SEKAI Explorer Guide Vienna (2011)

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Table of Content:

• Districts

Innere Stadt

Inner East

Outer East

Inner South

Outer South

Inner West

Outer West

• Understand

History

Culture

Orientation

Climate

• Get in

By plane

Vienna International Airport

Airport transfer

Alternatives

Tax refund

Bratislava Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport

By train

From abroad

From Czech Republic

From Hungary

From Slovakia

From the East of Europe

By car

By bus

Austria

Balkans

Baltics

Czech Repbulic

Denmark

Germany

Hungary

Italy

Poland

Romania

Slovakia

Turkey

Ukraine

Long-Distance Tours

By boat

• Get around

Public transportation

Fares

Network

Rail

U-Bahn

Tram

Interurban

Bus

Night Services

By taxi

By car

By bicycle

On foot

Talk

• See

Museums

Castles and palaces

Religious buildings

Other attractions

• Do

• Buy

Shopping streets

Innere Stadt

Core districts

Outer districts

Clothes and shoes

Arts

Local luxuries

Malls

Duty-free shopping

Outdoor markets

Christmas markets

Charity sales

Groceries

• Eat

Street food

Budget

Mid-range

With children

Splurge

Ice cream

• Drink

Cafés

Coffee

Coffee houses

In the Innere Stadt

Outside the Innere Stadt

Chains

Water

Wine

Wine bars

Bars and beerhouses

Nightlife

Cafés and bars

MainstreamorAustro-Trash

Alternative

Queer

Indulgent

• Sleep

Budget

Hostels

Hotels

Mid-range

Hotels

Splurge

• Contact

Internet

Media

• Stay safe

• Cope

Embassies

• Get out

Districts

- Innere Stadt

- Inner East — Leopoldstadt(2), Brigettenau(20)

- Outer East — Florisdorf(21), Donaustadt(22)

- Inner South — Landstraße(3), Wieden(4), Margareten(5), Meidling(12)

- Outer South — Favoriten(10), Simmering(11), Liesing (23)

- Inner West — Mariahilf(6), Neubau(7), Josephstadt(8), Alsergrund(9)

- Outer West — Hietzing(13), Penzing(14), Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus(15), Ottakring(16), Hernals(17), Währing(18) & Döbling(19)

Understand

History

The low-lying Danube plain in and around what is now Vienna has had a human population since at least the late Paleolithic: one of the city's most famous artifacts, the 24,000-year-old Venus of Willendorf, now in Vienna's Natural History Museum, was found nearby. Vienna's own recorded history began with the Romans, who founded it in the 1st Century CE as Vindobona, one of a line of Roman defensive outposts against Germanic tribes. Vindobona's central garrison was on the site of what is now the Hoher Markt (the "High Market" due to its relative height over the Danube), and you can still see the excavations of its foundations there today.

Vienna hosted the Habsburg court for several centuries, first as the Imperial seat of the Holy Roman Empire, then the capital of the Austrian Empire, and later of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which finally fell in 1918 with the abdication of the last Emperor Karl I. The court tremendously influenced the culture that exists here even today: Vienna's residents are often overly formal, with small doses of courtliness, polite forms of address, and formal dress attire. One of the many paradoxes of the quirky city is that its residents can be equally modern and progressive as they are extremely old-fashioned.

The empires also served to make Vienna a very metropolitan city at an early time, and especially so through the years of industrialization and fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the turn of the 20th century. Imperial Austria and Austro-Hungary were multi-lingual, multi-ethnic empires and although the German-speakers normally played the dominate role in Vienna there has long been ethnic and lingual diversity in the city. Proof of Jews in the city dates back to 10th century [2]. After World War Two many of the city's minorities had been exiled or killed and much of the city lay in ruin. When Austria was given sovereignty after the post World War Two occupation, it was eventually established that Austria was going the way of the West and not that of the Eastern Block. So the city became more isolated from its previous ties to its Slavic and Hungarian neighbors; the east of Austria was surounded by the Iron Curtain. Vienna had gone from being the well established metropolitan city of Central Europe to the capital of a small, predominately German-speaking nation of states with strong regional identities.

Since the formation of the first Austrian Republic and the first mayoral election 1919 the Social-Democratic Party of Austria has had the majority of represenatives on the common council and controlled the mayoral seat. During the early years, the socialist Red Vienna ("Rote Wien") revolutionized the city, improving the extreme counditions that the industrial revolution and rapid urbanization had created. Most famously the city built many housing projects (housing estates or "Gemeindebauten"), and they also began to offer many social services and made improvements across the board in quality of life. The public housing that was built at that time is now famous for its distinctive style. To this day the city continues to build public housing and about a third of the city's residents live in it, some 600,000 people! Obviously through this high precentage, the quality, and the integration of public housing across the city have kept it from becoming as stigmatized as in most cities. The Viennese are used to having the city government in their lives, and of course have a love-hate relationship with it. Vienna functions as its own as a federal state in the Austrian system (along with 8 other states) and the sense of local pride and home is more of being Viennese than being Austrian, many say.

Culture

Traditional Vienna is but one of the many façades of this city; the historic center, a UNESCO world heritage site, is sometimes begrudgingly compared to an open-air museum. But Vienna is also a dynamic young city, famous for its (electronic) music scene with independent labels, cult-status underground record stores, a vibrant Monday through Sunday club scene, multitudes of street performers, and a government that seems overly obsessed with complicated paperwork. However, people are willing to go out of their way or bend the rules a little if they feel they can do someone a favor.

The Viennese have a singular fascination with death, hence the popularity of the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery), where there are more graves than living residents in Vienna, as a strolling location and of Schrammelmusik - highly sentimental music with lyrics pertaining to death. Old-fashioned Sterbevereine (funeral insurance societies-literally translated "death clubs") provide members with the opportunity to save up for a nice funeral throughout the course of their lives. This service does not exist solely to save their children the hassle and expense - it is considered absolutely mandatory to provide for an adequate burial. Vienna even has the "Bestattungsmuseum", a museum devoted to coffins and mortuary science. The country’s morbid obsession may be correlated with its higher suicide rate when compared with the rest of Europe. Here too, the socialist Vienna has its hand, the city also offers a socialized undertaking service [3], with hearses branded in the same department of public works logo as the subway cars, and a link to the transit-planner on their website.

Vienna is also famous for its coffee culture. "Let's have a coffee" is a very commonly heard phrase, because despite incursions by Starbucks and Italian-style espresso bars, the Kaffeehauskultur is still the traditional way to drink a cup of coffee, read the newspaper, meet friends, or fall in love.

Orientation

Addresses in this articles are written with the district number preceding the street name, the same as street signs in Vienna. So 9., Badgasse 26 is Badgasse #26 in the 9th district. Hence you can also always tell what district you are in by the first number on street signs. Districts can also be made into a postal code by substituting the XX in A-1XX0 Vienna (0X for districts below 10), for instance A-1090 Vienna for the 9th district and A-1200 the 20th, and are sometimes referred to as such.

Common points of reference are often used in Vienna in addition to districts, most noteablly public transportation stops. Reference to U1/U4 Schwedeplatz or Schwedenplatz (U1, U4) means that something is near to the Schwedenplatz stop on the underground lines 1 and 4. Normally if the place is not directly at the subway stop you can ask around and find it easily.

The Vienna Tourist Board [4] operates information and booking booths at the airport Arrival Hall, 7AM-11PM and in the center at 1., Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse. Information and free maps are also avialible from the ÖBB InfoPoints and offices at train stations.

Vienna has 23 districts or wards know singularly as Bezirk in Austrian German. These function subordinatly to the city as decentralized adminstrative branches of the commune, as well as making local decisions. They vary immensely in size and each has its own flair.

- Innere Stadt (1st District)

- Leopoldstadt (2nd District)

- Landstraße (3rd District)

- Wieden (4th District)

- Margareten (5th District)

- Mariahilf (6th District)

- Neubau (7th District)

- Josefstadt (8th District)

- Alsergrund (9th District)

- Favoriten (10th District)

- Simmering (11th District)

- Meidling (12th District)

- Hietzing (13th District)

- Penzing (14th District)

- Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (15th District)

- Ottakring (16th District)

- Hernals (17th District)

- Währing (18th District)

- Döbling (19th District)

- Brigittenau (20th District)

- Floridsdorf (21st District)

- Donaustadt (22nd District)

- Liesing (23rd District)

The city has a very centralized layout radiating from the historic first district, or Inner-City with the Stephansdom and Stephansplatz at the centre of a bullseye. It is encircled by the Ringstraße (Ring Road), a grand boulevard constructed along the old city walls, which were torn down at the end of the 19th century. Along the Ringstraße are many famous and grand buildings, including the Rathaus [City Hall], the Austrian Parliament, the Hofburg Palace, the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum), and the State Opera House.

Districts 2-9 are considered the core districts and are gathered within the Gürtel (Belt Road), which encircles the core districts as an outer ring concentric to the Ring around the first district, with the noteable exception of Leopoldstart (District 2).

Leopoldstadt (the 2nd District) is the southern half of the island that is formed between the Danube and the Danube Canal. It streches from the more wild forests of the Prater in the south up through the point where the Prater becomes a more formal park and amusement park where the transportation hub Praterstern is located. Going onward to the North are several neighborhoods from the Gründerzeit[5] with dense housing including impressive Neo-Baroque buildings. Towards the north of the district along the Danube Canal across from Schwedenplatz is the Karmeliterviertel (Karmeliter Quarter) which was once a Jewish ghetto and today is the hub of Jewish life in Vienna. This area is indeed quite diverse across the board and is becomming gentrified. At the edge of that area is the Augarten. The area past that has been hand-picked for an intense development project that will turn several former freight yards into entire new neighborhoods. Along the Danube are numerous massive housing projects from the twenties onward.

Landstraße (District 3) is a rather large district to the southeast of the center separated more or less by the Wien River (which is partially underground and otherwise chanellized. Streching from the station Wien Mitte and the surrounding business and financial district where the lively Landerstraßer Haupstraße shopping street begins, over quiet residential areas where the Hundertwasser Haus is located, all the way to the industrial hinterlands and the bus station at Erdberg in southeast, through neighborhoods countaining examples of public housing like the Rabenhof and many embassies to the Belvedere Palace and the Soviet Memorial at Schwarzenbergplatz.

Wieden (District 4) and Margareten (District 5) run from the area around the Opera south to where a the gigantic new central station is being built, with energetic pockets of businesses and squares to be discovered from the University of Technology to artsy galleries to a cluster of hair-cutting salons to even Vienna's miniture version of a Chinatown. These districts are bordered by the Wien River to the north.

Mariahilf (Distric 6) contrasts between the more raw areas around the Wien River where the Naschmarkt is. The district covers neighborhoods of bars and other popular bohemian and queer haunts along the Gumpfendorfer Straße, and it borders Neubau along Vienna's most popular shopping street the Mariahilferstraße up the the hill from the Gumpfendorfer Straße.

Neubau (District 7) starts with the aclaimed MuseumsQuartier next to the center and spreads across popular hip areas to the Westbahnhof (Western Railway Station).

Josefstadt (District 8) is the smallest district. Alsergrund (District 9) is known to be more affluent and also includes much of the University of Vienna several cozy business districts.

The outer 14 districts are largely less urban but are equally as diverse streching from Floridsdorf (21st District) which radiates from its own town center in the northeast on the eastern bank of the Danube and Donaustadt (22nd District) which includes a mix of farms, suburbia, soviet-style housing blocks, villages, the United Nations Headquarters and the Donauturm (Danube Tower) and includes the largest development project in Central Europe at Aspern, through tarditional worker-oriented districts like Simmering (11th District) and Favoriten (10th District) in the south to more mixed urban areas with much immigrant culture like Rüdolfsheim-Fünfhaus (15th District) and Ottakring (16th District) in the West and Brigittenau (20th District) in the northeast and Döbling (19th District) on the adjacent side of the Danube famous for its vineyards, working class history and architecture, as well as its upper class neighbourhoods. Don't miss Schönbrunn Palace to the West along the Wien River in Hietzing (13th district).

Climate

Climate

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Daily highs (°C)

3

5

10

15

20

23

26

25

20

14

7

4

Nightly lows (°C)

-2

-1

2

6

10

13

15

15

12

7

2

0

Precipitation (cm)

3.7

3.9

4.6

5.2

6.2

7.0

6.8

5.8

5.4

4.0

5.0

4.4

Averages of Vienna between 1971-2000

Spring starts sometime in late March, normally it is very brief and summer-like weather sets in before the trees have had time to grow back their leaves.

Summer in Vienna is usually warm. Weather in June is moderate and sunny with a light summer windy breeze. In July and August, there are some hot and humid days where it reaches 35°C (95°F), but overall, summer in Vienna is pleasant.

Autumn starts around September, although an "Indian Summer" with warm and sunny days often occurs that month and it gets colder as it approaches November. A main disadvantage of the Viennese climate is that it is rather windy and usually overcast during these months.

Winter in Vienna can be just above 0°C (32°F) and drizzeling for days on end, or just below with dustings of snow that manage to melt again quickly. There is the occasional cold-snap where it will stay below freezing for a week or two at a time. Due to Vienna's relative easterly position in the Central European Time Zone its daylight hours (if its not too gray outside entirely) are relatively early during the winter.

Get in

By plane

Vienna International Airport

Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien-Schwechat)(ICAO: LOWW, IATA: VIE) [6] is located just outside the city limits of Vienna, and a few miles southeast of the suburb of Schwechat. The airport is the home base of the flag-carrier Austrian Airlines [7], as well as budget airline Niki [8].

Most European airlines and a significant number of intercontinental airlines have direct connections to Vienna from their respective hubs. However, only Austrian Airlines fly to the Americas (New York, Toronto, Washington and Punta Cana), and there is no service to Northern England and Africa (aside from Egypt, Libiya and Tunisia) making a change necessary to reach Vienna.

Airport transfer

Just past customs, there are numerous companies offering airport transportation. Here you can look for two very small monitors displaying all the next trains and the buses departing, to the right and left respectivly (at the back of the space where people recieve travellers). By preference:

- S-Bahn (commuter rail), (underneath terminal), [9]. 5:00-24:00. S-Bahn suburban trains run on the S7 line to Vienna. These provide the cheapest and most convenient connection to the city centre, and the single fare is €3.60. Take a train bound for Floridsdorf, which departs twice an hour, and get off at Wien-Mitte station on the eastern edge of the city centre (25 min). From there the U-Bahn line U3 connects to Stephansplatz right in the core of the city centre, whereas line U4 provides service to Karlsplatz (for the Opera House) as well as the Donaukanal and the Schönbrunn Palace. The station is one level below arrivals: follow signs to separate platform near the CAT. You need a Vienna Zone 100 ticket (€1.80 and including all connecting transit in Vienna, day/week/etc. passes are also valid) + one extra 'VOR' zone ("Außenzone" €1.80) since the airport is legally outside of the city. Tickets have to be purchased and validated before boarding. You can also buy a VOR weekly or monthly card which may or may not cover the airport, depending on chosen zones (see [10], point at Tickets & Preise and klick on Wochen/Monatskarten and Tarifzonenplan). Conductors aren't hesitant to fine anyone (€70) without a valid ticket, and being a tourist is not a valid excuse. ÖBB (red) ticket machines are on the way and on the platform itself. €3.60 each way.

- Shuttle provided by hotel. Select Vienna hotels offer guests shuttle service to and from the airport, usually for a fee that's cheaper than a taxi, sometimes you will share the shuttle with guests from your own or nearby hotels.

- Vienna AirportLines Bus, (outside arrivals), [11]. 5:00-24:00. Direct buses drive frequently between Vienna International Airport and assorted points in Vienna. Operated by Postbus. Tickets can be purchased with cash from the operator. All routes: One way €6, Round-trip €11.

- Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz line goes to the city center (District 1). Buses every 30 minutes, the trip takes 20 minutes. At Schwedenplatz there is a connection to the underground lines U1 and U4 as well as buses and trams. St. Stephans Cathedral (the very center of Vienna) is a five-minute walk away.

- Meidling/Westbahnhof line is the railway connector, departing every 20-30 minutes and stopping at Meidling Railway Station(30 min.) and Westbahnhof/West Railway Station(45 min.).

- Kaisermühlen VIC/Kagran line goes to Vienna International Center (the UN) and serves hotels in the eastern part of Vienna. Runs hourly and takes 20-45 min. depending upon destination.

- City Airport Train (CAT), (underneath terminal), [12]. Over-advertised, non-stop to Wien-Mitte Station (Landstraße) in 16 minutes. Departs at :05 and :35 past the every hour. The return departs Wien-Mitte at :08 and :38 past the hour. The CAT is only useful if it is the next train departing (otherwise take the S-Bahn S7 line, it runs the same route). If you aren't heading to Wien-Mitte area, definitely consider a more direct train or bus, it will be faster and cheaper. Star Alliance and Air Berlin/Niki offer check-in (including baggage) at Wien-Mitte (Landstraße) Station. Alternatively, consider luggage lockers and the regular train. City check-in may be denied from 90 minutes before departure. One way €10, return trip €18.

- Taxi. Cab fare is not set, so agree before getting in; to anywhere for €25-€30. If you don't care to negotiate, or your destination is at the northern or western edge of the city, a pre-booked flat-rate transfer is likely cheaper and easier. There are several offices at arrivals. Airport Service Wien (43 676 351 64 20; call Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; taxi works 5:45am-9:30pm) [13] €27 (max. 3 people) to/from any destination address within Vienna, Rosenov Airport Transfers +43-1-485 77 77 [14], Mo-Fr 9am-6pm offers flat-rate to Vienna for €29.

Alternatives

There are a number of other smaller airports in the region, many are served by budget airlines: Linz (2 hours by train), Graz (2.5 hours by train), and Brno (2.5 hours by train or bus).

Budapest and Munich Airports are at least 3 and 5 hour journeys respectively but can mean substantial savings and direct flights on intercontinental trips. There is a thrice daily direct albet not so speedy shuttle van from Budapest Ferihegy Airport to Vienna Schwechat Airport [15], €36. It is cheaper and quicker to transfer via bus or train from Budapest city which can be reached easily from Ferihegy Airport. From Munich International Airport you should take the commuter train into the city and transfer to a high-speed train (ICE, RailJet) to Vienna at Munich's main station. The ÖBB (Austrian Railways) [16] sell tickets directly from that airport to Vienna from €29.

Tax refund

Refer to the brochure for locations and tips. Your best bet for receiving tax refund is to find a refund office in the city. Otherwise, indicate that you need to receive tax refund at check-in. You then take any checked luggage containing tax-free purchases to a customs office (right in the check-in area) to get a stamp and drop off the checked luggage; then visit a nearby refund office.

Customs officers don't normally ask you to actually unpack and show your purchases. You will be asked if any applicable purchases are in your hand luggage. Although it is illegal, you may be encouraged to lie to agents, saying that everything is in your checked luggage even if it isn't. This is due to an otherwise tedious process; you have to visit yet another office by the gates. (Especially at the C Gates--there you will have to ring for an officer, wait to be picked up by bus and taken to the a refund office and back to your departure, allow 1 hour for the whole procedure.) Alternatively, you can visit a refund office on arrival in your home country--provided that you visited customs and had your receipts stamped in Vienna. Additional commission or unfavourable exchange rate can apply if refunding in other country.

Bratislava Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport

Another option if you're flying to Vienna is Bratislava Airport (ICAO: LZIB, IATA: BTS) [17] which is located ca. 54 km (34 miles) from Vienna International Airport across the Slovak border and is the largest in the Slovak Republic and the home base of Danube Wings [18], though the budget airline Ryanair [19] has the most flights. Transfer options:

- Blaguss (Bus), [20]. 6:30-22:45. most regular bus service, but check schedule. Arrives at Erdberg(U3) in just over an hour. €10 each way.

- Postbus/Slovak Lines (Bus), [21]. 8:00-18:35. to Südtirolerplatz(U1) in under two hours. Intermediate stops in Bratislava, at Vienna Airport, some at Erdberg(U3). Check schedule. €7.70, €14.30 return.

- Train, [22]. Bratislava public bus 61 to final stop, Hlavná stanica/Main Station (buy bus ticket at yellow machine before boarding and stamp in the bus). Buy a ticket to Vienna and take the train to Wien Süd (or the occasional train Wien West, Wien Florisdorf or Wien Parstern). Takes about 1 hour, if things go well. 11.

