Vienna International Guide - Austrian Lifestyle, Travel, Arts, Culture

Get updated news about developments in Vienna's inter-cultural environment: lifestyle, travel destinations, art exhibitions, restaurant- & event-suggestions

Veiled, Unveiled! The Headscarf - A Man’s Word on a Woman’s Body

An intriguing exhibition at the World Museum Vienna deals with the significance of the headscarf and thus also touches on a current dispute in various countries about a so-called headscarf ban. Just a piece of cloth but laden with countless facets of meaning is causing a stir: the headscarf used by devout women to cover their head, their face, and occasionally their whole body. The religious duty of women to cover their head has been part of European culture for centuries, though. Its story begins with early Christianity and has remained a vibrant issue to this day.

October 11, 2018

Official Visit of the Belgian Royal Couple to Vienna

Belgian King Philippe and his wife Mathilde paid a visit to Austria on the occasion of the opening of the Pieter Bruegel the Elder exhibition (Vindobona reported). In addition to the opening in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the programme included receptions with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and Mayor Michael Ludwig, as well as a visit to the National Library. For the royal couple this is their first official visit to Austria since their accession to the throne.

October 3, 2018

Wiener Wiesn: Celebrate the Oktoberfest the Viennese Way

From now on the Wiener Wiesn welcomes you on the festival site on the Kaiserwiese in the Vienna Prater. The Wiener Wiesn Festival is one of Austria's largest traditional and folk music festivals. It has been held annually since 2011. During 18 days until 14 October, the event offers numerous highlights for visitors. The party is for young and old. The focus will be on Austrian customs and traditions, Austrian cuisine and folk music. A good opportunity to get to know Austrian customs, timeless traditions and an original sociability, lived by cheerful people with a colourful variety of dialects. Put on your dirndl or leather trousers and celebrate in lovingly decorated tents, cosy pub gardens, rustic alpine huts and in the atmospheric Wiesndorf.

September 27, 2018 · Sponsored Content

A Treasure Trove of Knowledge: 650 Years of Austrian National Library

The Austrian National Library is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. The library, one of the country’s most venerable cultural and academic institutions, is currently celebrating its 650th anniversary. During the Austrian Empire, from 1867 in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, the library was one of the most comprehensive universal libraries in the world when it was named the Vienna Court Library until the end of the First World War.

September 24, 2018

Claude Monet: The French “Master of Light” at the Albertina

Claude Monet (1840–1926) stands like no other painter for the impressionist style, and as the French “Master of Light”, he was also a central pioneer of 20th-century painting. The Albertina is devoting a large monographic exhibition to Claude Monet’s treatment of color, which has seen little examination to date, as well as to the painter’s passionate fascination with the world of plants and water in the garden of his country home in Giverny.

September 21, 2018

Expats in Austria: "You will never be able to make local friends"

We would like to share with you some of the findings of the Expat Network InterNations on the well-being of expats in Austria. Although these differ in some respects considerably from other annual reports, they also contain survey results which are a common thread in most studies. These include the fact that the quality of life is perceived as very high, but on the other hand intercultural communication and establishing friendships is perceived as very difficult.

September 20, 2018

Austria's European Heritage Day - Join Them!

Take a closer look at the culture of your host country and take part in the Austrian edition of European Heritage Day 2018. On "Tag des Denkmals (Monument Day)", the Federal Monuments Office invites you on a cultural-historical journey through Austria's monument landscape: numerous listed objects open their doors free of charge, special programme items and guided tours provide a very special view of Austria's cultural heritage and enable you to experience monument protection and preservation.

September 20, 2018

Sensational: 450th Anniversary of the Death of Pieter Bruegel the Elder

An exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna commemorates the 450th anniversary of Pieter Bruegel's death. The museum is dedicating the world’s first ever major monograph exhibition to the artist widely regarded as the 16th century’s greatest Netherlandish painter. Bringing together over 90 works by the master, the overview of Bruegel’s entire oeuvre is set to be nothing short of sensational.

September 19, 2018

Expansion of Nepal-Austria Relations Beyond Mountaineering

Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali paid a working visit to Austria. The visit focused on bilateral relations and the opening of the embassy in November last year.

September 19, 2018

Bodyguard - The Musical at the Ronacher in Vienna

On 27 September 2018, the Austrian premiere of the successful international production "Bodyguard" will take place in Vienna's Ronacher, based on one of the greatest blockbusters of all time. Bodyguard replaces the cult musical "Dance of the Vampires", which recently celebrated its acclaimed Dernière.

