June 6, 2024 - Summer is fast approaching. In addition to the innumerable tourist highlights and the idyllic natural havens in the city, the Grätzel, as Vienna’s neighborhoods are called, hold a lot of surprises in store. This is where to go to experience everyday life in the world’s most liveable city.
There’s a lot going on outdoors in Vienna this summer. Many of these events in the fresh outdoors will take place outside of the city center. These four Viennese neighborhoods allow visitors to immerse themselves in the city’s culture in authentic fashion. Anyone who is not sure which Grätzel suits them best can take the Grätzel Personality Test and find out which of the city’s districts is the best fit for them.
Karmeliterviertel: cool and kosher
The Karmeliterviertel was the hub of Jewish life in Vienna before the Second World War, and this can still be felt today. Strict orthodox Jews, dressed in their characteristic black robes and tall hats, with long beards and temple curls, stroll through the streets here. Different religions and communities live peacefully side by side here. The district lies between the trendy banks of the Danube Canal and the Augarten green oasis and is one of the most popular residential areas in Vienna. Architecturally, the district is a mixture of municipal buildings and Wilhelminian-style houses, some with smartly converted attics. The culinary jewel in the crown is the colorful Karmelitermarkt with its wide range of offerings. Thanks to a solar power system on the roof of the market office and an energy storage system, it has also recently become the first energy self-sufficient market in Europe. Two world-famous Viennese institutions, the Augarten Vienna Porcelain Manufactory and the Vienna Boys’ Choir, have their home right in the green Augarten. True crime fans definitely won’t want to miss the Museum of Crime.
See the Karmeliterviertel from a visitor’s perspective in our video series Vienna/Now:
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Video über das Karmeliterviertel in Wien
A guided walk through the Karmeliterviertel can be found in the official destination app, ivie:
Explore it now!
Kutschkermarkt – sophisticated and organic
The Kutschkermarkt is nestled in Vienna’s upmarket 18th district, Währing. This is a popular spot for young families with children. This is partly due to the playground right next door, which can be seen from many of the stands at the market. In addition to the varied and top-quality market and selection of eateries, flower sellers add to the colorful overall impression. This street market is particularly worth a visit on Saturdays. The permanent market stalls are supplemented by local farmers who sell their produce here – much of it organic. The area around the Kutschkermarkt was traffic-calmed and made more eco-friendly last year. Directly adjacent to this neighborhood is the Schubertpark. This was once the site of the Währing Municipal Cemetery. A cemetery grove containing around 40 historic graves from the Biedermeier period has been preserved. The tombs of the composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert are located outside the plot and can still be visited today, but the remains of the two were reinterred in graves of honor at the Central Cemetery.
Immerse yourself in the intimate world of the Kutschkermarkt with our host Adia:
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Video über den Kutschkermarkt in Wien
Stuwerviertel: Vienna unadorned
The Stuwerviertel is in the process of transforming itself from a formerly disreputable red-light district into a trendy, laid-back Viennese Grätzel. The vibrant mix of tradition with a modern touch is particularly evident in the cuisine. The classic Viennese bistro is reimagined at Restaurant Stuwer, fritz von stuwer and Wirtshaus brösl. Culinary treats await at the Vorgartenmarkt. The magnificent St. Francis of Assisi Church sits proudly on the banks of the Danube. The modern campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business and Viertel Zwei, an ultra-modern residential district, provide an architectural contrast. Messe Wien, which is also located here and attracts around 260,000 visitors a year, has a global reputation among trade visitors. This is one of the reasons why a number of hotels have set themselves up here on the edge of the Stuwerviertel. A visit to Vienna’s Wurstelprater, a unique amusem*nt park with free admission, is particularly recommended for action fans and families. Directly behind it is one of the city’s largest recreational areas: the Green Prater.
Stuwerviertel (Walk)
Freihausviertel: a creative cosmos
The Freihausviertel is just a few minutes’ walk from the Karlsplatz subway junction and the Naschmarkt. It is hip and urban, yet Viennese through and through. It is regarded as a testing ground for the urban zeitgeist. Flo Vintage is the city’s longest established store for exquisite vintage fashion. Gabarage, an upcycling company that produces furniture, accessories and clothing, mainly employs people who have difficulties in the labor market. The numerous galleries in particular contribute to Schleifmühlgasse’s fashionable reputation. Behind the façade of the magnificent Palais Ehrbar is the Ehrbar Hall, a venue where greats such as Johannes Brahms, Anton Bruckner, Arnold Schönberg and Gustav Mahler gave concerts in their day. The Third Man Museum is an extraordinary venue that focuses on one of the best films of all time. The dining scene is extremely varied. Café Anzengruber is a classic of the Viennese bistro scene, whose Wiener Schnitzel is famous throughout the city. At Café Vollpension, grandmothers bake and serve fantastic pastries as part of an initiative to combat poverty among women in old age. Anyone who tucks into cakes, tarts and strudel here is also doing a good deed.
Discover the Freihausviertel and the adjacent Gußhausviertel with ivie:
Explore it now!
If you still can’t get enough of Vienna’s Grätzel, you might want to attend one of the numerous street festivals in the Viennese neighborhoods.
Contact
Helena Steinhart
Media Relations
+43 1 211 14-364
helena.steinhart@vienna.info
