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| Local Time |
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| Gay Neighbourhoods |
Much of gay life in Vienna is centred just south-west of the Ring which surrounds the historic centre of the city. You'll find many clubs, bars and restaurants in the area roughly defined by Pilgramgasse, Neubaugasse, Museumsquartier and Karlsplatz subway (or U-bahn) stations
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| Events |
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| Best Known For |
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Tolerance |
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Food - especially coffee and sweets |
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Great music - both classical and club |
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| Three Must Dos |
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Spend a few hours philosophising or just taking in the atmoshere at one of Vienna's famous coffee houses such as the Cafe Berg, next door to Löwenherz, Vienna's gay book store. |
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See a bit of the real Vienna at a lively heurigen (wine tavern) like Zum Berger in Grinzing on the city outskirts. |
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Explore the sumptuous Schönbrunn, the summer palace of the Hapsburgs. |
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| More Local Info |
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| Tips |
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The Vienna Card gives you discounts at over 200 museums, theatres, concerts and attractions plus three days of unlimited travel by U-bahn, bus and streetcar - an excellent value. |
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When looking for an address remember that the building number follows the street name. For example Berggasse 8 (address of the Cafe Berg) should be read as number 8 Berggasse street. |
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How To Get There
By Plane
All flights arrive at Vienna International Airport (airport code VIE).
Like most European cities you don't need to rent a car to get in or around Vienna. Taxis and limos are available outside the arrivals area but probably the quickest and least expensive way to get into central Vienna is to take the City Airport Train (CAT). It only takes you 16 minutes to get to Wien-Mitte station (where you can connect to Landstrasse station on the U-bahn, the subway system). A one way trip costs €8 and you can purchase tickets online.
By Train
Trains arrive at one of two stations in Vienna - Wien Suedbahnhof or Wien Westbahnhof (which is quite close to the gay area of the city). Both of these stations are on the U-bahn so you can connect to a subway into central Vienna. |
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Gay and Lesbian Options
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Hotel Urania - a uniquely decorated gay owned and operated hotel, a bit out of the way. Prices range from €48 to €140 per night. (U-bahn: Schwedenplatz) |
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With a large gay clientele and the Sports Sauna on the lower level, the Wild is a well-located choice for travellers on a budget. Guests in "standard" and "comfort" rooms share toilets but "luxury" rooms have private shower and toilet. Prices range from €41 to €114 per night. (U-bahn: Volkstheater) |
Gay Friendly Options
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Arcotel Hotel Wimberger - actively welcomes gay and lesbian travellers, but it's a bit of a hike to bars and restaurants (U-bahn: Burggasse Stadthalle or Westbahnhof) |
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Best Western Premier Kaiserhof - on a quiet side street in central Vienna. (U-bahn: Karlsplatz)
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Golden Tulip Art Hotel - a smaller hotel with contemporary design, a bit awkward to get to. (10 minutes by bus from Karlsplatz) |
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The Levante Parliament - a centrally located, high design hotel. (U-bahn: Rathaus) |
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Le Méridien Vienna - a combination of old and new Vienna right on the Ringstrasse. (U-bahn: Karlsplatz) |
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Das Triest - a modern, elegant hotel in central Vienna. (U-bahn: Karlsplatz) |
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Excellently located in the midst of some of Vienna's best shopping, this small luxury hotel offers a large breakfast every morning. Works by local artists are hung throughout the hotel. (U-bahn: MuseumsQuartier) |
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Hotel Viennart - an economical, modern hotel in the centre of the city. (U-bahn: Volkstheater)
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Babu - a mixed crowd in a very cool space. (181 Stadbahnbogen, U-bahn: Nussdorferstrasse) |
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Halle - loud and crowded but with a great gay vibe. (1 Museumsplatz, U-bahn: MuseumsQuartier) |
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Living Room - at the heart of gay Vienna. (31 Gross Neugasse, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse) |
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Motto - very trendy with very flirtatious (but mostly straight) servers. (30 Schonbrunner Strasse, U-bahn: Pilgramgasse) |
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Ra'Mien - inexpensive Asian cuisine in a cool ambience. (6 Gumpendorfer Strasse, U-bahn: MuseumsQuartier) |
