Right inside the heart of Vienna’s inner city there’s a calm hidden spot, perfect for having a short break between two sightseeing checks on your Vienna-to-do list, just waiting for you. Despite of its central position this place remains a peaceful one and I’d highly recommend you stop by here for having an urban picnic or just to round up your Albertina visit with some moments of admiring the city panorama from the inside.

Also if you’re just about to end a classy evening in Vienna’s opera house this place represents a good destination of a short late night stroll, as when it’s dark already, you can see the opera building itself in its, in my opinion, most beautiful appearance: illuminated by dozens of dimmed lights.

The way to get there is also kind of interesting: instead of taking the elevator or escalator that leads you right up to the place itself you shouldn’t be too lazy to climb up the big steps leading to the museum. Changing from time to time, their design is dedicated to one of the exhibition’s artists, so maybe you’ll happen to walk upon one of many artists’ masterpieces such as Magritte, Kandinsky or Monet…but don’t step on the water lilies!

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Albertina Terrace | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Albertina | Old city/center
24 hours daily

Situated in one of Vienna’s many beautiful and remarkable Art Nouveau buildings (already 110 years old!) this place combines great coffee with a special nostalgic atmosphere. Once you’ve entered the place you’ll recognize the many things that are to explore inside, from the many medal coffee badges and old fashioned lamps promoting Fanta lemonade, to that one of a kind cushioned telephone booth (maybe not suitable for claustrophobics).

This place represents one of Vienna’s traditional coffee houses, which means that there were already many generations spending time in here having a chat about life, discussing the latest urban news or reading one or another tome. Besides coffee and tea they offer a selection of Viennese pastries and cakes. Around lunchtime there’s also the possibility to enjoy an easily-affordable menu, maybe one of the reasons many students come here.

And when it’s getting warm outside you should definitely explore the Café’s terrace from which one can enjoy a view on the Wienfluss flowing by. Last but not least one should mention that the Café is open until 02:00 which makes it a great place to either start your night or get a caffeinated energy boost in between two club visits.

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Café Rüdiger Hof | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks, Restaurants (Viennese) | Strudel € 3.00
Hamburgerstraße 20 | Inner districts | +4315863138
09:00 – 02:00 daily

While taking a slow walk through the city this place was discovered by incident. Being attracted to its colorful and creative appearance we crossed the street, trying to figure out what kind of place we were just about to explore.

Not really daring to enter right away we kept looking through a great window pane, behind which we could see a big room filled with colorful items we could not really classify in the first place.

Lucky us, we were quickly welcomed by a lively guy that turned out to be Viennese architect and local creative all-rounder Heidulf Gerngross.

So, still getting over the first flood of colors and impressions filling the place, we were introduced to its actual purpose: representing the editorial office of ST/A/R architecture magazine.

When you’ll be visiting the place you won’t be able to help recognizing a certain shape re-occurring all over the place, the Archiquant. Archi-what? Don’t worry, I wasn’t less clueless. It represents the main element of the architect’s latest work and I wouldn’t wanna miss getting Gerngross to share his enthrallment for the Archiquant and, besides that, Austrian Architecture with you, he really manages to carry you away with his enthusiasm.

So, if you consider yourself an architecture enthusiast or just feel like getting to know Vienna’s current artistic scene from a real authentic point of view, I’d highly suggest you to walk by this place!

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ST/A/R | Art & culture | Free
Gumpendorferstraße 42 | Inner districts | +436645213307
Tue – Thu 12:00 – 17:00

Situated near the very core of Vienna’s inner city this cinema is easy to find and offers makes it easy to round up your visit with a leisurely evening walk through Burggarten, which is right next to it.

Burgkino has been enchanting me from the very beginning with its decent, authentic and a little bit old fashioned in- and exterior. The big red letters above the entry promoting tonight’s shows, the small theatre café and those real cosy armchairs inside the auditorium make it feel very special watching a movie there.

All movies are shown in their original version, sometimes including English subtitles, and even on Sundays ticket prices stay fair. There’s always one of their “special performances” such as an independent documentary or a rather unknown road-movie. And let’s not forget about its participation in movie festivals!

