Austria is a country of not even 9 million people. It is located in Central Europe and is often overlooked or even confused as being a part of its more populous and well-known neighbour, Germany. The official language of Austria even happens to be German, though the dialects differ regionally.
Why then, are so many people looking to relocate to Austria via the Austria job-seeker visa? According to the quality of life index, an annual survey of what type of amenities and benefits the average person can expect to enjoy while living in a given place, Austria consistently ranks among the best places to live.
It is not that Austria is only one of the region’s best countries to live in, but it is among the countries with the highest expected quality of life on Earth. It is no reason then, why it is seeing a renaissance of sorts in international perception.
How is Austria’s Economy?
One of the key questions that people will want answered about a prospective new home is if the local economy can support them. Even if the professional world is increasingly being moved to the digital sector, a strong economy will be more appealing for someone who is considering making a move to a new country.
In that respect, Austria must be one of the best places to live in Europe. The alpine nation enjoys a consistently strong economy that has been stable for decades, especially since they joined the European Union in 1995 to further bolster their prospects.
While a majority of the strong industries are still rooted in manufacturing, there is enough diversity in the areas of tourism, luxury goods, and the arts to support people relocating from a wide variety of professional fields.
Vienna is Still an Exciting Capital City
Towards the end of the 19th century and leading all the way up to WWI, Vienna ranked among Europe’s most fashionable and important capital cities. In fact, Vienna was mentioned alongside cultural stalwarts like Paris and Rome, as it attracted and produced some of the most important artists, intellectuals, musicians, and writers.
Despite losing some of its sheen due to its central location and involvement in both World Wars, Vienna has managed to remain relevant. It acts as a crucial and influential hub, playing home to a vibrant art scene that both pays homage to its past with the iconic Leopold Museum and represents a beacon for today’s artists.
Not just the arts: Food and drinks
The Austrian capital isn’t just a good place to live because it has a sturdy economy and acts as a center for the arts. It is also an exciting place to eat and drink as it sits at the crossroads of Central Europe and is influenced by its neighbors in creating Austria’s own cuisine.
Austria is perhaps best known for its production of wine, although they may not be mentioned in the same category as French, Italian, or Spanish wines. That perception is largely due to the amount of production it puts into the international market as it simply can not compete with those much larger countries.
However, Vienna takes great pride in this aspect of its culture and is brimming with wine bars and modern restaurants. They provide tourists and residents alike with plenty of places to enjoy this underrated aspect of Austrian and Viennese culture.
What About the Other Cities
Oftentimes, countries are inextricable from the perception their capital city holds. It is not that people are unaware that other places exist, it is just difficult to learn about the nuances of every single country.
In the case of Austria, the list of other attractive places both to live and visit is extensive both in cultural diversity and in geography.
Living in smaller cities
Being a lesser populated country, Austria does not feature a second city with a substantial population. In fact, Graz, Salzburg, and Linz all have populations under half a million people. What they lack in size, they make up for in culture.
Salzburg, in particular, is a popular city for immigrants to settle in. The baroque city has dramatic architecture built into a mountainside and as it was the birthplace of Mozart, there are vibrant activities throughout the year, making it an attractive place to live for people who are not in search of the big city experience of Vienna.
A skier’s paradise
The fifth-largest city in Austria is perhaps its most famous. Innsbruck, located in the west of Austria, is one of the most idyllic ski resort towns in all of Europe. In the summer months, it becomes a beautiful place to hike and explore the local mountains.
For anyone who loves the outdoors and is looking for a more quiet and nature-centric lifestyle, or for someone who wants to get out of their comfort zone, Innsbruck is a place to watch.
