Congratulations, Vienna and Salzburg! Both cities have made it into the “Top 10 Cities in Europe” in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2013.
“Drenched in music, history and the arts, Vienna earned its highest marks in the subcategory of culture. Not that anyone would find that surprising. “Classical music opportunities are out of this world and you can hear great music, not only classical one, in beautiful venues throughout this breathtaking city.”
Salzburg is a “pleasant little town” that is “one of the truly European cities still left.” Most famous as the hometown of Mozart (and those other musical geniuses, the Von Trapps), Salzburg will “transport you back in time.” It’s the perfect place for “folks who still care about culture and history.”
While drinking our morning coffee we were reminiscing about Vienna’s Coffee Culture. A culture that has persisted for centuries. Famous Austrians like Sigmund Freud, Hundertwasser, Stefan Zweig (and even foreign artists like Oscar Wilde, Arthur Miller and Andy Warhol) have come together ever since to discuss and ponder about all sorts of things from politics to art, literature and life itself.
The Viennese coffee house culture is often described as a place “where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill.”
Have fun loosing yourself in this beautiful photo tour we’ve put together for you guys about the Wiener Kaffeehauskultur ;)!
After three years of negotiations with city officials over hygiene issues, Vienna, Austria opened its first cat cafe last Friday. ‘Cafe Neko’, “Neko” meaning cat in Japanese, was opened by Vienna resident Takako Ishimitsu from Japan. Customers can stroke and interact with their five feline hosts while enjoying coffee or reading a magazine. It’s heaven.
The five cats are named Sonja, Thomas, Moritz, Luca and Momo. They all came from an animal shelter and now freely roam about the cafe and take naps. Check out these pictures ;).
Fun, feminine and flirty, the Dirndl convinced British designer Vivienne Westwood that “there would be no ugliness in the world if every woman wore a dirndl.” We like the way she thinks. The Dirndl is the most visible, and very likely the most popular expression of a wealth of traditions that are still very much part of Austrian culture today ;)!
Ever wondered about Driving Regulations in Austria?? Don’t anymore! Peter Eckers asked us via email about driving in Austria as he and his family is planning a road trip through Europe. Well, here’s some detailed info that we scraped together extra for you TTMAA fans & Peter ;)!
Driving in Austria is uncomplicated and offers the greatest flexibility and freedom: you explore at your own pace. Roads are well maintained, whether you select a superhighway or a meandering byway. However there are a few rules you need to be aware of…
An international drivers license is required and can easily be obtained from your local auto club. The major U.S. rental companies are represented in Austria as are a range of European firms. Many credit cards offer free supplemental rental car insurance, which might let you save on optional car insurance. Check with your credit card company.
Mandatory Winter Equipment:
In winter conditions the use of four winter tires or snow chains on at least two tires is now mandatory in Austria between 1 November and 15 April.
Reflective Safety Vest:
Drivers are required to carry a Reflective Safety Vest in their car at all times. This new regulation is required by law and is subject to heavy fines. Please check with your car rental company before entering Austria to ensure a Reflective Safety Vest is located in the car.
Toll stickers are required on all vehicles on Austria’s motorways and highways!
Stickers can be obtained from the Austrian Automobile Clubs as well as post offices, sundries and gasoline stations. Please note that stickers are also available in Austria’s neighboring countries at gasoline stations, at borders as well as Automobile clubs.
The following fees apply:
A twelve-months sticker for private cars amd motorhomes weighing up to 3.5 tons is EURO 80.60 and for motorcycles EURO 32.10
A two-months sticker for travel to and through Austria is EURO 24.20 for private cars and motorhomes up to 3.5 t
A 10-day sticker for cars and vehicles up to and incl. 3.5t is EURO 8.30
These stickers must be put on the upper middle or left side of the windshield. Motorists who do not purchase the appropriate sticker will be fined EURO 300 (up to EURO 3,000). Cars rented in neighboring countries may or may not be equipped with the sticker. Please ask your car rental agency.
Driving through Austria with a vehicle exceeding 3,5 t?
The toll tariff system based on emission categories will concern all motor vehicles with a maximum permissible gross weight exceeding 3.5t and will apply on all Austrian motorways and expressways.
What to do in case of congestions during an emergency?
Since January 1, 2012 the “Rettungsgasse” is obligatory on any two or multi-lane road in Austria. On two lane roads drive as far right as possible when in the right lane and as far left as possible when in the left lane to ensure emergency vehicles can pass easily. On roads with more then two lanes all vehicles in the far left lane should drive as far left as possible; all other lanes have to drive as far right as possible. in emergencies on highways driver are required to also use the shoulder.
