Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please confirm event/venue details in advance.
Austria : Vienna - January 2009 Country Code: Dial ++43 for Austria
Winter is the ideal time to visit
Vienna: the cold, clear light
throws the Austrian capital’s
grand architecture into relief
while the chilly temperatures are
as good an excuse as any to
warm up with coffee and cake.
Best of all, in January the famous
Vienna Ball Season begins and
the city comes alive. Kathryn
Quinn shows us around
Getting around
Vienna International Airport
Bus: A bus will take you to the city centre in 20 minutes, leaving every 30 minutes, with a return fare of €11. Train: The City Airport Train (CAT) takes 16 minutes to reach the centre and leaves every 30 minutes. Return tickets cost €16. The regular municipal railway SBahn goes every 30 minutes and takes 24 minutes to reach the city centre. Single tickets cost €3. Taxi: A trip to the city from the airport costs a standard fee of €31. Tourist information: Vienna Tourist Office is at 38 Untere Augartenstraße and 1 Albertinaplatz (tel. (0)1 24555, www.wien.info).
1ST DISTRICT
Tourists flock to Vienna’s 1st District
and are mesmerised by its timeless
beauty. In January everyone is excited
about the Vienna Ice Dream, in front
of Vienna’s City Hall (Rathausplatz),
where you can dance to waltz
melodies on the ice rink.
Sleep soundly – There are luxurious
hotels to be found all over Vienna. Sleep
in style at the Grand Hotel Vienna
.
Frequented by royalty, its splendid
surroundings are a timely reminder
of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Culture vultures – Head to the
towering St Stephen’s Cathedral
(Stephansplatz) and climb the 343
steps for panoramic views over Vienna.
Must eat – The Figlmüller Restaurant
(5 Wollzeile, tel. (0)1 512 6177) is a must
for traditional Austrian cuisine. Try the
famous Wiener Schnitzel (veal coated in
breadcrumbs and fried), washed down
with local beer in a cosy, charming
atmosphere. Otherwise, try Yugetsu
(10 Führichgasse, tel. (0)1 512 2720),
an authentic Japanese restaurant
serving sushi, teppanyaki and other
Japanese specialities.
Must drink – Try the swanky Sky Bar
(19 Kärntner Straße), a chic roof-top
venue where you can sip cocktails
against a sweeping panorama of the city. For something more down to earth,
take a coffee break at Café Alt Wien (9
Bäckerstraße), tucked away from the
city’s hustle and bustle.
Dance the night away – Volksgarten
(1 Burgring) is the place to be after dark,
with a young crowd and music that
ranges from chilled out to hard house.
6TH AND 7TH DISTRICTS
Where Mariahilf meets Neubau, you’ll
find some of Vienna’s big attractions.
Culture vultures – The Museum
Quartier, one of the largest cultural
complexes in the world, is an absolute
must with many galleries and museums.
The renowned Kunsthistorisches
Museum (Maria-Theresien-Platz) has
an important collection of classical art,
much of it assembled by the Hapsburgs.
If you prefer more contemporary stuff,
the Museum Moderner Kunst
(1 Museumsplatz) is
the place to go.
Must drink – Stop
by the Siebenstern
Bräu (19
Siebensterngasse), sample locally brewed ales and soak up
the atmosphere. They’ve also got an
extensive food menu.
Dance the night away – Cafe
Leopold (1 Museumsplatz) hosts
international acts like Joe Driscoll,
Gümix, Shanti Roots and Roots Manuva.
Shop til you drop – Mariahilferstraße
is Vienna’s premier shopping district,
a must for all shopaholics. Head to
Peek & Cloppenburg (26-30
Mariahilferstraße), a grand department
store offering everything from designer
clothes through to everyday wear,
shoes and bags.
4TH DISTRICT
This bohemian district is a hub of
activity popular with Vienna’s younger
set. Take a stroll and soak up its vibrant
ambience, browse the boutiques and
admire the art nouveau facades.
Sleep soundly – Built in true
Jugendstil (art nouveau), the Hotel
Johann Strauss combines
traditional Viennese charm with modern
creature comforts. And it’s just a stone’s
throw from the city’s main attractions.
Culture vultures – Pay a visit to the
iconic Secession (12 Friedrichstraße,
secession.at), home to Gustav Klimt’s
famous Beethoven Frieze and everchanging
exhibitions. Or head to the
Karlskirche (1 Kreuzherrengasse) and
marvel at a baroque masterpiece.
Must eat – You’re spoilt for choice at
Vienna’s Naschmarkt – it’s packed with
cafés, restaurants and stalls. Umarfisch
am Naschmarkt (76-79 Naschmarkt,
tel. (0)1 587 0456) does fresh fish
specialities and platters for
sharing. The prawns,
mussels and octopus
are especially good.
There’s also a long
international wine list.
Compiled by
Previous issues for Vienna
Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please confirm event/venue details in advance.
