If you haven't ever visited Vienna, I strongly encourage you to spend your time on the Ringstrasse and Museum Quarter, soaking up all the history and grandeur you can. I was completely mesmerized on my first trip to Vienna. I recommend purchasing the Vienna Card if you do. But it's an expensive place, and you don't really need to do it again if you have a memory of it that first time. There are some kooky corners to this seemingly stuffy city, as well as a whole lot of places to eat and drink off the beaten path. Here's a quick guide to what I liked:
STAY
Hotel Novum Prinz Eugen, Prinz Eugen-Straße 27,1030 Vienna (across the street from from Hauptbanhoff (Central Station))
Located in neighborhood Wieden, just south of Vienna’s center. It's the home of the Vienna University of Technology. Restaurants sling fusion cuisine, second-hand shops sell everything from minimalist furniture to vintage suits, and the DJs spin hip-hop and Euro-disco. Night owls should check out Goodmann, a lively after-hours spot. The Belvedere is a few short blocks away (lots of Nazi-looted Klimts, free to walk the gardens).
GETTING AROUND
Public transportation is super easy to use, efficient, and all-encompassing. But did you know there are also a ton of bike paths, and biks only cost 1 Euro per hour to rent at all train stations? In fact, if you turn in your bike just before the hour, then wait 15 minutes before renting another one, you'll never even have to pay!
VISIT
Take a walk or bike ride around the Ringstrasse, the ring road that runs around the centre of Vienna, past some of the city’s most famous buildings. Along the route you can see the Vienna State Opera, Imperial Palace, Parliament and City Hall. You can also take a free guided tour around the City Hall, or Rathaus, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm (except on public holidays).
It’s also free to visit the city’s parks, like the Burggarten and Stadtpark. Entrance to the Schönbrunn Palacegardens is also free (though you have to pay a couple of euros to go into the maze or Gloriette viewing terrace). If you’re in the city during summer, you can escape the heat by heading down to the banks of the Danube. Danube Island has miles and miles of beaches as well as boat and bike hire, playgrounds and cafés.
Visit The Flederhaus, a giant house-shaped structure filled with hammocks overlooking the city, in the Museum Quarter.
Hundertwasserhaus Kegelgasse 36-38, 1030 Wien, Austria
The Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna is a building designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and located in the 3rd Viennese district. The extraordinary building was constructed between 1983 and 1985. It was architecturally realized with the collaboration of architect Josef Krawina as co-creator and the implementing architect Peter Pelikan. The result is known about around the world.
Wipplingerstraße 6, 1010 Wien, Austria, 9-5
Take U1 to Stephensplatz
EAT & DRINK
It’s also free to visit the city’s parks, like the Burggarten and Stadtpark. Entrance to the Schönbrunn Palacegardens is also free (though you have to pay a couple of euros to go into the maze or Gloriette viewing terrace). If you’re in the city during summer, you can escape the heat by heading down to the banks of the Danube. Danube Island has miles and miles of beaches as well as boat and bike hire, playgrounds and cafés.
Visit The Flederhaus, a giant house-shaped structure filled with hammocks overlooking the city, in the Museum Quarter.
Hundertwasserhaus Kegelgasse 36-38, 1030 Wien, Austria
The Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna is a building designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and located in the 3rd Viennese district. The extraordinary building was constructed between 1983 and 1985. It was architecturally realized with the collaboration of architect Josef Krawina as co-creator and the implementing architect Peter Pelikan. The result is known about around the world.
- Tip: In the "Kunst und Café" coffee house on the ground floor of the Hundertwasserhaus , a free film can be watched in which Friedensreich Hundertwasser leads viewers in person through "his" house.
Wipplingerstraße 6, 1010 Wien, Austria, 9-5
Take U1 to Stephensplatz
EAT & DRINK
The 400-year-old Naschmarkt is Vienna’s largest—a 2ish mile-long stretch filled with street-food vendors, and a great place to grab brunch. If you wander the market, make sure to take in the Otto Wagner-designed houses at 38 and 40 Linke Wienzeile. The market is open Monday through Saturday. The best subway station to stop is Kettenbrückengasse , on Line U4.
7 Stars Brewery Great beer and well-executed traditional Austrian/Bavarian food
SIEBENSTERNGASSE 19 | 1070 VIENNA | +43 1 523 86 97
Café Nil: a kind of Marrakesh decor coupled with a 1950s green tile design. Adorable retro stands next to the tables carry the sugar, salt & pepper. Nice servers. Lots of natural light. Free wifi. Siebensterngasse 39, 1070 Wien, Austria
Pakistani Buffet:
DER WIENER DEEWAN
10 Liechtensteinstraße, 1090, Vienna, Austria
This is a total student hang-out with crowded, communal tables and a soup kitchen feel. It's wonderful and fun, and you pay what you want (but there are suggested prices, which are super cheap).