For the fourth consecutiveve year, Vienna was ranked as the number one city with the highest quality of life in the world, surpassing cities in Switzerland, Denmark, and the U.S.!The title was bestowed by Mercer, a global consulting firm, and was based on a combination of traits such as stability, rising living standards, and advanced city infrastructures.Vienna, known for its coffee, low crime levels, and historical architecture, beat out the over 450 other world cities surveyed (!) & which might leave you wondering — what makes the quality of life in our beautiful capital city so high :)? Well, here’s a short little list of the things we Vienna locals love BEST!
Our Vienna has a thriving music and nightlife culture beneath the subway between the Thaliastrasse and Nussdorferstrasse stations with famous clubs like Chelsea and the Rhiz bar.
We Viennese (as we locals of Vienna are called 😉 ) have access to a ton of shopping options, including one of the best flea markets in Europe (!) — the Flohmarkt — with plenty of gems hidden among the piles of goods.
There’s also the fashion-forward 7th district of Neubau that includes the MuseumsQuartier Wien. Made up of museums, concert halls, and a theater, it was constructed from the original Hapsburg stables!
Though Vienna has a ton of global food options, its best known for its traditional Viennese fare. The restaurant Steirereck (one of the WORLD’S best restaurants) in particular is a hotspot for its selection of Viennese cheeses.
Our Viennese cafes are truly legendary and we Viennese claim to have invented the process of filtering coffee in 1683! Viennese coffee is 2 shorts of espresso mixed with whipped cream instead of milk. Try it out! You’ll be surprised how nice and creamier your coffee will taste ;).
We Viennese are also surrounded by some of the world’s most beautiful architecture, ranging from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period! The city was even designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site!!
Vienna is proudly one of the last European cities to hold carnival balls, and hosts over 450 per year in its palaces that we locals may attend!! What can we say? We Austrians LOVE a good ball haha.
In the winter, we love to go to Wiener Eistraum (“Vienna Ice World”), a gorgeous 75,000-square-foot ice skating rink located in the City Hall Square.
The quality of our Austrian police force is said to be comparable in training, efficiency, and expertise to the one in the U.S. And it really shows — Austria has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe!
There are over 150,000 public university students in Vienna, and almost 3,000 students of private universities, making it the European-equivalent of a fun college town ;)!
We Austrians can vote when we are only 16 years old, and drink when we are 18 (or 16 depending on the alcohol content of the beverage).
Austria is a stable democracy with extremely low potential for war or civil unrest. Though political demonstrations sometimes do occur (since we Austrians can be pretty opinionated), they are peaceful.
Vienna is a central European city and meeting point, hosting more international congresses than any other world city (a total of 181 in 2011). As a result, our Viennese culture is extremely liberal and open-minded.
Vienna is known as the City of Music due to its music culture and the world-famous classical composers — including Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss, and Brahms — who have all lived here.
We Viennese have access to the world’s oldest zoo (!) from 1752 in Schönbrunn Palace, with over 500 types of animals including giant pandas, Siberian tigers, orangutans, and elephants.
Vienna is the only world capital with its own vineyards within city limits!! The traditional Austrian wine is served in designated taverns throughout the city (usually as a Spritzer).
Vienna is known for its city planning, and was even awarded the prestigious 2010 Scroll of Honour from the United Nations for reducing its sub-standard housing to less than 9 percent.
We Viennese can view the Emerald Unguentarium, the largest emerald in the world at 2,860 carets, in Vienna’s Imperial Treasury.
Or they can eat and drink inside one of the 15 surviving gondolas on the world’s oldest Ferris wheels, the Riesenrad, built in 1897!!
Will we Viennese be able to keep the ranking of 1st Place in 2014 as well :)?
We certainly hope so and will let you know,
so FOLLOW this website by signing up with your email for receiving THE latest updates ;)!
The Microsoft future talent competition, also called IMAGINE CUP, has been won!! The Austrian team Zeppelin Studio captured the gold medal in the Games category.
Don’t know what the IMAGINE CUP is? Check out this inspiring video :):
Game Schein takes gold
In the Games category, an Austrian team from Zeppelin Studio was in the running with the game Schein and was hoping for a spot on the winner’s rostrum. The four-member team was competing with five other teams in its category – and came out on top. The game took gold, edging out Indonesia (second place) and France (third place). The Austrians took home not only the medal, but also USD 50,000 in prize money. The award was presented by Tetris inventor Alexey Pajitnov.
