Editor’s Note: The Vienna Tourist Board has kindly put together a Top 10 list of places we might want to consider visiting while in Vienna. If you have more questions, all of their contact info including their Facebook page, email and website is available for you below to get a hold of them at anytime.
Tip #1: Eating & Drinking
Cafe Culture
The Viennese coffeehouse goes back a long, long ways. And yet, despite its age – or perhaps because of it – the coffeehouse is more alive and diverse than ever before. You can find dozens of traditional cafés in Vienna´s Old City. Here you will encounter Viennese coffee house culture in its most original form. For example: Landtmann Franz Landtmann created a coffee house institution when he opened Vienna´s largest “café locality” in the year 1873. His patrons have included Sigmund Freud, Marlene Dietrich, Romy Schneider, Paul McCartney and Hillary Clinton. Open daily 7.30 a.m. – midnight.
Landtmann, Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Ring 4 (Public transport: Tram D, 1 Rathausplatz/Burgtheater, Underground U2 Schottentor)
Vienne Cuisine
A true bon vivant will know that Viennese Cuisine is the only cuisine in the world to be named after a city. Viennese chefs draw on influences from various countries to conjure up exciting dishes that never fail to capture the imagination. For example: Zu den 3 Hacken. Open Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Zum Weissen Rauchfangkehrer. Open Thurs-Sat 12 a.m.-11.30 p.m.
Zu den 3 Hacken, Singerstrasse 28 (Public transport: Underground U1, U3 Stephansplatz, U3 Stubentor)
Zum Weissen Rauchfangkehrer, Weihburggasse 4 (Public transport: Underground U1, U3 Stephansplatz)
Tip # 2: Art Exhibitions
Vienna’s Albertina presents the first extensive exhibition on Michelangelo for more than 20 years. Precious works from the Graphic Arts Collection of the Albertina and loans from museums and private collections in Europe and the United States offer an unparalleled overview of the artist´s oeuvre. Open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, (Public transport: Tram 1, 2, D, Underground U1, U2, U4 Karlplatz/Oper)
Tip #3: Family Activities
Adventure Parks
Dive into the colourful adventure world of the Prater where 250 different stands and attractions wait for you: from a traditional merry-go-round to the ghost train to ultra-modern highlights. Open daily 10.00 a.m.-midnight.
Prater Adventure Tours (Public transport: Underground U1, U2 Praterstern)
Museums for Families
What do children expect from a sightseeing trip? Pretty much the same as the grownups do: variety and entertainment. Many Viennese museums and organizers have therefore created programs that are fun for the entire family … The motto is “hands on.” For example: Schönbrunn Palace, open daily 8.30 a.m.-5 p.m., Maze, Labyrinth & Labyrinthikon, open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Zoo, open daily 9 a.m.-5.30 p.m. Guided zoo tours at night can be booked at: tel. +43-1-877 92 94-500 (business days). Imperial Palace & Sisi Museum, open daily 9 a.m.-5.30 p.m.
Imperial Palace, entrance under the Michaelerkuppel
Public transport: Underground U3 Herrengasse, Tram 1, 2, D Burgring or Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring
Tip #4: Hip and Trendy
Motto am Fluss lies right on the Danube Canal at Schwedenplatz like a racy speedboat. The new hotspot doubles up as a mooring station for the Twin City Liner and is an architectural highlight. At first sight, the building could be confused with a boat. The heart is the restaurant on the first floor. The bar and a shop adjoin the restaurant. On the second floor is the Motto Café, together with a large terrace. Open daily 6 p.m.-2 a.m. (restaurant), 6 p.m.-4 a.m. (bar), 8 a.m.-2a.m. (café), 8 a.m.-7.30 p.m. (shop)
Motto am Fluss, Franz-Josefs-Kai/Schwedenplatz, (Public transport: Tram 1, 2, Underground U1, U4 Schwedenplatz)
Café Drechsler on the Naschmarkt is open 23 hours a day. Clubbers as well as market stallholders appreciate that fact. The legendary café has been given a stylish makeover by famous British designer Sir Terence Conran. It still retains its popularity as a place to meet, and enjoy Viennese cuisine and excellent coffee. Open daily 3 a.m.-2 a.m.
Café Drechsler, Linke Wienzeile 22, Public transport: Underground U4 Kettenbrückengasse
MuseumsQuartier is Vienna´s exciting art complex near the Imperial Palace offers that contains not only renowned museums such as the Leopold Museum, with its numerous works by Schiele, the Museum of Contemporary Art, but also the Kunsthalle: a lively array of restaurants, cafés and bars make this museum district even more attractive. See and be seen is the motto – and above all: enjoy …
MuseumsQuartier, Museumsplatz 1 (Public transport: Underground U2 MuseumsQuartier, U3 Volkstheater)
Tip 5: Vienna Music
Opera
Open-air opera “Oper Live am Platz“ is back in October with live broadcasts of selected performances on a giant outdoor screen – entry is free of charge. October 22nd, 8 p.m.: “L´elisir d´amore”, Gaetano Donizetti.
