Vienna

Vienna is also Austria's main center of education and home to many universities, professional colleges and gymnasiums.

Universities

• Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
• Medical University of Vienna
• University of Applied Arts Vienna
• University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna
• University of Music and Dramatic Arts Vienna
• University of Vienna
• University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna
• Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration
• Vienna University of Technology
• Webster University Vienna

International Schools

• American International School of Vienna
• Danube International School
• Vienna International School

Transportation

12 Danube bridges connect the city, which is divided by the Danube and the Danube Canal.

Public transporation

Vienna has a large public transportation network.

• Vienna S-Bahn
• Vienna U-Bahn
• Local Railways (Lokalbahn Wien-Baden)
• Wiener Linien (http://www.wienerlinien.co.at/) (Company operating U-Bahn, trams, and most bus routes)

Vienna has an extensive tram network, which is one of the largest in the world, and also large number of bus routes. As all routes in densely populated areas operated at dense intervals, even during off-peak hours, it's usually not necessary to remember the time when the train or bus goes. Public transportation is thus used quite a lot.

The Viennese public transport is connected to services of train and bus lines operating 50 kilometres into the surrounding countryside, which can be used under the same system of tickets.

Public transportation mostly closes during night hours, but there is a special bus service, the Nightline, operating on the most important routes. However, most of these buses run only every thirty minutes. Vienna uses an "honor system." There are no gates or ticket checks when boarding transit lines, but ticket checks will occur, oftentimes by undercover employees.

In Vienna there are also two park railways: the Liliputbahn Prater in the Viennese Prater and the Donauparkbahn in Danube Park.

Railways

Historically, all traffic facilities were oriented towards the main capitals and residential cities of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy consequently, Vienna has several train stations that form the beginning of several train lines:

• Vienna Franz Josefs Station is the starting point of the Franz Josefs Railway
• Vienna West Station is starting point of the West Railway
• Vienna South Station (Former South and East Station) for the South Railway and the East Railway

as well as several through train stations:

• Vienna Hütteldorf on the West Railway
• Vienna Heiligenstadt on the Franz Josefs Railway
• Vienna North (Viennese lines: Praterstern) on the North Railway. The convenient North Station was destroyed in World War II and was not built again after the decay of the Danube monarchy, especially when the Iron Curtain closed almost all passenger traffic to the north. Since World War II a smaller station called "Vienna North" has served as a transit station between S-Bahns, the U1 U-Bahn line, trams, and buses. In 2004 it was essentially completely torn down and is being rebuilt. In 2008 the extended U2 will also stop here.
• Vienna Meidling (Philadelphia bridge) - South Railway. This is Vienna most frequented transit station.
• Vienna Central (Landstraße)

Between these, there are still many smaller stations that are particularly important for local passenger traffic. Since the mid 1990s, the West and South stations have handled all long-distance travel. Many trains stop at Hütteldorf or Meidling, especially when inbound.

In order to bundle all long-distance traffic it has become necessary to build a tunnel, colloquially known as the Wildschweintunnel ("boar tunnel"), underneath Lainzer Tiergarten linking the West Railway to the South Railway. The new bundled train line will connect to a new train station called Vienna-Central Europe that will be constructed somewhat to the south of today's South Station. This new station will give Vienna a main train station for the first time.

Road traffic

To be translated from here ()

Like the train lines, Bundesstraßen leave the city in a star shaped pattern. They are designated after their final destination (Prager Straße -- to Prague, Linzer Straße -- to Linz, Triester Straße -- to Trieste and Brünner Straße -- to Brno). Bundesstraßen can be compared to Federal Highways in the United States, being two-lane in rural areas and multi-lane in urban areas.

Three national autobahns leave Vienna in the westerly (A1), southernly (A2), and easterly directions (A4). Similar to the rail lines, they are commonly referred to after their exit direction (Westautobahn, Südautobahn, and Ostautobahn). In addition, several spur and branch autobahns circle around the southern and eastern areas of the city. The western and northern areas were left mostly untouched because of the Wienerwald protected forest.

Air traffic

Southeast of Vienna is Vienna International Airport. In 2004, there were over 224,809 separate flights departing or arriving, and the airport was used by 14.8 million passengers.

Water transportation

To be translated from here (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wien#Schifffahrt)

Vienna is connected to water by the Rhine-Main-Danube canal via the port in Rotterdam and its nearby German Industrial areas, as well as Eastern European countries up to the Black Sea. The planned Danube-Oder canal remains unfinished.