The game Schein is about the myth of the will-o’-the-wisp. The will-o’-the-wisp sends the protagonist, a sad young man who has lost his son, on a fantastic journey. The game was originally designed for Windows with a total of twelve levels that would take between four and eight hours to complete. The designers are considering porting the game to Android consoles, as well.
Schein is to be officially launched at the end of the summer. After the Imagine Cup, the startup now wants to look for funding and then also find private investors. Schein is a platform game in which the player must solve puzzles, and is intended for players about 25 or older.
Wanna play the game? Play it here: http://shinegame.com/
The Microsoft Imagine Cup is part of the YouthSpark Initiative and was held for the eleventh time this year; the finals are hosted in a different city every year. The Imagine Cup will be hosted in Seattle next year, the first time that the event is coming to the city.
My team and I just went to the 2013 SOLAR DECATHLON, a biennial competition hosted by the US Department of Energy to promote the application of solar technologies in buildings. Imagine our immense surprise and pleasure when we saw that this year our home country AUSTRIA was part of the vendors that displayed their ‘ideal solar house of the future.’Not only that, AUSTRIA is also in the lead of winning the People’s Choice Award for the best, most innovative and modern solar house at this event!!
As one of the ONLY two European teams invited to SD 2013 (the other being from the Czech Republic), team AUSTRIA looks forward to competing with the best from the United States and Canada!
The project or house that the students of the Vienna Institute of Technology call LISI (Living inspired by sustainable innovation), was designed, built and assembled almost exclusively by the students of this prestigious university in Vienna.
We can’t even begin to tell you how proud we felt when we heard the ‘wow’s,’ and ‘ah’s,’ and ‘oh’s,’ of the bystanders. Even we couldn’t help it but feeling awed by the incredibly well thought out construction, technology, layout and design of the house. Our question was immediately, “where could we buy a house like this?”
The plan is still developing but soon you will be able to see the house in all of its splendor at the Blue Lagoon in Vienna itself. Stop by and be awed ;)!
And in case you live in Southern California, you’ve got to see this solar house. Here are the event details: http://www.solardecathlon.at/
A menagerie of 3D-rendered, DIY paper lamps from an Austrian creative firm.
After studying architecture together at the Vienna University of Technology, friends and designers Maik Perfahl and Wolfgang List went their separate ways. List continued his architectural education, working for different firms and focusing on interiors, while Perfahl decided to translate his interest in architecture into a degree in 3D design and visualization. The friends reunited soon afterward, forming their own firm, MOSTLIKELY, with three other colleagues. Poised at the intersection between design, architecture and 3D printing, MOSTLIKELY focuses on testing the bounds between the different disciplines. Most recently they have launched a line of paper lamps known as Donkey & Friends, which come flat for users to assemble themselves.
Using the same principles as the lamp shades, List and Perfahl also constructed a large-scale basilisk composed of 360 folded paper pieces that consumed an entire warehouse space for Vienna Design Week 2012. An ode to the Viennese legend of the basilisk, the exhibition helped the designers launch their brand and showcase the beauty and potential behind rendering 3D creations out of low-tech, recyclable materials like paper.
The designers are currently in the process of adding new animals to the already extensive Donkey & Friends menagerie, which includes a cat, owl and penguin. Looking forward, MOSTLIKELY plans to launch a new line of higher-end lamps based on the Donkey and Friends collection at the upcoming design fair in Milan.
If you already live in Austria or are just moving to Austria, we think it is important that you know where you can get your news from. At the same time, we think that it is important for you to understand which ones are the conservative and which ones, are the liberal newspapers. Which ones are known to distort the truth, and which newspapers in Austria are known for relaying objective neutral news. Because the kind of newspaper you read determines also how you, most likely, think about the world. So, let’s get started ;).
The Kronen Zeitung, commonly known as the Krone (the German word for CROWN), is Austria’s largest newspaper. According to an Austrian media analysis, the average daily readership is 2,970,000 (14 years or older), which corresponds to 43.7% of all newspaper readers in Austria.
Its political positioning is social right wing and economic left wing. The Kronen Zeitung has often been accused of abusing its near monopoly to manipulate public opinion in Austria. Its many critics blame its populist style and emphasis on the topic of immigration for allegedly spreading fear and hatred among its readers. The paper is also known for being very Eurosceptic.
