Insider Guide to: Vienna

Regarded as the musical capital of the world, Vienna is a city rich with history. Sophie-Marie shows us some of what the Austrian capital has to offer.

Sophie-Marie, Marketing Sales Manager

I lived in Vienna for about 3 years but always had a strong family connection to the city. In the 80s, my grandma – the famous ‚Tante Maridi‘ – was a cook at Oswald & Kalb and Kaffee Alt Wien, known for making the best Wiener Schnitzel and Gulasch in the whole of Vienna. 

My mum used to work in some well-known restaurants and bars, so I got to know many of the owners. I love revisiting those old family-ties, but I also have a bunch of new friends in Vienna, who I try to visit as often as I can. Compared to Berlin, what I miss most is the easy-going attitude and the typical Austrian ‚Schmäh‘, our very special kind of charming sarcasm. Also the short winters and hot summers.

Neighbourhoods

  • In Vienna, there are 23 Bezirke (districts), each of which is made up of different ‚Krätzel‘ (neighbourhoods), where people meet in bars and cafes that share a somewhat similar atmosphere. 
  • A famous neighbourhood is in the first district around Bäckerstraße. Especially during the eighties and nineties, this was where the Viennese art scene came to meet up. Today you will still meet some local celebrities there, mostly the older generation, though. 
  • The ninth district, Alsergrund, around Schottentor is perfect if you’re a student, looking for fellow open-minded people to share your Spritzer (wine and mineral water) with. 
  • One of my favourite places is the area around Museumsquartier in the seventh district, with all its art museums, chilling areas, and great cafes and bars.

Going out

  • Check out Kaffee Alt Wien for typical Viennese cafe and bar atmosphere. You might even meet some local celebrities at Café Engländer
  • If you want to go to a club, check out Grelle Forelle in the ninth district. And all the bars and cafes in Museumsquartier are always a good idea. The restaurant Motto am Fluss is perfect for a fancy dinner night with a view.
  • Go to Naschmarkt, where you can try and buy all different kinds of food. Definitely check out radio station FM4’s event calendar for great concerts, open-airs and events.

Things to do

  • Pay Wurstelprater a visit. An amusement park that has been here since 1766, when Emperor Joseph II opened it to the public. You really have to take a ride on the 65 metre tell Wiener Riesenrad (Ferris wheel) – it’s very touristy, but totally worth it for the views.
  • Frequency festival! It’s a huge music festival that takes place every summer in the countryside outside Vienna. With 200,000 visitors it’s one of the biggest festivals in Austria, hosted by the world’s coolest radio station FM4. The lineup ranges from small local indie bands to huge headliners such as Gorillaz, Macklemore, Placebo and many many more.

Top spaces

Get your creativity flowing in this beautifully designed workshop and seminar room.

A variety of large, bright, and eclectically decorated spaces which can be reconfigured according to your needs, good for group activities and workshops.

This coaching room at the Academy for Applied Future Education is perfect for small meetings.

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