We all know Vienna to be a traditional and classic city, associated with operas, palaces and sachertorte – but there is so much more to discover. In my search for the trendy side of the Austrian hotspot, I quickly discovered that the Viennese can also be artistic and hip. Discover the Capital of Cool!
My first goal is to find a hotel that fits seamlessly into the ‘new’ Vienna, and I am off to a great start with The Daniel. This funky hotel – with an iconic sailboat hanging from the roof – has a very informal atmosphere and serves honest and tasty food, partly because of the on-site bakery.
The decor is smart casual and feels like a cosy living room. The bedrooms are spacious and soothing (mine even boasts a hammock!). It is only a 15-minute walk downtown, however The Daniel also rents out bicycles, electric scooters and Vespas. The Vespa turns out to be a golden find: it gets me everywhere in no time and I can park wherever I want.
Under the banner of Mike Tekst & Beeld, independent photographer and journalist Mike Raanhuis (1975) works for various advertising agencies, digital magazines, and other companies. Mike’s images reinforce his writing, while his texts give new dimensions to his photography. Mike specialises in revealing the essence of people and their environment, in articles such as this one. See website.
Vienna is a city built on culture. The Albertina Museum boasts a stunning collection of more than 65,000 works by big names and definitely belongs on the Vienna to-do list. But I am even more taken with the MuseumsQuartier (MQ): the large square, framed by approximately 20 cultural institutions and museums, serves as a meeting place for creative types, students and art lovers.
The MQ is an ideal starting point for exploring art and culture and one of its highlights is the modern art-oriented MUMOK. It has a wonderful collection of pop art on display and museum tours are given by local artists.
For my last drink in Vienna, I go to one of the countless pop-up bars along the Danube Canal. This is also a popular meeting place for locals who gather for a beer and to toast the beauty of the city. Vienna certainly is very beautiful, and – contrary to popular belief – also really hip and happening.
There are two more hotspots on my list. First, I visit the Freihausviertel district, which was recently discovered by the trendy and creative Viennese. Here you will find Flash second hand music, which mostly sells used top-of-the-line guitars; a fabulous place to browse.