The Krone is also the only newspaper in Austria that features the picture of a topless or semi-naked woman “Girl des Tages” or “Girl of the day”, usually on page three, five or seven.
Der Kurier (German word for MESSENGER or COURIER) is another big Austrian newspaper based in Vienna. It provides news coverage along the lines of the KRONE.
Der Standard (German Word for Standard or Norm) is also published in Vienna. It was founded by Oscar Bronner as a financial newspaper and the first edition was published on 1988-10-19. In July 2007, Der Standard became the first Austrian newspaper to have a female editor-in-chief. Der Standard sees itself as—in Continental European sense (social and cultural, but not economical)—liberal and independent.
Although Der Standard is intended to be a national paper, in the past it had an undeniable tendency to focus on Vienna. Der Standard is one of Austria’s best-selling quality newspapers and on 18 June 2005 celebrated its 5000th edition.
Der Standard is published in accordance with the honour code of the Austrian press (which sets rules on matters such as a transparent division between news and comment and the right to privacy. The paper’s general editorial stance could be described as socially liberal and most of its regular columnists also tend to this position, although guest writers come from a wide variety of political positions. Der Standard also regularly publishes commentary from individuals with an international reputation, whose work has worldwide distribution as part of this project.
According to the 2007 Austrian Media Analysis Der Standard has 352,000 readers in Austria, which corresponds to a 5% share of all readers. With a share of 19.4%, Der Standard is the most widely read newspaper among people with college or university education. A full online edition (Der Standard digital) is available as an e-paper on a subscription-basis.
Since 2005 the paper has published The New York Times International Weekly on Mondays. It is a six-page supplement featuring selected English language articles from The New York Times.
Der Standard participates in Atomium Culture, the Permanent Platform for European Excellence that brings together some of the most authoritative European universities, newspapers and businesses to increase the movement of knowledge: across borders, across sectors and to the public at large.
Die Presse (German Word for Press) is an Austrian daily newspaper based in Vienna. It was founded in 1946 by World War 2 Resistance fighter Ernst Molden.
The paper covers general news topics. It is frequently quoted in international media concerning news from Austria. It is the leading Austrian daily newspaper, though not the largest, with around 260,000 readers. Since March 15, 2009, it has also been operating a weekly newspaper under the name “Die Presse am Sonntag”.
The “Presse” had been struggling for financial survival for a long time, until during the 1960s, the Austrian Chamber of Commerce became the main shareholder. Since 1999, it has been owned by the Styria Media Group AG, a conservative-liberal media group founded by the Catholic Church.
The political position of the “Die Presse” can be described as classical liberal, with a strong emphasis on free market economy and small government, traditionally opposing Austria’s grand coalition and its neo corporatist tendencies. Emphasis is put on the 1848 revolution as the beginning of its tradition as a liberal newspaper, citing it in its slogan “Free since 1848“.
In 2009, reports claimed that the Presse’s long-time editor, Otto Schulmeister, had been working for the CIA in the 1960s and 1970s!
Which newspaper would you choose to read/ do you read? Let us know in the comment section below ;).
It is a world metropolis for Classical Music without a doubt and provides some of the best educational institutions and conservatories worldwide for young musicians, singers, aspiring musical stars and opera singers to come study their craft.
In their free time those music loving people that come to Vienna from all over the World, love to stand side by side on the major streets of the Inner City of Vienna and love to give free concerts to practice later on standing on the stage of the Vienna Opera House or the Musikverein.
Here’s a compilation of street musicians in Vienna. If you are in Austria already, go get some roasted chestnuts or ‘Bratkartoffeln,’ some pralines from Demel and go window shopping while every once in a while, you will find yourself stop and listen to those talented musicians that make the City of Music come alive with Music every day and night :).
For this week’s restaurant, we chose Restaurant ‘Plachutta’ in the Inner City of Vienna.
Plachutta is a very famous Austrian restaurant even among locals and has the nickname as Rindfleischkoenig, or King of Beef.
One of the most popular dishes you can go and try at Plachutta is the famous Austrian Tafelspitz.
