This used to be the horse stables of the imperial court but look what it has become now: 60,000 m² (!) for art, architecture, design, dance, theatre, fashion, restaurants, coffeehouses and plenty of outdoor facilities for relaxation.

Museumsquartier is located right next to the imperial palace (Hofburg) and hence in the very center of town; today it houses amongst many other institutions  large public galleries such as the  Leopold Museum (the world’s largest Egon Schiele collection together with outstanding works by Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Richard Gerstl), MUMOK, the Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna ( the heartbeat of modern art in Vienna) and the Kunsthalle Wien which presents travelling avant-garde exhibitions.

But Museumsquartier also houses Austria’s center for contemporary dance and performance, the Architekturzentrum Wien (featuring  exhibitions on  contemporary architecture), the Childrens’ Museum (designed to familiarize children with art) and the occasional pop-up theatre performance.

Museumsquartier is a world within itself, it is noisy, young at heart and unconventional (some say: very un-Viennese), you can get lost in it for hours and street artists, dancers, and the many restaurants, bars, bookstores and coffeehouses will allow you to take a break after all the culture and watch the fun around you. Come and see for yourself!

The St. Ruprecht's church is Vienna’s oldest church. It was founded in the 8th century and is dedicated to Saint Rupert of Salzburg, patron saint of the salt merchants of Vienna. The church is located in one of the oldest parts of the city, the section of the Roman Vindobona. The stained glass window dates back to the 13th century, and the Gothic organ gallery, as well as the picture of St. Ruprecht are worth seeing. A secret tip for lovers of ancient music are the late-night concerts which, in this setting, take you back to former times. Small ensembles play treats by Bach, Rameau, Telemann and Forqueray. The church has a very romantic atmosphere, it is slightly hidden from the crowds and is the right place to find silence and peace.

PS: Happy Holiday Season and all the best in the New Year!

St. Stephen’s cathedral is Vienna’s main church.

It has survived through many wars and has become a symbol of Vienna's freedom. The Gothic cathedral was first built in 1147 AD and much of what is still standing today dates back to these times. Its most recognizable characteristic, the diamond-patterned tile roof, was added in 1952 after the original wooden roof burned down in the bombardment of Vienna in the second world war.

For the ones who are fit enough and curious, walk up the many hundreds of steps up to the top of the tower - you will be rewarded by wonderful views over the city of Vienna! If, however, you are on the lazy side: take the elevator of the building opposite the church (Haas Haus) and sip a drink at the Do&Co bar on the top floor with prime vista of the dome!

St Stephen’s main bell is a symbol of the city, in former times it rang when there was a fire, nowadays the “Pummerin”, as it is lovingly called, chimes for important events, for example on…New Year.

PS: Happy New Year!

Cabs are easy to get (call 40 100, or you can safely flag from the street if the light on the roof of the cab is on) or take the first waiting at one of the many cab stands.

However the good news is: public transport in Vienna is safe, cheap and most efficient. It is definitely the best way to get around the city, often it is much quicker than by cab.

The subway system is called U-Bahn, stations are marked with a blue sign (see here) and the system consists of 5 lines, unexplainably marked: U1, U2, U3, U4 and U6.The trains stop at 104 stations along 74.6 km of track. All platforms are equipped with electronic information displays that show the waiting time and the destination. U-Bahn runs until 1 am at night usually, on Friday and Saturday U-Bahn operates all night long. Here you can find a subway map where the connection from the city center to the Conference Center where the IBA will take place is marked.

Tickets for public transportation are valid on the subway, public buses, trams and certain rapid train connections. Day- and week passes are also available. As in many other cities in Europe, tickets must be validated before use - in Vienna this is done by pushing them into one of the blue ticket stamping boxes at the stations or on a bus or train.

And for those who want to slow down: The city center itself (the first district Innere Stadt) is small and in most parts a pedestrian zone, so you could easily walk and enjoy the city. Biking is also an excellent alternative: You can rent a Citybike at one of more than 100 bike stations by using your debit card or credit card and return it at any other bike station in the city. A map of all bike stations in Vienna can be found here.

When you have had a long party or maybe after a ball, late at night or early in the morning a great Viennese classic would be to stop by at a “Würstelstand” (very famous are Würstelstand Leo or Bitzinger). Hot sausages of various kinds, hot dogs, with bread, mustard and perhaps a small beer, it is Vienna’s classic version of street food. The “Käsekrainer” (sausage with cheese in it) is a popular choice but watch out: they usually are a bit on the heavy side. But the real thing about a Würstelstand is of course the atmosphere, relaxed “Schmäh führen” the telling of jokes and unexpectedly making new friends. Not unfrequently the street cleaners (after working their night shift) and those who attended a ball (in tuxedo and long evening dress) would mingle happily at the Würstelstand.