How to make the most of Vienna
We explore one of Europe’s cultural capitals, which has topped the Global Liveability Index two years in a row
Synonymous with Baroque architecture, classical music concerts and grandiose coffee houses, Vienna is an engaging and dynamic city at the heart of Europe.
Famed for its high quality of life, Vienna the city tops the Global Liveability Index 2023 for the second year running. Contributing factors include its stability, security, culture, reliable infrastructure and education. But environment is also key: Vienna offers exemplary social housing, energy-producing waste disposal systems in its new homes and Europe’s first urban development made of timber at LeopoldQuartier.
Vienna’s compact size makes it easily walkable and many overseas buyers gravitate to the historic streets of the First District or Innere Stadt for everything they need, says Alex Koch de Gooreynd, head of Knight Frank’s Austrian desk. “For those relocating the large villas and international schools of the 19th district mean that might be top of the list, although some prefer the semi-rural feel of the 13th.”
According to #Vienna, the in-house publication for OTTO Immobilien, Knight Frank’s Austrian partner, the average property price per square metre for the 1st is €19,519; and for the 19th it is €9,951: the average price in these two districts, along with the 7th, 11th and 17th, increased by over 20 per cent during 2022.
Looking citywide, demand from German, Hungarian and Eastern European buyers alongside a sprinkling of those from the UK, United States and the Middle East produces a stable market. In the Knight Frank Global Cities Index for Q1 2023, prices in many of the world’s luxury property markets have turned negative, yet Vienna has held firm, with a +1.2 per cent annual price change.
What, then, can you expect from a stint in Vienna? We’ve unpacked the local knowledge of OTTO Immobilien’s Carmen Hauptmann.
Café culture
Sampling the city’s legendary kaffeehauser is a must. Below the vaulted ceilings and chandeliers of the Palais Ferstel is Café Central. You’ll feel transported back in time reading the day’s newspapers in wooden hangers, sampling a Wiener Melange (Viennese cappuccino) or Einspänner (espresso topped with whipped cream). Don’t leave town without trying the Sachertorte at Café Sacher and follow in the footsteps of Gustav Klimt by trying a reading event or an apfelstrudel with a trip to Café Museum.
A little night music
When in Vienna… go to a concert. Among the very best concert halls in the world is the Musikverein, famed for its gilded neo-classicism and peerless acoustics: book the Vienna Mozart Orchestra at the Golden Hall (and if you are lucky enough to get a ticket, its New Year’s concert with the Vienna Philharmonic). Johann Strauss concerts at the Wiener Konzerthaus are rather lovely and let’s not forget the State Opera: three of our picks include Strauss’s Die Fledermaus or Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) – its version for children is a treat.
A whirl around the shops
The Viennese do the finer things in life rather well and this includes shopping. Many head straight to the Innere Stadt’s Golden U (so called for its myriad jewellery shops including the Austrian brand Schullin’s handmade pieces) but do also peruse the Austrian modernism at Österreichische Werkstätten on Kärntner Strasse if you have a new flat to furnish; or for masterpieces of a culinary nature go to Julius Meinl am Graben – look at for its daily take-away specials and find the best in Austrian handmade candy at Die Zuckerlwerkstadt.
By the beautiful blue Danube
The subject of wars, paintings, poems and a famous waltz by Strauss, Vienna’s famous river offers popular spots to enjoy during the summer months. The Old Danube – Alte Danube – is a sidearm of the river that draws sailors, rowers, paddleboarders and surfers – you can enjoy a drink or a meal there too. Our favourite spot for a dip is in the Nueu Donau – the New Danube channel that transforms into a beach, cafes and chill-out areas - but if you live in the 19th district, it’s the pool amidst the pine forests and vineyards of the Krapfenwaldlbad.
Heuriger: the real spirit of Vienna?
Almost as revered by the Viennese cognoscenti as the kaffeehauser are the heuriger or rustic wine tavernas that sit within city limits. Hop on your bike or take the Heuringer Express that allows you to hop on and off to whichever winery (or two) you choose. Taste a crisp, fresh Gruner Veltliner, grab some lunch and take some bottles home. Amongst our favourites are the historic Mayer am Pfarrplatz – the elegant restaurant is worth a trip, or the oldest heuringen in Vienna, 10er Marie – since 1740 it remains an important meeting place for the city’s politicos and artists.
The hills are alive
Another of the joys of Vienna is that a day’s skiing, or a summer hike, is within an easy hour or two’s drive of the city. Along with Stuhleck, perhaps the most well-known ski resort is Annaberg, as it’s ideal for families with its cross-country skiing, snowshoe trails and natural sled trail. You can find Europe’s largest night-skiing area at Semmering, just an hour’s drive from town – or great mountain biking in the summer. Our insider’s tip is Hinterstoder, it’s a little bit further away, but the 40km of slopes make it worth an overnight trip – you can even buy a cute little buy-to-let on the mountain.
