TRAVEL EUROPE SPECIAL........................ VIENNA: EIGHT REASONS TO STAY ON

VIENNA: EIGHT REASONS TO STAY ON

Famed for its music and steeped in history, Vienna has a lot to offer a culture-hungry traveller. But the city that gave the world Mozart and Klimt is as much with the present as it is the past, with chic boutiques, modern architecture and a cool culinary scene – all excellent reasons, says local writer Diane Naar-Elphee, to extend your next business trip in the Austrian capital

Klimt Villa

Gustav Klimt’s most iconic artwork, The Kiss, may attract millions of visitors every year, but his studio and last abode is off the tourist track. Thisbeautiful villa, where he created some of his most important art nouveau canvasses and spent the last years of his life, offers a fascinating insight into his genius. Just jump on tram 58 from Westbahnhof to Verbindungsbahn. 

Grand designs

For a look at what contemporary architecture has in store for the city, visit the futuristic, state-of-the-art campus at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. This is a vibrant site, composed of five stunning departments, which has a Zaha Hadid-designed library as its dramatic and striking centrepiece. 

Christmas spirit

In the run-up to the festive season, you can’t leave Vienna without visiting one of its Christkindlmarkts (Christmas markets), which open from mid-November. The glitziest and kitschiest is in front of the Rathausplatz, which has more than 150 stalls brimming with sweets, baubles, toys and trinkets – it also boasts the biggest Christmas tree in town. 

A night at the opera

While the tourist throngs scramble for tickets at the Vienna State Opera, make a beeline for the lesser-known and intimate neoclassical Theater an der Wien – where Beethoven once served as ‘composer in residence’ and where Fidelio premiered in 1805.

Local bites

For an affordable local lunch in a homely setting, book a table at Flosz Gasthaus. The chef uses organic produce from regional suppliers to create a seasonal menu that could include anything from risotto with chanterelles to wiener schnitzel. A three-course lunch is a steal at €10.90.

Shopping spree

The best place for shopping is between Kirchengasse and Josefstädter Strasse, within the Bohemian seventh and eighth districts. Or discover local talent on Lindengasse – the heart of the Neubau creative district – at the boutiques of Austrian designers such as Tiberius or Elke Freytag.

A view to thrill

If it’s a clear day, take the elevator into the baroque cupola of Karlskirche (St Charles) then climb the 40 or so steps into the rooftop lantern. Prefer your view with a drink? The Sofitel has a top-floor bar with floor-to-ceiling windows, providing one of the best views of the city. Arrive early, or you may have to queue to get in.

Grape expectations

Coffee houses may be an institution in Vienna, but there’s also a strong wine culture – some vineyards are even within the city limits. Nussberg, one of the hills of the northern Vienna Woods, is just 40 minutes outside the city. A vintage from the area, Gemischter Satz, has recently experienced a revival. Fancy a glass of the best? Head to Die Winzerei for a tasting.

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