Hi,

My parents are going to Vienna for the first time. Would there be anything to watch out for in Vienna security wise that I should alert them about?

Cheers
Tiger Lily

For its size, I think Vienna is probably one of the safest large cities in Europe. I lived there for 2 yrs in the early 80's and remember how impressed I was with the honesty of the people and the low crime rate.

I have returned for visits several times and though there are many more people now, I still felt safe. The only place I was ever aware of that was somewhat seedy was the Prater Amusement Park area. I assume that is still true.

If they stick to the normal tourist areas around the Ringstrasse or in places like Grinzing, they should have no worries about walking around at night. That said, one should always be alert and take the usual precautions with money, credit cards, etc.

If your parents are 65 and older, make sure they get the "senior citizens'" discounts to which they are entitled. It was only after buying our tickets to several palaces and museums that we were told about this discount. Ticket sellers are under no obligation to offer the discount; you have to ask for it.

You will find Vienna to be one of the most expensive cities in Europe -- food, lodging, transportation, admissions. This is due largely to the fact that Vienna must foot a huge tax-free bill to house offices of the United Nations and its workers. This huge lemon was foisted on Vienna by its former general secretary (and ex-Nazi) Kurt Waldheim, an Austrian himself and no friend of his own countrymen, as it turned out.

The area around Karlsplatz and the underground passage leading to the U-Bahn I remember as being unsafe at night. The train stations seem better now than they used to be at night(Westbahnhof and Sudbahnhof).
Otherwise, I think Vienna is incredibly safe for a city of its size.

We were in Vienna this past June and felt it lived up to its reputation for being a very safe city. We fell in love with it.
One evening we were completely comfortable in letting our two kids-- ages 18 and 15-- go out on their own to get dinner and to window shop. (Certainly old enough to take care of themselves, but not something we'd want to do in some other cities.)
We walked around the Stephansplatz area every night until quite late and it was always populated and safe.
If your parents haven't found a hotel yet, we loved the Hotel Kaiserin Elisabeth. It's right near the Stephansdom, walking distance to so many sights and restaurants. An elegant little hotel. I think about 260 Euro for our large family suite. (They gave me a 10 percent discount via e-mailing directly to them.)
Your parents are lucky to be going there. They will probably be enchanted.

Vienna , as mentioned above is a very safe as measured against other large cities of the world.
Just watch the subways and trams during periods of crowding as some pickpocketing does occur. They seem to prey on elderly people.
Main streets are safe to walk into late evening so it is no problem to attend theater and walk back to a hotel.

The city can be expensive as you make it. If you look a little, one can find good food lodging and theater at good prices,
The tansportation system is very inexpensive and permits access to all parts of the city.
At 4-5 euros per day or 45 euros for a month ( all bus, tram ,subway and S-bahn( local rail lines in the city)

I must respond to a recent post about the expense of being in Vienna.
Vienna has a high quality of life. Any of these expenses are not caused by the UN or K.Waldheim as mentioned above.

The United Nations has had offices in Vienna since 1958.
The offer to build the offices mentioned by a poster (usnr) was first made by Austria in 1966.
Designs for the buildings were done in 1969 and 1970.

Mr. Waldheim was UN Secretary General from January 1972 to December 1981.
I do not see the connection.

The UN offices now house about 4000 employees from 100 or more countries.
This contributes, by the UN estimate ,360+ million euros to the Vienna economy yearly. A would suggest a good return on the cost to erect the offices.
UN Staffers contribute to the culture and arts of the city.


Yes , the UN pays 1 euro rent per year, but assumes the cost of running these buildings.
One only needs to see the huge amount of construction and commercial offices that has occured near this former vacant area to determine the positive economic impact to the district.
To say that these buildings are the largest cause for the cost of living in Vienna is simply not correct and should not remain unanswered although this should not be the place for this.

Yes, I live in Vienna and know its costs
No, I am not employed by the UN or Austrian Government.
No, I am not a Waldheim relative.