September 14, 2018

Intercultural Achievement Award Fosters Dialogue Between Cultures

The Austrian Foreign Ministry presented the Intercultural Achievement Award (IAA) for the fifth time. The award honours inspiring projects in civil society that foster intercultural dialogue and coexistence. This time the award for sustainability went to a project from Mozambique. Ambassador Jörg Wojahn, the Representation of the European Commission in Vienna, and Secretary General of the OSCE Thomas Greminger used the dialogue-based work of their own institutions as a starting point and awarded prizes to projects from Ukraine and Tunisia.

September 14, 2018

curated by: The Gallery Festival with International Curators in Vienna

This year the gallery festival "curated by" will take place for the tenth time. Vienna's leading galleries for contemporary art invite internationally active curators to organize exhibitions in their venues.

September 14, 2018

Timothy Snyder Opens 3rd Vienna Humanities Festival "Power & Powerlessness"

From 27 to 30 September, the third Vienna Humanities Festival will once again bring together leading figures from science, art and culture in an "urban salon" lasting several days. Around 40 events will be held themed "Power & Powerlessness" to discuss the major issues of our time.

September 14, 2018

Cooperation with the Indian Film Industry: Bollywood in Austria

Indian production companies visit potential film locations in Austria for future films. With the aim of exploring Austria as a backdrop for future Bollywood films, six producers from India's most renowned production houses will be visiting Austria from 9 to 15 September 2018.

September 7, 2018

Most Successful Season for Viennese Musicals: "I am from Austria" Extended

"I am from Austria" and "Dance of the Vampires (Tanz der Vampire)" have a booked capacity of almost 100%. In total, more than half a million visitors attended the two shows.

September 7, 2018

Record Season for 2018 Film Festival at Vienna’s Rathausplatz

65 days of music, opera and dance on the big screen are now over. The City of Vienna reports about the great success of this year's Film Festival on Vienna's Rathausplatz. A perfect combination of culture, culinary delights and a splendid summer attracted almost a million guests.

September 5, 2018

See the Fascinating World of the Pyramids of Egypt in Vienna's Proximity

The pyramids of Egypt have been fascinating people since they emerged 4,600 years ago. The ancient Greeks were already standing before the Pyramids of Giza in awe and counted them among the Seven Wonders of the World. They impress with their appearance and architecture and, as part of gigantic complexes, they were the burial sites of the Egyptian kings and the elite for centuries. The exhibition “The Fascinating World of the Pyramids” at the MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach shows the perfection with which the impressive monuments were built in ancient Egypt and what influence pyramids have today on architecture, fashion and art.

June 7, 2018

Art Fair: Old Masters from the Hermitage - Masterpieces from Botticelli to van Dyck

One of the world’s foremost collections of Old Masters is paying a visit to Vienna: fourteen masterpieces from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg will enter into a dialogue with great paintings from the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. On show are, for example, works by Botticelli, Tintoretto, Rembrandt and van Dyck.

June 6, 2018

Lasting Rivals - Byzantium & the West

Schallaburg Castle in Lower Austria is recalling a fascinating story from the past that was long forgotten but still shapes Europe today. It is the story of Byzantium and the West.

June 4, 2018

The Vienna Salons: Networking and Emancipation for 200 Years

What made the Vienna salons the places to be between 1780 and 1938 would be described today as networking in the best sense. Mostly shaped by their Jewish hostesses, these communication spaces were also spaces of emancipation and empowerment in two respects: for women who were still excluded from public life, and for the development of a critical, middle-class civic society.

May 31, 2018

Love, Respect and Solidarity: "Diplomats for Equality" and "Vindobona.org" Support Vienna Pride 2018

The festival "Vienna Pride" is a two-week event of the LGBTI community with the highlight of the Vienna Pride March (Rainbow Parade) on 16 June 2018 and intends to promote human rights for everybody and achieve equality for LGBTI persons. More than 30 Vienna-based embassies and diplomatic missions have come together under the banner "Diplomats for Equality" to support this initiative. Vindobona.org also supports a worldwide non-discriminatory society.

May 31, 2018

The Concordia and the Fête Impériale Summer Balls Are Upcoming: 'El tango te espera!'

Two glittering summer balls are upcoming: The Concordia Ball (June 8, 2018) in Vienna City Hall and the Fête Impériale (June 29, 2018) in the Spanish Imperial Riding School. The Concordia Ball has been one of Vienna's most sparkling and exclusive events for over 150 years. The Fête Impériale is famous for its opulent and imaginative decorations, and is held once again.

May 28, 2018

Austrian Airlines Celebrates 60th Birthday

Austrian Airlines Österreichische Luftverkehrs Aktiengesellschaft was founded on 31 March 1958. This week, 2,500 guests celebrated the 60th birthday of the red-white-red airline in the hangar at Vienna Schwechat Airport.

May 25, 2018

VieVinum 2018: International Wine Festival at the Vienna Hofburg

Once again, the VieVinum attracts 800 international trade visitors and an audience of around 15,000 and transforms the Vienna Imperial Palace into a vibrant place of good wine.

