Recommended Large Hotels in Vienna’s old town
Large Hotels in Vienna's old city - our top 10 Choosing the perfect hotel in Vienna can make or break your vacation! This list may hopefully give you some inspiration…
Large Hotels in Vienna's old city - our top 10 Choosing the perfect hotel in Vienna can make or break your vacation! This list may hopefully give you some inspiration…
Small Hotels in Vienna's old city - our top 10 Choosing the perfect hotel in Vienna can make or break your vacation! This list may hopefully give you some inspiration…
Looking for a tour in Vienna? Learn about our popular tours! Here's an overview of our Secret Vienna popular tours to help you select the best tour for you. Hopefully…
You must visit the Museums Quartier if you are into contemporary art! I am sure some of you have walked past or even visited Vienna’s Museums Quartier (MQ) before. Today…
Travel back in time - Old Vienna Most of you know about our city’s history. About our traditions and the places, where we can still experience old Vienna. We at…
Looking for a different museum? Visit the Drugstore Museum in Vienna! Located in Vienna’s 9th district, in the Währinger Straße 14, Austria’s Drugstore Museum has a long history, tracing back…
Vienna's Snow Globe Museum is definitely worth the visit! It was the year 1900 as Erwin Perzy created the first ever snow globe. His first design was the basilica Maria…
Just like the Café Demel, the Café Korb is one of our traditional coffee houses, located in the first district. The place where the Café Korb is located is full…
Let us tell you the story of one impressive woman - Alma Mahler-Werfel Alma Mahler-Werfel is a rather controversial woman. Her entourage described her as ‘femme fatale’. They saw her…
Learn more about Emilie Kraus von Wolfsberg - Napoleon's secret lover Emilie Kraus von Wolfsberg was born in 1785. Perhaps you have heard of her before, but her relationship with…
Have you ever visited the Kahlenberg Cemetery? Maybe after reading this you will! Would you think of cemeteries if somebody asked you to describe Vienna’s charm? Many tourists that come…
Royi’s Crêperie, a one of a kind Crêperie in Vienna! In Vienna’s 6th district, in a lovely and quiet street nearby Gumpendorferstraße, one can find a true hidden gem. That’s…
Schwerelos, floating, relaxing, calming down In our modern, hectic world, it’s become quite difficult to simply stop and relax. It’s ironic how easy it is to be in constant motion…
Marie Antoinette's fascinating diamond necklace Marie Antoinette is usually thought quintessentially French. Tied to the French Revolution, and famous for her “let them eat cake!” proclamation. Which she most likely…
Vienna's escalators - lengths and depths Everyday the residents of Vienna take the public transportation to work or to school. A large share of these commutes are taking place on…
E. Braun & Co. - a traditional company dating back to the 1800s When walking along the Graben, you have most likely seen the famous clothing company H&M. And perhaps…
Christian Brandstätter - more than just a lover of Vienna If you are interested in “Vienna 1900” or Jugendstil, chances are you have come across books published by the Christian…
Vienna's bim Have you ever heard the Viennese refer to the tram, or Strassenbahn, as a “bim” and wondered what they were on about? Why call a tram a bim,…
Crocodiles in the Donaukanal - who would have thought There are any number of things one might expect to fish out of the Donaukanal, but crocodiles in the Donaukanal? What…
The Ottakringer Brauwerk - the perfect spot for Craft Beer lovers It is likely that our readers have had a craft beer already. But if you live in Vienna perhaps,…
Heumühle - a place full of history A bit hidden in the district of Vienna’s fourth district between the well-known Kettenbrückengasse and the perhaps less-known Heumühlgasse, you will find a…
If you love Wiener Schnitzel, this post is for you! Where does the Wiener Schnitzel come from? The name of course ties it to Vienna. Many say that it actually…
On June 27, 1976 a group of activists, referring to themselves as the Arenauten, occupied the abandoned area of the St. Marx slaughterhouse to protest the lack of alternative culture…
If you are into murals, this one is for you! As we have told you in the past, there is no shortage of churches in Vienna. Some are better and…
The Opernpassage, a true monument! We all know that Vienna is very well connected. And not only because of its great public transport system, but also because it has a…
If you have lived in Vienna long enough or you are just interested in art or architecture, it is likely that you have come across the names Wagner, Klimt, Schiele,…
If you love history and coffee, the Cafe Schönbergers is the perfect spot! There are many places to drink coffee in Vienna. Some have impressive interior designs and others are…
The Habig-Hof Perhaps some of our readers entered a coffee house one day and they were impressed. Some days ago, we felt that way. But let us start from the…