- Late arriving flights:. Should an evening flight arrive late, after 22:30 you can bargain for a cab or spend the night. There is no longer a late train service as of 2010.

- Early departing flights:, [23]. Take a cab, spend the night at a hostel or at the airport, otherwise a slew of trains run between Wien Südbahnhof (aka Ostbahnhof) and Bratislava Petezalka Station. Get a cab from there or bus 96 runs between the airport and Prokofievova, a few blocks from that station, you may need a map or to ask for directions. The station exit that you are looking for is an underpass next to a big road, not the main exit. It is possible to catch 8AM flights this way.

- Rosenov Airport Transfer, +43-1-485 77 77, [24]. Mo-Fr 9am-6pm. Offer a flat rate transfer to/from Vienna. €75.

By train

The station names of all stops in Vienna start with its German name "Wien". This is internationally recognized and helpful for buying tickets. The railways are managed by the ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways)[25]. Read more about train travel within Austria and reaching Austria by train.

Station Construction until 2015

Until 2010 Vienna had several large train stations (Südbahnhof, Westbahnhof, Nord, Mitte). Currently Südbahnhof (South Station) has been closed for construction of a main station and the others are working but under construction. Many trains that used South Station now stop or terminate at the station Wien Meidling. Be sure to check schedules and it is advised to take extra time when departing from these stations as the temporary provisions are not always easy to navigate.

It can be puzzling to understanding where trains depart and arrive, i.e. trains heading East often leave from West Station. It is best to check the scheduals online and plug in the exact train, subway or tram stop you are going to/departing from, this will give you the quickest solution. Railway agents are likely to give you an easy answer where the most train to somewhere leave from, you may not be told about certain trains that don't fit the regular pattern.

Ticket offices are noramlly open during all departure hours at Wien Meidling and Wien West (around 5AM-11PM). It has come to light that with more trains leaving from stations like Wien Praterstern, trains depart outside of ticket office hours. If this is the case you can buy the ticket on-board from the conductor, they are only able to sell regular as well as certain discounted tickets (cash only), so it is best to buy ahead if possible.

From abroad

There are very frequent trains for all neighboring regions and countries. Night trains and quicker Euro-City trains arrive from virtually every city in Central Europe. High-speed ICE, RailJet, and Pendilino trains arrive from places like Munich, Budapest, Zurich, and Prague. There are frequent (at least hourly) regional trains to Czech, Slovak and Hungarian border regions.

When buying tickets always consider two domestic tickets instead of one international one, as it is often cheaper. Tickets used to only be sold this way and can normally still be purchased to the border and then from the next conductor from there to your destination, sometimes you can even buy both tickets before departure. No, you don't actually have to change trains!

From Czech Republic

From Czech border towns and as far as Brno you can buy "Wien Spezial" discount ticket. Consider buying it conjunction with a domestic ticket if coming from elsewhere like Prague, they should be able to sell you both tickets.

The ÖBB sell one-way 'SparScheine' to Brno(€12) and Prague(€29). Its cheaper to just get this to Brno and buy an onward domest ticket to Prague(€10), and there is better availibilty than with the single Prague ticket.

EURegio tickets are valid from Vienna to cities near to the border and tourist towns, including the return ticket with-in four days; Znojmo €15, Mikulov €18, České Budějovice (Budweis) €27 or Český Krumlov €27, and Plzeň €29 (children half-price, weekly and monthy tickets availible).

From Hungary

From Budapest East/Keleti pu buy a discounted round-trip ticket, "kirándulójegy" (excursion or 4-day ticket) for €31. It includes the return with-in 4 days and is valid for all public transportation in Vienna for 2 days. So its a deal even if you don't need a return ticket to Budapest. There are limited amount of SparSchiene tickets each day for €13. All tickets are valid in all trains (including the high-speed RailJet). Trains confusingly depart Budapest East (Kelti pu) and arrive at Vienna West Station (Wien West). Direct trains run every two hours or more. Otherwise transfer at Győr.

to Hungary the ÖBB offers tickets from €19 to Budapest as well as the EURegio ticket (Vienna to Hungary and return with 4 days); Mosonmagyaróvár €12, Győr €19, Tatabánya €25, Fertöszentmiklós €19, and Szombathely € 22 (children half-price, weekly and monthy tickets availible).

From Slovakia

From Bratislava a standard one-way ticket costs €9.

to Bratislava the ÖBB offers an EURegio ticket for €14 valid for return (in 4 days) and for travel on public transportation in Bratislava on the day of arrival. Its also free to take a bike along.

A one-way ticket leaving from Vienna also costs €14 but doesn't include public transportation in Bratislava, so get the EURegio ticket and maybe you can give it to someone else who's headed for Vienna once you get to Bratislava.

From the East of Europe

via Slovakia or Hungary.

Each railway has an independent partnership with others, so tickets can be much cheaper to (or from) neighboring countries. A common type is the so called CityStar ticket that is valid for return and can be sold any station in both of the participating countries. Sopron in Hungary is near to Vienna (€14, hourly trains) for tickets on MÁV Hungarian Railways [26] at that train station (operated by the Raaberbahn Railway [27]). Hungarian prices [28]. Bratislava in Slovakia is another nearby alternative. Most tickets need to be purchased 3 days in advance, possibly meaning an extra trip to the border to buy the ticket in advance.

- Ukraine and Russia There is a blog about its use between Austria and CIS countries [29].

- Greece CityStar tickets are sold between anywhere in Greece and Hungary.

- Bulgaria BDZ[30] sell the return CityStar directly to Vienna (€88), a group of 3 will pay €59 each. Conversly you'll have to go to the Hungarian Railways if you want to go the other way.

- Turkey Buy a ticket to the border at Kapikule (€5 from Istanbul), get a ticket from Bulgarian Railways.

- Serbia Serbian Railways [31] sell the so called Wien Sepzial for €70 return from Belgrade, but a cheaper connection can be made through Budapest, buying the Budapest-Vienna portion in Hungary (€56 return).

By car

Avoid driving a car within the central ring if possible. While cars are allowed on many of the streets there, the streets are narrow and mostly one-way. They can be confusing for a visitor and parking is extremely limited (and restricted during the day). Due to the comprehensiveness of the transit system, you most likely will not need a car within Vienna, except for excursions elsewhere.

Furthermore, it might be a good idea to leave your car at home during rush hours. Vienna's streets can become a little clogged in the mornings and early evenings and the drivers are not really known for being especially polite and friendly.

Pedestrians have the right of way in crossing all roads at a crosswalk where there is no pedestrian signal present. If there is such a pedestrian crossing on an otherwise straight section of the road, there will be a warning sign – you are required to yield to any pedestrian on this crossing! Austrians accustomed to experienced local drivers will step out with little thought and force you to stop, so slow down here and be careful! When driving in a neighborhood this "right of way to pedestrians" is an understood rule at every intersection, although pedestrians will be more careful before they step out. Again, be on the lookout for this – if you see a pedestrian waiting to cross, you should stop at the intersection for him or her.

By bus

Many international busses arrive at the Vienna International Busterminal (VIB) located adjacent to the subway stop Erdberg (U3) most of these are overseen by the local Eurolines affiliate Blaguss, who publish timetables [32]. Many companies alternatively use the more centrally located bus depot "Waldmanngründen" on the southwest corner of Südtirolerplatz(U1). A few stop both places, somewhere else entirely and/or at the airport. It is safe to assume that discounts are avialible (about 10% from Eurolines affiliates, about 15% on independent carriers) for those under 26 and over 60 on walk-up fares but not on discounted advanced purchase ("promo") tickets.

Eurolines own vehicles have assured quality but this is not the case of all of their international partners. Always check the web-pages of both the arrival and departure countries' Eurolines affiliated operator for the best price as well as checking for non-affliated carriers.

Austria

There are no sheerly private domestic inter-city lines in Austria. There are several regional services from Vienna operated by a mix of the federal government, the states of Lower Austria and Burgenland, local governments and coach operators. Sometimes the cash-price for these is marginally lower than the train, otherwise the normal VOR public transport rates apply. They are most useful in traveling to the countryside although timing and different departure locations in Vienna also can make them attractive in certain cases for inter-city travel. All routes are operated with high-quality coaches and regional buses.

- Wiesel Bus, [33]. From several points across the city to Sankt Pölten. Free wifi on many services. €0.10 less than the train.

- Postbus, [34].

- Dr. Richard, [35]. Operates routes to southern Lower Austria, Burgenland and Styria. Although it makes numerous regional stops it is possible to take route 311[36]Timetable all the way to Graz in about the same amount of time as the train. Up to 4 daily buses at Karlsplatz (Friedrichstraße 7 across from the Secession Building) and other stops across Vienna , free wifi. Graz €21.80 (€12 cheaper than by train).

Balkans

If you are traveling from the Balkans there are plenty of buses daily. Some may not be advertised and tickets are often not for sale at the ticket counter, rather from the bus driver or attendant. Ask around, most of them leave in the afternoon. Buses from non-EU countries may be subject to higher scrutiny at the border. Sometimes operators smuggle or transport goods to supplement their low fares and the Hungarian border guards are not afraid to accept bribes from non-EU operators. You will likely never be asked to participate monetarily, although a bus driver may ask to put a carton of cigarettes above your seat or in your luggage. Legally, you're transporting "your own" one-carton cigarette allowance across the border, so you will not get in any trouble for that. It is also okay to decline cooperation.

Presumably due to politically charged reasons, buses from Serbia go to VIB/Erdberg (U3). Buses from Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, and most everywhere else go to Südtirolerplatz (U1). Bus from Bosnia and Croatia may drop you off at Erdberg but more likely at Südtirolerplatz.

- Adria Reisen, [37]. three weekly bus routes between Vienna and assorted destinations on the Adriatic in Croatia. U3 Erdberg or U2 Schottenring. €150rt.

- Autobusni promet d.d. Varaždin, [38]. up to 3x daily direct from Zagreb. Arrives at VIB. €35/€50rt.

- Autoprevoz Banjaluka, +387 51 306 (info@autoprevoz.org), [39]. approx. 9,5h. To Banja Luka, BiH. Arrives at VIB. €39/€66rt.

- Biss-Tours, 0038733236620, [40]. Sarajevo, Zenica (BiH) to Vienna

- Croatiabus, [41]. 2x daily direct from Zagreb. Arrives at Südtirolerplatz. €35/€50rt.

- Ecolines, [42]. direct to Sofia. Arrives at Südtirolerplatz. €60/€100rt.

- Fudeks, [43]. Belgrade to VIB. €30/€50rt.

- Jovic Travel, [44]. Belgrade to VIB. Mo-Tu-Su. €60rt.

- Lasta, [45]. Požarevac via Belgrade to VIB daily. €45/€72rt.

- Niš-Ekspres, [46]. Niš via Belgrade to VIB. Tu-W-Th-Su. €55rt.

- SRBIJATRANSPORT. Požarevac via Belgrade to VIB daily. €45/€72rt.

- Zoran Reisen, [47]. Twice weekly from Southern Serbia to VIB. €45/€80rt.

Baltics

- Ecolines, [48]. Departs from Südbahnhof/South Station. Makes regular stops along the way to Tallinn. Vilnius €85/€128rt.

- Kautra, [49]. run in conjunction with Tourbus. Makes regular stops along the way to Vilnius. Vilnius €101/182rt.

Czech Repbulic

- Eurolines AT/Blaguss, [50]. Two daily buses to Prague. €21.

- Eurolines CZ/Touring Bohemia, s. r. o., [51]. Some services include free newspapers, magazines and bottled water. Book ahead for best price. Prague from €7.

- CK Shuttle (Cesky Krumlov shuttlebus service), [52]. offers a door-to-door transportation service from Vienna to Cesky Krumlov and back for 1.100 CZK (44 EUR) pro person. The ride takes about three hours. €44.

- Shuttlebus, [53]. Is a direct van service to Český Krumlov that will pick you up at your door, and regularly departs from several hostels. Has at least one daily run schedualed. It takes just 3.5 hours compared to the train which is infrequent, requires changing trains twice and takes at least 4.5 hours total, but the round-trip shuttle costs 3x as much as a EURegio round-trip train ticket: more pratical for one-way trips. €45.

- Student Agency, [54]. started by students, but offers service with free coffee, newspapers, movies to everyone. Departs from Joseph-Rath-Gasse near Praterstern. Brno €8, Prague €16.

- Tourbus, a.s., [55]. cheapest way to the Czech Republic. Stops at VIB and Joseph-Rath-Gasse near Praterstern. Brno €5.

Denmark

- Bohemian Lines, +420 416 810 054 (info@bohemianlines.cz), [56]. Daily 8AM-8PM. Runs twice a week or more from nearby Brno. Its a cheap solution with no advanced purchase requirement, you just have to get yourself to Brno on another bus company (€5-€8 from Vienna). €61+€5/€107+€10rt. Copenhagen €65/€117rt.

- Eurolines AT/Blaguss, [57]. Is just a booking service for the BEX bus to Berlin and then an onward bus to Copenhagen. Copenhagen €101/€170rt.

- Eurolines CZ/Touring Bohemia, s. r. o., [58]. Includes free newspapers, magazines and bottled water. Requires two separate tickets: Copenhagen-Prague from €40/€69rt, Prague-Vienna from €7/€14rt. Prices only availible for advance bookings. Copenhagen from €47/€83rt.

- Eurolines Scandanavia, [59]. Is just a booking service for the BEX bus to Berlin and then an onward bus to Copenhagen. Copenhagen €99/€170rt.

Germany

- Orangeways, [60]. Low cost. Departs from Südtirolerplatz (U1) daily. Calling at Nuremberg, Frankfurt Airport, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf and continuing onward to the Netherlands. More expensive at peak times. Free hot drinks, movies, headphones, sometimes wifi. Also 2x daily from the Bratislava bus depot to Berlin for €27, a slight detour yet its cheaper than Viennese options and on a faster highway. All destinations from €36.

The following five companies operate a daily joint service to Dresden and Berlin, and less regular service and cooperation to other cities across Germany. Check each as ticket prices vary:

- Eurolines AT/Blaguss, [61]. from €33.

- Berlin Linien Bus, [62]. from €33.

- BEX, [63]. Berlin from €60.

- Eurolines DE/Deutsche Touring, [64]. Service across Germany. Munich from €29.

Hungary

- Eurolines AT/Blaguss, [65]. 5 buses daily to Budapest, some stopping in Győr and resort towns like Mosonmagyaróvár and Sopron. Budapest €23, same-day return €29.

- Eurolines HU/Volanbus, [66]. 5 buses daily to Budapest in cooperation with Eurolines AT but with cheaper tickets availible [67]. Some stopping in Győr and resort towns like Mosonmagyaróvár and Sopron. Budapest €10-€22, Round-trip from €14.

- Orangeways, [68]. cheapest way to Hungary. Arrives Südtirolerplatz (U1), from Budapest four times daily. More expensive at peak times, cheaper to book in HUF. Free hot drinks, movies, headphones, sometimes wifi. Budapest €9.

Italy

- Kautra, [69]. Udine, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome. Tickets at VIB. Walk-up promo-fare €29 all destinations.

- Tourbus, a.s., [70]. Udine, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples etc. Tickets at VIB. from €40.

Poland

- Ecolines, [71]. Departs from Südbahnhof/South Station. Polish destinations (Krakow, Warsaw) €48/€86rt.

- Jordan, [72]. run in conjunction with Veolia Eurolines Polska. Discounted tickets (the cheapest to Poland) on their Polish booking site [73]: Krakow €30, Katowice €30, Lodz €33, Warsaw €35. Walk up: Katowice €38/€68rt, Lodz €41/€73rt, Warsaw €43/€77rt.

- Kautra, [74]. run in conjunction with Tourbus. Krakow €46/€83, Warsaw €61/109.

- Veolia Eurolines Polska, [75]. Polish destinations(Krakow, Warsaw) from €36/72rt.

Romania

It can be cheaper, faster and the buses can be more frequent if you change buses in Budapest, for instance on Eurolines HU/Volanzbus or Orangeways, depending upon your destination in Romania.

- Atlassib, [76]. A daily overnight traveling across Romania to Vienna, book through Eurolines.at or with Atlassib. Bucharest €59/€94rt.

- Eurolines RO, [77]. Extreme arrival times in Vienna (2:45 AM) and departure times depending on origin/destination. Bucharest €124rt.

Slovakia

Bratislava: For information on direct buses from Bratislava Airport see here.

- Blaguss (Bus), [78]. 10 daily busses daily from Bratislava Novy Most and Bratislava Petrzalka. Arrives at Erdberg(Subway U3) in about an hour. €6/€11rt.

- Postbus/Slovak Lines (Bus), [79]. 19 daily buses from Bratislava Petrzalka (Einsteinova ul.) and Bratislava main bus depot to Südtirolerplatz(Subway U1). Intermediate stop at Vienna Airport, some at Erdberg (subway U3). €7.70, €14.30 return.

Nitra, Košice and the rest of Slovakia: There are more frequent buses if you change buses in Bratislava, for instance on SlovakLines.

- eurobus, a. s., [80]. Has frequent buses traveling across Slovakia from their Košice base to across Europe via Vienna. Booking online is possible via their homebuy service albet only in Slovak. This service also is the best overview of buses between Slovakia and Vienna since it includes all scheduals. Nitra €28rt, Košice €42rt.

Turkey

- Varan, Ticket Office: Südtirolerplatz 7, [81]. On Tuesday and Friday to/from Istanbul from Südtirolerplatz bus depot. Istanbul €110/€200rt, Online €104/€190rt.

Ukraine

- Евроклуб (Euroclub), [82]. Arriving sunday from Kiev via Lvov among others returning on monday. Departure and tickets from VIB. Kiev €100/€180rt.

Long-Distance Tours

- Busabout, [83]. Busabout's "northern loop" passes through Vienna every other day during the summer (May-October). from €349.

- Oz-Bus, [84]. stops in on its epic journey to Sydney. Tickets should be pre-booked and visas may need to be arranged before departure. Approximately monthly. Sydney €5000.

By boat

Riverboats on the Danube include connections with Linz, Bratislava and Budapest, but are slower and more expensive than other options.

- LOD, [85]. run a fast hydrofoil between Vienna and Bratislava May-October with up to two daily departures. The dock is in the 2nd District on the Danube proper (U1 Vorgartenstraße, Dock 6 on the Danube). Sailing time 1:30 downstream 1:45 upstream. €16/€25rt.

- Twin City Liner, [86]. Is a fast catamaran between Vienna and Bratislava March-December with up to four daily departures. The dock is in the 1st District at Schwedenplatz. Sailing time 1:15 downstream 1:30 upstream. €17-€30.

- Mahart Passnave, [87]. operate a fast hydrofoil between Vienna and Budapest May-October with daily departures during the peak season. The dock is in the 2nd District on the Danube proper (U1 Vorgartenstraße, dock on the Danube). Sailing time 5:30 downstream 6:30 upstream. The boat only moors Bratislava and Visegrád if pre-arranged. Bratislava €29/€39rt, Visegrád/Budapest €89/€109rt, Stundent discount availible.

- Donauschiffahrt Wurm + Köck, [88]. operate ships between Vienna and Linz. Sailing is slow and expensive but the ships travel through the famous Wachau river valley. Combine tickets including return via train are availible at reasonable prices. from €12.

Get around

Dually-Named Stations

Several stations have more than one name. Get the idea the city and the railways have a tense history?

- Wien Mitte - Landstraße

- Wien Meidling - Philadelphiabrücke

- Wien Nord - Praterstern

Public transportation

Vienna has a good public transport system [89], which includes rail, commuter rail, underground, trams (trolleys), and buses. The subway/underground is very efficient and will take you to within a few minutes walk of anywhere you are likely to want to visit. The subway alone has the second highest per-capita ridership in the world, and that is not accounting for the 27 tram lines, dozens of train lines or numerous buses.

Fares

Public transportation with-in the city proper, including most everywhere you are likely to visit (the entire subway and tram network) is a single zone (Kernzone 100). Any transportation can be used: subway, any train--even high-speed ones as long as you are traveling between two Vienna stations, trams, buses, night buses, and an inter-urban railway (the Wiener Lokalbahn) with-in the city limits.

You must validate (stamp) your ticket if the time and date is not printed on it before entering the subway platform or train, or as soon as you get on a bus or tram. If in doubt stamp it once. You do not need to show your ticket to the bus or tram operator. The system is proof-of-payment, although there are not many spot-checks, the fee for traveling without a ticket is €70.