Tafelspitz is boiled beef in broth, Viennese style and is a typical Austrian dish. The beef is simmered along with root vegetables and spices in the broth. It is usually served with roasted slices of potato and a mix of minced apples and horseradish or sour cream mixed with horseradish. Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, was a great lover of Tafelspitz. According to the 1912 official cookery textbook used in domestic science schools of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, “His Majesty’s private table is never without a fine piece of boiled beef, which is one of his favorite dishes.” Tafelspitz is considered to be the national dish of Austria
But in case you are looking for a bit of a more precise recipe of Austrian Tafelspitz, you can find it herebecause even the New York Times raves about the Austrian Tafelspitz :).
And well, when you are done it should look something like this:
And here’s the link and the address to Plachutta, the Beef King, itself:
This is the follow up post to a recent one we did about doing a study abroad in Austria.
Throughout this post we are going to talk about why you might want to decide to study in Austria?
First of all, Austria is right in the middle of Europe, from here you can easily access and travel to other countries in Europe without being too far away. Also, Vienna is the center of Europe because it is – well, in the center of Europe ;). Sandwiched between Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary (with which we were once unified), Switzerland, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Lichtenstein, Austria is located pretty much in the dead center of Europe, forming a bridge between east and west.
Geographically, Austria is furthermore dominated by the Alps in its southeast and center, and the River Danube – 10% of which lies within the nation’s borders – on which the capital city Vienna was built.
Quality of life in Austria is generally high In fact, in Mercer’s 2012 Quality of Living Survey, Vienna was named the city with the world’s best quality of life (http://www.mercer.com/press-releases/quality-of-living-report-2012)!! Vienna is home to over a quarter of Austria’s population, and is known as one of Europe’s great cultural capitals. For fans of architecture, music and art, this is not to be missed.
Universities in Austria
Universities in Austria are highly international! More than 15% of the total tertiary enrolment in the country is made up of international students, rising up to more than 20% if only advanced research programs are considered.
Austria’s leading university, Universität Wien, sits at 160 in the 2012/13 QS World Rankings, and is joined by Technische Universität Wien (274), Universität Innsbruck (276), Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz (373), Johannes Kepler Universität Linz (451-500), Paris Lodron University Salzburg (551-600) and Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt (601+).
But especially when you are thinking of getting a degree in any kind of Business Area or Economics, and at the same time are thinking about Europe, you will almost automatically come across the so-called WU, or Wirtschaftsuniversitaet of Vienna. The ‘WU’ is THE Vienna University of Business and Economics and it is not only the largest one in Austria but THE LARGEST UNIVERSITY FOCUSING ON BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS IN EUROPE and it is also one of the BEST (http://www.wu.ac.at/)!!!
With that being said, there are also many other very attractive universities in Vienna and you will find that studying in Austria (including the day-to-day living costs) is actually much cheaper than when you would, for instance, think about studying in London or Paris.
If you do now to decide to do your whole Bachelor’s or Master’s in Vienna, the following links provide you with great information about the most important things like, a list of all the Austrian Universities (by rank), required travel documents and how to obtain your student visa, housing in Austria (specifically Vienna), local transportation, what to expect when getting to Austria as a student, student life in Vienna, and much more.
The essence of any good bucket list includes overcoming certain fears, achieving goals you have set for yourself in this life, realizing dreams and even, satisfying simple pleasure like trying Sachertorte for once ;).
Wether it’s bungee jumping of the Europabridge or something simpler, like spending time with your loved ones, what matters is that you live your life to the fullest in every way you can!
This is Part 1 of 17 things to do in Austria before you die. And of course, a few of them might be considered to be a cliché, but we tried hard to make it a priority to think mostly outside the box.
So, without further ado…
1. Cruising along the Danube River
Take a boat trip along the river to appreciate Vienna from a different perspective. There are numberous cruise companies in Vienna that offer cruises along River Danube that even includes passing by Bratislava.
If you’ve never experienced the thrill, the rush and adrenaline coursing through your body while trying to stir a boat through the wild waters of a river, well…let’s just say that is one of the things you should have definitely done once in your life. And, the beautiful and clear waters of the state of Tyrol offer the perfect invitation for you to do so. Just check out the following link:
3. Ride all the Roller Coaster’s at the Prater Park in Vienna
The Wiener Prater is a large public park in Vienna’s 2nd district and also includes the famous Wiener Riesenrad (ferries wheel). We urge you to enjoy one day at the ‘Prater’ (as we Austrian’s call this huge amusement park right in the middle of Vienna), while eating all sorts of yummy greasy junk foods (try one of the so-called ‘Bratwuerste’ you wont regret it) and trying out all the rides the Prater has to offer.
