Generali Arena Vienna

Some cities live and breathe football. Other cities have fans too, but suffer from footballing standards that are more Accrington Stanley than A.C. Milan. Vienna is sadly lacking in world-class teams, but the fans are no less passionate for it.

The Generali – or the Franz-Horr as it used to be known – has had a major revamp and is hosting Bundesliga football for the first time in two years. Despite the fact that Austria Wien’s on-field performance has been somewhat poor in recent years (2014 and the Champions League is a distant memory by now), this proud club is on the brink of a return to the summit of Austrian football.

In addition, the surroundings of the stadium – the Oberlaa Kurpark and the striking landscape of the Mürzsteg Alps – make for a dramatic backdrop, or at least a nice post-game stroll. Or perhaps you’re in Austria to learn some German? I have heard some of the best swearwords in the language inside the stadium!

Austria Wien has a strong following in the working class district of Favoriten and coming to a match here can really add colour to your time in Vienna. That colour is purple. What’s more, since the U1 has been extended from the city centre, it’s now within easy reach.