VIENNA
AUSTRIA
“Dream on, but don’t imagine they’ll all come true. When will you realize… Vienna waits for you.”
– Billy Joel
Vienna is the capital of the Republic of Austria and by far its most populous city, with an urban population of 1.9 million and a metropolitan population of 2.4 million. It is the country's artistic, cultural, economic and political centre. It is known for its high living standards, relaxed yet elegant lifestyle and rich musical life.
The thing about Vienna is that it not only is a large city, but that it has always been – as the former home of the Habsburg court and its various empires, it has always housed a large population and enjoyed a privileged position, being home to many artists, especially composers including Beethoven, Haydn, Liszt, Mozart, Schubert and Johann Strauss II. It was long the largest German-speaking city in the world before being surpassed by Berlin. The large historic city centre of Vienna filled with monuments to its imperial past is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
CULTURE
Our cultural highlights in Vienna
Vienna has offered a home to some of the world’s most famous people, including powerful monarchs, giants of classical music, groundbreaking scientists, and celebrated artists. Follow in the footsteps of various personalities with the below guides…
ON THE TRAIL OF FAMOUS VIENNESE
Vienna has offered a home to some of the world’s most famous people, including powerful monarchs, giants of classical music, groundbreaking scientists, and celebrated artists. To get closer to the likes of Beethoven and Mahler, try these guides…
- The Habsburgs - Many major locations in the city centre are Habsburg-related, but the palace tours at Schönbrunn and the Hofburg offer a particularly close look at the lives of the more notable representatives of this centuries-old dynasty.
- Mozart – See photos and detailed notes on the Mozartwohnung and other places he lived, venues he played in, the Mozarthaus museum, monuments, memorials, and even his grave.
- Haydn – Although long-employed by a court outside of the city, Haydn still lived and worked in Vienna for many years. See the Haydn House, monuments, and the famous mechanical clock that has Haydn in a starring role.
- Schubert – Discover all the landmarks associated with the life of Franz Schubert, including his birthplace, the house he died in, various residences, and even a Schubert lime tree.
- Klimt- Perhaps no other artist is more closely associated with Vienna. Head to Upper Belvedere to see The Kiss.
- Schiele- Visit the Leopold Museum, home to the most important Schiele collection.
SIGHTSEEING IN VIENNA
It’s quite hard to discover anywhere in central Vienna that doesn’t have something worth pointing at while going “Ooooh”. Very famous sights are:
- Schönbrunn – The astonishing summer palace of the Habsburgs, with a surrounding park and numerous surprises for the visitor
- Belvedere – Art lovers, in particular, will enjoy the Belvedere complex and surrounding area, full of Baroque palaces, gardens and art collections
- Prater – The Prater is a huge parkland area and entertainment complex popular with locals
- Stephansdom cathedral - Stephansdom cathedral which dominates the city center landscape is free to go partway inside
- Albertina- A palace and renowned art museum
The Palace of Schönbrunn
The Palace of Belvedere
The Ferris wheel
CUISINE
Our most favourite restaurants in Vienna
The Habsburg’s capital city adopted a range of delights from the imperial regions and vanquished enemies, then threw in its own creations to produce what we know as traditional Viennese food and beverages. So, if you want to go native, what should you eat and drink in Vienna?
MAIN COURSES
You might have heard of Wiener Schnitzel pork cutlets, which are the bread and butter of the Viennese meat-eating diet. But traditional local fare also includes many other delights. For example:
- Tafelspitz – a boiled beef dish and a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph
- Knödel – various dumpling-like items you find in your soup or as a side with hearty meat dishes
- The ubiquitous sausages – sold at booths around the town and at any sporting event. The queen of the sausages is the Käsekrainer
OUR TIPP: STEAKBRUNCH IM DISTRIKT
DESSERTS
Traditional Viennese food tends to focus on the final moments of the meal: the desserts. For example Kaiserschmarrn: shredded pancake with plum compote. Or sweet dumplings like Marillenknödel. Other very famous desserts are:
- The Sachertorte – the legendary chocolate cake invented at the house of Prince Metternich
- The Gugelhupf – a marbled cake with a distinctive ring-shape. Yet another dish associated with the Kaiser
- The Imperial Torte – another chocolate cake and another connection to Franz Joseph, whose visit to the opening of a hotel prompted the cake’s creation
OUR TIPP: Café Himmelblau
NIGHTLIFE
Our favourite locations to go out in Vienna
Apart from losing venues like Die Kantine, Café Leopold, and Ragnarhof due to closing last year, Vienna’s club scene is still at the top of its game, thriving and ever-vibrant. Find out more about the places to go at night to have drinks with friends, sweat heavily while dancing to great music, encounter strangers and a high chance to lose your pants in.
FLEX
As one of Vienna’s first clubs, and a nightlife legend ever since, she hasn’t lost any of her bad-ass attitude, or taste for the party. After 20 years, the event venue/underground party location still delivers the goods, attracting international music acts, and producing severe memory lapses. And it still looks like the dark insides of a cocaine addict’s nostril.
Music: the Flex Café plays ambient electronic music, that gets you in the mood for more and sometimes features live concerts on their small stage. Inside the Flex Club, you’ll experience all kinds of electronic music blasted on the sound system (once rumoured to be Europe’s best). It’s most famous for hosting small concerts from rap, indie rock, hip hop and all other kinds of music that will make you want to jump around a whole lot and get really sweaty.
What kind of night will you have?
Their outdoor sea of black chewing-gum ridden bench seats and tables is the site of Vorglühen (pre-game drinks) for many. That is, until the time comes for Flex to swallow them whole into one of its sweaty parties inside. It’s not uncommon to find yourself spat out at 6am, walking home watching the sunrise after an evening at the Flex.ainer
OUR TIPP: FLEX Club Nacht
PRATERSAUNA
Pratersauna is one legendary Viennese night club, situated in the midst of Prater in an old sauna and swinger club from the 1960s. The club was opened in 2009 and closed in early 2016 for renovation. Reopening a few months later with a new owners and management, it still features several floors that offer weekly and monthly House, Electronic and Techno music parties. Plus, a pool in the garden is the highlight whenever you come here in summer months.
Music: You’ll find electronic music DJs lines that feature the newest and hippest releases from House, Techno and Minimal music.
Drinks: Find all the usual suspects that you find at a club, from longdrinks to shots, beer and wine, as well as soft drinks.
What kind of night will you have?
At Pratersauna you will have long nights that involve a lot of dancing, sweating and meeting new people to have either a good time with, or the strangest night of your life.
OUR TIPP: Pratersauna Club Night
OUTDOOR
Hiking in and around Vienna
All of the hiking paths laid out by the Municipal Department 49 - City's Forestry Office are well signposted and accessible by public transport. They are properly kept and secured regularly, disposing of a high level of infrastructure for your convenience. There are children's playgrounds along the way, as well as picnic tables and seating with fabulous views or nearby wood glades.
In the following we introduce you some of the most popular hiking paths around Vienna:
- City hiking path 1: Kahlenberg
- City hiking path 2: Hermannskogel
- City hiking path 3: Hameau
- City hiking path 4: Jubiläumswarte
- City hiking path 5: Bisamberg