Leisure activities

Nightlife

Vienna has a variety of nightlife options. Its low crime rate and extensive public transportation network make going out at night safe and convenient. Regular public transportation (subway, tram, and bus) runs until approximately 12:30. After this, nighttime bus lines provide service every half hour (fifteen minutes on some segments). Almost all night lines circle the inner city before heading outbound. Most lines are numerated the same as their corresponding daytime line. For example, if you take the 60 tramline followed by the U4 subway into the city, you can take the N60 bus directly from the city back out. At approximately 5 a.m. the daytime lines resume. Day and night lines now use the same tickets.

Starting in the 1980s, the pedestrian zone between the St. Ruprecht's Church (the oldest in Vienna) and the Bermuda Bräu microbrewery became the now-popular "Bermuda Triangle." It is the one area of the inner city district where relatively loud music and noise is tolerated. Many bars and small clubs are located in this neighborhood.

The First District in general has an abundance of night life options for any budget. There are many Irish pubs with pint prices starting at €2. On the other side of the price-spectrum are bars such as Sky Bar and Do & Co., which are frequented by the Austrian elite. Opening hours vary essentially by neighborhood noise ordinance agreements. In the summer, bars' outdoor seating often has to be vacated by 11 p.m. Generally there is an abundance of establishments open until 4 a.m. or later, especially on the weekend.

Larger nightclubs are generally located further out. Popular ones include U4 Disco, located on the U4 subway line, two medium sized clubs in the wine-producing neighborhood of Grinzing, and an ever-increasing amount of large clubs on the eastern side of the Danube, often located in shopping malls and cinema complexes. One popular club located near the center of the city is Flex, which is on the shores of the Donaukanal, and, like U4 is also located on the U4 subway line. Flex often features world-acclaimed dance music DJs.

In the summer, the eastern shore of the Danube is very popular. It is called Copa Cagrana, which is a word-play of Copacabana and Kagran, which is a sub-district nearby.

Starting in the late 1980s, the city undertook much effort to revitalize the area around the Westgürtel (Western Beltway), which had become a red-light district. Today, large portions of the Westgürtel have been modernized, with many restaurants, bars, and mini-clubs now located under the elevated tracks of the U6 subway line.

Recently the Freihausviertel, right outside the First District by Karlsplatz has also gained some popularity for its restaurants. It includes the Naschmarkt, the major market in Vienna.

Useful Nightlife Terminology: Austria, particularly Vienna, has very unique terminology for drinks. Here is the terminology commonly used:

Beer Sizes: These are either ordered by name or small/large for the 0.3/0.5 L sizes. The names are usually one used for draft beer, as it is dispensed into glasses of the same name.

• "Ein Pfiff": 0.2L / 6 U.S. oz. (not always available) Meaning: "A whistle"
• "Ein Seidl" or Ein kleines Bier: 0.3L / 10 U.S. oz. (common)
• "Ein Krügerl" or Ein grosses Bier 0.5L / 17 U.S. oz. (common) Meaning: "A crocky"
• "Ein Maß" 1 Liter (usually only available in microbreweries) This term originates from Bavaria, and essentially means "a measurement."

Wine Sizes: These are ordered in fractions of a liter

• "Ein Achtel" 1/8 L / 4.25 U.S. oz.
• "Ein Viertel" 1/4 L / 8.50 U.S. oz.

It is also common to order a half-a-liter or a liter of wine with mineral water and then mix them to a desired concentration. The above mentioned quantities are also nearly always available pre-mixed with mineral water. This is called "G'spritzt" ("sprayed"). So to order wine one would say "Ein Achtel/Viertel Rot (red) / Weiß (white), followed by the word "G'spritzt" if one wants it diluted.

Viennese coffeehouses

Translated from here (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wien#Wiener_Kaffeehaus)

Viennese cafés have an extremely long and distinguished history that dates back centuries, and the caffeine addictions of some famous historical patrons of the oldest are something of a local legend. Here also originated some of the earliest decaffeinated coffees — Kaffee Hag, which developed a decaffeination process around the turn of the century, uses its name as a trademark for decaf, which it continues to serve. The traditional coffee preparations are espresso of a lesser intensity than may be found Italy, served with (Brauner or Wolf) or without (Schwartzer or Bär) milk, and Kaffeeobers or Kaffee mit Schlagobers (or simply Schlag), which are served with thickened cream. Addition of various alcohols is common, creating sweeter drinks, some of which are further given obviously recognisable Austrian names, e.g. Mozart Kaffee (mocha with Cherry Brandy and Schlagobers) or Maria Theresa (mocha with a shot of orange liquor). Coffee is generally served along with lighter fare (although some desserts are not to be reckoned with lightly). Visitors to cafés are welcome to take their time and enjoy the large selection of newspapers on offer. In addition to the many modern chrome-brightened 'Espressi', a number of 'real' Vienna coffeehouses still exist to maintain the original charm of this institution.

