Health and Wellness as a Study Abroad Student in Vienna

Four months is not an insignificant amount of time to be away from your go-to healthy snacks at Trader Joe’s, the technologically advanced equipment in your college gym, and daily college sports matches. But to all my fellow health and wellness enthusiasts: fear not! Because while Vienna is an ever-growing metropolitan, it has plenty to offer for those who want to find ways to get active. 

Here are ways you can prioritize your health and well-being while studying abroad in Vienna (in between all the weekend traveling and sightseeing): 

Running , Walking, & Hiking 

Like most cities in Europe, Vienna is super walkable! Most IES Abroad Vienna students will be only about a 30-minute walk from their residences to the IES Abroad Center. While public transport here is extremely safe and reliable, walking home after class has been a great way for me to familiarize myself with the city better—especially in the winter when the Christmas lights illuminate every walkway! 

If you find yourself living in the 1st or 2nd district, you’re only a five to ten minute walk from Prater Hauptallee, one of the greenest urban parks in the world. Ponds, trees, and trails make this the ideal location for running, walking, biking, and other outdoor activities. I head on over to the Prater whenever I’m in the mood for a long and relaxing run away from the city traffic. There are also always other runners and cyclists around you, making it a prime spot for fitness enthusiasts. And for a change of scenery, run along the Danube Canal instead. 

One of my favorite days in Vienna so far has been when I hiked in the 19th District! The Stadtwanderweg 1a is an 11km hike that starts at the Danube waterfront and runs through the Kahlenberg hill. At the top is the famous Leopoldsberg Church, a stately structure that grants a lofty view over Vienna and the river.  You can also relax at a cozy wine tavern along the way to take in the spectacle and flavors of the vineyards below. This is a must-do for all nature lovers! 

Gym Memberships

Here’s a pro-tip I picked up from my VCA (Vienna Cultural Assistant): While most gyms will only offer one-year membership contracts, these contracts tend to have a clause allowing for the termination of your membership if you happen to move away. Simply put, you may be able to save on quite a few big bucks since one year memberships paid in monthly installments are the most cost-friendly. 

Another option is to get a membership at Fitnessclub Heimlich, a gym that partners with IES Abroad to offer discounted rates to IES Abroad students. This is a great option especially if you need weekly passes (as opposed to monthly ones). 

And finally, many of us are placed in buildings with free-of-cost gyms! (Something to look out for when you’re looking into housing options in Vienna).  I, for one, was ecstatic to find myself in the homeland of THE Arnold Schwarzenegger. 

Cooking! 

In all candor, you don’t really have too much of an option with this one. IES Abroad students don’t have “meal plans”, but rather access to kitchens/kitchenettes to cook their own meals. The best way to look at this is as an opportunity to get away from overtly fatty food options in your college dining halls and buy organic ingredients to make home-cooked meals. Not to mention that grocery stores always tend to be in close proximity to residential buildings. As somebody who had to teach themselves how to cook this semester, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to take better control of my nutrition.  

Playing a Sport 

For all my athletes out there, you do not have to give up on playing your sport while abroad in Vienna. IES Abroad offers students the opportunity to enroll in courses at Vienna's Sports University Institute—whether it be dance or basketball. You can keep your athletic skills sharpened while honing your grasp on the German language through interactions with Austrian students. Personally speaking, my friends have immensely valued being able to play frisbee or soccer even so far away from home! 

Reaching Out in Times of Need 

It’s important to remember that your mental well-being is just as important as your physical one, if not more. IES Abroad provides mental health resources by connecting you to a “Go-To Therapist” and providing emergency resources such as numbers for crisis hotlines. This is overseen by the IES Abroad Health and Safety Team which does a wonderful job of meeting your needs—whether they be physical or mental. 

Remember that being thousands of miles away from home does not mean that you don’t have resources and support systems to get you through tougher times.