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Austria : Vienna - November 2007

Country Code: Dial for Austria

Vienna in November is a sight to behold. In preparation for Christmas, the sweetmeat and Glühwein stands go up, elaborate decorations speckle the famous baroque architecture, the city’s nightspots come alive and the whole place buzzes with anticipation. Maggie Childs catches that festive feeling

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 (555, www.wien.info).

1st District

The heart of the city, inside the Ringstraße, is a great area for shopping. You’ll also fine many of Vienna’s oldest cultural sights here.

Sleep soundly – An insider tip for big spenders is the Radisson SAS Style Hotel (12 Herrengaße, 780, radissonsas.com, rooms from €235). It’s a unique establishment, with contemporary design, excellent dining and leisure facilities, stylish rooms and personalised service.

Culture vultures – For those who tire of the opera house and St Stephan’s Cathedral, the Haus der Musik (30 Seilerstätte) takes visitors through the history and future of music with hands-on exhibits and is suitable for all ages

Must drink – The cocktail bar Red Room (20 Stubenring), downstairs from the restaurant Comida, is lush and classy without being overpriced. Sean, the barman, is one of the best in town.

Dance the night away – Salsa nights at Club Habana (11 Mahlerstraße) and Shake (7 Lehargasse) see chilly autumn days turn into sizzling Caribbean nights.

Shop til you drop – The district’s numerous little side streets, like Wollzeile or Weihburggasse, are filled with bookshops, antique dealers, art stores and boutiques. Snap up some unusual gifts to take home.

8th District

Vienna’s smallest district is also its best kept secret. The restaurants and clubs here are popular but far from touristy.

Culture vultures – The famous Theater in der Josefstadt (24 Josefstädterstraße) was founded in 1788 and is the oldest operating theatre in Vienna. Beethoven, Wagner and Strauss all played their parts in this legendary playhouse’s history.

Must eat – Have a one-of-a-kind dining experience at the K&K Restaurant Piaristenkeller (45 Piaristengasse, tel. ). The Viennese/ Bohemian selection is served in private cave-like alcoves. Schnattl (40 Langegasse, tel. ) is commonly credited with re-inventing Austrian cuisine and is a local favourite.

Dance the night away – At Chelsea (29-31 Lerchenfelder Gürtel, Stadtbahnbogen), numerous rooms play host to DJs and international bands. Each has its own bar with an impressive beer and whisky selection.

Donaukanal

This newly fashionable area separates the 1st and 2nd districts. Despite the fact that the shores are lined with restaurants and cafés in summer, the area loses none of it’s verve in autumn.

Must drink – Come dusk, the district’s fashion mavens congregate at Urania (1 Uraniastraße), which overlooks the Danube canal. Despite being one of the venues that will be hosting the film festival Viennale, the café manages to be chic without trying too hard.

Dance the night away – Held on the good ship Badeschiff (meaning ‘bathing ship’, moored on the Danube canal next to Urania, the Laderaum (www.badeschiff.at) is a popular nightspot with Vienna’s art and fashion crowds.

Shop til you drop – Song’s (11-13 Praterstraße) has a reputation for selling innovatively designed, carefully crafted clothes and accessories. Although bargains here are few and far between, you’ll certainly get your money’s worth.

Compiled by Maggie Childs