Vienna City Guide

Page 43

Vienna City Guide

Balls

Numerous balls take place in Vienna, mostly in January and February each year, with the

legendary Wiener Opernball (Vienna Opera Ball) as the most famous of its kind. A list of

balls can be found on the following websites:

Sports and Recreation

Vienna offers a selection of organized sports and clubs. The best way to look for a club is to

research via Vienna’s official website, where the Municipal Sports Authority provides

information in English about the city’s sports facilities:

Via

, the local classified directory, you can research most of the addresses of

private fitness clubs.

You can also access a full list of Vienna’s numerous parks and green areas via the city’s

website:

Among the parks and areas for

recreation are for example the Prater, Japanese gardens, the Donaupark on an island in

between the Danube and the Old Danube with the Danube Tower that offers a view all over

the city, and Vienna’s first public park, the Stadtpark.

Alcohol and Smoking

You have to be over the age of 16 to be allowed to purchase and consume alcohol and

tobaccos.

In general, smoking is not allowed in restaurants, pubs, bars etc. However, in some

locations there might be a separated smoking area in a restaurant. In public buildings or

areas, such as hospitals, authorities’ offices etc., smoking is generally not allowed. This also

applies to subways and railway stations and any means of public transportation. Please

watch out for special smoking signs.

Tipping

In Austria, a tip is already included in the invoice. Nevertheless, giving a tip is common and

expected. Usually, in restaurants and in taxis approximately 10% of the invoice amount is

given, even after only purchasing a drink or a short ride, and also expected by the staff.