Is Vienna The Worst City For Making Friends?

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• Thats a very good video and sums up the feeling that lots of Internationals and austrians with international mindest have. Everytime i come back to my hometown vienna I feel a kind of sadness that Im back in my cold and egoistic country where there is not even a random smile but somehow aggressiveness if you stay on the wrong part of the elevator or you need a little bit longer to pay your grocery’s in the line. Also this reflects the political choices where people live in a country where they have everything from social housing and good health care and culture (most liveable city in the world) but still vote far right political to the top because they have the „feeling“ that the city is going down which is absolutely not the fact.

• To me, Austrians can make friends, no matter what. They can interact with who they meet and talk to. When they come to New York, they will make friends. 😀

• I hate to say it - but being Viennese i HAVE to say it straight: If you can't find friends in a city of 2 million people or a metropolitan region of roundabout 3 million....
  It might be you😛 just saying...

• I am natural born Viennese and when I had to deal with expats I often had the impression, that they were not too much interested to get contacts outside of their international bubble.

• As an Austrian who is introverted but also extroverted sometimes I meet a lot of strangers. I do have to say they can be overwhelming. It’s like when you open up a little they want it all. And you become their daily guide, entertainer and problem solver for everything in a second. They don’t see that you have a job, family or other responsibilities. In return you get nothing back instead of feeling exhausted. I sometimes wonder if it’s so easy for them to make friends with other strangers. Why don’t they invite me to their meet ups. Why don’t they try to entertain me a little. Teach me how to be more social and small talk able? — That’s a very general prejudice. People are different. Two Rumanians I know became something I would consider friends. But it took time and certainly me knowing I can trust them. It’s not a one way street. So, I can claim that it’s possible to make friends in Vienna. And that it’s difficult marking friends in general. It’s easier when in a group setting like school or maybe university for a longer period. Once out from such organisations it’s getting even tougher.

  • Yes thats the point exactly many times. You show them a little friendliness and they kick in your door. Thats likely what happened to the indian girl in the video that complained about being ghosted. I think these foreigners may too desperately be seeking for friends and in the process scaring away the careful viennese people.

• As an Austrian, I have to say that these interviews are not representative. Whether you find friends depends a lot on yourself, how old you are, whether you work in a company with a lot of people your own age, whether you actively go to parties and festivals. 
  There are many prejudices among Austrians against foreigners and there are also many prejudices against Austrians, as I can read here in the forum.
  To find friends here, you have to be active.
  Nevertheless, real friendships with Austrians are not superficial.

  • I've never met anyone who has prejudices against Austrians.

• As a person from ireland whos been living in central europe for years

  Id definitely say vienna folks are on the friendlier side by german standards honestly,

  I suspect the issue is more so that spontaneous contact is less desired here and vienna is very urban, i.e don't bother people on the street please.
  Vienna folks however are lovely if you chat them up in a bar or a social place like that, where its appropriate to meet folks, ive had no problems getting social media contacts etc for new friends via bar hops like this, there are also alot of social outings/groups, like the wine hikes too.

  • Indeed, but nothing compared to the Irish.

• Wonderful video❤

• After living 11 years here (not in Vienna but in Austria), I have gathered as many Austrian friends as foreign ones. Still, indeed, the first years were not the easiest, also because getting friends in a busy adult life is, in most cases, already complicated. The main reason is that Austrians like to stuff their schedule with activities, leaving limited time for unplanned events and, since culturally they should be welcoming to friends, they would feel weird to introduce you to people you don't know as they see that as awkward - they don't even introduce their school friends to their working friends for the same reason.

  How to crack the code?
  - Be proactive in organizing events ahead and invite people - especially sportive activities as Austrians like them and feel like it is a safe space (if they do not know what to say, they will just keep doing the activity);
  - Try new stuff that typically Austrian people like;
  - Invite them to your place first; they will feel complied to return back;
  - Open yourself and go deep into the conversations, and don't be scared to talk about topics that in your country are uncomfortable to talk about with your friends;

  Once you have an Austrian friend, they will be the best friends you have ever had! I wouldn't trade an Austrian friend for anything else nowadays: they are caring, are super spontaneous if you need their help, will remember important dates, and never forget about you.

  • Most adults lives are complicated yet in most countries that does not stop people from establishing friendships.

• As someone who has stayed in many countries. I have to say Austrians are some of the most humble, polite, and faithful people I’ve met. Yes, they may seem “introverts”. But that does not mean they are mean or they do not care about you. In fact, they are very caring people. I’ve stayed in countries where people seem very friendly but I’ve been scammed by people who I thought they were friends. Austrians would never do that. They never abuse you or ditch the plans like people from certain countries that considered “friendly” (I’m not going to say which ones)

  • Look at the election results last week. Still at least 30% are xenophobic. More like at least 60% if you don't impress them with $$$

  • @compashinpei I agree with you

  • A dog is faithful to yet try having a conversation with one.When you are an adult you choose a way to act and trying to say that's what we do is rubbish.