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Salz & Pfeffer - classic Viennese meals served well into the early hours. (8 Joanelligasse, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse) |
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Stöger - a cosy restuarant with excellent Vienenese cuisine. (63 Ramperstorffergasse, U-bahn: Pilgramgasse) |
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Urania - a sleek, modern restuarant overlooking the river. (1 Uraniastrasse, U-bahn: Schwedenplatz) |
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Willendorf - cheap and cheerful with a friendly atmosphere, located in the Rosa Lila Villa, Vienna's gay community centre. (102 Linke Wienzeile, U-bahn: Pilgramgasse) |
Men
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Alte Lampe - a piano bar with an older clientele (13 Heumuehlgasse, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse< |
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Cafe Arte - best early in the evening (34 Margaretenstrasse, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse) |
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Cafe X Bar - an "American-style" bar (45 Mariahilfer Strasse, U-bahn: Neubaugasse) |
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Date - cruisy and dark, popular with "rent boys" (12 Schikanedergasse, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse |
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Eagle Vienna - probably Vienna's most popular leather bar (1 Blümelgasse, U-bahn: Neubaugasse) |
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Felixx - trendy cafe-bar (5 Gumpendorferstrasse, U-bahn: Museumsquartier) |
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Flex - straight but probably the best overall dance club in town (Augartenbrücke, U-bahn: Schottenring) |
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Goldener Spiegel - a Viennese institution "for cool boys and their friends" (46 Linke Wienzeile, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse) |
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Heaven - a series of gay club events at alternating locations |
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[lo:sch] - a leather and fetish club (1 Fünfhausgasse, U-bahn: Gumpendorferstrasse) |
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Mango - very popular with trendy locals (3 Laimgrubengasse, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse) |
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Sling Cruising Bar - popular, cruisey bar with naked nights (4
Kettenbrückengasse,
U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse |
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Stiefelknecht - leather bar, off the beaten track (20 Wimmergasse, a long walk from U-bahn Pilgramgasse) |
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Vanity - a sleek lounge with special events (3 Mollardgasse/6 Spörlingasse, U-bahn: Pilgramgasse) |
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Das Versteck - a quiet, low-key bar in central Vienna (1 Nikolaigasse, U-bahn: Stephansplatz) |
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Village - smart looking bar with a cross section of men (8 Stiegengasse, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse) |
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Why Not - Vienna's largest and most popular gay club (22 Tiefer Graben, U-bahn: Herrengasse or Schottentor) |
| Also check out Subversus and SubZero for information on occasional events and parties. |
Women
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Frauencafé - a women's only cafe (11 Lange Gasse, U-bahn: Rathaus or Volkstheater) |
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Frauenzentrum (FZ) Bar - a large dance floor with a butch crowd (59 Wahringer Strasse, U-bahn: Wahringerstrasse - Volksoper) |
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G.Spot - a once a month event at SubZero (27 Siebensterngasse, U-bahn: Neubaugasse) |
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Gina’s WeiBar - more of a mixed atmosphere, close to the Rosa Lila Villa (11 Marchettigasse, U-bahn: Pilgramgasse) |
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Marea Alta - a smaller lesbian bar (28 Gumpendorfer Strasse, U-bahn: Kettenbruckengasse) |
| Also check out Andino, U96 and rainbow.at for information on occasional events and parties. |
Gay Men
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Apollo City - with special daily events (34 Wimbergergasse, U-bahn: Thaliastrasse) |
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Frisco - a newer, smaller sauna (28 Schönbrunner Strasse, U-bahn: Pilgramgasse) |
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Kaiserbrundl - Vienna's most popular sauna (18-20 Weihburggasse, U-bahn: Stephansplatz) |
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Sport Sauna - in the lower level of the Hotel Pension Wild
(10 Lange Gasse, U-bahn: Volkstheater) |
Other Stuff For Your "To Do" List | |
St Stephen's Cathedral |
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St. Stephen's Cathedral, Austria's most eminent Gothic edifice, houses a wealth of art treasures, some of which can only be seen during a guided tour. Climb the 343 steps to the tower- keeper's room of St. Stephen's and enjoy a breathtaking view |
Fetish and Toy Shopping |
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Vienna has a number of excellent sex shops with just the thing you need to add to your toy box. Spartacus XXL is a massive shop with huge selection for both gay men and lesbians. Just a few blocks away, the sleekly designed Tiberius store is a must see for rubber and leather fans while Man for Man specializes in gay porn and has a cruisey vibe. |