Tickets are available at machines (Visa, MC accepted) and from counters at subway and rail stations as well as at tabacco shops (Tabak "Trafik").

- Single Trip Ticket €1.80 A single direction uniterrupted trip to anywhere, with as many transfers as needed. (Children, Bikes, Dogs €0.90) Single Trip Tickets can also be purchased in trams and buses but cost €2.20 full fare, €1.10 reduced.

- Shopping ticket/Einkaufskarte €4.60 Valid workdays from 8 AM to 8 PM

- 24-hour ticket €5.70 Valid from time stamped.

- 48-hour ticket €10.00 Valid from time stamped.

- 72-hour ticket €13.60 Valid from time stamped.

- Week ticket/Wochenkarte €14.00 Valid Monday through Sunday only.

- Monthly ticket/Monatskarte €49.50 Valid from the first of the month through the second of the following month.

- 8-day Climate Ticket €28.80 Valid for an entire day until 1 AM the fallowing day, each day you stamp the ticket (fold it and stamp a new box as needed). It is possible stamp the ticket multiple times for multiple people on a single day if traveling in a group. (Could be used for four people for two separate days, but four sections must be stamped each day.)

Children (up to 14 years) do not need a ticket on Sundays, holidays and during Austrian school vacations. Children (15-19 years) also do not, if they are enrolled in school in Austria.

If you're staying for a few days and hope to do tons of sightseeing and/or shopping, the Vienna Card (Wien Karte) [90] is a good deal. It costs €18.50 and is good for 72 hours of unlimited public transit within Vienna. The card also gets you discounts (typically €1 or €2 at the major museums and art galleries) to many attractions and shops. You can buy it at the airport, hotels, and underground stops.

See the airport section for details on transfer to/from the airport.

Network

The best rail (heavy rail and underground) transport map [91] is displayed at all ÖBB stations. There are so many lines that maps are normally very simplified and maps of the tram network are not even published. It can pay to ask or check the best connection ahead of time [92]. Major stations are well signed and connections are scheduled to match-up if service isn't frequent.

Rail

Vienna's suburban rail network is often overlooked by tourists. It comprises three types of trains: S-Bahn, which mostly serve inner suburbs and stop at all stations with few exceptions, Regionalbahn, which are generally more long-distant than the S-Bahn and make limited stops on parallell S-Bahn routes, but otherwise all stops, and RegionalExpress, which mostly serve the outermost suburbs and make very limited stops in the inner suburbs (although not all RegionalExpress trains are suburban trains). The network also stretches over the borders of the neighbouring countries.

The most important rail streches:

- Stammstrecke trains (i.e. Meidling-Südtirolerplatz-Südbahnhof-Rennweg-Mitte-Praterstern-Florisdorf) run every 2-5 minutes (confusingly the left platform goes northbound and viceversa--the opposite of a road). This is not a line itself, but rather the result of the bunch of lines using the same stretch.

- S45 runs in the northwest of the city every 5-10 minutes along a beautiful railway built by architect Otto Wagner.

Rail trips to the suburbs of Vienna (in Vienna city all rail stations start with "Wien") require an extra ticket. These are avaible as zones in VOR (Austria's Eastern Transit Region) or as point to point tickets from the railways. It is easiest to buy extra zones from the edge of the city. If you have a Vorteilscard a railway ticket will be cheaper; if you are planning to transfer to a bus the VOR-ticket is also valid for it, with-in the same zone.

U-Bahn

The five U-bahn lines (i.e. U1) are the most common way of getting around Vienna. These underground, metro or subway lines have trains every 2-7 minutes and cover most of the important parts of the city and sights.

Tram

Tram(Bim, Straßenbahn) lines have just a plain number or letter (i.e. O,1). There are 27 lines which stop locally, useful for taking things a bit slower and seing more of the city.

The famous Ring lines were recently changed: there is a tourist tram[93] around the ring, or you can take tram 1 (bound for Prater-Hauptalle) from Oper to Schwedenplatz and take tram 2 (bound for Ottakring) from Schwedenplatz back to Oper.

Interurban

The Wiener Lokalbahn (WLB) also referd to as the Badener-Bahn is an interurban railway traveling from the Opera running as a tram on-street southwest through Vienna to Meidling station where it becomes a railway continuing onwards through the 23rd District and through suburbs and the rolling wine hills in Lower Austria to Baden.

Bus

Bus lines are denoted by a number that ends in letter (i.e. 3A, 80B). You are unlikely to need to take a bus, but it is safe to assume if you see one that you can get on and it will take you to some higher form of transportation like the U-Bahn. Cheaper tickets (€1) are availible for most 'B' buses; regular tickets and passes are also valid.

Night Services

The regular trams, trains and buses run until about 00:30 (just past midnight). Most of the commuter rail is shut between 1 AM and 4 AM. On Friday and Saturday (as well as on nights before Holidays) the entire U-Bahn network runs 24/7. Additionally, a dense network of night buses, called "NightLiners" is available every night of the year. Regular tickets are valid. Most buses terminate at "Kärntner Ring, Oper", which allows for easy interchange. Intervals are every 15-30 minutes. Daytime service resumes at 5 AM.

By taxi

Taxis are plentiful and can normally be hailed on the street or found at a taxi-stand. Fares are technically set to a meter price but if you prefer you can negotiate a fare. Always negotiate when traveling to the Airport or outside of the city limits as fares are not set. Pedicabs, horse-drawn coaches and the like are also availible.

By car

Avoid driving a car within the central ring if possible. While cars are allowed on many of the streets there, the streets are narrow and mostly one-way. They can be confusing for a visitor and parking is extremely limited (and restricted during the day). Due to the comprehensiveness of the transit system, you most likely will not need a car within Vienna, except for excursions elsewhere.

Furthermore, it might be a good idea to leave your car at home during rush hours. Vienna's streets can become a little clogged in the mornings and early evenings and the drivers are not really known for being especially polite and friendly.

Pedestrians have the right of way in crossing all roads at a crosswalk where there is no pedestrian signal present. If there is such a pedestrian crossing on an otherwise straight section of the road, there will be a warning sign – you are required to yield to any pedestrian on this crossing! Austrians accustomed to experienced local drivers will step out with little thought and force you to stop, so slow down here and be careful! When driving in a neighborhood this "right of way to pedestrians" is an understood rule at every intersection, although pedestrians will be more careful before they step out. Again, be on the lookout for this – if you see a pedestrian waiting to cross, you should stop at the intersection for him or her.

By bicycle

Cycling is another option for travelling within Vienna, although it is still seen more as a leisure activity in Vienna. [94] Vienna's compact size makes cycling attractive. On a bicycle you can reach most places of interest within half an hour. There are many bicycle paths and lanes along major streets, in parks, and by the rivers. However, it can be complicated to cross town because the lanes follow illogical routes. One major complaint is that bicycle facilites were an afterthought and this is very appearant, many stop lights and intersections are dangerously or annoyingly set for bicyclists and paths are very illogical: they are sometimes on-street sometimes off, sometimes shared with pedestrians, sometimes not, and can vary or end out of nowhere. You are required by law to use a bike lane or path if there is one, unless it is blocked, otherwise regular traffic laws apply. Lights are required at night as are independently functioning brakes.

If your destination is in the outer suburbs, or you want to take a relaxed ride to the countryside, you may consider taking your bike on the U-Bahn (prohibited at rush hour, and always in buses and trams) or on a train. You need a reduced (children's) ticket for your bike.

- Pedal Power [95] offers guided bicycle tours and bicycle rental. They deliver to hotels or you can pick them up at the Prater for a discount.

- CityBike [96] the city's pet advertizing company a short-term shared bike system. There are many stations in the inner districts and you can register to borrow a bike with your credit card (€1/to register) or obtain a Touristcard (€2/day). The first hour is free, the next €1, the third €2, etc. So always return your bike right away, 15 minutes after you return it, the system restarts counting with a new free hour, etc.

On foot

Walking can also be very pleasant. The inner ring is quite compact with lots of pleasant cobblestoned and paved streets. It can be crossed in about 20 minutes.

Bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes as this is the most common way of getting around.

Talk

Most Viennese speak a range and mix of Austro-Bavarian and German as their mother tongue, unlike in most other parts of Austria where pure Austro-Bavarian is much more prevalent. You are extremely unlikely to ever come across a person who can't speak German; in fact, it has become more and more used as a language in common life in the capital, almost to the dismay of the Austro-Bavarian dialect, so with the possible partial exception of really old people in the outer suburbs, everyone will be able to speak German to you more or less fluently. German here means Austrian German, which differs slightly in vocabulary and more so in pronunciation, but it is the same language so Northern German speakers (most common German taught abroad) will be understood. Should someone be so proud as to continue speaking Austro-Bavarian and you don't understand (you might, since the languages are close), just ask the person to speak in German and he/she will.

German is the sole official language and thus the main recoginzed written language.

People in jobs dealing with foreign visitors are usually fluent in English, though English is not as universally spoken as in northern European countries, and signs (including descriptive signs in museums) don't as often include English translations as in some other European countries, so those who don't speak German or Austro-Bavarian may find a traveler's phrase book or bilingual dictionary useful.

Minory languages are as well wide spread, such as Serbo-Croatian, Turkish and Romanian.

See

Museums

- Otto Wagner is the most prominent Viennese architect from the turn of the 20th Century. Two museums are dedicated to his work.

- If you are looking for exhibitions of modern art apart from the MUMOK and MAK there are several other places you could visit: MOYA[97] – The Artists' House [98] – The House of the Arts (see Hundertwasser above) – Atelier Augarten (a branch of the Belvedere) – Kunsthalle (Exhibition Hall) - there are two of them, both branches of the Museum District (MQ) and the Generali Foundation [99] – Essl Collectionin Klosterneuburg (see below).

- Small Museums – There are plenty of small museums that follow special interests and are operated privately by the districts or societies. They range from a museum on abortion to the world's only museum on heating systems.

Castles and palaces

Religious buildings

- English places of worship

If you are looking for more than just a religious building and, while on holiday, would like to worship in English, you will find many English-speaking churches in and around Vienna. You might like to try [100], [101], [102], [103]

Other attractions

Do

- Ball Season: One thing you should not miss when you visit Vienna during the carneval season is to attend one of the many glamourous balls in the city, some of them in wonderful elegant locations like the Vienna Hofburg or the City Hall (Rathaus). The most widely known and elegant balls are the Opera Ball in the State Opera [104] or the ball of the Wiener Philharmoniker. Many professional guilds have their own ball like e.g. the Kaffeesiederball by the Vienna Coffee house owners. The ball calendar can be found on the pages of the Vienna City Council

- River and Canal tours — The Canal tours are horrible. All you see are trees and industrial buildings. It's a waste of money and time.

- There are also a lot of other open-air-film festivals in summer, e.g. at the Augarten, the Vienna Turf Krieau, the Prater, and Schloss Neugebäude.

- In the summer, there is also the ImPulsTanz Festival [105] for contemporary dance & performance. They are also good if you are interested in dance workshops.

Buy

Store hours are generally 8 or 9AM-6 or 7PM Monday-Friday, 9AM-6PM Saturday, Closed Sunday. There are slightly longer hours at some malls. Credit cards are normally accepted at large and at high-end stores. All chains that you can find in the malls also have stores on the city's shopping streets, which tend to be more accessible and tourist-freindly.

Shopping streets

Innere Stadt

Core districts

Outer districts

Clothes and shoes

Arts

Local luxuries

Malls

Duty-free shopping

Vienna airport has a duty free shopping area with 70 shops. Plan around one hour if you're going to visit every other shop. The shopping area is just after ticket control counters, so you only need to checkin before getting to shops, not pass security check nor passport control.

Outdoor markets

There are 21 markets [106] with stands and small characteristically Viennese hut-like shops that are open daily (except Sunday). Additionally many of these have true farmers' markets, often on Saturday mornings. There is a large variety of sellers and markets, from the upscale to the dirt cheap. Each has several shops of different kinds (butcher, bakery, produce, coffee, etc.). There is another handful of weekly farmers markets [107] around the city as well as seasonal markets like the christmas markets.

Christmas markets

Open from Nov 15s or 20s to Dec 23th or 24th, most Viennese Christmas Markets ("Christkindlmarkt", "Adventmarkt" or simply "Weihnachtsmarkt") are not so much for shopping as for eating and drinking. From midday until the late hours of the night, people gather at Christmas markets to drink mulled wine, punch, and chat to one another and the occasional stranger. Entry to all of these markets is free.

- Rathaus [108]: More of a fairground than a Christmas market, this is Vienna's largest and busiest incarnation. Located on the large town square between Rathaus and Burgtheater, the Wiener Christkindlmarkt is by far the largest and probably best known christmas market in Vienna. Large christmas tree in front of the townhall, skating possibility, adorned trees in the park, often crowded!

- Spittelberg [109]: Probably the most delightful, though often quite packed Christmas market in Vienna, the Spittelberg market is scattered over a series of lanes lined with picturesque early 19th century Biedermeier houses (many of them former brothels, which is the reason the area was spared early 20th century urban renewal). Some of the stalls are extensions of the shops and bars of this normally rather sleepy area.

- Maria-Theresien-Platz [110]: A relatively new market between the two museums and en route to/from the MuseumsQuartier (MQ). It is easy to maneuver than some and the quality of the goods is better than most.

- Schönbrunn [111]: One of the better markets with higher quality goods and a more festive atmosphere in front of Schönbrunn palace. It is easier to spread out here and the specialties are food, handmade soaps, and candles.

- Belvedere [112]: Another recent addition to the city's Christmas markets, the market in front of the Belvedere palace is spacious and emphasizes the homespun.

- Resselpark/Karlsplatz - A small, alternative and more rambunctious Christmas market in front of Karlskirche.

- Freyung [113]: A fine market in the First District frequented by locals and professionals on their lunch break and downtown shoppers. Focus on handicrafts and original gifts such as hand-made Christmas decorations, mangers or objects made of natural materials. Christmas cakes and biscuits as well as hot punch and Glühwein. There are usually fewer tourists.

Further afield a famous and overly bustling Christmas market may be found at Grafenegg castle [114]. Entry is €7, children under the age of 12 are free.

Charity sales

Charity auctions are common in Vienna. Some stores give their proceeds to social programmes (often second-hand store back-to-work programs similar to Goodwill, or other charity shops).

- International Charity Bazaar [115] taking place in 2010 on December 4th at the Austria Center U1 – Station Kaisermühlen, has been organized yearly for over 40 years by the ladies of the United Nations Women’s Guild of Vienna. Volunteers, from a 100 different countries, who have some kind of connection to the United Nations, organize it and all proceeds from the Bazaar go to children’s charities in Austria and around the world.

Groceries

Viennese supermarkets are not very large, especially compared with the hypermarkets covering the rest of Central Europe. However, there is practically one on every corner. They are open about 7 AM to 7 PM M-F and 7 AM to 6 PM on Saturday. Only two stores in train stations (Praterstern and Franz-Josef-Bahnhof), one at the General Hospital (Allgemeines Krankenhaus, AKH) and two at the airport are open later (until 9 PM), on Sunday and on public holidays. Hofer [116], Penny [117], and Lidl [118] strive to be discount stores, whereas Billa [119], SPAR [120] and Zielpunkt [121] as well as the larger Merkur [122] tout selection and quality. There is not a major difference in prices. Most regular stores have a deli where the clerks make sandwiches for the cost of the ingredients you select. Although many products are Austrian, none of the supermarket chains are actually Austrian-owned. If you want to support the local economy you can do so by frequenting independent shops or visiting actual markets.

Upscale grocers are not common in Vienna.

Eat

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:

Budget

Below €10

Mid-range

€10-20

Splurge

€20+

Viennese restaurant menus offer a bewildering variety of terms for dishes, most of which the visitor will never have heard of and many of which aren't in the brief lists of menu terms included in phrase books. However restaurants that have any foreign patrons at all usually have an English menu, though you may have to ask for it: the phrase "English menu" usually will be understood even by wait staff who don't speak English. A small bilingual dictionary will be useful for trying to decipher menu listings: at least it will enable you usually to determine what sort of food (chicken, beef, potato, etc.) is concerned, even if you can't tell how it's prepared. Not only savoury but also sweet main dishes are common in Austria.

Viennese restaurant portions tend to be large. Recently many restaurants are including more vegetarian options. Most restaurants have daily specials listed on a chalk board or sometimes on a printed insert in the regular menu. These are usually the best bet, though they may not be on the English menu, so you may have to ask to have them explained or try to translate them yourself.

Smoking

Smoking is ubiquitous in Vienna restaurants. A small red sticker on the door means no-smoking a green means smoking, both mean there is a separate non-smoking section. Even at outdoor tables, neighbors' smoke may be bothersome. It is polite to ask tablemates permission before lighting up after a meal.

Bread in Viennese restaurants is usually charged as an extra; if there is a basket of it on the table, you'll usually be charged by the piece only if you take some.

Tipping customs are similar to those in Europe and America though tips are slightly smaller; ten percent is usually sufficient in restaurants. Traditionally the way to tip a waiter is to mention the amount of the bill plus tip when you pay; for instance, if the bill is €15.50 you could give the waiter a €20 note and say "siebzehn (seventeen)," meaning he is to take out €15.50 for the bill, €1.50 for the tip, and so give you only €3 change. In this situation English numbers will usually be understood. Sometimes in less formal restaurants you can alternatively drop the tip into the money pouch the waiter usually carries.

Credit cards aren't quite as commonly used in restaurants in Vienna as in Northern European countries, so ask if it's important to know before hand.

Street food

The traditional Viennese fast food is sausage in all shapes and sizes. You can buy hot sausages and hot dogs at snack bars called "Würstlstand" all over the town. The famous Wiener Würstel is known as "Frankfurter" in Vienna, but many inhabitants prefer Bosna (with onions and curry), Burenwurst, and Käsekrainer or "Eitrige" (with melted cheese inside).

In addition to this, the local snack culture also includes more ex-Yugoslavian and Turkish varieties of fast food, such as the Döner Kebap, sandwiches of Greek and Turkish origin with roasted meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and yogurt and/or hot sauce. Places that sell kebap often sell take-away slices of pizza too.

Good kebaps can be bought at the Naschmarkt. The lower end of the Naschmarkt (further away from Karlsplatz or city centre) is cheaper than the upper end (closer to Karlsplatz), and the right lane (facing away from the city centre) is reserved for mostly sit-down eateries. Another good place to find snacks (especially while going out) is Schwedenplatz, also on the U4 and U1 line.

By far the cheapest way to get a fast food meal in Austria (and probably the only meal available for just over €1) is buying an Austrian sandwich (sliced brown bread + ham/cheese + gherkin) from a supermarket. Supermarkets with a deli counter (Feinkostabteilung) will prepare sandwiches to take away at no extra charge. You only pay for the ingredients. There is usually a large selection of meat products, cheese, and bread rolls available here, too. You point at the combination you want, can also mention the max total you can pay, and then pay at the cash register. Freshness and quality are normally better than at a sandwich stand on the street.

Budget

Mid-range

With children

Splurge

Ice cream

You can buy excellent ice cream (Eis) at a number of places.

- Eissalon am Schwedenplatz, 1., Schwedenplatz, [124]. Maybe the most popular place. You can choose from a lot of different flavors, but it's always crowded and you often have to stand in a queue for a few minutes.

- Zanoni & Zanoni Gelateria, 1., Am Lugeck (just down Rotenturmstrasse from Schwedenplatz towards the Stephansdom), [125]. In the same district as Eissalon. Зopular with Viennese and tourists for its huge €2 cones to go.

- Perizzolo, 1., Tuchlauben. A less crowded, but nevertheless excellent Eis address. Ask for the Special Nougat ice cream

- Tichy, 10., Reumannplatz 13 (metro: Reumannplatz), [126]. Another famous place for ice cream. Famous for its Eismarillenknödel (small dumplings of vanilla ice cream with an apricot core) and Himbeereisknödel (raspberry core, vanilla ice cream, coating of ground poppy seeds). Arguably the best ice cream in Austria, if not in whole Europe.

- Bortolotti, 7., Mariahilfer Straße 22 and 94 (The latter closed during winter!), [127]. Also worth trying. Ask particularly for the Campari-Orange Icecream or look for other exotic stuff.

Drink

Cafés

Vienna's Kaffeehäuser (coffee houses) are world famous for their grandness and the lively coffee house culture. Skipping the Kaffeehauskultur is missing out a big part of Viennese culture. You should at least visit one of the countless traditional baroque 19th or funky 20th century coffee houses where you can sit down, relax, and enjoy refreshments.

