When our friends tell us about their vacations abroad, we are usually amazed. Austria doesn’t sound very impressive. Is that the case? We’ll prove you wrong and show you why you should travel to Vienna right away.
1. the humor
The best manifestation of Viennese humor is the Vienna Funeral Museum. Apart from the fact that you can try out the coffin in this museum, the merch department reaches a whole new level of self-irony. “I’ll do gymnastics until the urn” is written on the sports bag, “I’ll read until I rot” on the T-shirt next to it, an appeal to society to not always take life so seriously. This very absurd humor is also affectionately called “Wiener Schmäh”. Pranksters, former class clowns and Dad Joke interns should feel right at home in this environment.
2. the dialect
This point is perhaps somewhat unexpected, but hear me out: Falco already breathed sensual Viennese slang into the microphone and earned more than one gold record for it. Even if it takes a while to understand the jumble at first, the Viennese dialect is likeable and somehow almost sweet. Just one thing: If someone now calls you a breaded little twink and tells you to “sneak off”, it may sound so sweet, but it’s more of a hearty rebuff.
3. the food
Vienna has much more to offer than schnitzel and Sachertorte. Contrary to the idea of bland home cooking, you will find a veritable explosion of exotic cuisine here – in every corner of the city. The small Indian restaurant on the side street is just as good as Figlmüller’s high-end schnitzel for sixty euros and a ten-hour wait. You are most likely to find the Viennese’s favorite restaurants, pizzerias and cafés if you think like a Viennese – in other words, not where all the tourists go to stand in line.
4. openness to the world
LGBT+ friendly, diverse, cosmopolitan and, above all, tourist-friendly, this small city of just under two million inhabitants is a great place to visit. When crossing the pedestrian crossing, you may notice the same-sex traffic light pairs or rainbow crosswalks. Just one of the many signs of equality in the name of the City of Vienna. From diversity balls and window parades to Ukrainian solidarity campaigns – a city where everyone can simply be, without being judged.
5. the culture
Vienna has a lot to offer culturally. Beautiful palaces such as Schönbrunn or Belvedere enliven every princess’ dream, and the Ottakringer brewery offers an alternative for those who prefer to get drunk on beer rather than court champagne. As you can see: a broad program that has something for everyone. Whether grandma is sitting in the opera house or at a burlesque show – pretty much anything is possible in Vienna.
6. the imperial city
Vienna is an imperial city and is often associated with the beautiful Empress Sissi. The traces of the nobility of that time can still be seen today: mostly museums, operas and state buildings with elegant ornamentation, doors and windows. A stroll through the palace grounds and you will lose yourself in this world of the pompous imperial era. At the sight of Otto Wagner’s distinctive baroque architecture, you can’t help but float in the clouds of first class.
7. the nature city
Gray concrete, dirty streets and stuffy city air? But not in Vienna – here an exciting city meets green grass and shallow waters. After shopping in the city center, you can easily retreat to the Vienna Woods or the Danube, enjoy a cocktail at the Herman beach bar or read a book in the botanical garden. On really hot days, the Danube is a cool blessing that is best enjoyed at the hip Copa Beach. The perfect yin and yang between the noise of the city and the quiet of the countryside.
8. the antiques
In Vienna, you can find lots of bric-a-brac, old furniture and vintage items – a real dream for second-hand shoppers and antique hunters. Burggasse is even known as a rummager’s paradise. So a quick trigger warning for your next shopping haul: it’s not certain your wallet will survive. Unfortunately, we all have to take this risk.
9. the summer season
To be honest, none of us want to walk through Vienna’s city center during the Siberian cold. On these days, your face freezes just watching. But summer brings redemption: hot summer days, just like you experienced as a child. The terraces are full, the gelaterias are running at full speed and the banks of the Danube shine with colorful swimming trunks and bikinis until late at night. The most stubborn winter depression disappears in just a few days.
10. the art
If you are a logical and conventional math person, you should look for another city. This is by no means an insult – but in Vienna, creativity pulsates like the blood in our veins. Vienna cannot breathe without art. Vienna’s artistic heart is located in the Museumsquartier. Egon Schiele, Andy Warhol and Co. live here. In addition to the many exhibitions, visitors also roll up their sleeves and paint, model and design in various workshops.
