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Capital and largest city of Austria
Photo: Andrew Bossi, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Vienna (German: Wien; Austro-Bavarian: Wean) is the capital of Austria and by far its most populous city, with an urban population of 2 million and a metropolitan population of 2.9 million (2023). It is the country's artistic, cultural, economic and political centre. It is known for its high living standards, relaxed yet elegant lifestyle and rich musical life.
The central Old Town and most important part of the city where most sights and tourists can be found.
The third district is the largest inner district including the Belvedere Palace, the Schwarzenbergplatz, embassies and an industrial hinterland.
The fourth district starts from Karlsplatz with the famous Karlskirche and borders the Naschmarkt with a miniature Chinatown.
The outermost inner district is mostly a residential area.
The sixth district continues on from the Naschmarkt up to the Mariahilfer Straße. It has popular bohemian neighborhoods.
The seventh district features the acclaimed MuseumsQuartier, which connects directly the modern museums to the classic museums of the inner city, plus other artsy spots.
The eighth district is the smallest inner one and is mostly a classy residential area.
The ninth district has the Vienna University and several hospitals.
The second district used to be the Jewish part of the Vienna town. It stretches from the more wild forests of the Prater to the newly gentrified areas of the Karmeliterviertel and Augarten.
This groups outer districts that are traditionally worker-oriented in the south of Vienna.
The 13th district is a more residential area with the Schönbrunn palace and old villas. The attractions around it account for the most Viennese tourist visits.
This groups outer districts, which are more worker oriented (14, 15) the newly hyped and multicultural (16), more bourgeois area (17) and the upper class (18, 19). All of them bordering the Wienerwald and often allowing great views on Vienna.
This groups outer districts containing the regional United Nations Headquarters and including a mix of farms, suburbia, Soviet-style housing blocks, villages.
Very Viennese cafes, really delicious bakery and well known confectionery. Also some choice of soups and mains. Several locations, mostly in Innere Stadt.
Chic but artificial design, mediocre quality, depends on location and luck. Many cafés across Vienna and Lower Austria. Their menus have a very useful graphical design indicating the precise ingredients and proportions in each type of coffee, so it's worth visiting if you are a complete beginner.
A chain shop for wine lovers featuring a wine bar in every location. Shop locations include Naschmarkt, Mariahilfer Straße, near Burggarten and near Stephansplatz.
Vienna's mainstream everyday gay disco. The crowd is varied. It is in the 1st District at Tiefer Graben 22 (Herrengasse U3). Saturdays are house music free.
A gay resource center with an excellent bar and restaurant. (Pilgramgasse U4)
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!
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.
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.
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.
Another addition to the city's Christmas markets, the market in front of the Belvedere palace is spacious and emphasizes the homespun.
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.
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.
By car
Only one in two Viennese households has a car and fewer than 1/3 of the trips taken within the city are by car.
By bus
There is a slew of international bus services coming into Vienna daily.
By boat
Riverboats on the Danube include connections with Linz, Bratislava and Budapest, but are slower and more expensive than other options.
Public transportation
Vienna has a good public transportation system, which includes rail, commuter rail, underground, trams (trolleys), and buses.
By taxi
Motor taxis are plentiful and can normally be hailed on the street or found at a taxi stand. Fares are set to a meter price, but if you prefer, you can always negotiate a fare.
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.
By bicycle
Cycling is another option for travelling within Vienna, although it is still seen more as a leisure activity. Vienna's compact size makes cycling attractive.
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 min.
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Vienna · International · VIE
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