Architectural highlights in the city reflect its inhabitants. Contemporary and historic structures coexist seamlessly in an astoundingly innovative fashion.
Antonio Canova’s pyramid-shaped funerary monument still elicits wonderment two centuries after it was completed, while its signature sour-smelling local wines remain available at traditional wine taverns.
Although out of range for bombers, this massive flak tower still remains intact – worth visiting simply for its scale alone!
1. Museums & Art Galleries
City life offers a host of museums and art galleries for an engaging cultural experience, whether that means learning about its past or experiencing more modern, abstract and experimental aspects of it all. Whatever your interests may be there is sure to be something in London to meet them all!
Albertina Museum in Vienna boasts one of the world’s greatest collections of graphic art. Boasting over 65,000 drawings and watercolors as well as over one million printed sheets dating back 500 years, Rembrandt, Klimt, and Schiele are just a few of its notable contributors.
Other notable galleries in Vienna include KunstHausWien (Art House of Wien), which boasts an extensive collection of modern and contemporary art from Austria and beyond, and the Sigmund Freud Museum, where you will find many of his personal items.
Other than Vienna’s top art galleries, smaller venues worth visiting include Galerie Peter Klee and Galerie Elisabeth & Klaus Thoman – two longstanding Vienna galleries dedicated to paintings and sculpture respectively.
One of the best ways to gain a sense of the city’s arts culture is to visit Neubau, an emerging neighborhood considered its cultural heart. Here, one will find exciting independent art galleries, restaurants, cafes and bars which draw in an aesthetically minded crowd.
Viennese residents still embrace its Lebenskunst (“art of living”) even today; life in Vienna remains leisurely despite changing rulers and times. People wear thick woolen coats and overcoats while sipping sour local wines at historic taverns or enjoying mountains of chocolate at Sacher’s and Demel’s. Classical music continues to play in rebuilt concert halls while opera and theater performances still occur at its main venues; at nighttime clubs and bars open up for partying; but don’t feel intimidated, we can assist with helping navigate Vienna’s extensive wealth of museums and art galleries!
2. Shopping
Vienna provides plenty of shopping opportunities, from high-street fashion chains such as Zara and H&M to local boutiques. If souvenir shopping or wardrobe additions are your goal, Vienna provides plenty of high street fashion chains as well as locally owned boutiques for every taste and need. In Vienna’s upscale Innenstadt district you will find famous names such as Zara, H&M and GUESS; Karntner Strasse provides lively inner city shopping street that features many well-known designer boutiques.
However, Myung-Il Song encourages visitors to explore Vienna beyond chain stores and head out in search of its unique places. From historic shops to artisanal newcomers, Song provides an insider guide for shopping Viennese style – from clothing and accessories to homewares and contemporary art.
Vienna’s trendiest streets such as Schleifmuhlgasse in the 4th district and Kirchengasse in the 1st are packed with boutiques offering clothing, shoes and homeware for sale – such as FLO Vintage, Humana and Gabarage for example – with independent boutiques like these offering vintage goods or supporting local artisans.
Vienna’s charming open markets offer some of the freshest produce available – from organic fruits and vegetables to locally sourced meat – at their various stalls, making for the ideal opportunity to purchase unique souvenirs during your travels. One such market in particular, known as Brunnenmarkt in Vienna’s 16th district is especially well known. Here you’ll find organic fruits and vegetables as well as locally sourced meat available all year-round – the Brunnenmarkt even features handmade goods as an additional plus point!
If you plan to reside in Vienna for more than several months, it is advisable to open a bank account. There are numerous large banks present here such as Austrian Sparkasse, Erste Group Bank and Bank Austria as well as many local companies offering mobile contracts with unlimited data usage for an agreed monthly fee.
3. Restaurants & Bars
After an evening of dancing and drinking, Vienna offers an impressive food scene to satisfy any appetite – from street-side sausage stands to late-night cafes – offering something delicious for every craving and taste bud.
If you prefer more refined dining experiences, look no further than MuseumsQuartier or Spittelberg district restaurants. Look out for Motto, with its minimalist aesthetics matching top-class Austrian cuisine like Tafelspitz and Strawberry Nougat Dumplings or opting for a tasting menu with seasonal ingredients and wine pairings.
Vegetarians needn’t fear Vienna either; there are plenty of vegetarian-friendly options here. Mochi, one of Vienna’s hippest spots, serves four kinds of delicious homemade ramen (reservations recommended), an extensive menu including okonomiyaki and “Thai”-fried chicken thighs (reservations advised), beer, natural wines and cocktails; its crowd is composed primarily of well-off Viennese Millennials while Mochi boasts its unique character with leather chesterfield sofas, deer antlers alongside Morrocan cushions and shisha pipes!
Reznicek Wiener Wirtshaus is an absolute must. Opened by sommelier Simon Schubert and chef Julian Lechner, its menu boasts classic Viennese dishes like beef tartare or cordon bleu made from locally sourced ingredients as well as creative options like roulade of courgette with bell peppers, almonds and river trout with saffron; of course all this delicious food comes paired with superb wines!
NineOfive offers an excellent blend of pizza and wine in an informal dining setting, specializing in 72-hour fermented dough pizzas that feature excellent combinations. Their wine list is equally comprehensive.
Vienna clubs offer an eclectic blend of drinks and dancing for an unforgettable nightlife experience, often keeping their doors open until late at night. When planning a night out in Vienna it’s wise to check the transport schedules to make sure that you can return safely back home afterwards.
4. Nightlife
Vienna’s night scene is an irresistibly passionate dance with time, often lasting into the early hours. Bars, cocktail bars and clubs line its inner city, catering to an array of tastes. Here, sophisticated cocktails such as those served at Loos American Bar (famous for its nearly perfect espresso martinis and interior designed by famed Austrian architect Adolf Loos) or more informal pubs such as 1516 Brewing Company offer up a welcoming environment in which to sample local beers!
Heurigen (wine taverns) are an integral part of Vienna tradition and an enjoyable way to meet locals. Here you can sample Austrian wines while also tasting traditional foods such as Wiener Schnitzel or sour dumplings with apple and cheese. Many also feature live music, creating an informal and relaxing environment.
Fluc and Das Werk are two great places for dancing enthusiasts. Situated behind the former trash incineration plant, Fluc is one of the coolest “alternative” clubs in town, drawing in-demand DJs for DJ sets that often spill out into the streets. Meanwhile, Das Werk features two indoor dance rooms for dancing to intense techno, electro, and funk sets.
City life offers a lively ex-pat community, making it easy to meet fellow foreigners at bars and clubs. Additionally, its low crime rate makes for a very safe and sociable city; however, you should ensure all personal belongings remain safe from theft as robberies or pickpocketing may occur.
Theater, opera and classical music have long traditions in Vienna. Well-known venues for theater-going include Burgtheater, Volkstheater and Akademietheater; for modern, experimental or cabaret theater-goers there is Theater in der Josefstadt or smaller venues that specialize in specific genres or styles like Theater in der Josefstadt and more!