Cosmopolitan Café Culture in Vienna, Austria - 24-Hour Travel Guide

Café Central

Stephansdom

Hofburg Palace

Hundertwasserhaus

Overview - Vienna is a very busy, very metropolitan city, but she has carefully ensured that her lady-like sensibilities -- cafes, museums, fashion -- are treasured and well looked after like any mother would.

Breakfast - Start off the day properly in Viennese institution Café Central (Herrengasse 17). While it might be one of the more tourist-frequented cafes, its stylish architecture, traditional menu, and historical significance make it a must-see.

Morning - Explore the bizarre and cutting edge design of Hundertwasser’s KunstHaus Wien and Hundertwasserhaus. The museum has other exhibitions of interest, and the shopping plaza nearby continues the theme – be sure to use the toilets before you leave. Other important and more traditional museums that should not be missed include the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), which one could spend days touring, and the Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury), a fabulous display of the wealth of the Hapsburgs’.

Lunch - Enjoy food and snacks at the fabulous and trendy Café Leopold, just off the Museum Square.

Afternoon - While it is not possible to tour everything, it is important to see some of the impressive architecture in Vienna: the Opera House, the Rathaus (city hall), and the Hofburg Palace. Each is wonderfully lit at night to highlight their impressive features.

Take the creepy tour of tombs underneath Michaelerkirche – the bodies are remarkably well preserved (hence the descriptive term ‘creepy’) – there are more bones down here than tourists, without a doubt.

Any shopping needs can be quenched on Mariahilfer Straße, Vienna’s lengthiest shopping, running from the Museum Square all the way to the Westbahnhof.

Dinner - Enjoy a seafood dish at the Palmenhaus, a former greenhouse that now is a top gustatory treat. The interior is very spacious and comfortable, and while some dishes can be somewhat pricey, the cost is worth every euro!

After Dark - Grab one of the comfy leather sofas in Sky Bar and admire the close-up view of the colorful roof of Stephansdom. However, this is a ‘see and be seen’ crowd, so just have the one drink and head to the more casual Schweizerhaus with their large beer garden.

Sleep - Le Meridien, near the Opera House, offers modern, trendy interiors (think pink bathtubs) and an excellent pool and spa.

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