The richly-layered city of Vienna with its dreaming spires and romantic legacy has long been a popular destination for travellers to lose themselves in a long weekend of refined arts and culture. One of Europe’s oldest cultural centres, the Austrian capital is the birthplace of classical music, with an atmospheric old Unesco-listed core and some of Europe’s finest baroque buildings.
As part of its Heartbeat Streets campaign to show visitors the true depth of Vienna, in 2024 the city is spotlighting a selection of eleven neighbourhoods, known locally as "grätzel", special for their cultural, culinary or creative identities, where visitors are welcomed as part of the community. To discover the authentic Vienna, consider pointing clients in the direction of these three neighbourhoods.
Creative quarter
A stone’s throw from the must-visit Naschmarkt with its scores of bustling stalls and aromatic eateries piled high with tempting produce, the Freihausviertel is blessed with creative magic. Its artistic spirit finds expression in the modern galleries, designer stores and hip eateries of Schleifmühlgasse, as well as the annual Freihausviertelfest street festival held each June.
The renowned Cafe Anzengruber is a hub for local artists as well as welcoming travellers from far and wide with good beer, goulash and Wiener schnitzel. Quirky attractions include the Third Man Museum dedicated to vintage film and post-war memorabilia.
Heritage streets
Drenched in history, the elegant Gußhausviertel and Karlsplatz neighbourhood was largely built during the prosperous "founders period" of the 1870s, making it a great district for sightseeing on foot. The area is named after one of its oldest features – the Gußhaus, a cannon foundry built in 1750 that now houses the Vienna Institute of Technology.
Visitors will also find baroque flourishes at every turn including the green-domed Karlskirche on the majestic Karlsplatz square. When it’s time to refuel, local restaurants such as Gasthaus Buchecker & Sohn serve up an array of Viennese culinary delights.
Cool and kosher
The city’s oldest baroque park, Augarten, provides ample green space in the old neighbourhood of Karmeliterviertel, where Viennese Jewish heritage runs deep to this day. Hungry visitors should head to the heart of the grätzel at Karmelitermarkt to discover outstanding local fare including the legendary schnitzel at Skopik & Lohn.
Among Vienna’s myriad museums and galleries, the Museum of Crime is a fascinating stop for those with a morbid curiosity.
Win a two-night stay in Vienna!
The Vienna Tourist Board is giving away a two-night stay for two people at the legendary Hotel Imperial in Vienna, to celebrate the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods in 2024. Enter here now!