4. Visit Steirereck, one of the best restaurants in the world!
Steirereck is among the Top 10 Restaurants in the World! As a result, it is not only famous among locals but is also a popular tourist spot. However, when you’re already in Vienna we encourage you to try out their infamous food. It is pricy truth be told. Nevertheless, how cool is it to brag about to your friends and family that you have been to one of the best restaurants in the entire world ;). Still not convinced, check out the yelp reviews below:
You’ve probably already heard that we Europeans are crazy when it comes to soccer. So we suggest you make your own picture and attend a game between the 2 ever-competing soccer clubs in Austria.
Trust us, you will have to redefine the word crazy :).
7. Take a ride through Vienna on a Fiaker
We’re almost certain that if you are not from Europe, you might have never been on a horse-drawn carriage before. It’s quite a special experience especially when you share it with your loved ones.
We Austrians are seriously big on Wellness, Saunas and all that good stuff. Every year we at least make one vacation to one of the countless beautiful Wellness Hotels in Austria. Austria’s Wellness culture is seriously its own culture and just as popular as going to ‘Finish Saunas’ for Finish people. Stay tuned as we’re going to post a post soon on Austrian Spa Culture ;). For more info go to:
9. Attend an event at the world-famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna
“The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the only institution in the world which has practiced for over 440 years and continues to cultivate classical equitition in the Renaissance tradition of the haute école.
The objective of classical equitation is to study the way the horse naturally moves and to cultivate the highest levels of haute école elegance the horse is capable of through systematic training. The result creates an unparalleled harmony between rider and horse, as only Vienna’s Spanish Riding School achieves.”
~ SpanishRidingSchool.com {http://www.srs.at/en/}
10. Taste your way through the many Heurigens of Austria
To taste your way through some of the numerous Heurigen in Austria is a must do for the gourmet and wine lovers of you out there! For more information, check out the following website that gves you a short introduction into the Austrian Heurigen culture :).
11. Visit the Danube Island Festival and shake it to your heart’s content
Attend at least once the super famous Danube Island Festival that features the hottest gigs from the American charts and the European ones. It is the BIGGEST open air festival in Europe and trust us you don’t want to miss this.
Austria is also famous for its many farms. You see, food is very important to us. Wait! Let me rephrase this: high quality good food is really important to us! As a result, Austrian farmers work hard on producing the best produce possible. Why don’t you help them once by let’s say, milk a cow at one of the milk farms in Austria where you can even go on vacation there :)?
14. Forgive and Let Go of Grudges
Life’s short—really, really short. Inasmuch, what’s the point of hanging onto old grudges and prejudices when, in the end, they’ll do you absolutely no good whilst you’re lain on your death bed, clinging to life. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a dark outlook. But hey, learn to let go of wrongs (real or perceived) and forgive. Forgive, but don’t forget. I know we Austrians can be a bit on the proud side. However, keeping hostility alive in your mind and heart only A. gives the other party more power over you, and B. deprives you of precious, oh-so-often illusive happiness. After all, I reiterate, it’s ALL petty when all’s said and done.
15. Stand in the Crown of the Stephansdom
The Stephansdom is a world famous church and cultural heritage. It is also THE Austrian landmark. Go and stand in front of it, taking in how special life is in the face of such a glorious and culturally rich architectural building that has endured and survived through centuries.
16. Visit Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg
Take a trip down Getreidegasse in Salzburg, a traditional shopping street in the Old Town. Mozart’s birthplace apartment can be seen from here, as well as little shops with several western brands, as well as tourist shops. Most charming is the tiny McDonalds, which in order to keep in context, has a famous little brass overhanging sign. Upon seeing it you’ll wonder whether to laugh or cry. Sometimes, globalization can be quite ironic…
17. Be Part of a Flash Mob
Oh, admit it already! We all wanted to be part of a flash mob once, right :)?
This was it for Part 1 of an Austrian’s Bucket List ;). We are going to post Part 2 next month and Part 3, the month after. Stay tuned for more interesting articles about amazing Austria.
There are just some things that are part of Vienna like breathing. And one of those things are the Viennese so-called Fiakers, or horse-drawn carriages.
Since I can remember, those proud and beautiful horses pull carriages with people from all walks of life in them, both locals and foreigners, to show them the beauty of our capital city in a bit of an unconvential way.
You will have that feeling of past times long gone by, bursting in your chest, while you excitedly watch the rhythm of the city as it breathes each day, in and out, enjoying life at its own pace and time.
