Vienna, Austria - Vienna Hotel & Travel Destination Guide
Vienna Hotel & Travel Destination Guide
Cheaper Hotel Rates - Your ultimate source for Cheap, Discount Vienna Hotel Rates & Detailed Travel Information
Country Code: AT
Source: Fastcheck Arrival Guides
Population:
1.6 million
Currency:
1 Euro = 100 cents
Opening hours:
Vienna’s main shopping streets and department stores are generally open Mondays to Fridays 09.00-18.30, Saturdays 09.00-17.00. Many are open until 21.00 on Thursdays or to 19.30 on Fridays. Most are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Tourist information:
Vienna Tourist Office
Address: Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse, District 1.
Opening hours: 09.00 - 19.00
Tel: +43 (0)1 24 555
http://info.wien.at
Vienna
Vienna fires our imagination with sweeping waltzes and balls at the Opera; beautiful buildings, the Spanish Riding School and traditional cafés. But as well as all this history and tradition, Vienna also has a very different side - its young, trendy and creative side. In the Freihaus district, creativity thrives - young designers and artists exhibit and sell their work.
Vienna City
Vienna is a metropolis that never forces itself upon you, never overwhelms you. There is an elegant feel about the place. Vienna succeeds in uniting its historical heritage with the spirit of the new age. It is no exaggeration to say that Vienna has something for everyone. In the Museum district’s cultural complex, they have integrated the large art museums with trendy young boutiques, clubs and bars with DJs. Not far from the Stephansplatz
(St Stephen’s Square, the heart of Vienna) you will find fashionable areas with the smartest shops, cafés and delicatessens.
In the Neubau and Freihaus districts there are bars, shops and studios pulsating with creative zest. The oldest and most central areas of the city lie within what is called the “Ring”, the Ringstrasse, Vienna’s main street laid out where the city walls used to stand. A trip round the Ring on tram numbers 1 or 2 is a smart way to get a quick overview and to see many of Vienna’s sights. The city is divided up into 23 districts, (Bezirk), identified by a number in front of addresses. A good city map is marked with these numbers. The most central districts are 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Things to See and Do in Vienna
Paris’ top attractions are certainly the Eiffel Tower, originally a “temporary” construction for the 1889 Universal Exposition, the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte and the massive ecclesiastical cathedral Notre Dame. A walk from Place de la Concorde towards Champs Elysée is also a must as well as the world famous Louvre museum. There is obviously much more to explore!
Stefansdom (st Stephen’s Cathedral)
A fine Gothic cathedral in the centre of Vienna with a decorated spire that rises 137 metres. There is a wonderful view from the platform 343 steps up.
Admission: free, but €1 July to September.
Address: Stephansplatz, district 1
Underground: Underground lines U1, U3: Stephansplatz
Phone: +43 (0)1 515 52 3526
Internet: www.stephansdom.at
Sigmund Freud Museum
The founder of psychoanalysis lived and worked here for nearly half a century (1891-1938). The museum shows Freud’s collection of antiques and other personal belongings. The furniture is original.
Address: Berggasse 19, district 9
Underground: Tram 37, 38, 40, 41 or 42: Schwarzspanierstrasse
Phone: +43 (0)1 319 15 96
Internet: www.freud-museum.at
Kunsthauswien
In this colourful and unusual house there is a permanent exhibition of the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928 - 2002). There is also a changing exhibition of contemporary artists, plus a café/restaurant and shop.
Address: Untere Weissgerberstrasse 13, district 3
Underground: Underground lines U3, U4: Landstrasse, trams N, O: Radetzkyplatz
Phone: +43 (0)1 712 04 91
Internet: www.kunsthauswien.com
Spanish Riding School
For more than 400 years, this has been the home of classic horsemanship. Everyone, not just horse lovers, will be enthralled to see riders on the white Lippizaner horses performing pirouettes and other precisely controlled movements to music, in perfect teamwork.
