Lonely Planet Pocket Vienna

By Catherine Le Nevez

Lonely Planet’s Pocket Vienna is your guide to the city’s best experiences and local life - neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Sample the brew at a Kaffeehauser, wander the baroque streets, visit an imperial palace; all with your trusted travel companion. Uncover the best of Vienna and make the most of your trip!

 

Inside Lonely Planet’s Pocket Vienna: 

Up-to-date information - all businesses were rechecked before publication to ensure they are still open after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak

Full-colour maps and travel photography throughout

Highlights and itineraries help you tailor a trip to your personal needs and interests

Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots

Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices

Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss

Convenient pull-out Vienna map (included in print version), plus over 18 colour neighbourhood maps

User-friendly layout with helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time

Covers Hofburg, the historic centre, the museum district, Karlsplatz, the Prater and more

 

The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet’s Pocket Vienna, an easy-to-use guide filled with top experiences - neighbourhood by neighbourhood - that literally fits in your pocket. Make the most of a quick trip to Vienna with trusted travel advice to get you straight to the heart of the city.

 

Looking for a comprehensive guide that recommends both popular and offbeat experiences, and extensively covers all of Vienna’s neighbourhoods? Check out Lonely Planet’s Vienna city guide.

Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet’s Austria guide for a comprehensive look at all that the country has to offer.

About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, videos, 14 languages, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. 

 

'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' – New York Times

 

'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves; it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' – Fairfax Media (Australia)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lonely Planet
• Release date: Jul 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781837580231

Catherine Le Nevez

El espíritu viajero de Catherine Le Nevez nació cuando, con cuatro años de edad, realizó un viaje por Europa desde París, y desde entonces viaja a la menor oportunidad. Ha visitado unos 60 países y ha completado un doctorado en Escritura Creativa, un máster en Escritura Profesional y cursos de posgrado en Edición y Publicación. En los últimos 12 años ha escrito numerosas guías y artículos sobre París, Francia, Europa y otros lugares para Lonely Planet. Su trabajo también ha aparecido en muchas publicaciones impresas y en línea. El mejor consejo de Catherine para viajar es hacerlo sin expectativas.

Book preview

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Contents

Plan Your Trip

Top Experiences

Dining Out

Bar Open

Treasure Hunt

Coffee Houses

Entertainment

Architecture

Guided Tours

Activities

Under the Radar

For Kids

Art

Four Perfect Days

Need to Know

Vienna Neighbourhoods

Explore Vienna

Hofburg & Around

Historic Centre

Museum District & Neubau

Karlsplatz

Schloss Belvedere to the Canal

Survival Guide

Survival Guide

Before You Go

Arriving in Vienna

Getting Around

Essential Information

Language

Behind the Scenes

Our Writers

COVID-19

We have re-checked every business in this book before publication to ensure that it is still open after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the economic and social impacts of COVID-19 will continue to be felt long after the outbreak has been contained, and many businesses, services and events referenced in this guide may experience ongoing restrictions. Some businesses may be temporarily closed, have changed their opening hours and services, or require bookings; some unfortunately could have closed permanently. We suggest you check with venues before visiting for the latest information.

Vienna

Top Experiences

Revisit the Past at Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

Vienna’s richest treasure chest.

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Vienna Top Experiences

Lord it Up at Royal Hofburg

Six-and-a-half centuries of imperial history.

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Vienna Top Experiences

Raise the Curtain on the Staatsoper

World-renowned opera and ballet venue.

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Vienna Top Experiences

Marvel at Stephansdom

Vienna’s Gothic wonder.

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Vienna Top Experiences

Stroll in Schloss Belvedere & Gardens

Vienna’s most sublime baroque palace.

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HELEN CATHCART/LONELY PLANET ©

Vienna Top Experiences

Explore Past and Present at MuseumsQuartier

Imperial stables turned museum ensemble.

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TASFOTONL/GETTY IMAGES © MUMOK ARCHITECTS: ORTNER & ORTNER ©

Vienna Top Experiences

Time Hop at Naturhistorisches Museum

Minerals, fossils and dinosaur bones.

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Vienna Top Experiences

Channel Mozart at Schloss Schönbrunn & Gardens

Sun-yellow palace.

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Vienna Top Experiences

Run Wild at Prater

Park life and funfair thrills.

