Museums, hotels, concerts, and shopping in Vienna; everything there is to know about the capital of music
Museums, hotels, concerts, and shopping in Vienna; everything there is to know about the capital of music
The greatness of traveling not only lies in visiting monuments or experiencing the way of life of other regions, but also in getting to know the history and context of the milestones that have marked the foundations of our society. To this end, one of the cities that has had most influence in terms of constituting Western culture is Vienna – this is due to the role it has played in terms of music, psychology, architecture, and lifestyle.
With a direct air route between Bilbao and Vienna, the city is the perfect destination for a short getaway. In this guide, we’d like to give you our tips to make the most of your stay in the Austrian capital.
Luxury Accommodation
Although there is a wide and very complete range of hotels (there are 22 five-star hotels), the Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere Hotel is worth noting, as it was just inaugurated by the Hyatt chain next to Belvedere Palace. This luxury accommodation option with a contemporary flair has made a significant effort to bring the guest closer to the local culture through small details like, for example, its personal hygiene amenities -manufactured by one of the city’s oldest pharmacies- and through its gastronomy. The hotel has an excellent restaurant where quality, local products are paramount. There is also a snack bar on the building’s rooftop with a terrace that offers a panoramic view of the city, as well as a bar alongside the lobby where guests are invited daily to have a snack and taste local specialties.
Classical Music
In the music capital, it is of utmost importance to enjoy some of the musical shows offered each day: the concerts of the Philharmonic and of the Vienna Boys’ Choir or the operas and ballets put on at the National Opera House are some of the most popular. Those who are lucky enough to start off the new year in Vienna, in addition to attending the New Year’s Eve Ball at the Hofburg Palace, should not miss the New Year’s Concert at the Musikverein. Because it is so difficult to get tickets for this much-sought-after show, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra offers a concert as an alternative on the same day at the Wiener Konzerthaus.
Museum by Museum
Vienna has more than 100 museums of the highest level. The MuseumsQuartier –the museums district– is one of largest cultural complexes of the world, made up of art galleries with exceptional collections; for example, the exhibition of works by Egon Schiele on display at the Leopold Museum. Outside of the MuseumsQuartier, noteworthy is the Albertina Museum, with works by Dürer, Monet, and Baselitz, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, with pieces by Vermeer, Velázquez, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Tintoretto, and the Belvedere which, in addition to being a splendid Baroque palace, houses the largest Gustav Klimt collection in the world.
Traditional Purchases
Although the Austro-Hungarian monarchy came to an end in 1918, the great quality of the former Imperial and Royal Purveyors (recognized as “K.u.k. Hoflieferanten”) still persists at present. Only the best companies were permitted to supply the Imperial Court with goods and services and to display the double-headed eagle on their name plate. The eagle can still be seen today at some shops that have preserved and kept their exclusive production over the years.
What to Visit
It is difficult to put the wide range of things to see in a city as big and rich as Vienna into just a few lines of text; nevertheless, if you only have a couple of days to visit the capital, you cannot miss Stephansdom, a Gothic cathedral located in St. Steven’s Square; Café Central, frequented by personalities like Loos, Trotsky, Lenin, and Stalin; Hundertwasserhaus, the colorful apartment building designed by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser; the Spanish Riding School and its performance with Lipizzaner Stallions; The Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs; the National Library, one of the most beautiful of the world; the Secession, a modernist building that embodies the art movement of the same name; and the Naschmarkt, the most atmospheric and cheerful market of the city.
We hope that these tips can help as a small approximation to the Austrian capital – a capital which has contributed so much throughout history.
Vienna