May 25, 2018

Austrian Airlines Flies Once Again to Tokyo

As of today, Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines will again be flying directly to the Japanese capital. Due to changed economic fundamentals, the route, which was closed in autumn 2016, appears to be profitable again.

May 15, 2018

Fresh Hallstatt Air Instead of Toxic Chinese Smoke

Tens of thousands of tourists from China meanwhile visit Hallstatt in Upper Austria every year. Two companies now offer healthy Hallstatt air in cans to the Chinese and expanded Asian market. The inhabitants and the municipal council of Hallstatt are not thrilled.

May 11, 2018

Erotic Art: The Egon Schiele Jubilee Show at the Leopold Museum

The Leopold Museum houses perhaps Egon Schiele's (1890–1918) most important and complete collection of work, featuring over 200 exhibits. One hundred years after the Expressionist's death, the museum is showing a special exhibition entitled "The Jubilee Show".

May 11, 2018

Teddy Kollek Exhibition at the Jewish Museum Vienna

Teddy Kollek, who grew up in Vienna, and as mayor of Jerusalem for nearly three decades did more to build and develop the city as Israel’s primary city than any other figure while still seeking to meet the needs of its Arab residents, died in 2007 in Jerusalem. The Jewish Museum in Vienna is showing a retrospective entitled "Teddy Kollek - The Viennese Mayor of Jerusalem".

May 1, 2018

Aristocratic Wertheim Palace in New Splendour

The Ring-Road Palace Wertheim (Palais Wertheim) presents itself as a new full service event location in the First District of Vienna. The Palace Wertheim was built in 1868 by Heinrich Ferstel for the tycoon Franz Ritter von Wertheim. On a total area of more than 1.000m² and 6 meters room height three impressive halls with different design variations are available. The palace became known primarily through the opening of the first and thus oldest McDonald’s branch in Vienna, which still exists at present.

April 30, 2018 · Sponsored Content

Diversity Ball 2018 at the Kursalon Vienna: "Your Time Is Now"

The 11th Diversity Ball 2018 with the theme "Your time is Now" will take place on May 5th 2018 and will transform the location Kursalon Wien into a shining symbol for practiced tolerance in our community. In a glittering ball night the organizers would like to set an example for the diversity of our community, for tolerance, accessibility and mutual respect.

April 27, 2018

Keith Haring at the Albertina: The Alphabet

To mark the 60th birthday of the American artist, who died at the age of 32, the Albertina is showing a large-scale exhibition of 100 internationally sourced works. The special focus will be on the one-of-a-kind symbolic language that is present throughout Haring's oeuvre as an artistic alphabet of sorts.

April 25, 2018

International Congresses: Vienna Worldwide Number Two - UN Events Contribute 7% of Conference Nights

The Vienna meetings industry progresses from record to record. With 186 meetings, Vienna remains behind Paris with 196 meetings, number 2 in the Worldwide Ranking of the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association). In the year prior to that, Vienna was still in fifth place. The proportion of congresses that can be allocated exclusively to the United Nations is enormous and accounts for around 7% of overnight stays.

April 24, 2018

The AMBASSY for Ambassadors

In Vienna's embassy district, surrounded by over thirty diplomatic missions, an interesting urban residential object is being created in three lifestyle categories, "The Ambassy Parkside Living".

April 23, 2018 · Sponsored Content

A Competitive Classical Summer Stage for the World's Capital of Opera

The Danube Arena, a huge summer stage for classical concerts, opera and operetta, is reportedly to be built on the banks of the Danube in the middle of Vienna. The aim is to compete with the big summer venues Bregenz, Mörbisch and Salzburg and to give tourists and locals the chance to enjoy classical music even in summer (during the summer breaks of the established venues).

April 20, 2018

Tourism: Vienna Achieves New Record Number of Overnight Stays

Vienna recorded a new tourist record in March with an increase of 8.5% compared to the previous year. The number of guest overnight stays rose to 1,169,000. Most of the tourists came from Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, the UK and Switzerland.

April 19, 2018

Max Hollein Appointed New Director of the Metropolitan Museum

The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York announced that Max Hollein will become its 10th director and thus becomes cultural ambassador for New York. Vienna-born Hollein, 48 years old, is an art historian who has been serving as Director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco since 2016. Before that, he oversaw Schirn Kunsthalle, Städel Museum and the Liebieghaus Skulpturensammlung in Frankfurt. The Met is the largest art museum in the United States. With more than 7 million visitors in 2016, it is the second most visited art museum in the world.

April 11, 2018

Russia's Yelena Baturina Divests Grand Tirolia Hotel for €45 Mln

The billionaire and wife of Yury Luzhkov, the former Moscow mayor, is selling her Kitzbühel 5-star hotel for 45 million euros to an investor. Rumour has it that the investor is looking for an international operator.