The Billrothhaus The Frankgasse in Alsergrund may not be a household name unless you live in the area. But on this street there is an organization with a long history…
It is quite impressive how some buildings in Vienna have survived the last centuries facing. One of such places is the Hermesvilla. Built in 1882-1886, at the request of the…
Viennese Cappuccinos It is popularly said that, contrary to all expectations, cappuccinos originate from Vienna. And the Schnitzel comes from Italy. Is this true, or where does this notion come…
Vienna's Hofburg The Hofburg in Vienna is an interesting place. One can literally tell the history of the Habsburg empire by walking through it. Starting with the Babenberger family and…
Vienna’s public toilets aren’t just toilets – no, they are experiences! Although you may be quite skeptical of what kind of ‘experience’ that might be, its less shady gas station…
Any visitor to Vienna will have stood for a brief moment on Michaelerplatz. You have to marvel at some of the city’s architectural wonders. Even in Roman times, the square…
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi, is often depicted astride a horse in portraits, and for good reason. She was an excellent horsewoman and rider who had a particular…
Have you ever wandered through the 2nd district and found yourself wondering what “Am Tabor” means? If you are well-versed in battle and defense terminology from the Middle Ages, the…
It is likely that everyone in Vienna has heard about the „Schottentor“. A famous spot for Vienna’s transport system, which brings together several tram lines and the metro U2. The…
For many people Egon Schiele is a household name. In particular, if you spend a lot of time at the Museum Quartier in Vienna, it is very hard to miss…
In some of our stories we have made references to the Ottoman sieges of Vienna. The first siege took place in 1529 and the second in 1683. There is information…
The Porta Decumana - a piece of Vindobona Perhaps you have noticed that the Rotenturmstraße in the city center is a construction site. It has made some headlines in the…
By now is it probable that you already heard the news: Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born on May 6. And this happy occasion has coincided with a royal event that…
Imperial racetracks Did you know that Vienna historically had two separate horse racetracks? One for trotting (Trabrennbahn) and one for galloping (Galopprennbahn). The Galopprennbahn is the older of the two,…
There are many great parks in Vienna. Surely one of the most loved and most visited is the Augarten. Located in the heart of the 2nd district, this green oasis…
If you live in Vienna perhaps you are familiar with the online platform “Willhaben” where you can buy and sell all sorts of things. In the very old days, there…
Johannes of Nepomuk Chapel - a chapel one needs to visit If you take tram line no. 2 or 5 to the station ‘Am Tabor’, you may notice a small…
It is time to tell you about Frederic Morton. He was born in Vienna in October 1924 as Fritz Mandelbaum. His family escaped Vienna in June 1939 when he was…
We recently told you the history of the Galopprennbahn in Vienna. As we mentioned in that story, there has historically been another horse track in the city. The Trabrennbahn. A…
It may not be the most glamorous food, nor the healthiest, but sometimes it really hits the spot. I’m talking, of course, about the humble Leberkäse. But where does this…
Nowadays it may seem completely natural to have easy access to products from all over the world. But the past it was considered a great luxury to procure certain goods…
November 27, 1992. A security guard raises the alarm after discovering flames in the Redouten ballrooms at the Hofburg. What followed was the largest and most dramatic firefighting operation in…
Perhaps many of you are familiar with the Kettenbrückengasse metro station. This is the one that stops right next to the famous Naschmarkt. And most likely, many also know the…
A Viennese institution with a storied history. There is no shortage of such places in this city. One of the more popular ones amongst a diverse population of local residents…
Over the years, the Donaukanal has become one of the most popular summer hang-outs in the city. But before 2010, this part of Vienna was almost entirely devoid of any…
May First - a uniting day The story of the celebrations for May First dates back to the 19th century. It starts in the United States. The conditions for factory workers were…
Vienna's Bezirksmuseen - museums full of Viennese history On Sunday March 17, the Bezirksmuseen (district museums) of Vienna will be open to the public from 10 am until 4 pm.…
It is likely that most of our readers have passed by the Hochhaus Herrengasse. Perhaps you did not make it to the lobby of the building. There, you will find…
In several of our stories we have told you about businesses that have survived the 20th century. The mere fact that these businesses made it through this period must be…
