually recognize and appreciate your efforts to communicate in their language. However keep in mind that Austrian German has some differences with the language spoken in Northern Germany. Although standard German is taught in schools, Austrians prefer to speak in their local dialect  when conversing among themselves, which may be a bit difficult for a foreigner or even a person from north Germany to follow.

Take care of your manners

In keeping with the Baroque and courtly legacy of their society, Austrians put great store by manners. Old-school modes of courtesy are greatly appreciated – thus men are expected to stand up as a sign of respect when a guest arrives, precede a woman into a restaurant and hold the door open for her besides helping her on and off with her coat and offering her a seat before they sit down themselves. Also sexual advances early in a dating relationship is frowned upon as are instances of drunkenness, loud and uncouth behavior.

Austrians are particular about their attire too and will turn up smartly-dressed for all but the most informal occasions. When going out to the opera, the theater, the restaurant for a dinner or even to the workplace, Austrians will dress appropriately and usually formally.

People here are as punctual for social occasions as for business meetings. So if you are supposed to meet your Austrian friend or take out an Austrian girl on a date, by no means you should be late. Tardiness is seen by the Austrians not merely as an example of careless behavior but as an evidence of a rude and uncouth personality.  

The regard for punctuality and correct dress sense can be seen as aspects of a wider culture of orderliness. People here are quite careful of following both civic laws and unwritten rules of social behavior. Despite many gradual changes in cosmopolitan areas, the tradition of good manners and correct behavior is largely followed and by the younger generation of Austrians too.