https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Lower Austria has presented a stricter integration code and Austria’s groundwater is under growing climate pressure, plus more stories from Austria on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.at/20260519/today-in-austria-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-241 Tue, 19 May 2026 07:18:42 +0200 today-in-austria-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-tuesday-241 The number of people refused entry to the EU and Schengen area has risen dramatically, according to new statistics, while thousands of US, UK and Indian nationals have been found to be illegally present in EU/Schengen countries. https://www.thelocal.at/20260518/trend-will-continue-number-of-people-refused-entry-to-europe-on-the-rise Mon, 18 May 2026 15:58:26 +0200 trend-will-continue-number-of-people-refused-entry-to-europe-on-the-rise Some German expressions are blunt enough that you understand the mood before you understand every word. Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof is one of them: a dry way to say that life isn’t always easy, comfortable or fair. https://www.thelocal.at/20260518/german-expression-of-the-day-das-leben-ist-kein-ponyhof Mon, 18 May 2026 16:38:09 +0200 german-expression-of-the-day-das-leben-ist-kein-ponyhof Austria is planning to stretch the inspection intervals for many vehicles, meaning drivers could need fewer Pickerl checks during the first ten years after a car is registered. https://www.thelocal.at/20260518/how-austrias-planned-new-pickerl-rules-could-save-drivers-time-and-money Mon, 18 May 2026 15:21:48 +0200 how-austrias-planned-new-pickerl-rules-could-save-drivers-time-and-money As temperatures rise, Austria’s lakes become some of the best places to spend a day off. For people in Vienna, that does not have to mean staying on the Donauinsel or around the Alte Donau. https://www.thelocal.at/20240320/4-beautiful-lakes-you-can-easily-reach-from-vienna-by-public-transport Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:12:08 +0100 4-beautiful-lakes-you-can-easily-reach-from-vienna-by-public-transport Austria saw a 21.2 percent rise in the number of people gaining citizenship in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year. We spoke to an immigration lawyer to look at the reasons behind the increase. https://www.thelocal.at/20260518/whats-behind-the-rise-of-naturalisations-in-austria Mon, 18 May 2026 11:53:00 +0200 whats-behind-the-rise-of-naturalisations-in-austria Travellers heading from Austria to Italy on Monday should check their connections carefully, as a nationwide strike is expected to cause major disruption to rail and local public transport. https://www.thelocal.at/20260518/what-travellers-in-austria-need-to-know-about-italys-transport-strike-on-monday Mon, 18 May 2026 10:26:17 +0200 what-travellers-in-austria-need-to-know-about-italys-transport-strike-on-monday Austrian residents raising children are eligible for family allowance, a monthly payment to help with child costs. But how much can you receive and how do you get the payments? https://www.thelocal.at/20240913/familienbeihilfe-how-can-i-get-austrias-family-allowance-payments Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:06:31 +0200 familienbeihilfe-how-can-i-get-austrias-family-allowance-payments Vienna has wrapped up Eurovision week with strong visitor and TV figures, and TEDi has recalled a backpack sold in Austria, plus more stories from Austria on Monday. https://www.thelocal.at/20260518/today-in-austria-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-monday-229 Mon, 18 May 2026 07:12:08 +0200 today-in-austria-a-roundup-of-the-latest-news-on-monday-229 Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday with Dara's catchy floor-filler "Bangaranga" sweeping the 70th edition of the world's biggest live televised music event and pushing into second place Israel, whose participation had triggered a major boycott. https://www.thelocal.at/20260517/bulgarias-bangaranga-wins-eurovision-with-israel-second Sun, 17 May 2026 10:44:45 +0200 bulgarias-bangaranga-wins-eurovision-with-israel-second Most of Vienna shuts down on Sundays, but a few stations, malls and cafés stay open. Here’s where to grab essentials if your fridge is empty. https://www.thelocal.at/20251128/where-you-can-still-buy-food-in-vienna-on-a-sunday Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:07:13 +0100 where-you-can-still-buy-food-in-vienna-on-a-sunday When the weather improves in Austria, cities can empty out surprisingly quickly at the weekend. Many people head for a lake, forest, vineyard or hiking trail - in other words, they fahren ins Grüne. https://www.thelocal.at/20260512/german-expression-of-the-day-ins-grune-fahren Tue, 12 May 2026 16:27:07 +0200 german-expression-of-the-day-ins-grune-fahren Just because you work in Austria's capital Vienna, it does not mean that you have to live there. There are many beautiful and affordable towns just a short commute away. https://www.thelocal.at/20240515/compare-the-best-commuter-towns-if-you-work-in-vienna Wed, 15 May 2024 15:06:52 +0200 compare-the-best-commuter-towns-if-you-work-in-vienna If you plan on travelling, you might wonder if you can use your Austrian e-card or public health insurance abroad. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.at/20240514/will-my-austrian-health-insurance-pay-for-medical-expenses-abroad Tue, 14 May 2024 15:47:19 +0200 will-my-austrian-health-insurance-pay-for-medical-expenses-abroad It's not easy finding an apartment or house in Austria, but once you do, make sure you have all the proper papers so you don't hamper your chances of getting it. https://www.thelocal.at/20220408/explained-which-documents-do-you-need-to-rent-a-flat-in-austria Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:50:18 +0200 explained-which-documents-do-you-need-to-rent-a-flat-in-austria New data on spending trends in Austria has revealed what residents are doing with their hard-earned income and how spending power depends very much ion where you live. https://www.thelocal.at/20260305/in-numbers-whats-a-normal-monthly-budget-in-austria-in-2026 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:21:55 +0100 in-numbers-whats-a-normal-monthly-budget-in-austria-in-2026 Austria is planning a reform to the Matura – the nationwide school-leaving exams – set to take effect from 2027. https://www.thelocal.at/20260515/the-planned-changes-to-austrias-school-leaving-exams Fri, 15 May 2026 16:29:29 +0200 the-planned-changes-to-austrias-school-leaving-exams A ballad from Australian star Delta Goodrem and a Danish ode to clubbing will fill the airwaves in Saturday's Eurovision grand final in Vienna after making it through the second semi-final. https://www.thelocal.at/20260515/what-to-know-about-the-eurovision-grand-final-in-vienna Fri, 15 May 2026 14:39:39 +0200 what-to-know-about-the-eurovision-grand-final-in-vienna Foreigners who plan on spending several years in Austria often wonder whether they should aim to become a permanent resident or Austrian. We weigh up the pros and cons of each. https://www.thelocal.at/20260515/is-it-best-to-aim-for-permanent-residency-or-citizenship-in-austria Fri, 15 May 2026 12:56:00 +0200 is-it-best-to-aim-for-permanent-residency-or-citizenship-in-austria German has more than one special word for the practice of taking a day off to make the most out of public holidays that fall close to a weekend. But which word should you use? That depends a bit on where you are. https://www.thelocal.at/20230406/bruckentag-fenstertag-or-zwickeltag-all-the-german-words-for-getting-longer-holiday-weekends Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:32:04 +0200 bruckentag-fenstertag-or-zwickeltag-all-the-german-words-for-getting-longer-holiday-weekends