Vienna State Opera, Herbert von Karajan-Platz, (Public transport: Tram 1, 2, D, Underground U1, U2, U4 Karlplatz/Oper)
Experimental Music
House of Music In the musical adventure world in the heart of the city, music can be experienced with all of the senses. Giant instruments, computers and state-of-the-art electronics are great for playing, experimenting and discovering. Open daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
House of Music, Seilerstätte 30 (Public transport: Tram 1, 2, D, Underground U1, U2, U4 Karlplatz/Oper, U1, U3 Stephansplatz)
Tip #6: Nightlife
Dancing and “chilling” of the highest quality – after all, Vienna´s electronic music scene is world-renowned. Clubs such as Flex at the Danube Canal were selected as one of the best locations worldwide. The program there varies as much as it does at other party locations in the city. The Gürtel establishments in the City Rail Arches such as Chelsea, B72, Rhiz have been permanent fixtures on Vienna´s nightlife scene for years. A new party strip is developing in the Prater with Fluc, Planetarium and Pratersauna. For Example:
The Passage, Burgring/Babenbergerstrasse (Public transport: Tram 1, 2, D Burgring)
Platzhirsch, Opernring 11, open Fri/Sat from 10 p.m. (Public transport: Public transport: Tram 1, 2, D, Underground U1, U2, U4 Karlplatz/Oper)
Tip #7: Sightseeing
Tours & guides Learn about the many faces of the city. Discover her secrets. During guided walks or with your own personal guide, during sightseeing trips by bus, boat, streetcar, bicycle or during torchlight tours through Vienna´s underworld …
Medieval quarters and hidden courtyards: Sun, October 24th, 2010, 2.30 p.m., meeting point Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse (Tourist Info), EUR 14, as of 3 people, no booking required.
Remarkable sights of Vienna in 2 hours: Fri, October 22nd, 2010, 2.30 p.m., meeting point Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse (Tourist Info), EUR 14, as of 3 people, no booking required
Tip #8: Shopping
Flea Market & Food
Vienna Naschmarkt Vienna´s best-known market has around 120 market stands and restaurants for a colourful culinary offering ranging from Viennese to Indian, from Vietnamese to Italian. The Naschmarkt has developed into a meeting point for young and old. The Flea Market on Saturday is already a cult event.
Naschmarkt, Wienzeile, between Karlsplatz and Kettenbrückengasse (Public transport: Underground U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz/Oper, U4 Kettenbrückengasse)
Clothing
Trend shopping around Naschmarkt Close to Vienna´s famous Naschmarkt market and not far from an established fashion quarter – the Freihausviertel – a small yet fine shopping treasure trove is emerging.
Around Kettenbrückengasse, Schleifmühlgasse, Margaretenstrasse, (Public transport: Underground U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz/Oper, U4 Kettenbrückengasse, Bus 59A Schleifmühlgasse, Pressgasse, Ziegelofengasse or Margartenplatz)
Chocolate
Confectionery from Vienna Vienna is a Mecca for chocolate lovers. Sweet treats are hand-crafted in small factories: from flowering confectionery to exotic truffles. For example: Xocolat Manufactur, open Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Xocolat Manufactur, Servitengasse 5 (Public transport: Tram D Schlickgasse, Underground U4 Rossauer Lände)
Tip #9: Sports
Danube Island The 21-km Danube Island offers fun and relaxation for the whole family. The U1 and the U6 stations are convenient points of access to this oasis for skaters, cyclists, joggers and walkers.
Danube Island (Public transport: Underground U1 Donauinsel, U6 Handelskai or Neue Donau)
Tip #10: Vienna, Wine & Design
From September 15 – November 15, 2010 the Vienna, Wine and Design promotion provides the perfect opportunity to see, sample and experience Viennese wine and design. There is also a competition with a star prize of 999 bottles of Viennese wine to be shared between three lucky winners. There are also instant prizes to be won at the tourist information office in the city center. Open daily 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tourist Info, Albertinaplatz, (Public transport: Tram 1, 2, D, Underground U1, U2, U4 Karlplatz/Oper)
For More Information!
Tourist Info Vienna Our Vienna experts are happy to advise you and help you plan your stay in Vienna.
Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse (close to the Vienna State Opera), open daily 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
media.rel@vienna.info
www.facebook.com/ViennaTouristBoard
Twitter Account Coming Soon!
Tel. +43-1-24 555
Vienna Card
Vienna Card More than 2010 discounts and unlimited free travel by underground, bus and tram for 72 hours – with this card for only EUR 18,50. Available in your hotel and at the tourist information centre on Albertinaplatz
Please feel free to leave your questions in the comments below.