April 10, 2018

Otto Wagner: Vienna's World Famous Architect at the Vienna Museum

Otto Koloman Wagner (* 13 July 1841; † 11 April 1918) was Austria's most important architect, architectural theorist and Urban Planner of Vienna in the Belle Epoque and around the Fin de siècle. His Art Nouveau buildings, his university activities and his writings on urban planning helped him to world fame in the 1890s. The Wien Museum devotes a comprehensive exhibit to the architect who turned Vienna into a global metropolis.

April 5, 2018

Afrika! Afrika! - The André Heller Circus Show Comes to Vienna

André Heller’s circus show blurs the boundaries between dance, acrobatics, live music and video to create a magical stage performance. The ensemble shows the artistic present day as well as the traditional heritage of the African continent: from Ethiopia to Ivory Coast, from Morocco to South Africa.

April 5, 2018 · Sponsored Content

Austrian Budget Airline LaudaMotion: Fighting the Top Dog Lufthansa

LaudaMotion is to become a powerful low-cost airline. Ryanair ultimately intends to acquire a 75 percent stake. From June 2018, a total of 65 routes are to be served from Vienna, from seven German airports (Berlin/Tegel, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg, Stuttgart) and from Zurich to the Mediterranean region and to the Canary Islands.

March 30, 2018

Eurowings also Expands Vienna Connections

With the summer flight schedule 2018 Eurowings, the discount airline subsidiary of Lufthansa, is adding new destinations from Vienna to Corfu, Larnaca, Catania, Chania, Kos, Heraklion and Rhodes.

March 30, 2018 · Sponsored Content

Most Expensive Sparkling Wine Bottle in the World Made in Vienna

A Schlumberger cuvée vintage 2007 with 6.600 Swarovski crystals and 26 hours manual work production time was sold for a record price of 10.000 Euro at the "Licht ins Dunkel" charity gala for a good cause.

March 26, 2018 · Sponsored Content

AUA Starts with Summer Flight Schedule 2018: More Flights to Germany, but CEE Remains Core Market

Austrian Airlines offers a flight program with 138 destinations in 55 countries in summer 2018.

March 26, 2018

Vienna City Marathon 2018: Get Ready for the 35th Jubilee Race

Vienna has recently been crowned the most livable city in the world. It is imperial, vibrant, and the perfect host city for thrilling events. Experience the impressive scenery of historic and modern architecture at a run past Vienna's most beautiful sights. The Vienna City Marathon on 22 April 2018 will be a true theater of emotions and will host more than 40,000 runners from 125 nations. A million spectators along the route will provide the necessary motivation.

March 22, 2018

Expat Advise: How Does the Austrian Tax and Social Security System Work?

If you are moving to Vienna as an expat or are already living here with employment income and want to find your way around the complicated Austrian tax and social security system, Vindobona recommends attending an interesting event organised by the Vienna Business Agency and Deloitte Austria.

March 22, 2018

Vienna Forever the Most Livable of All Cities?

For the ninth time in a row, Vienna has been ranked number 1 worldwide in the Mercer Quality of Living ranking. Vienna owes this to the generous and liberal spending policy of the city government of recent decades. In view of the expected budget cuts, it remains to be seen whether Vienna will be able to maintain this leading position in the future.

March 20, 2018

26°EAST: Glamorous Opening of New Champagne Bar at Hotel Palais Hansen Kempinski

The new new cocktail and champagne bar 26°EAST was opened in the Palais Hansen Kempinski with a magnificent party. According to General Manager Gerhard Mitrovits, this bar is to develop into an exclusive bar hotspot at the end of the Ringstrasse.

March 17, 2018

Culture Tech at SXSW in Austin, Texas: The Austrian Version of Cultural Diplomacy

Austria was present at the 2018 music festival South-by-Southwest-Festival (SXSW) in Austin with a selection of its most innovative entrepreneurs and artists from culture, music and the start-up industry. The heart of the domestic performance was the Austrian Day at the German House in the legendary Barracuda Club. In the setting of a traditional Viennese coffee house inspired by Café Landtmann, the menu included inspiring discussions, technical innovations and entertaining performances in addition to Viennese sausages and Sacher cake.

March 16, 2018

World Happiness Report: Austria 12th Happiest Country in the World

In this year's World Happiness Report, published annually by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Austria comes in 12th place, one place better than a year ago. Finland is the happiest country in the world, but the other Scandinavian countries are also in the lead.

March 15, 2018

Man Ray at the Kunstforum Wien: "To Create is Divine, to Reproduce is Human"

Until 24 June 2018, the Kunstforum Wien is showing the exhibition "Man Ray", which portrays the significant painter and photographer Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radnitzky) in a selection of 150 key works from all over the world.

March 8, 2018