Most cafés also serve beer, wine and liqueurs. Many serve meals, especially at lunch, and these are often cheaper than in restaurants. Most have a fine selection of Torten (tortes or cakes), some offer other baked goods. In general some are more restaurant-like, some more café-like and some more bar-like.

Coffee

"Entschuldigen Sie Frau/Herr Ober!"

Although the head waitress/waiter (Ober) of most cafés is not nearly as snooty as they might let on, there are some definite don'ts:

- Don't ask for coffee to go. International chains and many bakeries offer it if you really need it.

- Don't just order "coffee" - that is like going into a restaurant and ordering "food." Find a type that suits your taste.

- Don't expect your waitress/waiter to just bring you the bill - you are supposed to ask for it when you are finished and ready to go. It is considered impolite for them to rush you by bringing it on their own.

- Don't forget to tip when you pay. Just round up about 10%. Say explicitly how much you wish to pay (e.g., €3.50 for a €3.20 coffee) when handing the money the waitress/waiter.

Remember: cafés are a very slow paced environment, approach them as you would a sit-down restaurant, bring a book or some friends, or make use of the newspapers on hand and enjoy your hours relaxing there!

Coffee is obviously an important part of the coffeehouse culture. Vienna was not only the center of the Austrian Empire but also the center of a much larger coffee empire, and the local roasts were sold across Europe. Today many people are still familiar with the term Vienna roast.

Vienna prides itself of its dozens of varieties of different coffees, although the Italian style and names are better known by many youth than the Viennese, the cafés are keeping the traditions alive. Most commonly:

- Kleiner Schwarzer also known simply as a Schwarzer or as a Mokka is the Viennese version of espresso. It is made with a tick more water, a Viennese roast (the point between origin and roast flavor) and it is pulled slowly allowing it to oxidize.

- Großer Schwarzer is simply a double Schwarzer (similar to a double espresso).

- Kleiner Brauner is a mokka (espresso) with cream, often on the side.

- Großer Brauner is a double Mokka with cream.

- Melange is prehaps the most typical Viennese coffee. Similar to cappuccino but with the Viennese style mokka and more foamy milk in equal parts.

- Verlangerter is mokka (espresso) with extra hot water, similar to a small Americano.

- Kapuziner is a mokka (espresso) with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

- Kaffee Verkehrt (or in the more modern places Kaffee Latte) is the local version of a latte.

Also consider specialties like the Kaisermelange (coffee, milk, egg yolk and cognac) on the menu. Most cafés have a house specialty (for instance, "Kaffee Central" at Café Central).

Coffee houses

Finding a café is not hard in Vienna. Find a particular café you are looking for is another story. Most of the baroque "top" coffee houses are on the Ring and main streets of the Innere Stadt (District 1), mostly cozier and often less formal 1970s or 80s modern style coffee houses are hidden away on the Innere Stadt's backstreets, and distributed across the rest of the city.

In the Innere Stadt

- Also see Alt Wien under Bars and Beerhouses.

Outside the Innere Stadt

Chains

- Oberlaa, [128]. Very Viennese cafes, really delicious bakery and well know confectionary. Also some choice of soups and mains. Several locations, mostly in Innere Stadt. Malange €3.70; Slice of Torte €3.50.

- Aida, [129]. Chic but artificial design, medicore quality, depends on location and luck. Many cafés across Vienna and Lower Austria.

Water

Rather unusually it is necessary to say some words about Vienna's drinking water which is really unique in Europe. The majority of Vienna's water comes from the three "Hochquellwasserleitungen." Meaning "high-(as in mountain) spring waterlines (as in aqueducts). Indeed the city's water flows through aqueducts from the mountains around 100 kilometres south of Vienna (Schneeberg and Hochschwab). These were built during the reign of Emperor Franz Josef and supply Vienna with nearly unchlorinated high-quality drinking water, with a considerably higher quality than many bottled waters. So if you visit this city, it is not necessary to buy water, you can simply drink tap water here - unless you prefer sparkling water.

Another speciality is that at typical coffeehouses a coffee is always accompanied by a glass of cold clear water. In most restaurants, you can get a glass of drinking water for free with any order, just specify tap water ("Leitungswasser").

Wine

New wine is usually enjoyed at a Heurigen (family-run vineyard bars allowed to the the new vintage). Austria in general, but especially the area around Vienna, produces quite a large amount of wine each year. There are even many vineyards within the city in Döbling (19th District). The wine is not often exported and white is more common than red. Grüner Veltliner is a common tart and fresh white wine served almost everywhere. Officially the new wine season begins on November 11 (St Martin's Day), but as early as September, some partially-fermented new wine (called Sturm which is cloudy, because it has not been strained) is available around town at stands and in 2L green bottles (try the Naschmarkt – sometimes the vendors will have samples, it is less strong than wine, about 4 percent alcohol ). Taverns can call themselves Heurigens whether the wine they serve is their own or not – for genuine in-house product look for a Buschenschank. This is a particularly Viennese Heuriger which can only be open 300 days per year or until their supply of house-made wine runs out. Heurigen can be found e.g. in Grinzing, Sievering (19th district) and Mauer & Rodaun (23rd district) areas, but also in almost every suburban area in Vienna. Even in the center, there are some Stadtheurigen. While the Heurigen of Grinzing are bigger and more famous with tourists, they are often a rip-off. If any of the year’s vintage lasts until next year, it officially becomes Alte (old) wine on the next Saint Martin's Day. The Heurigen in the South of Vienna or in Perchtoldsdorf are much cheaper and serve the same quality as the Heurigen in Grinzing. Also in the Northern suburbs, you can find cheap and somewhat authentic Heurigen. Try the towns of Stammersdorf or Hagenbrunn, for example Karl Matzka [130], hard to reach by public transport.

After a long day, the perfect place to relax among Viennese are the Heurigen in the suburbs. Somewhat akin to a beer garden, except with wine, these tiny treasures are the only places authorized to serve new wine. New wine is made from the first pressing of the grape and can appear a little cloudy. Be careful, it's stronger than you might think! This is why it's served in very small glasses, .25L and up. Some Heurigen serve food, either elaborate Viennese specialties or very simple bread and cheese platters. No matter which one you choose, you're guaranteed to enjoy yourself. Just hop on a convenient outbound tram line, take it to the very last stop, and look for buildings with large, evergreen foliage hung over the doors. Each one is unique, but all are a good bargain. Locals invariably have a favorite: ask around.

Wine bars

- Wein & Co, +43 1 743 42 00-34, [131]. A chain shop for wine lovers featuring a wine bar in every location. Shop locations include Naschmarkt, Marihilfer str., near Burggarten and near Stephansplatz.

Bars and beerhouses

Nightlife

Despite Vienna's stuck-up reputation don't be led to believe it is a quiet city. There are diverse cafés, bars, clubs, parties and festivilles as well as thriving noctornal prostitution and casino scenes.

Cafés and bars

The café scene often continues into the early hours, during the week and on weekends. Additionally there are many traditional neighborhood bars some which also have Viennese food. Most popular though, are bars (some with a nominal cover fee) with a dj and small dance floor. These are quite comfortable and there are plenty to meet anyones musical taste, many are open all night.

MainstreamorAustro-Trash

Although "mainstream" is hardly a majority of people in Vienna it is still refered to as such. Even here there is quite a bit of variance between places the conservative working class goes out and the conservative upper class tends to go.

- Gürtel at Nußdorferstraße (U6) has a few mid-size cheap clubs like Loco[132] and Ride Club[133] around. They all have very cheap booze and cover if you arrive early.

Alternative

Queer

Although the gay night life in Vienna is not concentrated, its blossoming. It can be hard even for locals to keep up with whats on offer, but luckly it doesn't matter since the Vienna is accepting and you can go out where ever, and even meet other queers be that your intention. Austria is a very conservative Catholic country, during the day gay and lesbian couples might get some stares, especailly from the older generations but at night most of the conservative people have gone to bed.

- Why Not [134] is Vienna's main-steam everyday gay disco. The crowd is varied. In the 1st District at Teifergraben 22 (Herrengasse U3). Saturdays are house-music free.

- Heavan [135] every Saturday at the Camera Club [136] (Neubaugasse U3) is a mostly younger crowd.

- Meat Market happens regularly at both the Pratersauna and on the Badeschiff (see above). It is more alternative and its the hot major queer party in Vienna these days. The same people put on Dem Schönen Frönen which is similar but with a focus on minimal, instead of alternative music.

- HOMO is the other main-stream alternative gay party that happens every now and again, sometimes in Heavan @ Camera Club (see above).

- Rosa Lilla Villa [137] is a gay resource center with an excellent a bar and resturant. (Pilgramgasse U4)

- Gumpendorfer Straße in the 6th District has several very gay-friendly bars to meet most any taste, there is one every block or so.

Indulgent

Brothels are legal in Vienna, as is street prostitution. There are male and female prostitutes, many from Austria's neighboring countries (few from Austria), but also from Africa, Latin America and Asia offering their services. Brothels differ greatly from small to the point one-room operations to hokey grad parlors. There is no true red-light district, but there are many 'bars' located on the 'Gürtel' as well as in the 2nd District, but they can be found everywhere. Street prostitution areas exist but should be avoided due to the low-regulation and high amount of trafficked and unregistered workers. There are plenty of go-go clubs as well though, that are not brothels. Some of these have male and female dancers dancing together and are frequented by men and women together.

Casinos are plentiful in Vienna. Also a spectrum hole-in-the-wall places with machines to the hokey Eastern-European style with pumping music and strobes on the facade to grand elite places.

Sleep

Vienna offers a complete range of hotels. Prices are relatively higher than in neighboring countries, or in the neighboring countryside, but quality is also often better.

In choosing an accommodation it is important to know which part of the city you want to spend time in. Most accommodations claim to be centrally located, which for the Viennese would mean they should be in or next to the 1st District, few actually are. Many are even outside the core districts 2-9. Still, all of them are located within about a 5-minute walk to an underground or at least a rail or tram station, you can get to the center within 20 minutes or less on public transportation form anywhere in the city.

A quick reminder about addresses and districts: the number preceding the street name is the district. So 9., Badgasse 26 is Badgasse #26 in the 9th district. These can also be made into a postal code by substuting it the the XX: A-1XX0 Vienna (0X for districts below 10), for instance A-1090 Vienna for the 9th district.

Smoking rooms are relatively common. Non-smoking rooms are in limited supply, and hotels with non-smoking floors are less common. Senstive non-smokers may be bothered that public areas of the hotel (often the hallway outside your room) are often heavy with tobacco smoke.

Budget

Hostels

Hotels

Mid-range

Hotels

Splurge

Contact

Internet

Vienna has a large number of mostly free wireless hotspots in bars, restaurants, and cafés (see drink section). Wifi is known locally as WLAN or Wireless LAN. Those that are on the Freewave Wi-Fi network can be found here: [138]. MuseumsQuartier has free wireless internet. There are plenty of internet cafes except for in the first district. Touch-screen media terminals are avaible (including internet) in many phone booths, much of the content about Vienna is free.

If you're a European student you can make use of the eduroam service[139]. The University of Vienna[140], the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration[141], the University of Technology[142], the Medical University of Vienna[143], the University of Applied Arts Vienna[144], the University of Music and Performing Arts[145] as well as the Austrian Academy of Sciences[146] are part of this programme in Vienna.

Media

The local public radio aimed towards youth, FM4[147] used to be an English-language channel and still has much programming in English including the news. 103.8 FM or 91.0 FM.

Television in Austria is almost exclusivly in German. The national public media ORF offer limited programming in several Slavonic languages and Hungarian. There are plenty of international English-language channels avaible.

Austrian news is printed in English in a newspaper called the Austrian Times [148]. The Vienna Review [149] offers a more indepth examination of local issues. International papers are widely avaible. There is a New York Times insert in the Monday edition of the local newspaper Der Standard [150] which can be found quickly in coffee houses and elsewhere due to its tan color.

Stay safe

Vienna is potentially one of the safest cities in the world for its size. There are no slums or districts you should avoid. In general, you can visit any part of the city at any time of the day without taking many risks — just use your common sense. At night, though, it is wise to avoid parks. The drug scene at Karlsplatz (underneath the Opera) hangs out there during the day, but they do not care at all about tourists. Just ignore them and they will ignore you. The Prater (fair grounds/amusement park area) is said by some locals to be less safe at night, though more in reference to pickpockets than anything else. As in any major city, watch out for pickpockets who grab and run when boarding the U-Bahn (['uːbaːn] subway). Petty crimes (like jackets 'going missing') are more common and normally go unreported and won't get much sympathy. There have been a very few racist assaults in Vienna (even some by the police themselves). Many streets and public-transport facilities are littered with racist and nazi graffiti. Also, avoid sections of the U6 and the Gurtel between Brigittenau and Meidling at night, with the exception of certain better areas like that around the Volksoper. One runs the risk of being pickpocketed. Schwedenplatz, along the Ring, is sleazy in the evenings, but basically harmless; the Stadtpark, along the Ring, to the East, is a bit deserted at night and therefore best avoided.

Prostitution is legal, even on the street, and is common around the area of the Prater and around the Westbahnhof. Ironically, some of the areas are a stones throw from the UNODC Headquarters (the UN agency responsible for combating human trafficking) and are human trafficking hubs for all of Europe. Many of these prostitutes are not registered and a high number are known to be trafficked, so take care if seeking their services. It is safer for everyone involved to visit a brothel. Women dressed in a certain manner walking around these areas alone at night might feel uncomfortable being checked-out in a certain way but there is no real danger. (There is no male street-prostitution to speak of in Vienna.)

Austria has one of the highest rates of missing people (per-capita) in the Western world. It is similar to that of the USA despite Austria's small size and the fact that everyone is required to register their address with the state.

Recently there have been some reports of fraud around Karlsplatz and the Ring. The usual scenario is that someone will stop you and ask for directions. A couple of other guys show up claiming to be police, showing a badge (must be fake). They ask if you were getting drugs from the other guy and then will ask for your passport and wallet for verification. When you are busy trying to convince them that your passport is valid, one of them sneaks out some money from your wallet. Best to tell them that you want to go to the police station — there is one at Karlsplatz U-Bahnstation. It's a minor annoyance, but it's better to be careful. In a different case of fraud they try to convince you that your money is counterfeit money and that they have to inspect it. As always use common sense: police are ought to approach you in a very distinctive way (you will notice if they do so), the badge must have Polizei ([ˌpɔlɪˈtsaɪ̯] police) and the Austrian coat of arms and/or the Austrian flag located somewhere on it, and they will be willing to bring you to the police station or a properly uniformed officer.

Do not walk on the bike lanes and cross them like you would cross any other road. Some bike lanes are hard to recognize (e.g. on the "Ring" in Vienna) and some cyclists bike rather fast. Walking on bike lines is not only considered impolite but it is illegal and you run the danger of getting hit.

If you see people gambling on the streets (usually in popular tourists' destinations like Stephenplatz or Mariahilferstrasse) stay away! The modus operandi usually involves a guy playing the classic game of "hiding the ball". This involves covering the ball (or small trinket) with either a bottle cap or a match box and swirling it around with two other bottle caps asking people to guess the position of the ball. The game is set in a way that you can easily see the ball's position. This is done to lure the unsuspecting person into placing a wager. There are usually two main players and, between them, they will lose and win money back and forth to give the appearance that it is a fair game - do not be tricked! They are from the same gang. Once you get greedy and get lured in, you will surely lose your money! The person in control of the bottle caps will remove the ball from their position through sleight of hand and you will never see your money back. Besides the two or three other players involved, there are usually at least two lookouts - one on each side of 'stage'. Vienna has plenty of legal casinos if you care to try your luck.

In addition, it is common for suspicious persons to approach you in the city centers if you are standing still for a while (particularly if eating at outdoor tables). They will be holding magazines for sale, and will ask you if you are interested in looking at one for free. They are typically very aggressive in their demeanor. Do not be fooled by them! It is not free. If you look at the magazine for free, they will refuse to take the magazine back and demand payment for it at a high cost (typically 2 euros which is the price of local homeless' magazines in Austria like "Augustin", but they are in german anyways and it indeed has become a trend amongst non-related people to abuse the idea). The best response in this situation is, when they first approach, to simply wave your hands demonstratively to say no while shaking your head and repeat the phrase "Nein danke" ([naɪ̯n ˈdaŋkə] no thank you) to them repeatedly until they leave. If police are nearby, these people may accuse you of stealing the magazine, but many police know of their trickery so stand your ground. However the best response in all cases is simply to dismiss these beggars by saying "Nein danke" and refusing to take the magazine. They will often look for tourists or people who look as though they are visiting hoping to make a sale, therefore be prepared to tell them "Nein danke" as necessary so that they will leave you alone. They are not violent and just trying to get money from you, so do not be afraid that they will hurt you if you tell them no.

Cope

Embassies

- Albania, 19, An den langen Lüssen 1/6/1, +43 1 328 86 56/57.

- Algeria, 19, Rudolfinergasse 16-18, +43 1 369 88 53.

- Argentina, 1, Goldschmiedgasse 2/1, +43 1 533 85 77.

- Armenia, 14, Hadikgasse 28, +43 1 522 74 79 (armenia@armembassy.at, fax: +43 1 522 74 81).

- Australia, 4, Mattielistraße 2-4, +43 1 51 28 580-0.

- Belarus, 14, Hüttelbergstraße 6, +43 1 419963011, [152].

- Belgium, 4, Wohllebengasse 6, +43 1 50 2 07-0.

- Belize (Consulate), 1, Franz Josefs Kai 13, +43 1 5337663‎.

- Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12, Tivoligasse 54, +43 1 811 85 55.

- Brazil, 1, Lugeck 1, +43 1 512 06 310.

- Bulgaria, 4, Schwindgasse 8, +43 1 505 64 44.

- Canada, Laurenzerberg 2, 3F, +43 1 531-38-3000 (vienn@international.gc.ca), [153].

- Chile, 1, Lugeck 1/III/10, +43 1 512 92 08.

- China, 3, Metternichgasse 4 (梅特涅大街4号), +43 1 710 36 48 (fax: +43 1 713 68 16), [154].

- Colombia, 1, Stadiongasse 6-8, +43 1 4054249.

- Croatia, 17, Heubergasse 10, +43 1 48 48 783-0.

- Cuba, 13, Himmelhofgasse 40a-c, +43 1 877 81 98 30.

- Cyprus, 1, Parkring 20, +43 1 513 06 30.

- Czech Republic, 4, Penzingerstraße 11-13, +43 1 89 43 741.

- Denmark, 1, Führichgasse 6, +43 1 51 27 904-0.

- Ecuador, 1, Goldschmeidgasse 10/ 2 /2, +43 1 535 32 08.

- Egypt, 1, Opernring 3/3/301, +43 1 587 66 33.

- Finland, 1, Gonzagagasse 16, +43 1 53 1 59-0.

- France, 4, Technickerstraße 2, +1 202 944-6000.

- Georgia, 3, Marokkanergasse 18, +43 1 7103611 (georgia@nextra.at).

- Germany, 3, Metternichtgasse 3, +43 1 71 1 54-0.

- Greece, 4, Argentinierstraße 14, +43 1 50 55 791-0.

- Hungary, 1, Bankgasse 14-16, +43 1 53 32 631.

- India, 1, Kärntner Ring 2, +43 1 222 505 86 66.

- Indonesia, 18, Gustav-Tschermak-Gasse 5-7, +43 1 476 23.

- Iran, 3, Jaurègasse 9, +43 1 712 26 50.

- Iraq, 1, Johannesgasse 26, +43 1 713 81 95.

- Ireland, Rotenturmstraße 16-18, 5.Stock, +43 1 715 4246.

- Israel, 18, Anton-Frank-Gasse 20, +43 1 476460, [155].

- Italy, 3, Rennweg 27m, +43 1 71 25 121-0.

- Japan, 1, Heßgasse 6, +43 1 53 1 92, [156].

- Kazakhstan, 19, Felix Mottl Straße 23, +43 1 367917510‎, [157].

- Kenya, 3, Neulinggasse 24, +43 1 71239190‎.

- Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 14, Beckmanngasse 10, +43 1 8942313‎.

- Republic of Korea, 18, Gregor Mendel Straße 25, +43 1 47819910‎.

- Kosovo, 4, Goldegg 2, +43 1 9047466.

