The Arena Vienna

The Arena Vienna

Slaughterhouse live

David from Vienna

About me My name is David. I'm a British expat living in Vienna since 2011. I originally only intended to stay in Vienna for a year or two, tops, but frankly, the city has a habit of getting under your skin, so I've never felt the need to move on. I've always worked in fields with people and lately I've taken up a job as a social worker. It's a great city to live in when you wan...
""The Arena" is an unmissable monument to Viennese subculture. It's a lively complex with bars and dance floors and a staple of the city's event space."

Arena is an unmissable monument to Viennese subculture. Occupied by activists and squatters in the '70s, the former abattoir is now one of Vienna's best live music venues. The eclecticism of its live acts is astonishing. Trying to keep up with the amount of live gigs hosted here is an impossible task. Beat DJs and electro-pop artists rub shoulders with black punk, rock and metal bands, both raw and established.

Strewn with graffiti, the Arena quite literally bursts into view from an anonymous main road not far from Erdberg U3 station. If the outside is impressive, going beyond the gates is even better. The site is, like the WUK, a large one with a complex of different buildings, each housing themed bars and dance floors. It has a wonderful outdoor stage, but bands also often play inside.

In fact, even though the Arena is spread across a number of buildings, it is one of those venues which is equally good in the winter. Around November time, Viennese radio station FM4 (which broadcasts bilingually in both German and English) celebrates its 'birthday'. This is a lively annual event. There are so many nooks and crannies to hide away in, or to dance on, that you could come ten times and not explore it all. The Arena is, quite simply, a staple of Vienna's event scene.

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Vienna Spotter David

About me My name is David. I'm a British expat living in Vienna since 2011. I originally only intended to stay in Vienna for a year or two, tops, but frankly, the city has a habit of getting under your skin, so I've never felt the need to move on. I've always worked in fields with people and lately I've taken up a job as a social worker. It's a great city to live in when you want to explore human nature. Other than that, my main hobby is cycling. I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to two wheels. I know every nook and cranny of the city by now, having cycled all ov...

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Oct 5, 2025

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