Vienna Opera house. Would we feel out of place ?

Hi, I was just in Vienna the last week of September and attended the opera. I was in black hiking pants (they looked like regular pants), and a light blouse. Definitely a range of fashion there. It was warm inside so I was very happy I had a light top on. Someone else can speak to what it would be like inside temperature-wise in December.

Enjoy!

Sat in an upper tier box there last year, wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt in early April, no comments, did not feel out of place. Same as I wear at our Philadelphia Orchestra subscription seats at home. People are there to see the performance, not the audience. And, yes, you can walk the halls beforehand.

Vienna says no undershirt and no way too short shorts and no hats that block views and I think no flip flops.

So basically tennis shoes, cargo shorts, Buc-ee's t-shirts and Bass Pro caps is okay.

Enjoy.

So basically tennis shoes, cargo shorts, Buc-ee's t-shirts and Bass Pro caps is okay.

Donning like that means reinforcing the locals' prejudices that American tourists are boors. (Another commonly observed no-no is talking loudly in public transport or restaurants.)

https://www.viennaconcerts.com/guide/vienna-concert-dress-code.php

Unless you are attending a gala opening night, or something along those lines, a nice shirt and pants will be fine. That's what my husband wore. Since you took the trouble to ask about what to wear, I seriously doubt you were even considering tennis shoes (not that anyone would notice), cargo shorts, Buc-ee's t-shirts and Bass Pro caps

I wore "a nice top" with some black jeans and didn't feel out of place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5W4k6vD2WY

Afterall you are far more important than the performers. Who cares whether they are comfortable or not.

I am relieved to discover objection to previous suggestions om this forum that all that is necessary is what is published in the dress code published by the opera (https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/practical-info/).

I would arrive in a sports coat at a minimum and expect a woman to dress in a manner at least complementary to that.

Funny, I was just saying we weren't going to wear formal wear, just elegant casual.
NOT SHORTS AND FLIP FLOPS

Opera was once the performing art of king and princes. Italians created in Venice around 1630 the first public opera house, where everybody paying a ticket could attend the art of king and princes. During centuries opera has become a meeting point for the aristocracy and rich middle class in the stalls, and ordinary people in orchestra seats (only recently orchestra seats have become expensive places).
In Germanic countries opera is still a popular entertainment, and most older people will dress their best to attend; actually, half of the entertainment is having an occasion of dressing up. Underdressed people mostly belong to two categories: intellectuals that take pleasure in breaking rules and people not frequently attending that ignore the rules.
By the way, if you have a look to local clothing stores, you will notice that even relatively cheap stores have a section with ladies' gowns and cocktail dresses as opera, concerts (and in Vienna balls) create social occasions.

A side story. I am Italian but I spend my holidays in Austria. Once I was going with my wife to opera in Innsbruck; we were dressed in black. As we approach the house, a passing group of Italian tourists began commenting on us, thinking we would not understand. "Look at the Austrians going to the opera!"

Good, cause flip flops are in the short list of banned apparel.

Im not sure what elegant casual is. My point was that according to the Vienna Opera organization you can pretty much wear what ever you want .... well, except flip flops.

Its only slightly more controlled here. So given a choice I go on evenings that were heavily sold as season tickets, and even then in the expensive seats. Season tickets and expensive seats means mostly locals and the locals generally have more class than tourists.

The theater or opera or a classic concert is an excellent use of time. I suspect you will enjoy it.

I meant khaki pants and a blazer.
I am not a fan of wearing a suit in a warm room.
Puts me to sleep.
Now to figure out where to have a light meal before or after opera.
Thanks for your help !

Now to figure out where to have a light meal before or after opera.

A sausage outside at Bitzinger Würstelstand Albertina - just one of several stands in the vicinity.

Edited to add: Or book a table inside the opera for a snack at the first intermission,

You would be out of place in formal wear.

My top tips for the Opera - 1) pre-order an intermission drink and nibble from the Opera website through Gerstner; 2) buy one of the posters for that night's show from the usher before you leave for a few Euro, great souvenir.

Dinner before? I recommend Palmenhaus.

You would be out of place in formal wear.

You are never out of place in formal wear. Better to be overdressed than underdressed.

jdos59, exactly what I wear. But thats the norm for locals my age where I live (Budapest).

Meals with the Opera are always tough because of the hours involved. Starts at 6 or 7 so dinner is too early and ends at 9 or 10 so dinner is too late. We are lucky here as we have a nice place next door that works with the hours. Listen to Emily. She is very good.

Just to share an additional experience- we went many years ago (in the standing area you buy on the day!) and wore "business casual"- basically nice trousers and a nice top, the way I would dress going into the office. Others around us seemed to be dressed similarly.