- Macedonia, Kinderspitalgasse 5/2, A-1090 Wien, +43 1 524 8756 (vienna@mfa.gov.mk, fax: +43 1 524 8753), [158].

- Malaysia, 21, Floridsdorfer Hauptstrasse 1-7, 24F, +43 1 505 10 42.

- Serbia, Rennweg 3, +43 1-7132595 (+43-1-7132596; 1-7121205; 1-7126488; 1-7134277, ambasada@scg-diplomat.at).

- Turkey, Prinz-Eugen-Straße 40, 1040, +43 1 505 73 38 (24 hours) (webmaster@tuerkischebotschaftwien.eu, fax: +43 1 505 36 60), [159].

- United Kingdom, 3, Jauersgasse 12, +43 1 71 6 13-0.

- United States, 9, Boltzmanngasse 16, +43 1 31339-0 (fax: +43 1 310 06 82), [160]. Consular section: 1, Parkring 12a

Get out

Vienna's metropolitan area is large, and its suburban rail takes you to suburbs so large that they are worth a visit in their own right. All of the following places except Bratislava are within the metropolitan area and reachable on an all-zone Vienna travelcard (and yes, this also applies to Sopron).

- St. Pölten, the capital of Lower Austria, hosts many sights. One is the Dom zu St. Pölten, a baroque which ntil 1722 served as a Roman basilica cathedral. The St. Pöltner Rathaus (city hall) and the Pottenbrunn Castle (which can only be seen from the outside) are also worth a visit. St. Pölten is accessible by an hourly suburban rail service from Westbahnhof station (U-Bahn U3) which takes 80 minutes to St. Pölten (passengers for Pottenbrunn Castle should get off at Pottenbrunn, one stop before St. Pölten). Total travel time from the city centre is 100 min.

- Wiener Neustadt also has a lot to offer for tourists: the cathedral, renovated in 1975-1999, the castle and the city museum to name a few. The city is reachable by suburban train from Wien Mitte station on the S-Bahn S6 (via Ebenfurth) and S9 (via Baden) routes, and the travel time is 75-80 min.

- Eisenstadt The capital of Burgenland, hosts several large churches as well as the Esterhály castle which offers a wine cellar, gift shop, guided tours, and concerts in the famous Haydnsaal as well as the large garden on the back. There are two suburban rail connections: the direct service Südbahnhof - Eisenstadt - Wulkaprodersdorf - (Wiener Neustadt) which takes 67 min to Eisenstadt, and the Deutschkreutz-bound service from Meilding to Wulkaprodersdorf + connecting service on the Südbahnhof route (opposite direction, towards Südbahnhof) to Eisenstadt, which takes 1 hour from Meidling and is thus slightly faster. However, from the city centre both routes take 80 minutes so you might as well go with the direct service from Südbahnhof.

- Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is 55 km from Vienna and reachable by two suburban rail routes: one runs to Hlavna stanica via eastern Vienna and the other one to Petrzalka via the southeast. The latter takes 57 minutes and the former 71 minutes. Both lines originate at Südbahnhof station (U-Bahn U1 to Südtiroler Platz and suburban train to Südbahnhof). However, depending on your point of origin, taking U-Bahn U2 to Stadlau or U3 to Simmering and suburban train from either to Hlavna stanica may be faster than travelling via Südbahnhof. Travel time from the city centre via Südbahnhof (to Petrzalka) or Stadlau (to Hlavna stanica) is 75 min. In the past prices in Bratislava were one-fifth of what they are in Vienna but many things now cost pretty much the same.

- Sopron, a historic town in in Hungary which is also reachable by suburban rail: from Wien Meidling (U-Bahn U1 to Südtiroler Platz and suburban train to Meidling) the hourly service to Deutschkreutz takes you to Sopron in 70 min. Total travel time from the city centre is 90 minutes.

District Innere Stadt Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

Museums

Castles and palaces

Religious buildings

Other attractions

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Cafés

Bars

Nightlife

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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See
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Museums
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- Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum), (U2/U3 Volkstheater, tram D, 1, 2, 46, 49, bus 2A, 57A Burgring Maria-Theresien-Platz Stop), 525 24 0, [1]. Tu-W, F-Su 10AM–6PM, Th 10AM–9PM. One of the world's greatest art museums and in a palace that is a work of art itself. Serious art fans may wish to devote more than a day to its treasures. There is no other word to describe the Kunst other than mind boggling. It contains a world-class exhibit of the Habsburgs' art collection, including Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Bosch, and Brueghel. The Museum has an excellent collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. The coin & medals collection is also exhaustive in its scope. The Museum cafe is a bit pricey, but good, and in a beautiful setting. Hand-held photography is permitted. €10, students €7.50.

- Imperial Treasury (Schatzkammer; aka the Secular and Ecclesiastical Treasures), (in the Neue Hofburg), [2]. The best part of the Hofburg and an absolute must. It contains the Habsburgs' collection of jewels, crowns, and other valuables, perhaps the best on the Continent. Second only to a tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum itself, of which the Schatzkammer is officially a part. Tere are 20 rooms of priceless treasures that give a fairly accurate feel for Habsburg court life over the centuries. €7 (as a combined ticket with the Museum of Fine Arts).

- The New Palace (Neue Hofburg). The newest and largest section of the Imperial Palace. It contains the Ethnological Museum and three branches of the Museum of Fine Arts. The Ephesus Museum contains classical art from Asia Minor. The Collection of Historical Musical Instruments is self-explanatory, but the jewel of the New Palace is the Collection of Arms. This collection, second largest in the world, houses an immense and exhaustive representation of weaponry from past centuries.

- Albertina, [3]. Once a palace, it is now the most popular exhibition space in Vienna, mainly for traditional modern art. The building itself is an experience as well. It is home to a valuable drawing collection, including many works of the German Renaissance painter, Dürer. €9.50.

- MAK (Austrian Museum of Applied Arts / Contemporary Art), Stubenring 5 (Subway U3, tram 1, 2, bus 1A, 74A to Stubentor, and U4 to Landstrasser Hauptstrasse, City Airport Train from the airport to Bahnhof Wien Mitte), +43 1711360, [4]. Tu 10AM-midnight, W-SU 10AM-6PM. The museum has the MAK Design Shop and a study collection. The museum exhibits contemporary art, design, and architecture. Free admission on Sa.

- Natural History Museum, [5]. This museum was erected as a mirror to its twin museum, the Museum of Fine Arts. It exhibits various minerals, meteorites, fossils, stuffed animals, and skeleton reconstructions of dinosaurs and other. It also includes an anthropological section, where you can see the beautiful Venus of Willendorf which is 25,000 years old. Most signs and explanations in the museum are only in German, and you will likely receive little sympathy for this from museum staff. Expect museum guards to rush you out at least 15 minutes before closing time.

- The Music House ('Haus der Musik), (U1, U2, U4, trams 1, 2, 62, 65, J and D, stop Karlsplatz/Opernring), [6]. . Closes at 9PM. This is arelatively new and special museum. It attributes great value to interactive learning experience. It covers the history of the Vienne Philharmonic Orchestra, the history of Vienna as a centre of music making (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert and others are documented). In addition there are the more experimental sections of futuristic composition (The Brain Opera) and sound experiences.

- Museum at the Scottish Monastery (Museum am Schottenstift), (U2, trams 1,2,37-38,40-44, D, stop Schottentor), [7]. A nice, small picture gallery mainly of Baroque Austrian painting.

- Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts (Gemäldegalerie), [8]. A gallery owned by the Academy of Fine Arts, to which Hitler applied to before he decided to change to politics. It offers some paintings of Rubens and Bosch. Most interesting are the Renaissance and medieval exponents.

- Otto Wagner Museum, (near the Schwedenplatz U1 stop, trams 1,2, 21, N), [9]. At the post office of his original design. At this museum you can see the more serious aspect of his artistic enterprise, that of public life. At the museum you can see some of the original furniture as well as his plans.

- Jewish Museum, [10]. A museum documenting the history of Vienna's substantial Jewish community which included Zweig, Freud, Herzl, Mahler, and Schoenberg. Three sites are available for one combined ticket: two museum sites and the main synagogue. Attached to the museum at Judenplatz are the archaeological remains of a medieval synagogue. The Stadttempel, the only historical synagogue in Vienna to have survived World War II, is accessible on through the guided tour.

- Film Museum, [11]. A cinema for showing specially curated films and retrospective.

- Mozart House (Mozarthaus Vienna), Domgasse 5 (U1/U3 Stephansplatz, east of the cathedral), +43 1 512 17 91 (tickets@mozarthausvienna.at, fax: +43 1 512 17 91 91), [12]. 10AM–7PM. This is the Viennese residence of Austria's most famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and a branch of the Vienna Museum.

Castles and palaces
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- Hofburg Palace, (U3 Herrengasse; tram 1, 2, D, J, alight at Burgring; bus 2A or 3A, alight at Hofburg), [13]. This immense palace complex grew into a large, unwieldy series of buildings over the years and was the imperial residence of the Habsburg emperors until 1918. What began as a medieval castle (whose chapel is the only original element of that building to survive) was expanded and redecorated as the Habsburgs' power increased correspondingly. The Palace Stables and Amalia's Wing were added in the sixteenth century. The Imperial Chancery Wing, Court Library, and Spanish Riding School was added in the eighteenth. In the last century, St Michael's Wing was tacked on and around 1900 the New Palace was completed. Each separate building contains so many treasures that the time spent moving from one to another is like opening box after box of fabulous jewels. The palace now houses the offices of the Austrian President, a convention center, and the Spanish Riding School with its Lipizzaner stallions. The Palace also houses several museums, including the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum and Imperial Silver Collection (Kaiserappartements, Sisi Museum, Silberkammer) where you can visit 22 state rooms (9AM-5PM; Jul-Aug 9AM-5:30PM; wheelchair-accessible.). These are the residential and state apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph I. and Empress Elisabeth (popularly known as Sisi) and show 19th-century imperial life. The Imperial Silver Collection displays unique items of the glittering world of imperial dining. You can purchase a single ticket for all three museums or purchase the "Sisi Ticket", which entitles you to visit the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg with Audio Guide (Imp. Apartments, Sisi Museum, Imp. Silver Collection), and Imperial Furniture Museum.

Religious buildings
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- Kapuzinerkirche, Tegetthoffstraße 2, 512. 10AM-6PM, 1 and 2 Nov closed. Notable mainly as the site of the Kaisergruft, a mausoleum housing the tombs of generations of Habsburg royalty. Adults €4, families €9, seniors, students, groups €3, under 14 €1.50.

- Jesuitenkirche, Dr-Ignaz-Seipel-Platz 1, 5125232. 7AM-6:30PM. Has one of the most elaborate Baroque interiors in Europe.

- Augustinian Friars' Church (Augustinerkirche), Josefsplatz 1 (facing the sculpture in the center of the square, the entrance is small and easy to miss, it is on the left hand wall of the square). Tours of the Herzgruft M-F 11AM, 3PM. Yet another example of the gruesome divide-and-conquer burial strategy of the Habsburg dynasty. It is said that other dynasties waged countless wars to acquire new lands, but you, happy Austria, marry. Even in death, the Habsburgs placated three different churches with the honor of caring for their remains. The best known, the Kapuzinergruft, contains their actual bodies. St Stephens holds their innards (intestines and other parts taken out during the preservation process). But the Augustinerkirche holds, in the Herzgruft (Heart Crypt), all the Habsburgs' hearts. The tradition began in 1627 with Emperor Ferdinand IV, who wanted to lay his heart at the feet of the Mother of God, literally. His heart, and those of his descendants, are preserved in silver jars which are carefully cared for by the Augustinian friars who run the church. When the renovation was underway it was found that the preservative in some of the caskets had evaporated over the years, leaving nothing but a dried-out, mummified heart.

- Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral), Stephansplatz (U1, U3 Stephansplatz), +43/ (0)1/ 515 52-3526, [14]. High Mass: Su and public holidays 10:15AM, in Jul and Aug 9:30AM, guided tours of the Cathedral in English: M-Sa 3:45PM, catacombs (only with guided tours): M-Sa 10AM-11:30AM, 1:30PM-16:30PM; Su and public holidays 1:30PM-6:30PM; North Tower (great bell): Nov-Mar 8:30AM-5PM, Apr-Jun and Sep—Oct 9AM-6PM, Jul and Aug 9AM-6PM; South Tower: 9AM-5:30PM. Yet another patchwork of architectural styles, but predominantly Gothic. None of the original construction remains, the oldest extant sections are the thirteenth century Giant Gate (Riesentor) and Towers of the Heathens (Heidentürme), both of which are Romanesque. The 448 ft South Tower (Südturm), often known by its Viennese diminutive Steffl (also a nickname for the entire cathedral), was finished in 1433. This is where the Pummerin, a huge bell cast from melted-down Turkish cannons, hangs. Steffl's intended twin, the North Tower (Nordturm), was never finished. In 1511, building in Gothic style ceased due to being out of fashion. Over fifty years later, in 1579, a Renaissance spire was added to the Nordturm to make it look less like the builders had stormed off the job. The main altar has a Baroque panel showing St. Stephen, Christianity's first martyr. The organized tour is worth it, since some of the finest works of art in the cathedral can only be seen with a guide, such as Emperor Frederick III's red marble sepulchre and the immense Gothic carved Altar of Wiener Neustadt. The aborted North Tower has an observation deck with an amazing view of downtown Vienna. Nearby is the entrance to the catacombs, where legions of bishops and Habsburg body parts are buried (the intestines, specifically).

- The Old Synagogue. Underneath the Judenplatz (The Jewish Square), you will find this underground medieval synagogue excavation. Amazingly, the synagogue was destroyed centuries ago, but its existence was remembered by the area's inhabitants up to the 20th Century. If you are interested in Vienna's Jewish side you can buy a combined ticket with the Jewish Museum and the Stadttempel, a well preserved 19th Century synagogue, which is being used as the main city's synagogue by the current growing Viennese Jewish community.

Other attractions
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- Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek), Josefsplatz 1, 01/53410-348, [15]. Card catalogs may be an anachronism in today’s digitized world, but this library had the first one in existence, invented by the Habsburg court librarian. Unlike the printed library catalogs of the past, bound into book form, the card catalog could be rapidly updated and the library kept up-to-date. This well-ordered reader's paradise has a collection that outshines many museums, thanks to its long association with the Habsburg imperial family. It gained an impressive collection when Emperor Josef II dissolved all the empire's monasteries – 300 manuscripts, 3,000 printed books, and 5000 diplomata. The library's collection is approximately six million items strong and is the largest in Austria. It is a pioneer in digitalizing and placing its collection online. The oldest book in the collection is a fifteenth century Holy Gospels manuscript with scenes representing the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) containing the coats of arms of the House of Austria, Styria, Tirol, and Carinthia, then ruled by Albrecht III, the book's owner.

- Chapel of the Imperial Palace (Burgkapelle). The original chapel of the Palace, built in Gothic style 1447-1449, was made over in Baroque style. On Sundays and Catholic holidays (of which the Austrians celebrate many), the Court Musicians perform here. This group is made up of members from the Vienna Boys Choir, as well as performers from the orchestra and choir of the Vienna State Opera.

- Parliament, [16]. Open only when not in use by Parliament. Guided tours in German or English. €4, students €2.

- Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper), [17]. Probably the most-beloved symbol of Viennese arts, and one of the first buildings to be rebuilt in the postwar era. It was built from 1861-1869 under the direction of architects Eduard van der Nüll and August von Siccardsburg for then-emperor Franz Josef I. The first performance was Don Giovanni, an opera by Austrian native Mozart, on 25 May 1869. The architecture of the opera was barely tolerated by the picky Viennese when it opened. Van der Nüll did not take these criticisms of his work lightly and committed suicide. A few weeks later, von Siccardsburg died of a heart attack. Doubly cursed, the opera building succumbed to bombs less than 100 years later, during WWII. After ten years of Allied control after the end of the war, many cultural institutions reopened to celebrate the birth of the new Austrian state. This time the opera opened with an adopted son of Vienna's work: Beethoven's Fidelio. The lush curtains and overall elegance contribute to the atmosphere (even the nosebleed seats, so steeply pitched and close to the ceiling a nosebleed becomes a distinct possibility). Inexpensive standing room tickets are made available for every performance and sold the day of the performance. The line forms about two hours prior to the performance. Guided tours in a number of languages are offered. The line at the front side door forms about 1/2 hour before the tour.

- Secession Building, Friedrichstraße 12 (U-Bahn U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz), 587 53 07-0, [18]. Tu, W, F-Su 10AM-6PM, Th 10AM-8PM, guided tours Sa 3PM, Su 11AM and by appointment. Architect Josef Maria Olbrich built this Jugendstil (German-style Art Nouveau) building 1897-98 as a display space for artists working in the new Secession artistic movement. It is topped by a giant, frothy golden ball, lovingly called Krauthappel by the Viennese, but the building was definitely not loved when it first opened. Notice a reactionary Viennese pattern here? The opera building too was hated at first, but at least it was not called a temple for bullfrogs or a bastard begot of temple and warehouse as the this building was. The entryway features the motto of the Secessionist movement: Der Zeit ihre Kunst, der Kunst ihre Freiheit (to the time, its art, to the art, its freedom). Olbrich's mentor Otto Wagner, and also Gustav Klimt, whose astounding Beethoven Frieze is partially preserved in the basement, inspired the building's design. The ceremonial front entrance is separate from the functional glass and steel exhibit hall in back. Entrance fee included with entrance to Belvedere Palace.

- Schmetterlinghaus, Hofburg, 01/5338570, 01 5332018 (fax: 01 5322872), [19]. Apr-Oct M-F 10AM-4:45, Sa-Su 10AM-6:15PM; Nov-Mar 10AM-3:45PM. A tropical greenhouse with an amazing collection of live butterflies, will delight both children and adults. €5.50, seniors €5, students €4.50, children 3-16 years €3.

- Spanish Riding School - Spanische Hofreitschule [20] was first mentioned in a document dated 1572 and is the only equestrian institute in the world which follows a Renaissance model of classical schooling. Eleves, or students, begin their training immediately after completion of Austrian primary education (age 15 or 16), and are expected to be both sporty and clever. The school takes its name from a Spanish breed of horse first mentioned in Roman writings. In 1562, Emperor Maximilian II brought some of these Spanish horses to Austria to found a royal stud farm in Kladrub (Bohemia), housing them for a time in the "Stallburg" (oldest section of the Imperial Palace). The present school location was built in 1572. In 1580, Maximilian's brother, Archduke Karl, founded the stud farm in Lipizza near Trieste (now Slovenia). Interest in elegant riding had been growing for about fifty years at that point. During Renaissance times, powerful gentlemen who had already conquered the worlds of finance and politics looked to the writings of antiquity for new learning and an educated lifestyle to which they could aspire. Horsemanship which followed the ancient models described by Socrates and others became the fashion. Xenophon (430 – 354 BC) wrote "Men who understand the art of horsemanship, in truth, look magnificent." Who wouldn't want that? In the new Winter Riding School (built 1729-35), tournaments, masked balls, and other entertainment was held, but this would soon draw to a close – the royal stud farms at Lipizza were threatened by Napoleon several times and twice the precious stud horses were evacuated to Hungary. No photos or video taping allowed.

- The Ring. The Ringstrasse, or Ring Street, circles the very heart of Vienna. Built on the location of the original city walls, its size is a good indication of how much the city has expanded since medieval times, but more importantly it is the most posh area of downtown. Elegant individuals stroll down the street (there really is no other way to move when walking along the Ring) and play the fashion-do/fashion don’t game under their breath before pausing at one of the innumerable cafes lining the way. A traditional Jause (morning coffee break, around 10AM) and then back to the business at hand, seeing and being seen: Vienna’s favorite pastime.

- Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery), Simmeringer Hauptstrasse 234, phone 760 41. Graves of honor of Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, Schönberg and others. Nov-Feb 8AM-5PM, March-April, Sept-Oct 7AM-6PM, May-Aug 7AM-7PM. Take tram 71 from the city center (Schwarzenburgplatz) which was specially retrofitted during the wars to carry corpses (there's even a Viennese expression "taking the #71 tram" as a euphemism for death). For a quicker route take the U3 to Simmering and then tram 71 or 6 from there. The tram stops are named after the cemetery gate next to it, "Zentralfriedhof 1. Tor" is where the old Jewish section is, "Zentralfriedhof 2. Tor" is the main gate. There bus route 106[21] (€0.60 or regular ticket) runs in the cemetary connecting all of the gates and areas. Mozart, Beethoven and other luminaries of the musical world (Schubert, Brahms, Strauss) are buried, or at least memorialized, here. Mozart's body is in a mass grave (as required by the law at that time) in another cemetery – but his memorial is located here with the others. The graves of the composers and other "Ehregräber" (graves of honor) are located in section 32C, near the main road leading from the church. The cemetery has served as a giant park for weekend ramblings since its creation. There are immense monuments shaped like 10ft tall iron canopy beds (within eye shot of the musicians memorial) and other unique shapes. Though it takes some time to get out to the Zentralfriedhof (25 to 30 Minutes total from Stephansplatz), it is worth the trip.