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Dining Out

Dining in Vienna gives you a taste of the city’s history, at its street stands sizzling up sausages, candlelit vaulted-cellar wine bars and earthy, wood-panelled Beisln (bistro pubs); its present, at hip cafes, multiethnic markets and international eateries; and its future, at innovative spaces with a wave of exciting chefs pushing in new directions.

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Local Specialities

Schnitzel Wiener Schnitzel (Viennese cutlet; pictured) should always be crumbed veal, but pork is gaining ground.

Goulash Rindsgulasch (beef goulash) is everywhere in Vienna.

Tafelspitz Traditionally this boiled prime beef swims in the juices of locally produced Suppengrün (fresh soup vegetables), before being served with Kren (horseradish) sauce.

Beuschel Offal, usually sliced lung and heart with a slightly creamy sauce.

Backhendl Fried, breaded chicken, often called steirischer Backhendl (Styrian fried chicken).

Apfelstrudel Apple strudel.

Zwiebelrostbraten Slices of roast beef smothered in gravy and fried onions.

Schinkenfleckerln Oven-baked ham-and-noodle casserole.

Bauernschmaus Platter of cold meats.

Kaiserschmarrn Sweet pancake with raisins.

Marillenknödel Apricot dumplings; served in summer.

Prices

Prices refer to a two-course meal, excluding drinks:

€ under €15

€€ €15-€30

€€€ over €30

Best Dining Experiences

Steirereck im Stadtpark Vienna’s class act by the Wien River.

Lingenhel Deli-shop-bar-restaurant in a 200-year-old house.

Plachutta The ultimate place for Viennese Tafelspitz.

Griechenbeisl The history-soaked Beisl of your dreams.

Meinl’s Restaurant Exceptional quality through the seasons, with an on-site wine bar and providore.

Best Goulash

Meierei im Stadtpark Some speak of the world’s best.

Glacis Beisl Authentic goulash in the Museums-Quartier.

Best Snacks

Bitzinger Würstelstand am Albertinaplatz Iconic sausage stand opposite the opera.

Naschmarkt Market stalls and sit-down eateries galore.

Trzesniewski Upmarket open-faced sandwiches.

Best Schnitzels

Figlmüller Bills itself as the home of the Schnitzel.

Huth Gastwirtschaft Neo-Beisl that serves a superb Wiener Schnitzel.

Best Vegetarian & Vegan

Tian Michelin-starred vegetarian cuisine.

Swing Kitchen Sensational vegan burgers.

Vegiezz Bright, white cafe with all-vegan fare.

Worth a Trip

Shimmering in gunmetal grey, with floor-to-ceiling windows, Das Loft ( icon-phonegif %01-90 616 8110; www.dasloftwien.at; 02, Praterstrasse 1; meals €22-39; icon-hoursgif h6.30-10.30am Mon-Fri, to 11am Sat & Sun, 12.30-2.30pm & 6-11pm daily; icon-parkgif p icon-acongif a icon-wifigif W icon-veggif v icon-familygif c; icon-ubahngif XSchwedenplatz) has uninterrupted views across the city skyline on the Danube Canal. Perch on leather swivel chairs over brunch or cocktails and peer down upon Prater Park and Stefansdom. Dinner menus offer up to five courses of ‘fusion’ cuisine.

Vienna on a Plate

Sacher Torte

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Top Five for Sacher Torte

Café Sacher

Demel

Café Mozart

Café Schwarzenberg

Café Sperl

Sacher Torte in Vienna

Franz Sacher created the Sacher Torte in 1832 for Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich. Sacher’s son, Eduard, brought the original recipe and sole distribution rights to Demel in 1934. Until 1963 legal battles raged between Demel and Café Sacher over the trademark and title. An out-of-court settlement gave Café Sacher the rights to the phrase ‘Original Sacher Torte’, and Demel to use a decorative triangular seal reading ‘Eduard-Sacher-Torte’.

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Café Sperl | MOJMIR FOTOGRAFIE/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Bar Open

In this city, where history often waltzes with the cutting edge, the drinking scene spans 18th-century vaulted wine cellars to boisterous beer gardens, boho student dives, and cocktail, retro and rooftop bars. And, with over 700 hectares of vineyards within city limits, a visit to a Heuriger (wine tavern) is a quintessential Viennese experience.

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Grape & Grain

While wine is the chosen drink of the Viennese, beer also features heavily in the city’s cultural make-up. Try the following:

Blauburgunder Complex, fruity Pinot Noir red.