The term “fiaker” actually originates from the French and refers to the hackney carriage stand in the Parisian Rue de Saint Fiacre. In 1720, the carriages – which had previously been referred to as “Janschky” coaches in Vienna – were renamed “fiakers” (and numbered). Then, afterwards, the carriage trade really began to boom: more than 1,000 fiakers daily were on the road in Vienna between 1860 and 1900. The carriage drivers were often characters that were known throughout the city and also sometimes performed as singers (kinda like the gondoliers in Venice). They were appreciated for their discretion, especially when one or the other – shall we say – fine gentleman was amusing himself in the fiaker with the lady of his heart :). Probably most famous among them was Josef Bratfisch, the royal coachman of Crown Prince Rudolf, who brought the prince’s lover Mary Vetsera to Mayerling in 1889, where both lives found a tragic end.
Even today, it is impossible to imagine the cityscape of Vienna without the Viennese fiakers.
And where can you find this stands now to take your family or your special someone on a ride, you might ask yourself? Well, you can find fiaker stands in pretty much all of the important areas of the Inner city of Vienna, so: Stephansplatz, Heldenplatz (occasionally Michaelerplatz), Albertinaplatz, Petersplatz and Burgtheater. Just stop by any of those places we just listed (during summer as well as winter time since the fiakers roam Vienna the whole year round), see which of the beautiful horses speaks t you ;), and off you go!
The short tour (approx. 20 min. through the centre of the Old City) costs € 55 (about $72); the long tour (approx. 40 min. through the Ringstrasse and the Old City) € 80 (about $105). We know they are a little bit on the pricier side, but then again, to do a fiaker tour is perfect (!) for a date or also to take your kids on a tour they will never forget. Me and my brother certainly never have and made some of our fondest and earliest memories of Vienna, riding through the city while sitting on the laps of our parents and being tucked into a warm and cozy blanket, all on a cute pink Manner fiaker being drawn by two white horses named Franz and Heidi.
And here’s a special tip: If you would like to enjoy a romantic journey, you should ask the fiaker coach for a “porcelain ride”, which is a particularly calm and steady drive through the city and away from the major tourist spots. This was provided long ago to transport precious porcelain safely from one place to another. Today, it’s a nice way to enchant your beloved.
We almost forgot to post about our most favorite and dear Vienna event that’s in the middle of the capital city! We are talking about the Vienna Open-Air Film Festival!!
The Music Film Festival is beautifully located in front of the Vienna Rathaus. It is the Town Hall (in English) and a beautiful some-what gothic castle style looking building. The festival takes place throughout the entire summer and we just love it and have been going to it every year since my brother and I were little children :)!
Every night they project a classical or pop music concert onto a huge screen in front of the majestic town hall. It is completely FREE of charge and when you attend you will notice that the courtyard in front of the town hall is packed every night and the surrounding parks as well.
The event features some awesome concerts and everyone just sits for hours into the night watching, listening, and EATING!
Because what kind of festival would it be without food? There are about 30 different food stalls open all day with an international selection of cuisine (organic cuisine!)! It is truly THE food event of the year as well as in Vienna and oh! deliciousness, our stomachs crumble just thinking about it.
The many food stalls are actually representatives and advertisement at the same time from the most famous, popular and best restaurants in Vienna! So you pretty much can kill two birds with one stone, watch beautiful operas, concerts, or musicals on the big screen underneath the scars while eating from the amazingly diverse and international cuisine of Vienna.
So from 29 June to 1 September the 23rd the Film Festival will, once more, transform the Rathausplatz into a unique open-air concert hall and a popular gourmet hotspot for thousands of visitors. Do not miss to check out this event! It’s now or never. Check out the link below and like always, we would love to see pictures of when you have been there ;)!
So every time I go back to Vienna and me and my friends want to try out a new place to eat, we are always having troubles deciding on one. Why? Because choices are seriously limitless, you’ll find a restaurant around almost every street corner in the capital city. Plus, with the rising international crowd that lives nowadays in Vienna, you can find everything your heart desires from tasty Pho, to Gyros, Tacos, Tapas and even a Korean restaurant and a some amazing Churrascarias.
In addition to that, I have become ADDICTED to yelp while living in the States and there is nothing like yelp in Austria (at least not in English). Sure, yelp does have a few Austrian places in its search database, however they mostly have one or two reviews and well, they mostly seem to come from Americans living in Austria – so, still no idea which other hot place is in right now in Austria. Anyway, we make it our new mission to help those out of you guys that live in Vienna at the moment and are going to list one hot new place each week. Be prepared for some serious deliciousness and enjoyment ;)!