Don't worry..some folks simply HAVE to have a boogieman to blame for everything especially these days when, of course, absolutely everything terrible in the US has been "caused" by bad people who always happen to be from another part of the world.

agree on safety of vienna. always travelled with female friends.. or alone and never felt insecure.

also not too horribly expensive.. great transportation and wonderful concerts and opera and ballet.

Totally agree with Molker re: costs of transport. For hotels, Vienna is much cheaper than Paris, Copenhagen, London and the like. Food - in my 2 years, I had some of the best and best value food in my life (Harrys Bar, Akakiko, and Japanese restaurants in general), and also some of the most memorably revolting meals (Esterhazykeller and Che) - but do not necessarily think in Vienna that a big crowd in a restaurant means the locals know best.
If you actually compare to salaries, Vienna is not that cheap - but as a tourist comparing to other major European capital cities, it is fine.
I lived in the dead centre of Vienna and the only problems were student beggars making a bee line for me because I was wearing a suit - they do not like being told ot bugger off.
Stadtpark is not nice in some spots where the drug dealers are - but in NOvember they will go underground to Karlsplatz U Bahn. I totally agree with Bettyk's view re: Prater; and Westbahnhof was still pretty yuk when I left there in 2003.

Actually, the only time I have ever felt unsafe in Europe was in Vienna. I used an ATM on a quiet street, when I was done I turned around and there were three people watching me. I think they were what are called "gypsies". I walked down the street a few paces and then in to the first office building. Now I only use ATM's in banks or in very public places.

I lived in Vienna for 5 months in 1998 while in school and I loved it always felt safe! Can't wait to take my DH and go back! I wouldn't go to the Stadtpark at night (knew people in school that went there to buy hashish) but that's about all I can think of.

My wife and I just returned from Vienna yesterday. Hence the fact that I am doing this at 3.50am I take a long time to readjust my sleeping pattern. However, we are well over 60 years of age and never felt threatened for one moment. The Viennese are a very civilised people. They obey walk signs at traffic lights. The transportation system runs on trust. You buy a ticket, say, for three days and nobody checks it. Young men get up to give ladies, old and young, their seat on this system. Bicycles even have to have lights. How I wish these rules would apply in North America.I could go on. What everyone else has said before me is true. All you need is common sense.

Hi everyone,

I'm feeling plenty reassured about the safety aspect and so are my parents.
Somehow, there seems to be different views about the cost of living in Vienna.

Cheers
Tiger Lily

Here are some typical costs that my wife and I found last week:
1). A cup of very strong coffee is about 2.80 euros. The amount varies with the type.
2). A delicious pastry or a piece of cake is also about 2.80 euros
3). A 72 hour transportation pass is 12 euros.
3). A glass of local wine is about 2.20 euros - less than coffee, but the same as a beer.
4). A main course at a reasonable restaurant is between 12 and 18 euros approximately.
5). Bottled water is also aroud 2.80 euros
6). Entrance to the big palaces is about 7.50 euros.
The euro was at $1.62 Canadian per euro and that is about $1.28 US per euro. Yes it is expensive, but you will enjoy nevertheless.

almcd, would you suggest purchasing the 72hour pass?

Tiger Lily, we found the 72 hour pass more than paid for itself. Of course, it depends partly on what your parents plan to do while in Vienna, but it seems hard to believe that they wouldn't enjoy just having the freedom to hop a tram whenever they pleased.

They only have 2 free days there. So I was wondering how worthwhile the pass was.

The only thing I remember having to look out for in Vienna was the cakes - they seem to leave the shops and jump down your throat, directly to your hips!

With only two days there, the 72 hour pass is not going to be worth their while. If they are of average fitness, walking everywhere is the best option. They can, however, buy a one day ticket or even just pay the driver on the tram.

Re cost of living. When I was there for school for 5 months while in college, everyone from other part of the US thought it was a very expensive place to live. Coming from DC I thought it was about equal to things around here, so depends if you are from a big expensive city.