Walking along Praterstrasse, you might come along a rather ordinary building by Viennese standards. The house in question is located at Praterstrasse 27. The cherubim reliefs lead you to believe…
The time of the cherry blossom is one of the highlights in the Japanese calendar and marks the beginning of spring. To celebrate this special time of the year, we…
Vienna's Neue Burg - a landmark you can not miss on your explorings! The Neue Burg… it does not matter from which direction you come to the Heldenplatz, the Neue…
As spring arrives, people start heading out towards the Danube and other leisure areas in the city. They traveling by car across one of the many bridges spanning the land…
Not long ago we showed you the Schutzengelbrunnen (Guardian Angel Fountain). Not far from it is a second fountain with a very similar name, Engelbrunnen. Engel means Angel in German.…
Many famous architects have left their mark in Vienna. Fischer von Erlach (father and son), the inseparable duo August Sicard von Sicardsburg & Eduard van der Nüll. Or Otto Wagner,…
Some time ago we told you the story of the famous Viennese shoemaker Scheer. Now we turn our sartorial curiosity towards Knize. Vienna’s arguably most renowned men outfitter. Kniže was…
It’s well-known that the Viennese have a particular and biting sense of humor. Elevating a sarcastic wit to a coffeehouse art form known as ‘wiener schmäh’. Alongside this Vienna has…
The actor Terrence Mann once famously said that “movies make you famous; television makes you rich; but theatre will make you good”. And if you are an actor in Vienna…
Did you know that you can live in the Hofburg or Schönbrunn? These are some of the most famous addresses in Vienna, but they are not only for the royals…
Hoher Markt 15. Perhaps not everyone has noticed this address as the house next to it, the Pâtisserie Oberlaa, is the famous one. It was the year 1814 when the…
Many people are familiar with the story of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He had been heir to the Habsburg throne. But perhaps sometimes it is forgotten that he…
As winter wears on, many of us may start to dream of the blue waters. Maybe about white sand beaches of less land-locked countries than Austria. Vienna has its own…
We don’t know how many women were important in the life of the Emperor Franz Joseph. But there are at least two ladies to highlight. His wife Elisabeth and Katharina…
Driving into or out of Vienna in the direction of Hütteldorf, you may come across an impressive aquamarine-accented villa. It stands in relative isolation at the edges of the Vienna…
They say its the oldest profession in the world, and in Vienna it has quite a history. On the whole, prostitution has been widely tolerated if not always embraced in…
In the 16th district of Vienna – between Thaliastraße and Ottakringerstraße – you will find the longest street market in Vienna. It is at the same time one of the…
The Dreimäderlhaus Standing small and resolute next to its towering neighbor on the Mölker Bastei, the Dreimäderlhaus (3 Girls’ House) is a gem from the waning days of Josephine Classicism.…
When the Palmenhaus Schönbrunn opened its’ doors in 1882 it was one of a kind. Being the largest in the world. Today it remains in the top three worldwide while…
Have you ever heard of Franz Wertheim? Perhaps a name that few people are familiar with but he was famous a long time ago. Born in Krems in 1814, he…
Fanny Arnstein and the first Christmas Tree in Vienna It is December and, as part of the tradition, presents are waiting under the Christmas tree. Do you know how the…
Today is Christmas day. Following the tradition, perhaps most of you have received and given presents to friends, relatives, and many others. But on this day in 1857, one man…
The Palais Ferstel is one among many in Vienna that is rather unassuming. You may have walked past the Ferstel Passage many times without recognizing that it is there. That’s…
The Hofburg has a long history. Every building that is part of it has a particular story. One of the buildings that is part of what we call the Hofburg…
Rising gently to the north of the city, neither the Kahlenberg nor the Leopoldsberg can really be called mountains. Despite the presence of the word ‘berg’ in their names. Perhaps…
As a local or visitor, it is likely you have seen it (or heard it). It is located at one of the busiest pedestrian underpasses of the city. Next to…
The Minoritenkirche - a spot one shouldn't miss out on If you look up while walking the streets of Vienna, there are many wonders and oddities to discover. On nearly…
Generali - more than just a company name It is likely that many people have heard about the Italian insurance company Generali. The company was established in Trieste in 1831…
The Renovation of the Austrian Parliament Built in 1874-1883 by the architect Teophil Hansen, the Austrian parliament is being refurbished. This project is expected to last until 2021. During this…