Viennese parks and gardens

Vienna possesses many park facilities and is one of the greenest cities in the world. The most famous parks and green areas are the Stadtpark, the Burggarten and Volksgarten, which belong to the Hofburg, the Schloßpark of Castle Belvedere with the Vienna Botanic Gardens, the Donaupark, the Schönbrunner Schlosspark, the Prater, the Augarten, the Rathauspark, the Lainzer Tiergarten, the Dehnepark, the Resselpark, the Votivpark, the Kurpark Oberlaa, the Auer-Welsbach-Park and the Türkenschanzpark, Laaer-Berg with the Bohemian Prater and the foothills of the Wienerwald (Viennese Forest), which reaches into the outer areas of the city. Small parks, known by the Viennese as Beserlparks, are everywhere in the inner-city areas.

Sport

To be translated from here (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wien#Sport)

Vienna has become a popular host of many different sporting events including the Vienna City Marathon, which attracts more than 10,000 participants every year and normally takes place in May. In 2005 the Ice Hockey World Championships will take place in Austria, with the final being played in Vienna. After already being the stage of four Champions League (originally European Champion Clubs' Cup) finals (1964, 1987, 1990, 1995) the final of Euro 2008, the European Football Championships, will take place in Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium.

Austria's capital is also the home of numerous sports teams. The best known of them are the local football clubs FK Austria Wien (22 time Austrian national champions) and SK Rapid Wien (31 time Austrian national champions), though the oldest is First Vienna FC. Other important clubs are the Chrysler Vikings Vienna (American Football), who won the Eurobowl title as Europe's best American Football team in 2004, the Vienna Hot Volleys, one of Europe's premier Volleyball-organisations, and the Vienna Capitals (Ice Hockey). Vienna also had submitted a bid for the 1964 Olympic Games.

Native Viennese

• Alfred Adler, founder of individual psychology
• Ilse Aichinger, writer
• Wolfgang Ambros, one of the founders of Austropop
• André Asriel, composer
• Carl Auer von Welsbach, chemist
• Alban Berg, composer
• Ludwig Boltzmann, physicist
• Arik Brauer, painter, singer, and poet
• Martin Buber, philosopher
• Georg Danzer, song writer
• Elfi von Dassanowsky, singer, pianist, film producer
• Heimito von Doderer, writer
• Peter Drucker, economist
• Albert Ehrenstein, writer
• Falco, singer and musician
• Viktor Frankl, psychologist, neurologist, founder of Logo Therapy
• Karl von Frisch, zoologist, animal psychologist, bee keeper, Nobel Prize Winner
• Franz Grillparzer, playwright
• Friedrich Hayek, economist, Nobel Prize Winner
• Hugo von Hofmannsthal, writer, founder of the Salzburger Festspiele
• Robert Horn, luxury leather accessory designer and style guru
• Friedensreich Hundertwasser, artist, architect, painter
• Ernst Jandl, poet and writer
• Franz König, Cardinal Archbishop
• Gustav Klimt, painter
• Karl Kraus, satirist, publisher of "Die Fackel"
• Wolfgang Kraus, essayist, leader for many years of the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Literatur
• Karl Landsteiner, doctor, bacteriaologist, discoverer of blood group, Nobel Prize Winner
• Fritz Lang, director
• Joseph Lanner, composer
• Niki Lauda, race car driver and entrepreneur
• B.M. Leser-Lasario, singer
• Leopold Lindtberg, director
• Konrad Lorenz, behavioural scientist, Nobel Prize Winner
• Friederike Mayröcker, writer
• Lise Meitner, physicist
• Johann Nestroy, playwright
• Karl Popper, philosopher
• Helmut Qualtinger, actor, writer, cabaret actor
• Ferdinand Raimund, play writer
• Alma Rosé, violin virtuoso, killed in Auschwitz
• Arthur Schnitzler, story teller and playwright
• Arnold Schönberg, composer, music theorist, painter
• Erwin Schrödinger, physicist, Nobel Prize WInner
• Franz Schubert, composer
• Erwin Steinhauer, actor
• Johann Strauss I, composer
• Johann Strauss II, composer
• Johann Georg Stuwer, fireworks foreman
• Friedrich Torberg, writer and journalist
• Otto Wagner, architect
• Anton von Webern, composer
• Otto Weininger, philosopher
• Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher
• Joe Zawinul, jazz pianist, keyboard player, and composer
• Stefan Zweig, writer

Culinary specialities

To be translated from here ()

Among others, the Sachertorte, or Sacher cake, a chocolate cake form the Sacher Hotel is well known here.