Do
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- Vienna Hofburg Orchestra (Wiener Hofburg Orchester), (at the Hofburg's historic halls, Redoutensaal and Festsaal), +43 1 587 25 52 (konzerte@hofburgorchester.at, fax: +43 1 587 43 97), [22]. three times a week May - mid Oct. Performs live. The program features the most famous waltz and operetta melodies by the King of the Waltz, Johann Strauss, Franz Léhar and opera aries by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is led by conductor Gert Hofbauer, is composed of 36 musicians and six international vocal soloists from Vienna’s largest orchestral societies. On 31 Dec and 1 Jan the orchestra also performs the traditional New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Concerts in the flower decorated halls at the Vienna Hofburg.

- Opera Film Festival, Rathausplatz. Jul, Aug. Each day, weather permitting, you can watch an opera on a huge open-air screen. On another part of the square, there are plenty of food stalls (maybe a little overpriced) who offer Viennese, as well as international food. On pleasant summer evenings, the atmosphere can be quite relaxing.

Buy
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- Kärntner Straße, (runs south from the Oprea (Karlsplatz U1/U2/U4) to Stephansplatz). A major shopping artierial with mostly international chains.

- Am Graben, (continuing from Stephansplatz (U1) to the going to west). An up-scale shopping promeade, with many local specialties such as Wien Porzellan.

- Kohlmarkt. Prehaps the fanciest shopping area picking up from the end of the Graben jogging over to Michaelerplatz with almost exclusively high-end luxury shops and designer stores.

- Dorotheum, [23]. The main auction site in Austria. Exhibits all sorts of furniture, art, jewelry, and much more. Highly recommended. There are several locations throughout the city, the main one being at Dorotheergasse 17 in the city center. The surrounding streets in this area offer a great many antique shops, where quality and prices tend both to be very high.

- Augarten Porzellan, Stock-im-Eisen-Platz 3 (U1 Stephansplatz), [24]. Daily tours and sales at 10AM (in Leopoldstadt-U2 Taborstraße). The finest porcelain in Europe. You can also visit their factory at the main entry to the Augarten. They are currently prepairing a limited street-art themed line as an artistic project, now that is Viennese.

- Meinl am Graben, Graben 19, [25]. A legendary store. Its two floors hold many exotic as well as local wares. Even if you do not intend to buy anything, it is worth a look as there are likely things you have never heard of. The store holds just about every kind of wine you can think of, and has a great selection of pastas, chocolate, and cheese. Also has a wide selection of coffee, their own is one of the most recognized in Austria.

- Billa, Neuer Markt 17. Its range is not as wide as Meinl's ones but still better than that of a typical supermarket.

Eat
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Budget
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- Esterházykeller, 1., Haarhof 1, 01/533-3482, [26]. Atmospheric old (since 1683) cellar restaurant serving good, cheap, wine, beer, and simple traditional food. Prices budget to moderate. A good place to go if you just want a drink and some grub, but still want to enjoy some local color.

- Maschu Maschu 1, (close to the Schwedenplatz underground station), 01/533 29 04, [27]. So-Mi 11:30AM-midnight, Do, Fri, and Sat until 4PM.. Good for veggies and meat eaters alike. Maschu Maschu is an Israeli fast food joint that serves some of the best falafel in the world. A healthy and gut busting falafel and beer should cost around €7 and leave you set up for the day (they also serve a wide range of other Middle Eastern meals).

- Mensa at the NIG, 1., Universitätsstrasse 7, 7ht floor (near the University of Vienna (Dr. Karl Lueger Ring 1)), [28]. (NIG is the Neues Institutsgebäude - a University of Vienna building) During the summer you can sit outside and enjoy the sun. You have a nice view over the roofs of Vienna. € 4,50.

- Chattanooga, 1., Graben 29A (close to Stephansplatz), 9251185. Fast food versions of local food. Not bad if you are on a budget and do not have much time to spare. Mains at €9.

Mid-range
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- Akakiko, Singerstrasse 4 (just off the Graben), [29]. Part of a local chain. Non-smoking. Informal and popular place serving generic but reasonably priced Japanese and Korean dishes. The menu has a vegetarian section. Quick service by efficient waiters.

- Brezl-Gwölb, Ledererhof 9 (close to Am Hof and Judenplatz, between Färbergasse and Drahtgasse, a bit hidden), +43/1/533 88 11 (mailto:info@brezl.at info@brezl.at), [30]. 11:30AM-1AM. A very nice restaurant with a cellar dating back to the 17th century. The furniture consists of parts from three centuries. A place that deserves the label gemütlich. They play classical music and serve some really unique dishes.

- Bio Bar von Antun, Drahtgasse 3 (in between Platz am Hof and Judenplatz), +43/1/968 93 51 (mailto:antun@biobar.at), [31]. M 11:30AM-3PM, Tu-F 11:30AM-3PM, 5:30PM-11PM, Sa-Su noon-11PM. Really nice organic vegetarian and vegan restaurant and bar with colourful decor. A great place for those who want to sample traditional Viennese food like Wiener Schnitzel but in meat free versions. Has a good range of organic beers and wines. Lunch mains €5.90-10.90, dinner mains €8.50-15.90.

- Diglas, Wollzeile 10, +43 1 51257650 (office@diglas.at), [32]. 7AM-midnight. Famous traditional coffeehouse, and equally place for having a meal. Menu (not linked from the web site): [33] Soups €3.70, mains €10-16, capuccino €4.10.

- Figlmüller, Wollzeile, 512 61 77, [34]. 11AM-10:30PM. Famous for Wienerschnitzel. They claim to have the biggest schnitzel in the world. If you are not really hungry, one may easily be enough for two people (just ask for a second plate). Traditionally, you would want a potato salad with that.

- Inigo, Bäckerstraße 18, 01 512-7451 (inigo@caritas-wien.at, fax: 01-512 74 51 00), [35]. M-Sa 9:30AM-noon. Modern and diverse cuisine, not crowded but most visitors are local. Charming modern interior instead of imperial chic. Overall, a rare combination of features. Menu is equal paritet between vegetarian and meat-eating. Friendly to families with toddlers. Almost non-smoking. Staff speaks only basic English. Great bulgur here. Mains around €10, average dinner with a glass of wine €20.

- Koi, Schwarzenbergstraße 8/1, 208 08 61. 1AM-midnight. Asian cuisine. Arguably a delicious change to traditional Austrian fare. Great ambience, lounge music, has non-smoking area.

- Café Landtmann, Dr. Karl Lueger-Ring 4 (near the Rathaus, right beside Burgtheater), +43/1/24 100 - 0 (cafe@landtmann.at), [36]. 7:30AM-midnight. All menus until 11:30am, except Franz Landtmann served until 3pm. Old café, cozy and romantic. Used to be frequented by Sigmund Freud. Delicious food and desserts. Breakfast sets €7-12.50, menu of the day around €11, starters €8-14, soup €4-8, schnitzel €20, coffee €4.

- Le Bol, 1., Neuer Markt 14, 0699 / 1030 1899, [37]. Fine French Provencal-style fare with a communal table at the center and a smoking section only at the back, goat cheese salad is highly recommended (€6,90).

- Levante, Wallnerstrasse 2, 533 23 26. Part of a world-wide but small chain which has several branches in Vienna. The one on Wallnerstrasse is full service. Authentic Middle-Eastern restaurant serving mostly Turkish and Greek dishes with some Viennese daily specials. Good place for both meat-eaters, for the kebabs, and vegetarians, for the many Middle Eastern salads.

- Palmenhaus (brasserie), Burggarten 1, 01 5331033, [38]. Nov-Feb W-Th 11:30AM-midnight, F-Sa 10AM-2AM, Su 10AM-midnight; Mar-Oct 10AM-2AM. Good value for money, great democratic ambience without imperial decor. Large mains served with a bowl of salad included. Very high ceilings, full of air and palms. Friendly staff speaks fluent English. Children-safe wide couches. Consider seating at elevated Mezzanine (reservation recommended) which has a special view over park. Full lunch €18.

- Pat's Brainfood, Plankengasse 4 (tucked away on a little side street of Neuer Markt), 0664/2038303. M-Th 11:30AM-3:30PM, F 11.30AM-3PM. A wonderfully creative and fresh soup and salad joint with a weekly rotating menu and take-away. Standing room only.

- Reinthaler, Gluckgasse 5 (just south of the Kapuzinerkirche). One of the better traditional Beisl restaurants, with old fashioned food priced below comparable places. Daily specials usually include a couple of vegetarian options. Good non-smoking section.

- Reisinger's am Salzgries, Salzgries 15, +43 676 648 17 48 (service@cafe-reisinger.at), [39]. M-Th 11:30AM-10PM, F 11:30AM-3:30PM. Small restaurant/Beisl. Daily changing menu, Viennese and Mediterranean food and fabulous home made desserts. Beer on tap, wines by the glass, home made lemonade. 25 seats indoor, 12 seats outdoor. English menu.

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- Hollmann Salon, Grashofgasse 3 (Heiligenkreuzerhof), +43 1 961196040 (essen@hollmann-salon.at), [40]. Modern Austrian cuisine in one of Vienna's most beautiful courtyards from the baroque period.

- Dukai (in Grand Hotel), Kärntnerring 9. On Saturday and Sunday they try to combine classiness and a buffet. Impressive standards.

- Daihachi (in Hotel de France), Schottenring 3, 31 368, [41]. Sushi bar popular with business travellers. Serves fresh and tasty fish that comes at a high price.

- Procacci, Göttweihergasse 2, 512 22 11, [42]. Bar M-Sa 11:30AM-1AM, restaurant M-Sa 11:30 AM-midnight. Excellent northern Italian fare with a range of fine specialties. Slightly small portions but an extensive wine list to drown this particular sorrow in. Reservations recommended.

- Artner II, Franziskanerplatz 5 (opposite Kleines Cafe), 503 50 34, [43]. M-Su 10AM-2AM. Belongs to a famous winery. Offers creative, fresh fare that tends to be on the lighter side than most Austrian cuisine. Excellent wine cellar, reservations recommended.

- Fabios, Tuchlauben 6, +43 1 532 2222 (fabios@fabios.at), [44]. M-Sa bar 10AM-1AM, restaurant noon-11:30PM. Italian fish restaurant combined with bar/lounge for Vienna's glitterati. Quality is excellent, but prices are steep. Entrés €30-35.

- Plachutta, Wollzeile 38, 01/512 15 77 (wollzeile@plachutta.at, fax: 01/512 15 77-20), [45]. 11:30AM-midnight, kitchen closes at 11:15PM. A very nice restaurant that specializes in beef (claimed to be only local and from trusted farmers) and has some flavour of traditional Austrian cuisine. Try the Tafelspitz, it comes in a copper pan and still is in the soup it was cooked (the soup alone is worth a trip to Vienna). Alternativel, try Backhendl. The chef claims that they prepare more than 100 kg of beef each day. Probably three to five waiters will be at your disposal. Reservation is recommended. Mains €18-€26.

- Tenmaya, Krugerstrasse 3, 512 73 97, [46]. 11:30AM-2:30PM, 5PM-11PM. Traditional Japanese restaurant and setting that serves everything from kaiseki to teppanyaki. Reservations recommended.

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- Hawelka, Dorotheergasse 6 (just 100 m from the Stephansdom, hidden in a side street), +43 (1) 512 82 30 (fax: +43 (1) 32 815 31), [47]. M, W-Sa 8AM-2AM, Su 10AM-2AM. One of the most famous intellectual cafes in Vienna. Established in 1939. Surprisingly cheap for its location and its fame and can get quite cozy. Josephine Hawelka (former owner, deceased 2005) was proud of the marriages she caused by placing random people together at tables. Try the Buchteln. Usually quite smoky.

- Griensteidl, Michaelerplatz 2 (near the Hofburg and the Michaelerkirche), +43-1-535 26 92-0, [48]. An elegant café/restaurant where you also get warm food for lunch. Smoking is banned from this traditional coffee house.

- Tirolerhof, Führichgasse 8 (just behind the opera and near the Albertina). M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 9:30AM-9PM. Quaint, traditional café with art deco accents. Established in 1900.

- Prückel, Stubenring 24, Luegerplatz, [49]. Established in 1903. Quite the hang-out in the evening, during the day this cafe is a bit more laissez-faire. Live piano music every M, W, F from 7PM-10PM.

- Demel, Kohlmarkt 14 (walk 5 min from St. Stephan along Graben pedestrian street, Kohlmarkt is on your left hand), +43/1/535 17 17-0 (wien@demel.at, fax: +43/1/535 17 17-26), [50]. 10AM–7PM. Café and confectionary shop. Good pastries are ubiquitous in Vienna, but Demel is considered by many to have the best of all and indeed was once the pastry caterer to the Imperial household. As a result of this it is usually jammed with tourists, though their amusing marzipan display window can be admired even from the street. Outdoor seating in warm weather, but the inside is more atmospheric. Partly smoke-free.

- Kleines Café (lit. small cafe), Franziskanerplatz 3. As the name suggests, this café is rather small. It was created by architect Hermann Czech during the 1970s for notable Austrian actor Hanno Pöschl, who still owns it. It is a popular meeting place for artists and actors (or would-be variants) and enjoys an excellent location in a quiet square inside the city. The few seats are often occupied but hang around and they are vacated regularly. Seating on the square in fine weather, a bit smoky at peak times.

- Cafe-Museum, Operngasse 7, +43 1 586 52 02, [51]. This cafe was designed by famous architect Adolf Loos, however the interior has been entirely refitted (most recently from 2010, its 80s atmosphere is now gone). Serves food as well as coffee, teas, and other drinks. Casual, quiet atmosphere, good non-smoking section.

- Cafe Central, Corner Herrengasse/Strauchgasse, [52]. One of most famous Vienna coffee houses, recently authentically restored. Beautiful premises inside the Palais Ferstel, it is too touristy and a bit more expensive for having a meal, but can be worth it for a cup of coffee. There is an occasional pianist that is delightful to hear, and a good non-smoking section.

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- Alt Wien, Bäckerstrasse 9, 01/512-5222. This cafe/restaurant/bar is on a very medieval-looking lane in the central district and is a time warp of another kind: its folky-bohemian atmosphere could convince you you're in North Beach or Greenwich Village, circa 1967. Liveliest late.

- American Bar (sometimes called the Loos American Bar or Loos Bar), Kärntner Durchgang 10, 01/5123283 (office@loosbar.at), [53]. Th-Sa noon-5AM, Su-We noon-4PM. This bar will delight fans of Art Deco. Famous for its architecture and interior decoration by architect Adolf Loos, it is a time warp of Vienna from 1908 when it opened. Drinks are expensive, but very good and the price is worth the experience. This is a quiet, sophisticated bar, where boisterous behavior or very casual dress will not be appropriate. Usually smoky due to small size. There is outdoor seating in warm weather but there is not much point in using it since what justifies the prices is the interior. Groups and sight-seers are not admitted.

- Flex, Donaukanal (U2 or U4 Schottenring, Exit Augartenbrücke), 533 75 25 (office@flex.at), [54]. You have not been to Vienna if you have not been to the Flex, particularly if you are younger than thirty. The meeting point of the off-mainstream, bohemian, artsy people. During the summer nights when it is warm, there are always a lot of people sitting on benches outside the club. It's easy to socialise and make new friends. Inside the club you can enjoy bands and DJs. At the bar you can ask for free soda water.

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- Bermuda Triangle, (next to Schwedenplatz (U1, U4)). A night-life area popular with tourists.

- Clubschiff, (floating in the canal), [55]. Alternative clubs.

- Passage, (in a fromer underpass on the Ring, behind the Art History Museum), [56]. An up-scale club.

- Volksgarten, [57]. Up-market.

- Club Habana, Mahlerstraße 11 (Karlsplatz-Oper U1, U2, U4). Has a Latin theme.

- Badeschiff, (in the Danube Canal just south of Schwedenplatz (U1, U4)), [58]. An orange boat. All sorts of events and parties go on here, in the summer you can take a dip in the outdoor pool-bradge during the day. There is a lower leval that is the main club at big parties and a more comfortable lounge upstairs.

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- Arenberg Hotel & Pension, Stubenring 2, +43-1-5125291 (reservations@arenberg.at, fax: +43-1-5139356), [59]. A charming family owned hotel. From €88.

- Aviano Pension, Marco dAviano Gasse 1, +43 1-512 83 30 (aviano@secrethomes.at, fax: +43 1-512 83 30-6), [60]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Charming small pension. Good breakfast, very friendly to families with toddler (except a small staircase prior to elevator). Free grog for guests in the afternoon. Free excellent wifi in all rooms. Helpful reception most of the time, also in finding a right place to eat. Comfortable for non-smokers. Doubles €124-169 depending on season.

- Hotel Pension Residenz, Ebendorferstraße 10 (next to Rathaus and the Wiener Ringstraße), +43-1-40647860 (info@residenz.cc, fax: +43 1 406478650), [61]. Three star hotel.

- Hotel am Schubertring, Schubertring 11 (directly on the famous Ringstrasse), +43-1-71702-0 (hotel.amschubertring@chello.at, fax: 7139966), [62]. A charming private hotel in the heart of the city. Special guest rate garage parking available. Doubles from €128.

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- Hotel Sacher, Philharmonikerstraße 4 (next to the Opera and at the end of the pedestrianized Kärtner Strasse shopping area), +43/ (0)1/ 514 56 0 (wien@sacher.com, fax: +43/ (0)1/ 514 56 810), [63]. This hotel is best known as the place where Sachertorte (cake) was invented. The elegant drawing room is a popular place to gather after a performance at the opera. The food is pricey but definitely worth the money. The rooms offer old style luxury with heavy carpets. €286+.

- Hotel Imperial, Kärntner Ring 16 (at the ring), +43 (0)1/ 501100, [64]. Build in 1863 as a Viennese residence for the German Prince of Württemberg in neo renaissance style. In total imperial style and impeccable service. €300+.

- Hotel Palais Coburg, Coburgbastei 4, +43 (0)1/518 18-0, [65]. A converted historic building that now has an outstanding restaurant (perfect wine list) and spa. Beside some rooms mostly suites and impeccable service. €600+.

- Hollmann Beletage, Köllnerhofgasse 6, +43-1-9611960 (hotel@hollmann-beletage.at, fax: +43 1 9611960-33), [66]. Boutique hotel. Only 25 rooms, contemporay design, gourmet breakfast. From €150.

- Vienna Marriott Hotel, Parkring 12a (at Ringstrasse, opposite Stadtpark, close to Stubentor metro), [67]. Offers 313 rooms and suites, an indoor pool and health club, business center and shops. The restaurants and bars are popular gathering places.

- Le Méridien Vienna, Opernring 13, +43/ (0)1/ 588 90 0 (info.vienna@lemeridien.com, fax: +43/ (0)1/ 588 90 9090), [68]. Opened in late 2003 and is done in a very modern, artsy Art + Tech design. All rooms have flat screen TVs and massage showers. Features a breakfast buffet and bar. €163+.

- The Ring, Kärntner Ring 8 (opposite Vienna State Opera), +43 1 22 1 22. Casual luxury five star boutique hotel. Has an unexpected interior, which mixes the traditional with the modern. Many of the building's historic details have been preserved to ensure the hotel remains all of its historic charm.

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District Inner East Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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See
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- Prater (Park), Leopoldstadt (U1, tram O, 5, 21 Praterstern, S1-S3, S7, S15 Wien Nord), 729 54 30, [1]. May-Sep 9AM-midnight. It began its life as a carriage-riding area for the nobility. It is still a popular place to spend a weekend afternoon with family. An English engineering firm (Walter Basset) built the Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) from 1896-97. Others of the same era, built for world exhibitions and other parks in Chicago, London, Paris, etc. have long since been torn down. The Riesenrad has become a well-known symbol of Vienna, featured in many movies (most famously The Third Man) and picture postcards. It has 15 gondolas, some of which are incredibly ornate and large enough to host an extended family inside, offering a spectacular panorama of the city. The weirdest attraction in the Prater, though, is the Kugelmugel, a spherical house (diameter 7.68m) that, after failing to get a planning permit, declared independence from Austria. Originally built elsewhere, it was forcibly carted off to the Prater by Austrian authorities and now sits uninhabited and fenced off with barbed wire.