And here’s the cherry on the cake! Burgkino regularly shows “The Third Man” which is, as you’ll read in your travel guide in case you have one, one of the few popular movies being filmed completely in and..well…partly under Vienna. A real authentic Vienna experience, you see?

But just as a warning, after watching don’t bother getting the movie’s catchy soundtrack out of your mind for the rest of your visit, you won’t succeed.

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Burgkino | Art & culture, Cinemas | Ticket from € 5.00
Opernring 19 | Inner districts | +4315878406
16:00 – 22:55 (daily showtimes)

Once you’ve entered the place you’ll be diving quickly into that lively and yet cosy hustle and bustle inside the place. Waiters suit up and tend to behave, just like in old times, a little bit snotty – not forgetting about spicing up that attitude with a hint of authentic “Wiener Schmäh” (Viennese Charm). So don’t be shy about talking to them when they’re not too busy .

For more than a 100 years now (!) Café Museum has been a part of Vienna’s Coffeehouse Culture. Local creative souls such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele or Otto Wagner came in here all through the years, so this Café distinguishes itself with a certain Viennese authenticity.

Café Museum is located nearby cultural hot spots such as the Vienna Secession and the Albertina, so, also the name is suggesting that, visiting the place goes along great with a museum visit.

There are comfy, red sofa-booths (offering a great opportunity to bounce up and down just like a child, by the way) right next to the window, so you can easily spend one rainy afternoon drinking tea, watching the busy city life passing by and indulge your sweet tooth with one of those many mouth-watering cakes.

Almost forgot about mentioning my favourite detail! If you’re visiting don’t miss looking up at the ceiling. There are some huge Christmas bauble-alike lamps hanging down, and I for my part love them!

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Café Museum | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Viennese) | Piece of Cake € 4.00
Operngasse 7 | Inner districts | +43124100620
08:00 – 00:00 daily

I just happened to stumble upon this place, not being aware of the possibility to find yet another cool shop in this area. Vienna taught me a lesson again, I should have known better.

If you ever are on the search for a record, a long-forgotten LP, a colorful gramophone or if you’re just in the mood for rummaging around in – as the name says- Old and New music treasures you should definitely pay this place a visit.

I have to admit, when I entered the shop I was quite overwhelmed by the loads of colors, discs and quirky stuff standing and hanging around all over the place. Or to say it with the words of my friend: “I’m not sure whether I should call this place dusty or cool”. There is a lot to explore actually! Besides evergreens, classic music and current hits, you’ll enjoy getting to know some special contains such as Viennese Lieder, Cabaret, Old Austrian student songs and a lot more..

And once you think you’re overseeing the place slowly one of the friendly shop owners may guide you to one of the two fully record-packed rooms that are hidden in the back of the shop…so make sure you’re not loosing track of time while exploring!

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Alt und Neu | Art & culture, Music, Shopping | LP’s from € 4
Windmühlgasse 10 | Inner districts | +4315862133
Mon – Fri 13:00 – 18:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 12:00

Last week I got introduced to the work of avant-garde musician John Cage, not being aware of the fact that there’s really potential for me to become an experimental music’s addict. How I happened to make this experience? I’ll tell you.

Just recently I got to meet somebody that is studying classic piano, so being asked if there was any concert or other possibility to listen to his music he kindly invited my friends and me to join one of his ‘Klassenabende’. And so should you.

The principle is simple: Groups of music students get to present their artistic and creative progress in public, on a regular basis. As, mostly, there are not too many people watching these shows, you’re welcome to enjoy their appearance in one of those many beautiful chambers of Vienna’s Music University.

Besides from Piano, Clarinet, Viola and Organ Klassenabende there’s a great variety of acoustic matinees, vocals soirees and music brunches (calorie- and greaseless, of course) being communicated over their website. And as Music University is situated right next to Belvedere you’re likely to have a great view from the show room as well.