Tourist attractions

Among the most important places of interest are:

• Inner City
• Hofburg (Imperial Palace, winter residence)
• Kahlenberg
• Parlament
• Ringstraße
• Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Palace and gardens, summer residence)
• Belvedere Palace
• Stephansdom (St. Stephens Cathedral)
• Schönbrunner Tiergarten (Vienna Zoo)
• Wiener Prater with the Riesenrad(ferris wheel), a local recreation area and Wurstelprater and the Schweizerhaus beer garden and restaurant.

other tourist attractions:

• Albertina
• Beethoven historic sites
• Burgtheater (Imperial Court Theatre)
• Donauturm (Danube Tower)
• Gasometer (Dwellings and a shopping mall; converted from a former gasometer Gasometer-Website (http://www.gasometer.org/en/))
• Heldenplatz (Heroes Square)
• Hermesvilla Lainz (Villa of Empress Elisabeth, also known fondly as "Sissi"
• Hundertwasserhaus (Designed by architect and artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser)
• Judenplatz ("Jewish-Square") with Shoah-monument
• Kapuzinergruft (Imperial Tombs)
• Kaiserliches Hofmobiliendepot (http://www.hofmobiliendepot.at) (Imperial Furniture Collection)
• Karl-Marx-Hof
• Lutherische Stadtkirche (http://www.stadtkirche.at)
• Karlskirche (St. Charles Church)
• Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library)
• Pestsäule
• Peterskirche (St. Peter´s Church)
• The Church Maria am Gestade
• Minoritenkirche (Minorite Church)
• Millenniumstower
• Museumsquartier (Museums-Quarter)
• Palais Kinsky (http://www.palais-kinsky.com)
• Palais Palffy (http://www.palais-palffy.at)
• Palais Schwarzenberg (http://www.palais-schwarzenberg.com)
• Rathaus (City Hall)
• Ruprechtskirche
• Schottenstift
• Staatsoper (State Opera)
• Stadtpark (City Park)
• Tempel (old Synagogue in Innenstadt)
• Theater an der Wien
• University of Vienna
• UNO-City (UN-Headquarters in Vienna)
• Urania (former observatory)
• Virgilkapelle
• Votivkirche
• Wiener Secession
• Zentralfriedhof with numerous graves of famous people

other attractions

• Cafe Hawelka
• Cafe Demel
• Mariahilfer Straße
• Kärtner Straße
• Graben
• Kohlmarkt
• Heurigen in Grinzing
• Schloss Neuwaldegg (http://www.schlossneuwaldegg.at)
• Wienerwald (Vienna Woods)
• Donauinsel (Danube Island) with Copa Cagrana
• Republik Kugelmugel

other remarkable objects (not accessible for tourists)

• Funkturm Arsenal
• Mannesmann Tower Vienna
• GK Wien-Southeast

International organisations in Vienna

UNO, IAEA, OPEC, OSCE, UNIDO, ...

Twin cities

Vienna is twinned with the following cities:

• Zagreb, Croatia. Since 1994.

In addition, individual Viennese districts are twinned with Japanese cities/districts:

• Döbling (Vienna 19) with Setagaya, Tokyo. Since 1985
• Floridsdorf (Vienna 21) with Katsushika, Tokyo. Since 1987
• Innere Stadt (Vienna 1) with Taito, Tokyo. Since 1989.
• Meidling (Vienna 12) with Gifu, Gifu. Since 1992.
• Hernals (Vienna 17) with Fuchu, Tokyo. Since 1992.
• Alsergrund (Vienna 9) with Takarazuka, Hyogo. Since 1994.
• Hietzing (Vienna 13) with Habikino, Osaka. Since 1995.
• Donaustadt (Vienna 22) with Arakawa, Tokyo. Since 1996

See also

• Vienna International Airport
• Vienna Circle
• List of mayors of Vienna

External links

• [2] (http://www.aboutvienna.org) - Vienna Tourist, City and Culture guide, interactive map, events, sights and a lot more
• ZoomVienna (http://www.zoomvienna.com) : A Photo a Day from Vienna (artistic photos of top Vienna sights, tourist attractions, people, life in Vienna)
• Citymap, infos and more (http://www.wien.at/english)
• Vienna (http://www.wien.gv.at/english/) www.wien.gv.at
• Photo-Gallery (mit Diashow) (http://www.strausbach.de/wien_photo.php)
• Hundertwasser House Vienna (http://www.hundertwasserhaus.at/) www.Hundertwasserhaus.at
• Gasometer Vienna (http://www.gasometer.org/en/)
• Vienna travel guide at Wikitravel (http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Vienna)
• Events.at (http://www.events.at/) Very useful event calendar for what's going on in Vienna at the moment
• Vienna Metroblog (http://vienna.metblogs.com/) blogging culture and life in Vienna.
• Virtual Vienna Net (http://www.virtualvienna.net/) Vienna's International Community Online
• Vienna Openguide (http://vienna.openguides.org/) is a new guide to the Viennese city.

• Vienna Holiday (http://www.viennaholiday.info) Information about Private Accommodations in Vienna.