Things to avoid

Carriage tours of Vienna

There are plenty of carriages complete with horse that will wait for you at every tourist-heavy place and try and take you for a ride around town. Our advice is not to go, since it’s not particularly interesting, will make you look a bit silly and will probably cost you a fortune. If you really feel the urge to have a ride, make sure to ask the price beforehand.

General safety

Vienna is probably Europe’s safest capital. The only places to avoid, at night only, are the parks, the Prater and the Underground, which might be a bit dangerous for women without substantial male escort. Otherwise you can go around the city at night at any hour, and it’s very unlikely that anything unpleasant happens to you. The usual pick-pockets rules valid for every city apply: watch your stuff when you are in crowded areas, especially cameras and video equipment. In general, don’t carry too much cash with you and don’t look too much like the ordinary tourist if you want to reduce risks to the minimum.

Prices- Language

Vienna is a very expensive city, so before going to a restaurant or buying things, especially in the central and tourist areas, double-check the prices, or you might be in for a big surprise! Often you can find things at much cheaper prices elsewhere, especially those omnipresent Mozart chocolate balls. Another thing: English is not as widely spoken as, say, in Berlin, so be prepared to make a few efforts, and get a pocket dictionary for menus and the like.