There are dozens of classic coffee houses in Vienna, which are worth a visit. Probably, the most shabby, but at the same time the most charming among them, is for…
Some weeks ago we told you about the animal market at St. Marx. Such a large market naturally also meant that quite large sums of money regularly changed hands as…
Albertina Exhibitions to take in When we went to visit Albertina a couple of days ago, we expected to have a relaxing, quiet museum visit with no major surprises. But…
For cinephiles and lovers of tradition, Vienna has lots to offer. One of its most underrated cinematic jewels has to be the Breitenseer Lichtspiele. Billed as the world’s oldest continuously…
The Brick 5 is famous as an urban space with a cool café and hip events. What not many people know is that the space has a long history of…
Vlad Dracul - the real Dracula? Count Dracula fired so strongly people’s imagination that for many it is difficult now to separate him from Vlad Dracul. He was the ruler…
In many cities one can find some places that were forgotten or lost for a long time only to be found again at some point. One such example in Vienna…
The Imperial and Royal Library at the Josefplatz is a well-known museum. Not only because it is located in a well frequented street, but also because of its beautiful interior.…
From bike flea markets and repair stations to concerts and general nightlife. The WUK has become a much-loved and indelible part of the Viennese landscape. Sadly, it wasn’t always so,…
Some time ago, we told you the story of the Donnerbrunnen: The fountain located in the Neuer Markt that features a partially nude reclining statue of Providentia surrounded by allegorical…
Vienna's DC Tower, towering over the city When walking around Vienna, it’s always a good idea to look up. To admire the beautiful building facades that are so easily overlooked.…
Caspar Zumbusch - an artist that helped shape the city Have you ever heard of Caspar Zumbusch? Not really a household name, but kind of a big deal. He was…
400 years ago, the Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi put everything at risk. She wrote history for being among the first women to express experiences with sexual violence through art. The…
There are many reasons why one may choose to visit the Prater. Be it for a run, a walk, some adrenalin rush in the amusement park or, even better, to…
The history of the building that houses the Kärtnerstrasse location of the Art & Style shop came as a surprise to this SV explorer, which is not a small thing…
Historically there were many different markets in Vienna, and many of today’s street names reflect this: Kohlmarkt, Heumarkt, Hoher Markt, and Bauernmarkt to name a few. Aside from the names…
In the past we have written stories about the Albertina and the Coburg Palais and have mentioned that these are two of the three elevated spots that are left from…
Some days ago, your SV explorer came across a beautiful portal in the city center. This portal is part of the Batthyánypalais and is located at Bankgasse 2 (the Palais…
Walking along the Kärntnerstraße could be a difficult endeavor as it is usually very crowded. And because of this perhaps one does not have the chance to admire the nice…
Franziskanerkirche (or Franciscan Church of Vienna) is one of the several hidden gems of Vienna’s first district. Located in a small, beautiful Italianesque square in the medieval core of the…
Vienna has always been a city rich in visitors and many of them wrote down their memories in journals, letters or books. If one wants to get a feeling of…
Zaha Hadid came to be one of the world’s most famous architects, but it took her many years to get a project built, let alone to receive acclaim and recognition…
Eagles are common and popular symbols of power – considered the “kings of the sky”, ruling families have long appropriated the symbolism of the free and mighty eagle as a…
How old is old? Definitely age is relative. Why would you call something dating back centuries “new”? The name of the “Neuer Markt”, for example, dates back to the 13th…
If you were around in Vienna in 2013, you surely remember Puber – he wrote his name all over Vienna, spraying hundreds of tags onto just as many walls and…
The Hofburg. Most visitors and locals have walked along it and through it: the former Royal and Imperial Library, the “Leopoldinischer Trakt”, the “Michaelertrakt”, and the many other buildings and…
We don’t have any statistical proof, but we believe that 99.9% of people that have visited Vienna have seen the building of the Vienna Opera. It is hard to miss…
At the end of World War II, everything was gloom and doom in Vienna, as we wrote in a previous post. Or almost everything. Wolfgang W. Denzel, a racing driver…
If you have lived in Vienna long enough, you may have noticed that there is not shortage of words or expressions that are used to say hello and goodbye. These…
The famous Habsburg Jaw The Habsburgs were known for many things, but their good looks was not one of them. If you take a walk through the Kunsthistorisches Museum, you…