Every Erasmus guide covers the obvious things, visa, insurance, language course. Here is the honest list that nobody mentions, but every Erasmus student knows within two weeks.
Over the past seven years we've had more than forty Erasmus and international students staying with us. The same three topics come up every time and none of them are in the official welcome brochure.
Before you arrive. The essentials
Meldezettel (registration). You are required to register in Vienna as soon as you've been there for more than three days. You'll need your passport and a Meldezettel form that your landlord must sign. If you're staying with LAROGY, we handle this automatically. If you're renting privately, ask about it proactively, some primary tenants forget.
Bank account. An Austrian account makes a lot of things easier. Rent, phone contracts, insurance. Easybank or N26 (with a German IBAN) is sufficient in 90% of cases. If you want a genuine Austrian account. Erste Bank's "free Konto" student current account.
Phone. Wi-Fi is everywhere, but a data plan is useful for maps. Bob (budget operator, €10/month), Yesss (similarly cheap), or spusu for more data. No contract needed, just buy a SIM in a Spar or Hofer.
Metro pass. The Wiener Linien semester ticket costs €70 per semester and is valid for all public transport within the city. Apply via the Wiener Linien website with proof of enrolment. Activate via the "WienMobil" app.
What everyone knows three days later
On Sundays everything is closed. Really, everything. Only emergency pharmacies are open. Supermarkets. The Billa and Spar at Hauptbahnhof, Praterstern, and Wien Mitte are the only exceptions (until around 10 pm). Plan your weekly shop on Saturday.
Paying by card. Works almost everywhere, but small cafés and markets are often cash only. Always carry €20–30 in notes.
Bread. Austrian bread is different from German bread, sourer, denser, often better. Bakeries. Joseph Brot, Felzl, Öfferl. The Turkish baker's sesame bread is also a category of its own.
English is fine. Almost everyone in Vienna speaks English. If you're learning German, great but don't stress yourself in the first few weeks. It comes naturally.
Where to live in Vienna?
Erasmus halls of residence are affordable but noisy and often on the outskirts. If you have the budget, your own apartment makes an enormous difference. Being able to study without disturbance means better essays, better sleep, and a more fulfilling semester.
Good districts for students. 2nd (Leopoldstadt, lively), 7th (Neubau, lots of students), 8th (Josefstadt, quiet and central), 15th (Rudolfsheim/Nibelungen, less touristy, more real Vienna). University districts such as the 9th are expensive.
Avoid. Too far out (12th, 13th, 23rd), too touristy (1st district, the twelfth landlord is charging the twelfth margin).
What to pack
Adapter. Austria uses Schuko plugs (same as Germany). If you're coming from the UK or US, pack an adapter.
Warm clothing. Vienna winters are cold. Below-freezing temperatures are normal. A proper winter coat, gloves, hat. People coming from southern countries often underestimate this.
Your favourite tea, your favourite muesli. Whatever you eat every morning and don't want to be without, pack it. Austrian supermarkets are good, but your favourite Yogi Tea might not be here.
Coffee machine. Don't bring one. We have an espresso machine. Most Erasmus flat-shares do too. If not, Vienna is a café city; breakfast out costs €5.
What you don't need to bring
Bed linen, towels, pans, a toaster. If you're living in a furnished flat (at LAROGY or similar), all of that is provided. Anyone who can arrive with a 32-litre rucksack has an easier time of it and buys the few missing things here on the spot.
Before your first lecture
Do one practice run. Travel from your flat to the university and back by metro. See how long it takes. Note where you change lines. Then build in a 15-minute buffer. The Vienna metro is usually on time, but busy in the mornings.
And check what's open near your university on Sunday mornings. You'll be surprised how often you need it.