- The Danube Island, (U1 Donauinsel), [2]. Home to Europe's biggest Rock festival. In summer, this is a very nice park with a lot of Viennese bathers. There are also floating pubs on the Danube. A nice experience.

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- Vienna Boys Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben), Leopoldstadt, [3]. Founded at the pleasure of the Habsburgs. On 20 July 1498, Emperor Maximilian decided to hire six singing boys, the first permanent boys choir attached to the court. He also made arrangements for their education – fringe benefits that are difficult to get from a modern employer. The choir served the monarchy until its demise at the beginning of the first World War. The last Imperial Chaplain, Monsignor Josef Schnitt reestablished the Boys Choir in 1924 as a private institution. To earn money, the choir began to perform outside the Imperial Chapel. Even though they are a not-for-profit organization, the rising costs of educating the choristers from a very young age as well as providing music required establishing the Verein Wiener Sängerknaben necessary. The choir sings high mass every Sunday morning (Sep-Jun) at the Imperial Chappel (Hofburgkapelle) in the Imperial Palace. Reserve well ahead by email. They also appear regulary at evening concerts in Musikverein.

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- Taborstraße, Leopoldstadt (runs from Schwedenplatz through the district several kilometers, U2 Taborstraße, tram 2 runs its length). It offers a mix of Jewish and ethnic businesses as well as plenty of quirky independet shops, galliers and spaces in the side streets and a few streets directly parellel to it. As you get further away from the canal there are more ethnic businesses, like African wig shops.

- Praterstraße, (runs through the Leopoldstadt from the Danube Canal at the Innere Stadt near Schwedenplatz to Praterstern; U1 Nestroyplatz, U1/U2/S Praterstern). There are plenty of interesting buildings and many cafes and local business located along this green boulevard.

- Wallensteinstraße, Brigettenau (U4 Friedesbrücke). Has been revitalized through a project called Lebendige (lively). There are lots of local shops along this street including some very impressive facades and open squares. Businesses reflect the diversity that a recent influx of Turkish immigrants has brought to the area also acliamed resturants can be found here.

- Millennium City, (U6/S Handelskai), [4]. A medium-sized shopping mall.

- Stadion Center, (U2 Stadion), [5]. A new small mall in Leopoldstadt with several lower-end clothing stores.

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- Pancho, Blumauergasse 1a, Leopoldstadt (U2 Taborstraße), 01 2125869, [6]. Decent Austro-Mex food, but come for the cocktails.

- Taco's Lopez, Praterstraße 56, Leopoldstadt (U1/U2/S Praterstern), +43 (0) 699/125 89 266, [7]. Vienna's authenic Mexican resturant. Very homey feel and super food. €10-20.

- Pizza Mari, Leopoldsgasse 23A, Leopoldstadt (U2 Taborstraße), [8]. A very authenitic and chic pizza parlor. Large, delicous pizzas but also a range of Italian food. Pizzas from €6.

- Schöne Perle, Große Pfarrgasse 2, Leopoldstadt (in the Karmaliterviertel, U2 Taborstraße), +43 664 / 243 35 93. Contemparay Austrian and international food. Stylish yet informal restaurant with good lunch specials. English menu. Separate non-smoking section.

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- Skopik & Lohn, Leopoldsgasse 17, Leopoldstadt (near the Karmaliterviertel, U2 Taborstraße), [9]. M-Sa 6PM-1AM. A very low-key, classy yuppie resturant. Entrés €10-20.

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- Schweizerhaus, Prater 116, Leopoldstadt (in the Prater), 7280152 13, [10]. Mar 15-Oct 31 11AM-11PM. Large beer garden, some say they have the best beer in Vienna andt hey also offer traditional Austrian dishes at moderate prices. Also well-known for its excellent Stelze (knuckle of pork).

- Prater Dome, (in the Prater amusement park, Praterstern U1, U2), [11]. Austria's largest club. Come dressed like euro-trash to get it. Thursday is ladies' night with free entry and drinks. Popular with the young conservative working class.

- Bricks, Leopoldstadt (Taborstraße U2). A small bar with a dj and dance floor. It is a very local place and the crowd is an array of people of all ages from the neighborhood.

- Fluc, (between the Prater Park and Praterstern Station,U1, U2), [12]. An upstairs bar and its downstairs club-like half Fluc Wanne (meaning tub). Most of the club is underground in an former underpass, so do not miss it. More alternative with very diverse djs and bands.

- Pratersauna, [13]. Vienna's edgiest hot-spot club located well inside the Prater amusement park, it can be hard to find. Ask directions or take a cab. The club is a former sauna normally with a pool and sauna area depending on the current configuration. There are several dance floors, an outdoor area and a dark room.

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- AllYouNeed Hotel Vienna2***, Große Schiffgasse 12, +43 (0)1 212 16 68 (vienna2@allyouneedhotels.at, fax: +43 (0)1 218 34 71), [14]. The 3-Star-Seasonal Hotel is open from 1 July to 30 September and has 122 non-smoking rooms en-suite with hairdryer, Flat-TV with satellite access and free internet, 2 handicapped accessible rooms, Tranquil garden, Lift, Lobby with seating, Hotel Garage (extra charge), Drinks and snacks machine, Breakfast buffet, Luggage storage, Concierge Service.

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- Austria Classic Hotel Wien, Praterstrasse 72, +43 1 211 30-0 (info@classic-hotelwien.at, fax: +43 1 211 30-72), [15]. Formerly the Hotel Nordbahn, this is a good, friendly atmosphered hotel and also the birthplace of Max Steiner, perhaps the most legendary of the pioneer film composers. The Hotel offers 81 non-smoking rooms, all with shower or bath and WC, hairdryer, telephone, cable-TV with flat screen, radio, safety deposit box, minibar and free of charge WLAN, a small Workout Gym and a Business-Meeting Room, Breakfast Buffet until 11:00. Most of the rooms are facing the quiet courtyard.

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Contact
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District Outer East Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

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• Drink

• Sleep

• Contact

Get in
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See
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Do
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- Florisdorf Spitz, Florisdorf (in its own downtown area around Florisdorf station, Florisdorf U6/S). A good vareity of normal everyday business.

- Donauzentrum, (near the UN, U1 Kagran), [1]. The largest mall in the east of the city.

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- Danube Tower Restaurant, (U1 VIC/Kaisermühlen, bus 20B to Danube Tower you have to pay for the elevator first: €5.90 for adults)). On a sunny day you can have a look over Vienna from the rotating restaurant.

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District Inner South Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

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• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

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• Contact

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See
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- The Belvedere, Prinz Eugen-Straße 27, Wieden (Tram D, stop Belvedere), +43 1 79 557 0 (info@belvedere.at), [1]. 10AM–6PM. Intended as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, was outside the city walls. Its two palace segments, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, later became the permanent home of the Austrian Gallery. The Oberes Belvedere (Upper) contains recent Austrian and international art from the past two centuries. Viennese art from the early twentieth century is well-represented in the permanent collection Vienna around 1900 and the Art of the Classical Modern. The Orangerie houses temporary exhibits and a collection of medieval tapestries is in the former stables. The tapestry collection on view 10AM-noon. €13.50.

- Vienna House of the Arts (KunstHausWien), Untere Weißgerberstrasse 13, Landstraße (Tram O/N Radetzkyplatz), +43-1-712 04 91, [2]. 10AM–7PM. Even an avowed hater of modern art can appreciate this. This is Hundertwasser's (born Friedrich Stowasser in 1928) major contribution to the Viennese art world. In a time when artists often try to shock the public or merely impress other members of the rarefied gallery subculture, Hundertwasser's KunstHausWien would be a bastion against the dictatorship of the straight line, the ruler and T-square, a bridgehead against the grid system and the chaos of the absurd. Starting with the façade of the building, adapted from its prior life as a furniture factory, there is a Gaudi-in-Barcelona feel to the place. Windows peek out like eyes from curvy, rounded plaster and colorful paint. It is a Disneyland for grownups. €6, M €3.

- Vienna Museum, Wieden, [3]. A museum documenting Vienna's history. It is split into several branches with its main branch at Karlsplatz.

- Museum of Military History, Landstraße (near the southern railway station, trams 18, D, O), [4]. A huge museum featuring weapons and military maps from different periods. You can also see the open-top car in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the last Austrian prince, was shot in Sarajevo. His death triggered World War I and the eventual downfall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the same room as this is the visibly blood-stained jacket he was wearing at the time of his assassination.

- Dritte Mann Museum, Wieden, [5]. This is a private museum dedicated to the cult film The Third Man, which was shot in Vienna and released in 1949. This film is often played at the Burgkino.

- Karlskirche, Kreuzherrengasse 2, Wieden, (kontakt@karlskirche.at), [6]. M-F 9AM-12:30PM, 1PM-6PM, Su noon-5:45. Largest Baroque cathedral north of the Alps, designed by the famous architect Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Frescos done by Michael Rottmayr and paintings from the Italian Baroque painters Sebastiano Ricci and Giuseppe Antonio Pellegrini, and the Austrian painter Daniel Gran.

- Hundertwasserhaus, Landstrasse (5–10 minutes east of Wien Mitte U-Bahn stop, tram N stop Hetzgasse), [7]. Interesting apartment/office complex.

- Karlsplatz Stadtbahn Pavilion, Wieden (near the Secession Building and Naschmarkt). A city tram stop, designed by Otto Wagner. It is a good example of functional turn of the century architecture. Ornate, yet useful. Wagner was one of the most influential architects in Vienna and his style was widely copied.

- Soviet Victory Monument, Landstraße (Trams 1, 2, 71, D, J, Schwarzenbergplatz). An imposing Soviet style monument near Karlsplatz commemorates the Soviet victory in Vienna over the Nazi army.

- Depot of Contemporary Art (Gefechtsturm Arenbergpark), Dannebergplatz/Barmherzigengasse, Landstraße (Bus 74A to Hintzerstrasse or U3 to Rochusgasse), [8]. 4 May–30 Nov S 2PM-6PM. Part of MAK. Exhibits works include spatial interventions and objects by international artists specifically developed for the MAK. A lovely addition to a visit to MAK is popping over the road for a coffee at the 100-year old Cafe Pruekel.

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- Schleifmühlgasse, Wieden (by foot from Karlsplatz U1/U2/U4). This little cobbled lane is home to many excellent contemporary art galleries, as well as some fine restaurants.

- Landstraßer Haupstraße, Landstraße (starting from Wien Mitte, U3 Rochusgasse). A relatively upper middle-class neighborhood shopping street, with a wide variety of business from pubs and clubs to organic shops to second-hand stores. The Rochus Market, Rochusmarkt, and a shopping arcade are located along this street as well.

- Wiedener Hauptstraße, Wieden (starts from Karltsplatz and passes the University of Technology, Trams 1, 62, and WLB run its length). A very quiet shopping street with mostly small business selling oddities like stamps and a few tranquil cafes and bars.

- Favoritenstraße, Wieden (U1 Taubstummengasse, U1/S Südtirolerplatz). A neighborhood street with regular shops like pharmacies and groceries, but a very lively one and a good example of where most Viennese do their everyday business.

- Margaratenstraße, Margareten (U4 Pligramgasse). A chic shopping area with cozy cafes, galleries and up-market shops.

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- Vegetasia, Ungargasse 57, Landstraße, 01/ 713 8 33 2 and 523 1 091, [9]. 11:30AM-3PM, 5:30PM-11PM. Chain of vegetarian restaurants. Serves a huge variety of Taiwanese Buddhist vegetarian food. Most of it vegan, many meat imitations.

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- Tewa 672 Naschmarkt, (at Naschmarkt), +43 676 79 222 14 (office@tewa672.com). Very bio place, popular with early-30s bohemian locals.

- WOK, Operngasse 20, Wieden (beside the Naschmarkt, directly opposite the University of Technology), +43/1/585 21 02 (wok-vienna@aon.at), [10]. 11AM-2:30PM, 5:30-11PM. A nice and cozy restaurant offering a variety of Asian cuisine. You can get Chinese, Thai, Malay, and Indonesian dishes. Also, you can ask the friendly owner if she would offer you some home-made dishes not available on the standard menu.

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- Artner I, Florgasse 6, Wieden, 503 50 33, [11]. M-F noon-midnight, Sa-Su 6PM-midnight. Belongs to a famous winery. Offers creative, fresh fare that tends to be on the lighter side than most Austrian cuisine. Excellent wine cellar, reservations recommended.

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Sleep
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- AllYouNeed Hotel Vienna4***, Schäffergasse 2, +43 (0)1 587 65 60 (vienna4@allyouneedhotels.at, fax: +43 (0)1 586 85 05), [12]. The 3-Star-Seasonal Hotel is open from 1 July to 30 September and has 104 non-smoking rooms en-suite with hairdryer, Flat-TV with satellite access and free internet, Lift, Lobby with seating, Drinks and snacks machine, Breakfast buffet, Luggage storage, Concierge Service.

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- Sofitel Vienna, Am Heumarkt 35-37, +43 1/716160, [13]. The rooms are nice and smallish, but still stylish. From €120.

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- Hilton Vienna, Am Stadtpark 1, Landstraße, (reservations.vienna@hilton.com), [14]. Home to Vienna’s premier conference centre. Features meeting space for 2-1,800 and provides a business service centre.

Contact
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District Outer South Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

• Contact

Get in
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See
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- The Wotruba Church, Liesing (Tram 60 to the Maurer Lange Gasse stop and then follow Maurer Lange Gasse up the hill until you see the green signs which point the way to the church, the walk is about ten minutes). A beautiful cubist church on the top of a hill overlooking the woods. There is also an open air planetarium next to the church.

- Gasometer, Simmering (directly at subway station U3 Gasometer), [1]. If you are interested in the combination of new modern with old historic architecture, take a trip to the gasometers that has been revitalized from gas-tanks to new multi-functional buildings. The gasometers are four former gas tanks, built as part of the Vienna municipal gas works Gaswerk Simmering in 1896-1899. They are located in the 11th district called Simmering. They were used from 1899 to 1984 as gas storage tanks. After the changeover from town gas to natural gas they were no longer used and were shut down. In the time between 1984 and 1997 the gasometers were used as a film location (James Bond: The Living Daylights) and as the location for raves known as Gazometer-Raves. They were revitalized from 1999 to 2001 by the architects Jean Nouvel, Coop Himmelblau, Manfred Wehdorn, and Wilhelm Holzbauer. Each gasometer was divided into several zones for living, shopping and entertainment. The historic outside wall was conserved. Several other facilities including a music hall, cinema, student accommodation, municipal archive, etc. are located inside the Gasometers. There are special guided tours with experts available for visitors.

- Lainzer Tiergarten, Liesing (at the border with the woods; tram 49 to its last stop, then you need to walk for about five minutes to Nikolaitor; in winter or when you want to visit the mansion tram 60 or 62 to Hermesstrasse station and then change to bus 60B (goes only every half hour), take the bus to the final stop, just a five minute ride). Various, but usually Mid Feb-mid Nov 8AM-dusk. A beautiful natural reserve used to be the Emperor's private hunting wood with the fancy Hermesvilla, the favorite mansion of Empress Sisi. Nowadays, the major part of the park is closed in the winter time, but in summer you can see wild pigs, deer, and many Viennese families.

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- The Lainzer Tiergarten, Liezing. Has several 2-10 km hiking trails, as well as a variety of wildlife. You can see the animals get fed at 2PM every day. Ask any park attendant where the location is.

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- Favoritenstraße, Favoriten. Interntational chain of clothing stores as well as lots of cafes and resturants in the area around Kepplerplatz (U1) and becomes an immigrant shopping area after the busy Reumanplatz (U1) station.

- Gasometer, Simmering (U3 Gasometer), [2]. Moderate-sized mall in former coalgas brick towers that were no longer neede after the city converted to natural gas. It is unfortuneately largely empty. It also houses a megaplex and concert venue.

- Columbus Center, Kepplerplatz, Favoriten (Kepplerplatz U1). Is small mall on.

- Shopping City Süd, [3]. The biggest shopping mall in Europe (by number of visitors) just outside of Vienna, housing a very wide range of stores and brands. (WLB to Vösendorf-SCS additional ticket needed, or IKEA bus from Oper).

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- Meininger Hotel Vienna City Center, Columbusgasse 16, Favoriten (U1 Keplerplatz), (+43 1) 720 73 36 43 (welcome@meininger-hotels.com, fax: +49 30 666 36 222), [4]. Entertainingly neither a hotel nor in the city center, very instutional and pratical but plesant (its a German chain). Dorms from €17, doubles from €34.

- Vienna City Hostel, Dampfgasse 8, Favoriten (three minutes from Südbahnhof), (+43 1) 505 88 43 (office@viennacityhostel.at), [5].

- Actilingua Apartment-Hotel, Schneidergasse 7, Simmering (near U3 Zippererstrasse), +43 1 749 5112-0 (info@apartment-hotel-wien.at, fax: +43 1 749 5112-19), [6]. Friendly apartment-hotel with free wifi. Spacious rooms and fully equipped kitchens.

Contact
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District Inner West Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

Cafés

Bars

Nightlife

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Contact

Get in
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See
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- The Museum District (Museumsquartier, MQ), Neubau, [1]. Has served as a cultural district of Vienna since 2001. Though many museums and cultural institutions are situated there, it is not only a place for art. It is also an urban living space and people go there to spend some time, sitting in one of the cafés or perhaps playing boccia. It is also popular to meet friends for a BYOB evening here. The Leopold Museum and the MUMOK are here. If you are interested in visiting a couple of these museums, combination tickets available at the MQ entrance will be cheaper than buying them individually at museum entrances. You can use free wifi at MQ provided by Quintessenz [2].

- Leopold Museum, [3]. Has a strict policy of not allowing big bags inside the museum. Even your cameras (unless they can be tucked inside a small carry bag) will have to be deposited outside. Charges €1 per person for the cloak room service.

- MUMOK, [4]. Has a strict policy of not allowing big bags inside the museum. Even your cameras (unless they can be tucked inside a small carry bag) will have to be deposited outside. Has a self service locker.

- The Imperial Furniture Collection, Vienna Furniture Museum, Andreasgasse 7, Neubau (just off Mariahilfer Strasse, line U3, alight at Zieglergasse, take the Andreasgasse exit), +43 1 52433570. Tu–Su 10AM–6PM. Houses the largest furniture collection in the world. The exhibit displays furniture for all the Austrian emperors since Charles VI (the father of Maria Theresa), furniture by the Thonet Brothers, Jugendstil, and the Viennese Modernist movement. In addition, they show other contemporary Austrian architects and designers, such as E.A. Plischke, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Luigi Blau, and Franz West. Besides the permanent furniture collection, the museum also hosts two to three temporary exhibitions on furniture design and photography each year. You can purchase a single ticket or a Sisi Ticket, which allows you entrance to the Schönbrunn Palace, the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection in the Hofburg. Wheelchair-accessible.

- Pathological and Anatomical State Museum (Pathologisch-anatomisches Bundesmuseum), Alsergrund, take trams 37-38, 40-42 (can be hard to find), [5]. W 3PM–6PM, Th 8AM-11AM. Housed in a squat tower, which once was an insane asylum, the Narrenturm (Fool's Tower), this museum contains some of the dustier corners of the annals of medicine. You will find preserved hydrocephalic infants, wax castings of tertiary syphilis, antique medical devices, and even a laryngeal tuberculous ulcer. The gift shop sells postcards depicting the best of these.

- Josephinum, [6].

- Liechtenstein Museum, Neubau (tram line D stop at Seegasse, or about 10 minutes by foot from U2 subway stop Schottentor), [7]. A private collection of the Prince of Liechtenstein, it is exhibited in his once Viennese Residence. The richly decorated picture gallery mainly exhibits Baroque paintings, with a nice portion of Rubens.