Affordable ($-$$) Viennese food:
Kolar
Kleeblattgasse 5, Vienna 1010, Austria
This is a total student hang-out with crowded, communal tables and a soup kitchen feel. It's wonderful and fun, and you pay what you want (but there are suggested prices, which are super cheap).
Affordable ($-$$) Viennese food:
Kolar
Kleeblattgasse 5, Vienna 1010, Austria
I was surprised to find that several cafes/restaurants had employees who really didn't speak English. But you can get by with this and some pantomime:
Hallo: Hello (informal)
Bitte: Please
Bitteschön: You’re welcome
Dankeschön: Thank you
Danke: Thanks
Auf Wiedersehen: Goodbye (formal)
Tschüss: Bye (informal)
Ja: Yes
Nein: No
Entschuldigung: Excuse me / sorry
Kein problem: No problem
Guten Morgen: Good morning
Guten Abend: Good evening
Prost: Cheers
Ich heiße…: My name is….
Ich komme aus…: I come from…
Sprechen Sie Englisch? Do you speak English?
Wie viel Kostet das? How much does that cost?
Wo ist die Toilette? Where is the toilet?
Ich verstehe nicht: I don’t understand.
Ich möchte bezahlen: I would like the check, please.
Können Sie mir helfen? Can you help me?
Mein Deutsch ist schlect: My German is bad.
And some coffee drinks, so you have some clue of what to order:
Melange: The king of coffee, a mix of frothed milk and steamed coffee similar to the Italian cappuccino, but consumed at any time of the day.
Kleiner Brauner and Großer Brauner: Means "little brown one" or "large brown one" and comes close to what people consider to be ordinary coffee: black with a bit of milk, yet typically not filtered, but steamed like espresso.
Milchkaffee or Café latte: A large coffee with frothed milk, has been around for a long time, but recently gained popularity probably due to its fancy Italian name that sounds much cooler than "Milchkaffee".
Einspänner: Strong, black coffee typically served in a high glass with a dash of whipped cream.
Fiaker: Named after horse-and-carriages, the Fiaker is a rather not-so-common drink of coffee with a shot of Austrian rum and whipped cream.
Mazagran: A cold Fiaker-variation, coffee, ice, a shot of rum - and possibly a bit of sugar.
Schwarzer or Mokka: Strong, black coffee, normally consumed with a lot of sugar, but served without.
Kurzer or Espresso: The same coffee, in recent years the Austrian term "Kurzer" (meaning "short one") has almost gone extinct and these days, the international "Espresso" is to be found on the menus much more commonly.
Hallo: Hello (informal)
Bitte: Please
Bitteschön: You’re welcome
Dankeschön: Thank you
Danke: Thanks
Auf Wiedersehen: Goodbye (formal)
Tschüss: Bye (informal)
Ja: Yes
Nein: No
Entschuldigung: Excuse me / sorry
Kein problem: No problem
Guten Morgen: Good morning
Guten Abend: Good evening
Prost: Cheers
Ich heiße…: My name is….
Ich komme aus…: I come from…
Sprechen Sie Englisch? Do you speak English?
Wie viel Kostet das? How much does that cost?
Wo ist die Toilette? Where is the toilet?
Ich verstehe nicht: I don’t understand.
Ich möchte bezahlen: I would like the check, please.
Können Sie mir helfen? Can you help me?
Mein Deutsch ist schlect: My German is bad.
And some coffee drinks, so you have some clue of what to order:
Melange: The king of coffee, a mix of frothed milk and steamed coffee similar to the Italian cappuccino, but consumed at any time of the day.
Kleiner Brauner and Großer Brauner: Means "little brown one" or "large brown one" and comes close to what people consider to be ordinary coffee: black with a bit of milk, yet typically not filtered, but steamed like espresso.
Milchkaffee or Café latte: A large coffee with frothed milk, has been around for a long time, but recently gained popularity probably due to its fancy Italian name that sounds much cooler than "Milchkaffee".
Einspänner: Strong, black coffee typically served in a high glass with a dash of whipped cream.
Fiaker: Named after horse-and-carriages, the Fiaker is a rather not-so-common drink of coffee with a shot of Austrian rum and whipped cream.
Mazagran: A cold Fiaker-variation, coffee, ice, a shot of rum - and possibly a bit of sugar.
Schwarzer or Mokka: Strong, black coffee, normally consumed with a lot of sugar, but served without.
Kurzer or Espresso: The same coffee, in recent years the Austrian term "Kurzer" (meaning "short one") has almost gone extinct and these days, the international "Espresso" is to be found on the menus much more commonly.
Eiskaffee: Cold coffee with vanilla ice cream, chocolate and whipped cream - served typically in the summer months, but ideal for the hot season. Only ice tea is more refreshing.
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