August 11, 2022, 4:37 am | Read time: 8 minutes

Vienna, the home of Mozart, Sachertorte, schnitzel, and me. I grew up in the world’s most livable city and am tired of the classic tourist attractions like Schönbrunn Palace or the Ferris wheel. Vienna has so much more to offer. A spritzer at a Heuriger, dancing at Flex, and an evening on Bellevuewiese–that’s what I would recommend to visitors who really want to get to know my hometown. So here are my tips for experiencing Vienna like the Viennese!

1. Naschmarkt

Standing in the Naschmarkt, you might forget you’re in Austria’s capital. The vendors, offering everything from nuts to vegetables and meat, shout like they’re at a bazaar to promote their goods. With the samples, you can fill up for free.

If you’re still hungry after the vendors’ treats, you can sit at one of the restaurants on the market’s edge. A staple is Neni. The oriental restaurant has even made its way to Berlin, near the Tiergarten. But the restaurant chain started here at the Naschmarkt. The wait for a table, which you unfortunately have to expect, is worth it.

2. Bellevuewiese

A viewpoint where you’ll only meet locals. Bellevuewiese, whose name hints at the surprise of the magnificent view, offers a panorama of the entire city. Especially at sunset, many couples and groups of friends picnic here.

The view must be earned, though, as the path up requires time and stamina. Tip: The app Scotty is a lifesaver for visiting Vienna, showing all connections and departure times from your current location.

3. Heuriger in Neustift am Walde

You haven’t truly experienced Vienna if you haven’t been to a Heuriger–a visit there is one of the best tips for the city. Eating fried chicken and drinking spritzers among the vineyards is as much a part of Viennese culture as Wiener schnitzel. In the district of Neustift am Walde, the selection of wine taverns is large: Heuriger Wolff, Fuhrgassl-Huber, and Schreiberhaus are classics. Where you eat doesn’t matter–the main thing is to stay long and try the spritzer menu. You’ll discover what sets a Heuriger apart from a regular restaurant by the ambiance.

4. Franziskanerplatz

It doesn’t get more Viennese than this. In the middle of the city center lies the small Franziskanerplatz. Just the walk there, through the narrow alleys of the city center, brings a sense of calm. Although you’re in the heart of Vienna, it’s often very quiet and dreamy here.

Franziskanerplatz got its name from the Franciscan monastery that has been here since 1701. User tip: Take out your camera and photograph the “Kleine Café” on the square. As the name suggests, there are only a few seats available–but in summer, you can drink coffee right on the square.

5. Der Dachboden

The best view of the city is from the rooftop of the 25 Hours Hotel. The bar is almost always packed, largely with locals who have discovered the hotel’s terrace for themselves. Living room atmosphere, cocktails, and the view over the city center are convincing. You reach Der Dachboden via the elevator in the hotel lobby at Lerchenfelderstraße 1-3, in the 7th district.

Also interesting: 10 spectacular rooftop pools worldwide

6. Servitenviertel

Although the area is practically right next to the major attractions and the Ring, the Servitenviertel feels like an Austrian village. The district is in the 9th district and is called “Little Paris” or the most beautiful corner of the city by locals. The center of the district between Währinger Straße, Schottenring, and Rossauer Lände is the small square in front of the Servitenkirche. One restaurant follows another, and in summer, people like to sit in front of the bistros on the cobblestones.

7. Alte Donau

Along the old Danube, there are countless publicly accessible bathing spots. If you prefer swimming pools, you can choose between Angelibad, the Strandbad Alte Donau, and the iconic Gänsehäufel.

You can also explore the Alte Donau on the water. There are plenty of rowing, electric, and pedal boat rentals, and the Marina Hofbauer is iconic.
It’s especially beautiful on the old Danube when the sun sets over the water at the end of the day. If you want to combine the sunset with dinner, “La Crêperie” and “Das Bootshaus” are recommended.

Also interesting: 8 dreamy and quiet Alpine valleys in Austria

8. Donaukanal

You can find young Viennese at the Donaukanal from 5 p.m. They sit on the banks of the Danube arm in front of graffiti-covered walls with a drink in hand, bought from one of the many “beach bars” located there. Ships pass by regularly, and the Twin City Liner dock, which runs between Vienna and Bratislava, is nearby.

Special tip: Some bars like Strandbar Herman, Motto am Fluss, and Tel-Aviv Beach are a must-visit. At night, the age range of the audience widens, and the line in front of the nightclub “FLEX” gets longer. A little piece of Berlin in Vienna, complete with a gritty atmosphere and techno music.

9. Burggasse/Neubaugasse

The trendy district in the seventh district impresses with original shops and restaurants. Sustainable, fair, vegan–the area around Burggasse, Neubaugasse, and St. Ulrich Platz is the gateway to Vienna’s hipster world. If you want to have a coffee, and you should always do that when visiting Vienna, you can stop by the Vintage Café and Concept Store Burggasse 24.

10. Das Loft

A view for which the upscale cocktail prices are worth it. At “Das Loft“, many anniversaries and promotions have been celebrated. The bar on the 18th floor of the SO/ Vienna hotel is impressive. The glass windows offer a panoramic view of the entire city, which is worth seeing at any time of day or night.

With these tips, you’ll blend in like a local in Vienna

So, now you know what to see in Vienna from a local’s perspective. But do you know how to pass as a true Viennese tourist? There are indeed some pitfalls if you don’t want to stand out as a German in Austria’s capital.

Here are 5 pitfalls in Vienna:

1. Ordering a roll or saying bag

Of course, locals know what a roll is. They also know what a bag is, but they won’t ask about it, though they might mimic it. In Austria, a roll is called a Weckerl, and a bag is a Sackerl. The “-erl” is simply the diminutive form–the equivalent of the German “-chen.”

2. Simply ordering a coffee in a traditional Viennese café 

A true Viennese doesn’t just order a coffee. The Melange, the Verlängerte, the small and large Braune are what define Vienna. And even if there were just coffee, you should never order it. A Viennese Melange tastes far too special for that.

3. Skimping on food

Austrian cuisine is quite authentic, and Viennese are gourmets. One reason why food is not skimped on. And Vienna tourists shouldn’t either.

Here are the most important dishes you should not miss in Vienna–and
you should order them exactly as follows:

• G’röstete Knödel mit Ei (Fried dumplings with egg)
• Wiener Frankfurter with mustard and horseradish, especially good in all coffee houses & at the sausage stand
• Goulash soup
• Apple strudel with vanilla sauce, served piping hot
• A well-intentioned piece of Sachertorte
• Wiener schnitzel with lingonberries & potato salad with pumpkin seed oil
• Schinkenfleckerl, a large portion
• Pork roast in gravy with bread dumplings

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4. Taking things too personally

Viennese are sometimes considered a bit grumpy and grouchy, but that’s also one of the reasons why people here rarely take things personally. The gscherte talking and complaining is just part of the language in Vienna. So if you encounter the charming Viennese unfriendliness during your visit to the city, you should take it like a local: don’t take it personally.

Also interesting: How to explore Bratislava and Vienna in three days

5.  Smiling at people in the subway

Here we are again with the well-known Viennese mentality. The Viennese are charming, very charming indeed. But also unfriendly. So if you’re in the subway and deliberately smile at someone, you have to expect it to quickly become uncomfortable. You’ll get a quick, very puzzled look back, often even a nasty one. Simply because the Viennese are very introverted, inhibited, and above all skeptical of their surroundings.