Austrian News

Austria’s road users will soon face noticeable changes. The government is pushing forward a comprehensive reform of the country’s Road Traffic Act (StVO), introducing stricter rules for e‑scooters, updated regulations for e‑mopeds, and clearer data‑protection standards. The revised law is expected to take effect in May. Infrastructure Minister Peter Hanke (SPÖ) calls the reform a “milestone for transport in Austria.” E‑scooter riders will feel the impact most: carrying additional passengers or transporting objects will be banned, and the legal alcohol limit will drop from 0.8 to 0.5 per mille. Helmets…

Vienna currently has 402,877 residents with a parking permit (Parkpickerl). Four years after the city introduced the citywide short-term parking zone, a major wave of renewals is coming at the end of February. A total of 80,429 permits will expire, although 32,422 have already been renewed. The districts most affected are Hietzing, Floridsdorf, Donaustadt, and Liesing. This means that more than 48,000 permits still have no renewal application submitted. District offices are urging residents to apply for a new permit in time to avoid potential fines. Experience shows that many…

Spring‑like warmth is spreading across Austria, raising the question many are now asking: Is spring arriving early this year? Recent forecasts point to unusually mild temperatures, abundant sunshine and only weak winds — conditions that feel more like late March than late February. Large parts of Austria are experiencing bright, calm weather. In the Danube region and the eastern lowlands, morning fog persists longer than usual, but it gradually dissolves as the day progresses. Away from these fog zones, skies remain mostly clear with only a few high clouds. Afternoon…

The Vienna General Hospital (AKH Wien) and the university clinics it operates together with the Medical University of Vienna have reached 20th place in the World’s Best Hospitals 2026 ranking, moving up seven spots compared to last year. The ranking is commissioned by Newsweek and compiled in cooperation with data provider Statista. Strong improvement in global comparison After placing 27th the previous year, AKH Wien/MedUni Wien has now advanced into the top 20, positioning itself among the leading hospitals worldwide. The result highlights the close integration of patient care, research,…

Austria entered 2026 with a noticeable cooling of inflation, offering a rare moment of relief after years of elevated price pressures. Consumer prices rose by just 2.0 percent in January, a sharp slowdown from December’s 3.8 percent, Statistics Austria confirmed on Wednesday. Month-on-month, prices even declined by 0.7 percent. The eurozone, too, saw easing inflation, with Eurostat reporting a rate of 1.7 percent. One factor dominated the shift: electricity prices. A year ago, the end of Austria’s electricity price cap had triggered a surge in household energy bills. This January,…