Classic or contemporary music and Viennese architecture, a perfect combination. And the best thing about it: It doesn’t cost anything.

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MDW | Art & culture, Music | Free
Rennweg 8 (Entry) | Inner districts | +43171155
Check website for showtimes

Have you ever dreamt of a place where you get a delicious breakfast for only 3,50 euros (coffee not included, but for half the price)? Yes? Then you should definitely head to this place!

The Tunnel is located in the 8th district, in a nice and quiet street. In summer there are even some places to sit outside on the sidewalk. Interiors are in dark wood, with some nice big sofas and all in all it is very cozy.

There are some very big tables, where you have to share the place with other people, and as well some smaller ones if you have to discuss something serious with your breakfast partner!

There is a difficult choice among 8 international yummy breakfast dishes:Muesli with yogurt and fruits, Spanish omelet, Greek omelet, Ham omelet, Continental, Continental vegetarian, Arabian breakfast (my favourite: with hummus, eggplant salad, stuffed vine leaves, feta cheese, olives and Syrian Bread), or an Italian breakfast.

Breakfast from is from 09:00 to 11:00 (self-service!)

Lunch from 11:30 to 14:30

The lunch menu is 5 euro and there is always a meat and a vegetarian dish, or you can choose from the “a la carte” menu which includes vegan and vegetarian dishes!

Check out their concerts, there is live music every night, many times with free entrance.

At 21:00 the party starts with concerts, student gatherings, cheap beer and good atmosphere. Food is served until 01:00 am, and Pizza even until 01:30!

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Der Tunnel | Art & culture, Bars, Music, Restaurants (Intern.) | Breakfast € 3.00
Florianigasse 39 | Inner districts | +4319475720
365 days from 09:00 to open end!

This little green oasis in the second district indeed offers a weird mixture. As you pass the old walls surrounding the pretty baroque park, you’ll soon notice one of the two so called “Flaktürme” – huge towering bunkers.

These towers were military defense towers in the 40′s and as they can’t be destroyed, they are still some bleak (but important) reminders of the second world war. Nowadays the park is used by joggers, couples, families and dog owners in need for a walk.

Everybody who wants to relax, do some exercise or get some fresh air, will be happy here. And this is already possible since 1775!! The garden is baroque, so there are plenty of cut bushes, trees and hedges which come along with carefully decorated flowerbeds. That’s the reason why there were times when it was neither for men or animals allowed to step on the lawn. But as you will notice: the need for green space and relaxation is stronger, so in summer time you see picnickers, hammocks strung up between the trees and football players.

There is even more to be found in the park: the boarding school of the famous Wiener Sängerknaben, the Porzellanmanufaktur, the art gallery Augarten Contemporary and also a nice cafe called Augarten Atelier. Check the Belvedere website for more info. 

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Augarten | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks | Free
Obere Augartenstrasse | Danube Canal Area
06:30 – 17:30 daily

It may sound strange to introduce another cemetery as a Vienna spot, but this place is so weird, somehow sad and desperate – yet interesting through its history – that I think it is worth visiting if you have quite a bit time to spend in Vienna (and if you are into these kind of places!).

As this place is on the very very edge of town in an industrial area, it’s quite a challenge to get there (best thing is by car or bicycle if you are in very good shape and you don’t mind rough areas).

The area around Friedhof der Namenlosen is a harbour with high silos, though the cemetery is a bit hidden between bushes and trees and an old stone wall. The older part of the cemetery is opposite the little chapel, here you find graves in the shrubbery among the trees, not far from the shore of the Danube.

This cemetery is a burial site for the nameless dead people who drowned in the Danube and who were washed upon the shore due to a vortex in the river. Between 1840 and 1940 they buried the dead bodies in this area – most of them impossible to recognize, so the names of the poor people who died for whatever reason were not known.

Nowadays only a few visitors still decorate the graves. But once a year – the Sunday after All Saint’s day – there is a commemoration, a decorated raft floating down the Danube.

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Friedhof der Namenlosen | Art & culture | Free
Alberner Hafen | Outer districts
Daily