The Ringstrasse |
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This splendid boulevard which circles the city centre is a window on the former Habsburg monarchy. If you're feeling energetic you can stroll along the route or if you want sit back and watch it glide by you can catch tram 1 or 2 (Ring-Linien). You'll see the Rathaus (city hall), Parliament and the Burgtheater. |
The Palaces |
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The city is littered with former royal homes. Some have been converted into museums or art galleries while others have been preserved to show off their regal glory. Check out the "Sissi" museum and the famous Spanish Riding School at The Hofburg in the city centre. Further out is the spectacular Schönbrunn, the summer residence of the Habsburgs, a must see for any visitor. |
Queer Reading |
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Don’t miss the gay and lesbian bookstore Löwenherz which features most international gay magazines, the latest fiction in German and English, a good selection of gay videos, DVDs and photo art books. Afterwards, settle down next door, in the Café Berg, to browse through your purchases over a good cup of coffee. For a larger selection of lesbian literature try the feminist bookstore Frauenzimmer. |
Museums |
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In addition to the cluster of great and quirky galleries in the MuseumsQuartier, Vienna features some major heavy hitters on the international museum circuit. From Klimt at the Belevedere, to Dürer at the Albertina to Raphael, Rembrandt and Rubens at the Museum of Fine Arts, there's plenty to take in. And try to squeeze in the Haus der Musik for a uniquely hands on experience. |
Opera |
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Welcome to the world’s music capital! Waltzes and operettas have their home here and music is literally in the air. What other city has four opera houses to choose from. The Vienna State Opera is one of the foremost opera houses in the world. Theater an der Wien, the newest house, has a strong summer season. The Volksoper is the home to operetta and musicals while Wiener Kammeroper presents rare musical gems throughout the year. |
Gay City Tours |
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With such a wealth of history, Vienna is bound to have a bevy of queer figures in its past. The Vienna Tourist Office has developed two self-guided walking tours of gay Vienna. The first takes you from Belvedere Palace to the Naschmarkt while the second tour departs from the Vienna State Opera and finishes at the Neuer Markt. Each is an excellent way to fill a few hours or to get a good orientation to the city. |
Prater |
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Vienna's Prater boasts more than 250 attractions: from the Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) immortalized in the movie The Third Man to to nostalgic ghost trains, merry-go-rounds, go-cart rinks, arcades, and ultra-modern rides that propel you and your adrenaline to lofty heights. Plus, there are any number of restaurants, cafés, snack bars, and beer gardens. |
Jewish Vienna |
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Few European cities are as closely connected with Jewish history as Vienna.
Until 1938, Vienna had a flourishing Jewish community, then 140,000 Austrians fled the country for “racial reasons” and 65,000 more did not escape and were murdered. Visit the Jewish Museum, the Museum at Judenplatz, the Holocaust Memorial at Judenplatz and the Memorial against War and Fascism at Albertinaplatz. |
Discover Vienna From A Bike |
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Jump on a bike and hit the road. With a bicycle can get around quickly but also can travel leisurely enough to enjoy Vienna's sights on the way. The Vienna Tourist Office has a guide with tips on where to rent a bicycle, at what times you can take it with you on Vienna's public transportation system and when guided city tours are offered for cyclists. |
Nude Beach |
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OK, not quite a beach, but you can certainly soak up the rays au naturel at Vienna's nude area at Toter Grund along the Danube. Take bus 91 to Steinspornbrucke, cross the bridge, then turn left and walk 500m. Toter Grund is particularly popular with younger locals as well as visitors. |
Retail Therapy |
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The most “homosexual” shopping area is close to the gay district along Mariahilfer Strasse with its large department stores and trendy boutiques. Haute couture is found in the city center on Kohlmarkt, Graben and Kärntner Strasse. For a unique shopping experience try the flea market at Naschmarkt each Saturday morning (right next to the U-bahn Kettenbrückengasse). Rummaging through the stuff on display is fun even if — as at any flea market — some of the things can best be qualified as junk. Traditionally such a Saturday morning at Naschmarkt should end at Café Savoy. |
Cruise to Bratislava |
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Bratislava, the surprisingly charming capital of Slovakia, is just a 90 minute hydrofoil ride down the Danube from Vienna. You can leave around 8:30 in the morning and be back in Vienna with plenty of time for a late dinner - and have a good eight hours to explore Bratislava.. |
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