Grüner Veltliner Strong, fresh white wine with hints of citrus and pear.

Riesling Fruity white wine with strong acidity.

Zweigelt Full-bodied red wine with intense cherry aromas.

Dunkel Thick dark beer with a very rich flavour.

Helles Lager with a bite – clear and lightly hoppy.

Pils Crisp, strong and often bitter Pilsner beer.

Märzen Red-coloured beer with a strong malt taste.

Zwickel Unfiltered beer with a cloudy complexion.

Schnäpse (schnapps) Fruit brandy; usually consumed after a meal.

Useful Websites

Falter (www.falter.at) Event and party listings.

Vienna Online (www.vienna.at) Keep track of club nights with this event calendar.

Tourist Info Wien (www.wien.info) Nightlife listings arranged by theme.

Prices

Standard beer prices range from €2 to €5, depending on the venue and location (central Vienna tends to be more expensive). A decent glass of local wine starts at around €2. Expect to pay at least €7 for a simple mixed drink and around €9 and up for a cocktail.

Best Wine Bars

Vinothek W-Einkehr Superb Austrian wines.

Sekt Comptoir Effervescent bar with Burgenland Sekt (sparkling wine) near the Naschmarkt.

Esterházykeller Serves wines from the Esterházy Palace wine estate.

Villon Set deep below ground in a 500-year-old cellar.

Jakov’s Weinkeller A favourite with stallholders from the nearby Naschmarkt.

Best Microbreweries

Siebensternbräu Cheery brewpub with hoppy beers and a warm-weather courtyard.

Salm Bräu Relaxed spot right by Schloss Belvedere.

1516 Brewing Company Brews include a blueberry ale.

Best Cocktails

Loos American Bar Mixology magic in this minimalist, Adolf Loos–designed bar.

Melete Art Design Cocktails Craft cocktails themed around changing art exhibitions.

Kruger’s American Bar Sip a classic margarita in this 1920s, wood-panelled den.

Barfly’s Club Terrific cocktails in an intimate setting.

Blue Mustard Stunning Vienna-inspired decor and cocktails.

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Worth a Trip

A hidden wonderland, convivial local Heuriger Wieninger ( icon-phonegif %01-292 41 06; http://heuriger-wieninger.at; 21, Stammersdorfer Strasse 78; icon-hoursgif h5pm-midnight Fri, from 2pm Sat, noon-10pm Sun Apr-mid-Dec; icon-busgif g30A Freiheitsplatz) has a magical lantern- and candlelit garden draped with vines and a cosy, wood-panelled interior. Enjoy its light, fruity wines (mainly whites) alongside gourmet Austrian dishes.

Treasure Hunt

With a long-standing history of crafts-manship, Vienna has recently spread its creative wings in the fashion and design world. Whether you’re browsing for hand-painted porcelain in the Innere Stadt, new-wave streetwear in Neubau or epicurean treats in the Freihausviertel, you’ll find inspiration, a passion for quality and an eye for detail.

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Shopping Streets

Kärntner Strasse The Innere Stadt’s main shopping street and a real crowd-puller.

Kohlmarkt A river of high-end glitz, flowing into a magnificent Hofburg view.

Neubau Track down the city’s hottest designers along boutique-clogged streets like Kirchengasse, Lindengasse and Neubaugasse.

Mariahilfer Strasse Vienna’s mile of high-street style, with big names and crowds.

Freihausviertel Lanes packed with home-grown fashion, design and speciality food stores, south of Naschmarkt.

Theobaldgasse Hole-in-the-wall shops that purvey everything from fair-trade fashion to organic food.

Markets

Almost every district has at least one market selling fresh produce from Monday to Saturday. Many markets reflect the ethnic diversity of their neighbourhood. Some host Bauernmärkte (farmers markets) on Saturday mornings, where growers from the surrounding countryside travel to the big city to sell their wares: fresh vegetables, tree-ripened fruit, cured hams, free-range eggs, homemade schnapps and cut flowers.

The city also hosts seasonal Christkindlmärkte (Christmas markets) and springtime Ostermärkte (Easter markets). Along with festive decorations and handicrafts, there are food and drink stalls, and kids’ activities.

Best Markets

Naschmarkt Hands-down Vienna’s best food market and street food. (pictured)

Flohmarkt Fabulous flea