This week’s local tip: the Best Iranian Restaurant in Town: Pars restaurant!
In case you have ever randomly looked for an amazing Persian restaurant while in Vienna (who knows, right :)?), then seriously check out Pars! This place is truly authentic and truly amazing. The owner is a good friend of the best friend of my dad and we have been going there for decades. The prices are compatible with other restaurant prices in Vienna and when you step inside the place, you will find many Persians just hanging out, chatting or having lunch or dinner with the family. A true sign that this place promises you authentic Persian cuisine! Enjoy!
Address: Lerchenfelderstrasse 148, Vienna 1080, Austria (Altlerchenfeld)
Have you guys ever been to the VA Awards? Every year they are hosted in the capital city of Austria, Vienna.
“Austria is a place of music, culture and beauty.” Just like Karolina Kurkova stated in her interview in 2012 after attending the Vienna Awards.
This year, in 2013, some stunning designs have hit the runway and in the photos below you can see an excerpt of what Austrian fashion designers have to offer ;).
If you liked this post, please share it with your friends! Thx ;)!
Why not jump off a dam or a bridge while in Austria :)? Did you know that Austria has some of the best and most dangerous bungee jumps in the world?
One of the jumps is actually among the highest 5 jumps in the world and it is the one when you jump off the Europabruecke Bridge in the state of Tyrol. Standing 630 feet (192 m) high, and supporting the Brenner Autobahn, the Europabruecke Bridge was Europe’s highest jump from 1963 until it was topped out by France’s Millau Viaduct in 2004.
However make no mistake: just standing on the edge of this structure, let alone thinking about jumping from it, would be enough to make many feel sick with…well, you can imagine.
Once you’ve had those ties wrapped securely around your ankles, it’s a quick look at the alpine panorama around you and then a leap off the launch platform, your face turning to stretched rubber as the floor of the Wipp valley rushes towards you, before the bungee finally kicks in, leaving you bouncing like a rag doll on a piece of string – albeit a very grateful one. To do this jump, it’s about $167 a person (see: http://www.rupert-hirner.at/content.html).
Some other crazy Austrian bungee jumps are jumping off the 169 meters (about 590feet) Kolnbrein Dam (Koelnbreinsperre) in Carinthia. The scenery is really breathtaking, also jumping off a dam instead of a bridge. It just has a different kind of feel.
The last spot we want to mention in Austria that’s popular among the Austrian extreme sport lovers is to jump of the Danube Tower (or Donauturm) in Vienna. The Danube Tower is the tallest structure in Austria, at 252 meters, and among the 75 tallest towers in the world! The launch pad has been installed at 152 meters. At that height the jumper has a fantastic panorama of the city and way further (it’s truly breathtaking!) – the view stretches for about 80 kilometers. And we recommend to savour it well before you launch yourself as, at a velocity of somewhere around 90 km/h, you won’t have time to take much in while you fall ;).
As you can tell from our website already whilst you’re in Austria there are plenty of other adrenaline sports you can do. There’s paragliding – and Austria’s truly a sensational place to do that. There’s also: kayaking, rafting, windsurfing and kitesurfing on the idyllic Lake Achensee which has great wind conditions and on Lake Reschensee near Nauders and Durlaßbodenspeicher Reservoir in Zillertal – to name but a few. There’s hiking, climbing, ice climbing …. we could go on and on and can’t wait to post about these amazing things you can do in Austria.
So if you happened to be wondering where to go this Summer – you might think of Austria! It’s got it all hehe ;)….
And here’s a special tip: If you would like to enjoy a romantic journey, you should ask the fiaker coach for a “porcelain ride”, which is a particularly calm and steady drive through the city and away from the major tourist spots. This was provided long ago to transport precious porcelain safely from one place to another. Today, it’s a nice way to enchant your beloved.
The event features some awesome concerts and everyone just sits for hours into the night watching, listening, and EATING!
Once you’ve had those ties wrapped securely around your ankles, it’s a quick look at the alpine panorama around you and then a leap off the launch platform, your face turning to stretched rubber as the floor of the Wipp valley rushes towards you, before the bungee finally kicks in, leaving you bouncing like a rag doll on a piece of string – albeit a very grateful one. To do this jump, it’s about $167 a person (see: http://www.rupert-hirner.at/content.html).
Talk to me about Austria 