Address: Michaelerplatz 1, district 1
Underground: Underground line U3: Herrengasse
Phone: +43 (0)1 533 90 31
Internet: www.srs.at
Schönbrunn Palace
The summer residence of the Imperial Family in baroque style, is among Vienna’s finest sights, and is on the Unesco World Heritage list. Besides the palace, there is a park and the world’s oldest zoo (open April-October).
Address: Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse, district 13
Underground: Underground U4, trams 10 or 58, bus 10A: Schönbrunn
Phone: +43 (0)1 81113 239
Internet: www.schoenbrunn.at
Mq - Vienna Museum District
This large cultural complex is housed in the former Imperial Stables. As well as several art museums, there are designer boutiques and trendy restaurants.
Address: Museumsplatz 1, district 7
Underground: Museumsquartier; U2, U3: Volkstheater
Phone: +43 (0)1 523 58 81
www.mqw.at
Dining in Vienna
A popular starter is soup, for example Leberknödelsuppe (bouillon with dumplings), or Frittatensuppe (bouillon with noodles). Other traditional dishes are the famous Wienerschnitzel (veal cutlet coated with egg and breadcrumbs, eaten with a slice of lemon) and Tafelspitz (beef with spinach and horseradish). To finish, a slice of pie, gateau or apfelstrudel. For traditional fare, visit a Beisl.
Griechenbeisl
One of Vienna’s oldest restaurants, dating from 1447. Popular with artists and politicians. Their famous patrons from the past have includedBeethoven, Schubert and Mark Twain, whose autograph is framed on the wall.
Address: Fleischmarkt 11, district 1
Underground: Schwedenplatz
Phone: +43 (0)1 533 19 77
Internet: www.griechenbeisl.at
Gulaschmuseum (goulash Museum)
Famous as the only restaurant in the world for goulash specialities. The menu lists 15 different varieties, based on everything from tripe to chocolate.
Address: Schulerstraße 20, district 1
Underground: Underground lines U1, U3: Stephansplatz
Phone: +43 (0)1 512 10 17
Internet: www.gulasch.at
Palmhaus
The restaurant is in an orangery, full of exotic plants and contemporary design.
Address: Burggarten, district 1
Underground: Museumsquartier
Phone: 43 1 533 10 33
Internet: www.palmenhaus.at
Halle
Formerly the Imperial box with a view of the indoor arena, these days a fashionable restaurant serving Mediterranean food.
Address: MuseumQuartier, district 7
Underground: MuseumQuartier
Phone: +43 (0)1 523 70 01
Internet: http://www.motto.at/
Babu
Designer restaurant with a café, bar and club. The cuisine is “Asian fusion” and the décor is a fusion of tiles, steel pipes and glass. On Tuesdays, the meeting place for Vienna’s jet set.
Address: Stadtbahnbogen 181-184, district 9
Underground: Nussdorfer Strasse
Phone: +43 (0)1 479 48 49
Internet: http://www.babu.at/
Meinl Am Graben
Prize-winning gourmet restaurant, said to be one of the top five restaurants in the country. All kinds of international delicacies are served from breakfast until midnight.
Address: Graben 19, district 1
Underground: Underground lines U1, U3: Stephansplatz, U3:
Herrengasse
Phone: +43 (0)1 532 33 34 60 00
Internet: www.meinlamgraben.at
Aromat
Unpretentious little restaurant where Oliver and his friends prepare food using fresh ingredients they have found that day in the market.
Address: Margaretenstrasse 52, district 6
Underground: Underground line U4: Kettenbrückengasse
Phone: + 43 1 913 24 53
Internet: www.arom.at
Vienna Cafes
For the Viennese, the café is a second home. With their coffee they like a slice of gateau, though many places also serve food.
Café Landtmann
A century ago, this was the most elegant café in town - and probably still is. Great range of gateaux, high prices and swish clientele.
Internet: www.cafe-wien.at
Café Sperl
Dates from 1880. Marble tables, black Thonet chairs (also called Vienna chairs) and chandeliers contribute to the atmosphere. Popular before going to the theatre or musical.
Internet: www.cafesperl.at
Café Sacher
Home of the world-famous chocolate gateau with apricot jam - the Sachertorte. The secret original recipe dates from 1832, while the pastries are straight out of the oven at their own bakery.
