Imagine yourself strolling past a medieval building, an imposing Gothic cathedral or sitting next to some of the most beautiful Baroque architecture the world has to offer, and you’ll find yourself truly mesmerized by Vienna’s grandeur and opulence. Vienna is undeniably one of the most historically significant countries in Europe and is known for its exceptional beauty, charm, art and culture on a global scale.
With a multicultural population of 1.7 million, the city is tiny enough not to endure the negative aspects of a much larger city, but still manages to maintain a bustling, cosmopolitan vibe.
The Inner City, also known as the Innere Stadt, is a centrally located pedestrianized shopping area bustling with museums, night life, festivals, restaurants, cafes and theatres. Decoration is a huge tradition in Austrian culture and the Innere Stadt is the perfect place to find a wide range of antique shops. The Innere Stadt encompasses many theatres including the Burgtheater – Austria’s National Theatre. One of the most important places to see in the Innere Stadt is the Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral). The mother church of the Archiodiocese of Vienna is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. With its antique charm and inspiring style, the Inner city is not only one of Vienna’s most important attractions, but also a major cultural centre.
Naschmarkt, one of Vienna’s most popular food markets, is known for drawing in huge crowds of shoppers and bargain hunters because of its vibrant and upbeat atmosphere in addition to its wide array of eateries. It offers a wide variety of prime quality meats and fresh vegetables in addition to cafes, stalls and restaurants. This strip is located just around the Ringstrasse and is known for its extensive range of exotic Asian eateries and other fine foods.
Viennese cuisine is the only kind in the world to be named after a city. Although the city offers a wide assortment of cuisines, primarily Italian, German and Austrian; the Viennese have attained a taste for exotic foods such as Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern and Indian. The majority of Viennese restaurants are well-priced. Café Central boasts a huge selection of cocktail bars, lounges and restaurants to choose from.
A Viennese coffee house offers a totally different experience from your neighbourhood Starbucks and offers a delicious assortment of pastries and desserts in a cafe adorned with crystal chandeliers, luxury sofas and marble topped tables. A Viennese café is known around the world for its unique decor, fine coffee, and has a significant role in Viennese culture and tradition. One of Vienna’s most popular pastries is known as the Apfelstrudel, which is a must-have on your trip. (If only your neighborhood Starbucks would serve authentic coffee on a silver platter.)
But there’s more to Vienna than its wide array of eateries, cafes and shops. Vienna’s imperial past plays a major role in its distinctiveness and is reflective in its architecture and museums. Medieval buildings like the Hofburg are prime examples of how diversified Austrian architecture is and range from gothic style to art nouveau. With its 19th century renaissance influences, its unique style reigns supreme as one of the best in European architecture. The beauty of Viennese architecture can be found at just about any part of Vienna, be it at its grand imperial palaces, baroque cathedrals or its Romanesque churches.
St. Stephen´s Cathedral, Vienna
St Stephen’s Cathedral holds historical significance and is a symbol representing Vienna’s freedom. The Gothic cathedral was built in 1147 AD and is a remarkable Gothic edifice of dark stone and multicoloured roof. The cathedral offers over 300 steps, which ultimately leads you to a breathtaking view of the city and is well worth the climb. The cathedral is full of symbols that represent Vienna’s rich history and is one of Austria’s most prominent Gothic structures.
Another remarkable Viennese monument is the Baroque Belvedere Palace where Austria signed its state treaty. The palace is located between the Rennweg and the Schweizergarten and offers a unique view over Vienna. The Belvedere is known for its lavishness, both dimensionally and stylistically. The Belvedere plays an important role in Vienna’s history and was a prime setting for the city’s infamous receptions and celebrations.
Some of the must-see museums are along the Ringstrasse. They include the Naturhistorisches Museum, which is dedicated to natural history, the Kunsthistoriches Museum for fine art and the Burgtheater and is Vienna’s national theatre. The House of Music is known for its interactive musical experiences and the Albertina Graphic Arts Collection offers one of the biggest and most significant graphic collections in the world. And of course you can’t leave Vienna without a trip to the Mozarthaus, where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived for a significant period of his life.
Stretching approximately four kilometres long, the Ring Boulevard (Ringstrasse) surrounds the City Centre (Innere Stadt). One of the most scenic and picturesque boulevards in Europe, this circular road is one of the city’s main attractions and is typical of Vienna’s historical style known as the Ringstrasse Style.
Located on the southern end of Kärntnerstrasse, The Oper (Vienna Opera House) is a unique music experience for people who are deep into arts, classical music and world heritage. The monument finds its inspiration within Italian Renaissance, which was an important time period for the music and art. It is advisable to get tickets months in advance since this is one of the top opera addresses in the world.
The city’s best bars and nightclubs are in the Innere Stadt where you will find everything from traditional pubs to the classier and sleeker lounges and bars. The club scene in Vienna is very casual and laid back which is very representative of the city’s overall vibe. The club scene offers a wide range of music styles to choose from including electronic, hip hop, drum, and bass.
Belvedere Palace,Vienna
Vienna is also well known for its underground band scenes, which are extremely popular among university goers and tourists alike.
The worldwide Mercer study conducted on May 26, 2010 assessed and surveyed the quality of life in over 221 major cities across the world in which Vienna had the highest ranking, followed by Zurich and Geneva. It is no doubt why this world-class city ranks as the best in the world and the reasons to visit this city are seemingly endless.
This is Vienna: a city of medieval and historical buildings, illustrious architecture, and constantly evolving establishments combined with an eclectic mix of culture, food and nightlife.
By Amisha Sampat
