Culture & Etiquette in Kitzbühel

Good to Know

• Punctuality is highly valued in Austria; being on time for meetings, appointments, and social gatherings is expected, and deadlines are expected to be met with little leeway.
• Always greet sales staff when entering and leaving a shop as a mark of respect and politeness.
• Queuing is very much a part of daily life due to the rigid formality of Austrian culture; make sure to fall in line, otherwise you could be in for some stern words and dirty looks.
• When invited to visit someone's home, guests are usually expected to bring flowers, chocolates, alcohol, or a small gift, but gifts should be moderate in price and not lavish or excessive.
• Give flowers in odd numbers only—an even number means bad luck in Austria.
• Titles are very important in Austrian culture; address everyone by their appropriate titles and last names until that person explicitly invites you to use their first name.
• Kitzbühel's Schützenverein fires honor salvos twice during the Corpus Christi procession, a tradition rooted in the Tyrolean fight for freedom in 1809, representing loyalty to the homeland and the struggle under Andreas Hofer.
• Kitzbühel's traditional costume society, 'Landsturmgruppe 1809,' has preserved traditional Tyrolean costumes and customs since the 1860s, with today's 204 members appearing at church occasions and cultural celebrations to ensure traditions are not forgotten.
• Austrians regard privacy highly; it's important not to ask personal questions unless you know the person well, and topics like income, religion, and politics should be avoided in casual conversations.
• Austrians tend to be very direct and honest, tempered with subtle, often cynical humor, and they don't tend to ask personal questions until they know you quite well.