TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN VIENNA
Vienna is one of the most elegant cities in Europe and whether you like museums or music, cafes or culture, walking or floating on the water, you’ll find plenty to keep you interested. It’s a city I have been lucky enough to visit many times, so I am always on the lookout for something I haven’t done before.
So here are a few suggestions for combining some of the ‘must see’ tourist places and a couple of other, more unusual activities, that are well worth enjoying if you’re staying in the city for a few days.
Vienna is famous for its art and especially its influence over the art of the early 20th Century. My four favourite museums to soak up the work of some of the most influential and innovative artists of the last century are The Belvedere (great for Klimt), The Albertina (fabulous Picasso and Monet), The Kunst Haus (excellent for Hundertwasser) and The Leopold (superb for Schiele) museums.
There are plenty of cafés close by too. Just below the Albertina is the Palmhaus (pricey but a lovely location, even in the winter), the Leopold is within the MQ (MuseumsQuartier) where there are cafes and summer pop-ups selling vegan ice cream, with giant ‘lego’ brick style sofas to lounge on, and both the Belvedere and Kunst Haus have their own cafés.
If you’d like to see the darker side of the city, head to the Vienna Crime Museum. Here you’ll learn about some of the most notorious murderers, including one for whom the death penalty was reinstated for one day, and a fire that killed over 300 people and lead to the science of using dental records to identify victims. There are also mummified heads and the skulls and skeletons of some of the evil perpetrators. Definitely not one for the squeamish. I’d recommend getting the excellent audio tour as a lot of the information next to the exhibits is currently only available in German.
A great way to see a new city and get a sense of it when you first arrive is to take a guided tour. Two in particular look like a lot of fun: a ‘vintage’ electric car, and a tiny ‘hot rod’ car.
You can pick up a vintage electric car from near the Hofburg on Helden Platz or book in advance by searching online. These are a far kinder alternative to the traditional horse-drawn carriages and are ideal whatever the weather.
The ‘hot rods’ are tiny one-seater sports cars, and you join a group of drivers with a guide to zip around the city. Be prepared to be as much of an attraction yourself as the famous sights you’ll visit.
If you fancy a break from the bustle of the city, then spend a few hours floating on the Danube. Near Alte Donau you can hire your own private mini-island complete with comfy sofa, sun hood and a small motor so you can choose your favourite place to hang out on the water. Take a picnic, a good book, and sit back and relax – there is no better way to experience the Danube and no better way to chill out on a hot day or to watch the sunset over the water. Utter bliss. Book in advance from Meine Insel where you can choose from a variety of sizes depending on the number of people in your party.
If you are staying for a week or more in the city, then consider taking a day trip to Bratislava over the border in Slovakia. Although Bratislava is not a city I am particularly keen on, it is worth a day trip visit. Take the boat from Schwedenplatz in Vienna which will take you along the Danube and drop you off, 90 minutes later, in the old town of Bratislava – which is exactly where you want to be. It’s also a lovely ride in itself, so even if you’ve already been to Slovakia’s capital, it’s worth going again just to ride the river.
Book your tickets from TwinCity Liner and look out for ‘red tickets’ as there are a few of these available every day at a reduce rate. Book a seat on the main deck and don’t worry too much where it is, as once you get going you can get up and walk about and enjoy being outside on the rear deck. There is also a bar with hot and cold drinks and cake – so hey, what’s not to like? And if you have a sweet tooth, then soon after disembarking there are a number of ice cream parlours serving delicious deserts. Take the boat home or walk to the station in the newer (far less attractive) part of the city and catch a train (cheaper and a bit faster than the boat) back to Vienna.
Finally, but very importantly; food. Vienna is known for its good food and especially its cakes. And as a vegan you won’t be missing out. Check out &Flora at the Hotel Gilbert where vegetables are definitely the main attraction and Chef Parvin likes to find innovative ways to prepare the same vegetables to give you a variety of flavours. Just around the corner on the Burgasse you can find vegan pizzas and ice creams, and veggie Philippine-fusion restaurant Lolo and Lola. Or pop into the Museums Quarter for more vegan ice cream delights and relaxed eating in the square. Tian is a modern wholly meat free restaurant on Himmelpfortgasse that’s worth a visit. These are just a very small selection of the eateries that have embraced sustainable plant-based food in Vienna. Also, take a look at the ever-useful Happy Cow for a handy list vegan bakeries.
No matter how many times I visit Vienna I always find something new to try alongside the comfort of my old favourites. It’s a city that you simply can’t get bored of, any time of year.
FACT BOX
Vienna tourism wien.info
Ivie app wien.info/en/travel-info/mobile/ivie-app-349196
Vienna card wien.info/en/travel-info/vienna-city-card/examples-of-savings-345534
Albertina albertina.at/en
Leopold leopoldmuseum.org/en
Belvedere belvedere.at/en/visit
Kunst Haus kunsthauswien.com/en
Vienna Crime Museum wien.kriminalmuseum.at/en/news
Meine Insel meine-insel.at
Tian Restaurant tian-restaurant.com/wien/en
Hotel Gilbert &Flora hotel-gilbert.at/en/flora
Hot Rod Tour hotrod-tour-wien.com
New eateries in Vienna wien.info/de/einkaufen-essen-trinken/restaurants/neue-gemuesekueche-412362
Happy Cow happycow.net/best-vegan-friendly-bakeries/vienna-austria
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chantal Cooke is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and co-founder of PASSION for the PLANET. Chantal is passionate about tourism being used as a force for good. You can follow her adventures on Facebook and Twitter @chantalcooke and on Instagram @Chantaldcooke