- Freud Museum, Berggasse 19, Alsergrund (U2 Schottentor 10 minute walk, or take tram D to Schlickgasse), +43 1 3191596 (office@freud-museum.at, fax: +43 1 3170279), [8]. 9AM–5PM. This small museum is in Freud's historic flat where he practiced psychoanalysis for almost his whole life. However, the collection is limited mostly to documents of various kinds relating to Freud's life. Almost all of the flat's contents, including the famous original couch, went along with Freud to London when he fled the Nazis in 1939 and are now in the Freud Museum there.

- Votivkirche, Rooseveltplatz 8, Alsergrund (just outside the Ringstrasse Boulevard, close to the University of ViennaU2 Schottentor), +4314061192, [9]. One of the most important Neo-Gothic religious architectural sites in the world, constructed between 1856 and 1879. Stands on a large square on the location where an unsuccessful attempt to assessinate Emperor Franz Joseph took place in 1853. The plans were established by Heinrich von Ferstel (1828-1883), who chose to build the cathedral, borrowing heavily from the architecture of Gothic French cathedrals. It is made of white sandstone, similar to the Stephansdom, which is very vulnerable to air-pollution and acid rain an therefore makes frequent renovations necessary. (48°12′55″N,16°21′31″E)

- Haus des Meeres Aquarium Zoo, Mariahilf (U3, stop Neubaugasse), [10]. A marvelous zoo, with a rain forest glasshouse, tiny apes, aquariums with sharks, and terrariums with reptiles and venomous snakes. It is in one of the leftover second world war air raid shelter, a so-called Flakturm. The building carried formerly one of the first radar equipments and is designed to stand a direct bomb hit, an earthquake, and wind speeds up to an overpressure of ten bar. Now there is also a platform on top to allow nice views over the roofs of Vienna.

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- The Naschmarkt, Mariahilf (right at the U4 subway station Kettenbrueckengasse). The biggest of Vienna's 22 market places and provides a unique blend of typical Vienna costumely and oriental flair. Stroll through the market and be part of the amazing ambiance. If you like to cook, you will find all the spices you could possibly want at the Naschmarkt. The side of the Secession tends to be more touristy and thus more expensive than the side of the Kettenbrueckengasse. It is illegal to export antiquities from Austria, even if you legally buy them at a market.

- Museumsquartier. In the summer, it is just wonderful to hang out here in the evenings. The big yard is filled with large fiberglass sofas you can use for free. Optionally, you can buy drinks at the open air bars there. Just ask for a glass you can take away so you can use the sofas. During the day, a visit to Burggarten is highly recommended if you are looking for a more alternative, young crowd. Buy something to eat and drink at a supermarket and join the others on the grass.

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- Mariahilferstraße, (stretches from the Museumsquartier to Westbahnhof, subway through stations (east to west) Museumsquartier (U2), Neubaugasse (U3), Zieglergasse (U3), or Westbahnhof (U3/U6)). The longest and most popular shopping avenue in Vienna, featuring all kinds of stores, many flagship stores from international brands, etc. More diverse and cosmopolitan than Kärntner Straße.

- Shu!, Neubaugasse 34, Neubau (U3 Neubaugasse), +43 (0)1 5231449 (office@shu.at), [11]. Tu-F noon-7PM, Sa noon-5PM. A collection of creative but still comfortable shoes from multiple brands, primarily Italian. Moderate prices. They also have sales outlet Shu!Depot at Westbahnstraße 4, Neubau.

- Museum Quarter (MQ), Neubau (U2 Museumsquartier, U2/U3 Volkstheater). Has half a dozen of small designer clothes shops.

- Polyklamott, Hofmühlgasse 6, Mariahilf (U4 Pligramgasse), (http://www.polyklamott.at/). Sells hand-picked second-hand clothes.

- Naschmarkt Flea Market, Linke Wienzeile (U4 Kettenbrückengasse). Sa 6AM-4PM. Need used lederhosen? How about a doner kebab at the Naschmarkt or an Austrian war bond from the first World War? This is the place to go. It is primarily a flea market, though some stalls sell new items such as handwoven wicker baskets or food. Pick through the detritus of an imperial society, you never know what you will find hidden under that stack of terrible fuzzy sweaters. Couture gowns, communist medals from all the former Eastern Bloc countries, tobacco pipes, broken pocket watches. Worth at least a full morning. Flea markets are the best possible blend of high and low culture, and a way to truly get to know a city. Walk all the way from the flea market end of the Naschmarkt through the food stall end to arrive at the Secession building, on the left close to the Karlsplatz metro stop.

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- Vego, Neubaugasse 81, Neubau, 01/522 59 07. 11:30AM-3PM, 6PM-11PM. Is closed as building is under renovation.

- Kolar, Laudongasse 8, Josephstadt, [12]. Nice pubs/beisls. They have a tasty Fladenbrot and they offer their own beer.

- Maschu Maschu 2, Neubaugasse 20/Ecke Lindengasse 41, Neubau (close to Neubaugasse undergroundstation), 01/990 47 13, [13]. 9:30AM-midnight. A trendy hang out place in the art student area of the city. It has a unique vibe of its own.

- Tunnel, Florianigasse 39, Josephstadt, [14]. Student's place. Nice breakfast, live music every day at around 9PM. €5 vegetarian and normal lunch.

- Natsu I, Gumpendorfer Straße 45, Mariahilf, +43 1 5812700. Decent sushi. Sets from €3, get stuffed for €6.

- Natsu II, Burggasse 71, Neubau, +43 1 5221903. Decent sushi. Sets from €3, get stuffed for €6.

- Wiener Deewan, Liechtensteinstraße 10, Alsergrund (close to Schottentor subway station), 533500. Young, urban Pakistani restaurant. All you can eat, pay as you wish. You can mix your own menu from a variety of curries, meat, rice, salads, and sauces.

- The Highlander, Sobieskiplatz 4, Alsergrund, [15]. Offers own beer and a nice variety of dishes, including vegetarian dishes, at a small square. Might not be one of the cheapest in the cheap section, but definitely worth the price.

- Schnitzelwirt Schmidt,, Neubaugasse 52, Neubau, [16]. The traditional Viennese food is excellent and served in truly prodigious portions. The Bauernschmaus (Farmer's Feast), a nearly incapacitatingly large schnitzel plate, which in combination with any of the wonderful on-tap beers, may necessitate an afternoon nap. €5-€15 for a full meal.

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- DschungelCafe, Museum Quarter. A very children-friendly cafe and place to eat in the same building as DschungelWien.at children theater. 10AM-8/9PM.

- Immervoll, Weihburggasse 17, 01 5135288. noon-11PM. Small and cozy, comfortable to non-smokers, but very packed at peak hours. Credit cards not accepted.

- Kuishimbo (im Majolkahaus), Linke Wienzeile 40, Mariahilf (U4 Kettenbrückengasse), 0699/1194.06.73. The smallest Japanese restaurant in town. All the dishes are home made. Owners claim that they pay attention to a proper balance of ingredients. Being full can also be healthy. The place is so small that there is no bathroom inside, you have to use the one on the Nashmarkt. The Japanese soups Udon are excellent. Drink included you will pay around €11.

- Mythos, Mariahilferstrasse 111/Webgasse 45, Mariahilf, +43 1 96 90 2111. 11AM-midnight. A nice family-run Greek restaurant, with a good variety of items to choose from. €5-20 per dish.

- The Naschmarkt, Mariahilf (right at the U4 subway station Kettenbrueckengasse). As in other European cities, the centrally-located market has a dozen or two of good value-for-money small restaurants with fresh Italian, Japanese, Greek, and Turkish food. In the summer, they have nice open-air gardens.

Splurge
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Drink
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Cafés
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- Das Möbel, Burggasse 10, Neubau, [17]. Hip café. Take a close look at the tables, chairs, and lamps. Every piece of furniture is unique and for sale.

- Espresso, Burggasse 57, Neubau (Further up the road from Das Möbel), [18]. M-Sa 8AM-1AM. Very cool little 50s style café with good tunes and an eclectic crowd. Owned by the nearby bar Wirr.

- Cafe Europa, Zollergasse 8, Neubau, 5263383, [19]. The scenester meeting place in recent years, the cafe is often bursting at the seams. But good tunes, decent service prevail. Good people watching and decor.

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- Chelsea, Lerchenfelderguertel/U-Bahnboegen 29-31 (between the U6 underground stations Thaliastrasse and Josefstaedterstrasse), 407 93 09 (chelsea@sil.at), [20]. M-Sa 6PM-4AM, Su 4PM-3AM. A wide range of international beers, often full house and dense. 1/2L of beer is €3.1.

- Siebensternbräu (lit. 7-Stars-Brewery), Siebensterngasse 19, Neubau (a few blocks East of Mariahilferstrasse), [21]. An excellent Biergarten. They serve their own brews, which are all excellent. There is the usual assortment of bar food, friendly staff, and outdoor seating underneath an old Linden tree in the middle of a hidden courtyard. Everyday from 11AM-4PM a selection of hearty dishes is served for €5-6. Move indoors well before 11PM, because a local noise ordinance requires the bar to shut down the patio and the interior tables fill up quickly.

- Shiraz, Stadtbahnbogen 168, Alsergrund, +43.664.3355555 (info@shiraz.at), [22]. This is a small and pretty comfortable, rustic-style bar in the city railway bows. You can smoke water pipes and listen to chill out music. The owner, a Persian, socialises with all his customers. Everything is worth its price and you really feel that this bar is something special. It is a good place to relax.

- Stiegl´s Ambulanz, Altes AKH Hof 1 Alserstraße 4, Alsergrund (U6 Alserstraße), +43.1.40211500 (ambulanz@stiegl.at), [23]. A good bar run by the Stiegl brewery where you can enjoy their beer, which is one of Austria's best common beers. The bar is popular for students with its modern furnishings and relaxed atmosphere. Try the Paracelsus, which you only get in Stiegl breweries.

- Europa, Zollergasse 8 (U3 Neubaugasse). One of Vienna's most popular meeting points. €3.5 for a big beer.

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- Gürtel, Josephstädter Straße (U6). Has lots of bars and music oriented venues under the elevated subway tracks.

Sleep
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- Red Carpet Hostel, Bürgerspitalgasse 17-19, Mariahilf (close to Westbahnhof, U6 and Mariahilferstraße), +43 676 9417714 (info@redcarpethostels.com), [24]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 10AM. Free WiFi, hostel bar, free welcome drink, shower/toilet in every room, backyard, free luggage storage. 1 Jul-14 Sep. Privates from €22.

- Happy Hostel, Kurzgasse 2, Mariahilf (near to Westbahnhof and U6 Gumpendorfer Strasse), +43 676 6757 457 (info@happyhostel.at), [25]. Dorms €17.

- Youth Hostel Vienna-Myrthengasse, Myrthengasse 7, Neubau, 523 63 16 (hostel@chello.at), [26]. Instatutional. Dorms €21 including breakfast and sheets.

- Pension Esterhazy, Nelkengasse 3, Mariahilf (near U3 Neubaugasse), +43 1 587 51 49, [27]. Clean basic rooms. Friendly apartment-hotel with free wifi. Spacious rooms and fully equipped kitchens. From €26 (single room, shower, shared toilet) to €69 (2 bed room with shower and toilet).

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- Goldener Baer Hotel, Türkenstraße 27 (Metro stations and tram stops nearby), [28]. This is a modest hotel. From €56.

- K+K Maria Theresia, Kirchberggasse 6, +43-1-521 23 (hotel.maria.theresia@kkhotels.at, fax: +43-1-521 23-70), [29]. A gourmet's dream breakfast buffet with a selection and quality most European five star hotels can hardly compete to. Overall, good choice both for a business traveler and for a family with a toddler; comfortable for non-smokers. Heated floors in bathroom. Rooms are modern and each has a full tea set, wired internet in every room, electronic safe box, hairdrier, minibar. Small sauna adjoining a tiny gym open until at least 11PM. Breakfast from 6:30AM. On the down side, few steps to overcome to get to the hotel with a stroller. Regular doubles around €125 through frequently available special offers, €145+ as rack rates.

- Tourotel Wien Hotel, [30]. A nice hotel. There are often specials.

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- Das Tyrol, Mariahilferstrasse 15 (near the Museumquartier), +43/ (0)1/ 587 5415 (reception@das-tyrol.at, fax: +43/ (0)1/ 5875 4159), [31]. A small and comfortable hotel. €109-259.

Contact
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District Outer West Table of Contents

• Get in

• See

• Do

• Buy

• Eat

Budget

Mid-range

Splurge

• Drink

• Sleep

Budget

Mid-range

• Contact

Get in
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See
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- Technical Museum, Penzing (near the Schoenbrunn Palace, trams 10, 52, 58 stop Penzinger Strasse), [1]. This newly renovated museum exhibits machines, transportations, electronic equipment, and the like from their first design up to their current form. It also depicts the development of Vienna as a city, on all its technical aspects, including recycling, power, sewage. The museum is huge at 22,000 square meters and requires at least two hours to go through.

- Wagner Villa, Hüttelbergstraße 26, Penzing (tram 49 last stop or Bus 148 from U4 Station Hütteldorf), [2]. You can see his private lodging in a very eccentric design. The villa is in the woods. In the rooms some paintings of Fuchs are exhibited, a painter who bought the house from the Wagner family. His painting were surprisingly influenced by the style of the villa.

- Schloss Schönbrunn, Hietzing (U4 get off at Schönbrunn, tram, take 10, 58 detrain at Schönbrunn, 10A bus and alight at Schönbrunn), [3]. Apr—Jun 8:30AM–5PM, Jul—Aug 8:30AM–6PM, Sep—Oct 8:30AM–5PM, Nov—Mar 8:30AM–4:30PM (zoo until 4PM). Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. It is the ultimate palace experience in Vienna, because the Habsburg summer palace can be found here. It is comparable in grandeur to Versailles and is definitely a must-see in Vienna. Its zoo is the oldest in the world, built for Maria Theresa's husband in 1752. The palace has seen its fair share of excitement over the years, including a meeting between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khruschchev at the height of the cold war. The Palace Park offers a lot of attractions, such as the Privy Garden, a maze and labyrinth, and the top-of-the-hill Gloriette with its Panorama Terrace. There are two possible tours available, the Imperial Tour showing 22 rooms and the Grand Tour showing 40 rooms. Entrance includes audio or written guide. The shorter tour takes you into the west wing including the apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), as well as the imposing state rooms in the central wing. With the Grand Tour you can also visit the 18th-century rooms from the time of Maria Theresa. No photos, video taping, or backpacks allowed inside. The palace is wheelchair-accessible.

- Kirche am Steinhof, Baumgartner Höhe 1, Penzing (from U4 station Unter St.Veit take bus 47A up to Psychiatrisches Zentrum or at Dr. Karl Renner Ring take Bus 48A to Psych. Zentrum, takes 35 minutes, or from U3 Ottakring take bus 48A to Psychiatrisches Zentrum; you have to enter the area of Psychiatrisches Zentrum, walk up the garden, it takes some minutes), (+43 1) 910 60/11204, [4]. Guided Tours every Saturday 3PM. Opened in 1907 as part of the largest mental hospital and sanatorium of its time in Europe, this Art Noveau church was constructed by the Viennese master architect Otto Wagner. It is probably the only example of Art Noveau sacral architecture worldwide.

- Hietzing, (Hietzing U4, trams 10, 58 and 60, then walk). A residential area which used to be a village once, but gained importance as the Schönbrunn Palace, was erected nearby. A very beautiful area for a stroll among old villas.

- Werkbundsiedlung Wien, Hietzing, between Jagdschlossgasse and Veitingergasse (Ober Sankt Veith U4, bus 54B direction Stock im Weg, get off at Veitingergasse). Inspired by the Weißenhofsiedlung in Stuttgart and initiated by architect Josef Frank, the Werkbundsiedlung public estate housing project in the Lainz Municipality of Hietzing was built from 1930 to 1932 by numerous national and international architects of the time (amongst those famous names like Adolf Loos and Gerrit Rietvelt) and has fine examples of Bauhaus style architecture. This public estate housing complex consisted of 76 buildings of which 32 still exist.

- Türkenschanzpark, Währing (tram 41 or bus 10A, get off at Türkenschanzpark). A very beautiful park, inaugurated in 1888 by Austrian emperor Franz Joseph. The park is situated at the location of and presumably named after a Turkish entrenchment ("Türken-Schanze") of the first Turkish siege on Vienna in 1529. Due to the contiguity to the University of Agriculture, the park also features a variety of botanic rarities from all continents.

- Karl Marx-Hof, Döbling (tram D or U4 to Heiligenstadt). Built between 1927 and 1930 by the Otto-Wagner-Student Karl Ehn, the Karl Marx-Hof is a public housing complex (called "Gemeindebau" in Vienna), from the time of the social-democratic public housing programme during Austria's First Republic. With its 1382 Apartments and roughly 1,1 Km in lenght, Marx-Hof is the worlds longest contigious public housing complex and probably Vienna's most famous "Gemeindebau".

- Grinzing, Döbling (38 Tram from Schottentor (University)or Bus 38A from U4 Heiligenstadt (Direction Kahlenberg)). Dating back to the times of Roman settlement in Vienna, this is the oldest neighbourhood of the Döbling district and is famous for its vineyards and "Heurige" (Austrian wine taverns).

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- Wiener Metropol, Hernals, [5]. A beautiful little theatre, mostly frequented by Viennese.

- Football. Has a long and vivid history in Vienna. Until about 40 years ago, Austrian football was dominated by a large number of Viennese clubs. Since then, their strength has faded, reflecting the overall decline of Austrian football compared to other European football. Today, only two Viennese clubs are left in the Austrian top football division, Rapid Vienna and Austria Magna. Rapid has won the Austrian league 31 times, more than any other club. They are known as the people's club, having working class roots and regularly attracting fairly big crowds of around 15,000. Home fixtures are played at the Gerhard-Hanappi-Stadion. Season usually starts in late July and ends in May, with a break in winter from early December until late February. Tickets are available at the stadium, at various tobacco shops (Trafik) around town and also on the internet at Skrapid [6]. Ticket prices for league matches are €18-26. Ladies, students, and children will receive considerable discounts. For a schedule of fixtures in English go to Soccerassociation [7], click "Austria" and "Bundesliga".

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- Außere Mariahilferstraße, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (U3 Westbahnhof). Continuation of the main shopping street comming from Neubau and Mariahilf. It is home to several hostels and plenty of immigrant shops but is also known as one of the main prostitution drags and houses some of Vienna's oddest flagship stores like the Cros store. There are a few leftist spaces on some of the cross-streets.

- Lugner City, Gürtel, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (U6 Burggasse-Stadthalle), [8]. Moderately sized mall housing chain stores and a cinema.

- Manner Factory Store, Wilhelminenstrasse 6, Hernals, [9]. Factory store famous for Viennese sweets, especially wafers (Schnitten).

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Budget
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- Kent cafe restaurant, Brunnengasse. At first approach, this looks like a greasy kebab joint strictly for Turks, but struggle past the first room and you will find a large garden and huge restaurant serving moderately priced food with an infinite supply of free Turkish bread. Good for veggies and meat eaters alike. Also try the Turkish breakfast. Expect to pay under €10.

- Pizzeria Mafioso, Reindorfgasse 15, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus. Pizzas start at about €3.60 and you get a Viennese ''Spritzer'' (white wine mixed with soda) for around €1.

Mid-range
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Splurge
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Drink
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Sleep
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Budget
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- Hostel Ruthensteiner, Robert Hamerlinggasse 24, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, +43-1-8934202, [10]. checkout: 10AM. Free wifi, bar 7PM-11PM, nice rooms, outdoor area plus kitchen, traveller-run hostel. Dorms from €17, doubles €26pp.

- Hütteldorf Hacking, Schlossberggasse 8, Penzing (U4 Hütteldorf, exit the station on the south side, follow signs about 10 minutes). HI Hostel in a peaceful neighborhood.

- Wombats City Hostel Vienna: The Base, Grangasse 6, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (near Westbahnhof), +43/1/8972336 (office@wombats-vienna.at), [11]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 10AM. It is clean and simple. €16-39.

- Wombats City Hostel Vienna: The Lounge, Mariahilferstrasse 137, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (directly at Westbahnhof), +43/1/8972336 (office@wombats-vienna.at), [12]. checkin: 2PM; checkout: 10AM. It is clean and chic with a party atmosphere. Opened 2006, it touts an imperial facade from 1880. €17-39.

Mid-range
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- Boutiquehotel Stadthalle, Hackengasse 20, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, +43 1 9824272 (office@hotelstadthalle.at, fax: +43 1 9824272 56), [13].

Contact
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