Internet: www.sacher.com
Vienna Bars and Nightlife
Musical Vienna doesn’t just mean Mozart and other classical music - there are also clubs with DJs and rock bands. One of the entertainment districts is what is called the Bermuda Triangle around Schwedenplatz and the Ruprechtskirche. Gürtel is another area popular at night. Previously a down-at-heel red light district, it is now full of trendy clubs, restaurants and bars.
Bar Italia Lounge
Modern designer bar/restaurant, open until 3 a.m. Espresso bar upstairs, lounge with
Italian food downstairs, cocktails in the bar.
Internet: www.baritalia.net
Buddha Club
Bar and restaurant, Asian influence.
Internet: www.buddha-club.at
Loos American Bar
Adolf Loos was a pioneer of modern architecture in Vienna. He designed this little bar in 1903, with its marked American influence.
Internet: www.loosbar.at
Volksgarten Club Disco
One of the most popular discotheques in Vienna.
Internet: www.volksgarten.at
Aux Gazelles
Calls itself the “hotel without rooms” because you can spend many leisure hours here. Start with a visit to their hamam, then have dinner while waiting for the nightclub to get under way. Mostly oriental music.
Address: Rahlgasse 5, district 6
Underground: Underground line U2: Museumsquartier
Internet: www.auxgazelles.at
Shopping in Vienna
The longest and best-known shopping street is Mariahilfer Strasse, situated between the city centre and the Westbahnhof (West Station). Here are the large cheap chain stores with shoes, clothes and jewellery.
Don’t forget the side streets, such as Neubaugasse. Here you’ll find young playful fashions, plenty of comical T-shirts, handbags, gadgets and things from the 60s in Manga or Hello Kitty style. Other well-known shopping streets are Kärntner Strasse, Graben and Kohlmarkt. Some are exclusive traffic-free pedestrian precincts. In the MQ museum complex there are several small intriguing boutiques with clothes and accessories from young designers.
If you prefer exclusive shopping, the fashion houses - the likes of Chanel, Gucci, Cartier, Louis Vuitton - are sometimes cheek by jowl. In district 1 you’ll find Armani at Kohlmarkt 3, Gucci at Kohlmarkt 4 and Chanel at Kohlmarkt 5.
Vienna is the home city of the world-famous designer Helmut Lang, and not surprisingly he has his own shop with fashions for both men and women (Seilergasse 6. District 1).
The Freihaus district between Operngasse to Heumühlgasse has been compared to the Latin Quarter in Paris or New York’s Greenwich Village. As a general rule, the main street in every Bezirk (district) has many shops. Remember to take cash, because not all shops accept cards.
Vienna Hotels
Altstadt Vienna
The hotel owner is a globetrotter, and his philosophy is that you should be able to feel at home even in a hotel. The history of the house has been blended with a personal modern feel, and no two rooms are alike.
Address: Kirchengasse 41, district 7
Underground: Underground line U2, U3: Museumsquartier
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Rathaus (Town Hall)
A hotel where wine and design go hand in hand. Each room has been dedicated to a local winemaker - whose wines are available in the room’s minibar.
Address: Lange Gasse 13, district 8
Underground: Underground line U2, U3: Volkstheater
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Luxury Vienna Hotels
Hotel Das Triest
Vienna’s first designer hotel, and Sir Terence Conran’s first hotel project. Celebrities like Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and Hugh Grant have stayed here.
Address: Wiedner Hauptstrasse 12, district 6
Underground: Underground line U1: Taubstummengasse
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Good Value Vienna Hotels
Hotel Pension Shermin
Nice rooms and suites close to Vienna’s city centre.
Address: Rilkeplatz 7 (next to Margaretenstra 2)
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Cheap Vienna Hotels
Vera Pension Hotel
otel pension Vera is amongst the oldest guest houses still run by a family in Vienna. The hotel is in a key area of the city, from which you can reach all the city’s palaces, monuments and other central sights in just a few minutes. Our staff are always on hand to help with your queries.
Address: Alserstrasse 18