Should you dress like Cinderella (or her Prince) if you’ve seats or standing tickets for one of Vienna’s opera houses?
The short answer is you can, but you don’t have to.
- Book a classical concert* in Vienna
- See also:
What’s “appropriate”?
(What to wear inside the famous and magnificent State Opera House?)
Obviously, check with the opera house in question for the latest requirements. But at the time of writing, here’s what Vienna’s three main locations have to say…
- The Staatsoper (state opera house) has some house rules for you that respect the surrounding elegance. For example, bare feet or flipflops may see you refused entry
- The Volksoper states in its FAQ that it has no specific dress code, though they welcome suitable attire. You should exercise common sense, of course. Swimwear might lead to some unfavourably raised eyebrows
- I couldn’t find information for the Theatre an der Wien
However, getting through the door is not your only worry when it comes to clothes.
If you’re wearing “normal” jeans and a t-shirt, for example, you won’t get thrown out of anywhere, and you certainly won’t be alone, either, especially if you’re in a standing space section.
Having said that, you might not be viewed with unbridled joy by some of the better-dressed visitors, particularly at the Staatsoper.
My advice on what to wear: simply dress as if you were going for a nice evening out to a good restaurant and don’t worry about it. I say more or less the same for classical concerts.
As a man, for example, I wear decent trousers, shoes (even, sometimes, trainers) and a polo shirt or a shirt with a collar. I’ve worn a sports jacket on rare occasions but never a tie, since these are the invention of Beelzebub; I have yet to get anything other than neutral looks.
Summary: whatever you feel comfortable in, but respects the operatic ambience.
Of course, if you want to pull out all the stops, by all means put on an evening gown or dinner jacket. You won’t be alone.
A night at the opera is, after all, a night at the opera. Drinking a glass of sparkling wine in the interval while dressed up in the magnificent surrounds of the Staatsoper makes for a great Viennese experience.
Two exceptions to these broad tips:
- If you’re lucky enough to be at a premiere or other one-off occasion, then dress up for it: expectations are higher. And the Opernball opera ball at the Staatsoper has its own rules, of course
- If you’re in the standing sections at the opera, public expectations of dress are lower than for the seats. However, the Staatsoper basic requirements (see link above) still apply. If you wouldn’t wear it to visit a church in Rome, don’t wear it to the opera in Vienna
Enjoy the performance! (And maybe add another course to your Viennese cultural feast with a classical concert in a historical venue.)