The General Assembly has come to an end, with only a few hours left to go. Many of the participants will make their way home over the weekend, but if you’ve chosen to stay on for a little longer, then this list of cultural activities and things to do in Vienna might just be the ticket!
Relax with Vienna’s best coffee
You can’t visit Vienna without going for a coffee and a slice of Sacher torte in one of the city’s fine coffee establishments. Try Cafe Hawelka, once a hub of Viennese artists, or Cafe Central, the legendary literati cafe.
Explore architectural wonders
Immerse yourself in Vienna’s architectural heritage with a visit to Wien Museum Karlzplatz, where you will find an exhibition of Otto Wagner’s architectural works. Follow the exhibition with a walking tour of the city to see these wonders for yourself.
Wien Museum Karlsplatz (Credit: Kbsen, Wikimedia Commons)
Get into the jungle
Step outside of the city and explore the Lobau, a national park fondly known as ‘Vienna’s jungle’. Catch a boat straight from the old city and travel in style.
Gardens, palaces and plants fairs
Enjoy the Viennese spring sunshine in the botanical gardens this weekend and while you’re there drop in on Raritätenbörse, Vienna’s exotic plant fair in the Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna. For anyone looking for a botanical souvenir of EGU, there promises to be a big range of exotic plants on sale. For the less green-fingered, why not head to the Belvedere Palace next door and explore some of the spectacular art on display.
Design markets in the Museum Quartier
For anyone interested in design, there is an international design market (WAMP) outside the Museum Quartier on Saturday. It promises to showcase the best of local and eastern European design, accompanied by tasty street food and a lively atmosphere.
Superfly birthday night
For anyone wanting to party, Superfly radio (a Viennese radio station) is holding a 8-floor extravaganza at the Ottakringer Brauerei to celebrate its 10 year birthday, boasting international acts and all-night music. Hip Hop, Disco, Soul, Electronic beats and breaks, House and Latin music are just some of the genres on offer for those who fancy letting their hair down on Friday evening.
Strauss and Mozart Concert at the Kursalon
In the home country of Strauss and Mozart, any fans of classical music should head to the Kursalon concert hall for the traditional Viennese experience. There are concerts every evening this weekend. For those who want to treat themselves, why not book a ‘Concert and Dinner ticket’ and enjoy a gala dinner before the show in the Kursalon’s Restaurant Johann.
Schönbrunn Palace
If rooms of Baroque glory are your thing, then Schönbrunn Palace is the place to go. At the end of the seventeenth century Emperor Leopold I commissioned the architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, who had received his training in Rome, to design an imperial hunting lodge for his son, Crown Prince Joseph, later to become Emperor Joseph I. The park at Schönbrunn Palace, complete with maze, vineyard and orangery, extends for 1.2 km from east to west and approximately one kilometre from north to south. Together with the palace, it was placed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1996.
