Follow our contributor on a week of exhilarating exploration in the Austrian capital of Vienna, thanks to affordable Singapore–Vienna flights with Scoot. (Image by Dan V)
Several years ago, an Austrian airline operated flights from Vienna to Sydney via Kuala Lumpur, thus enabling me to connect with three of my favourite global destinations. Despite the discontinuation of this service, I renewed my interest in Vienna after learning that Scoot now offers affordable flights to Austria from its Singapore hub.
Vienna, known locally as Wien and pronounced veen, was the historic capital of the Habsburg Empire and is renowned for its significant contributions to music, culture, cuisine, and the arts.
However, Vienna is more than a venue to hear the Vienna Boys’ Choir, admire the works of artists like Gustav Klimt, and appreciate the riding skills at the Spanish Riding School—it’s frequently rated the world’s most liveable city.
While cultural heritage is important to the city’s tourism, its modern technology, quirky design, and thriving wine culture make Vienna one of Europe’s hottest destinations, especially now that Scoot flies there.
Its historic churches, gardens, museums, and famous music festivals have universal appeal. Stephansdom (St Stephen’s Cathedral) has dominated Vienna’s historic Innere Stadt (Old Town) since the Middle Ages, and visitors can climb the 356 steps of the south tower for panoramic views.
Vienna’s vibrant culture
Vienna’s main attractions are located close to each other and conveniently within walking distance. The Hofburg, one of the former residences of the Habsburg emperors, is a maze of 2,500 rooms dating back to the 13th century. Nearby, a former royal household, known as Palais Modena, houses impressive artwork, including frescoes on the ceiling.
The MuseumsQuartier is one of the world’s most extensive cultural districts. Centrally located, it’s a blend of revitalised Baroque and contemporary architecture. Included here is the Museum of Modern Art (MUMOK), which features an experimental area for cultural events.
Classical composers like Mozart, Haydn, and Strauss, as well as contemporary musicians, inject life into the city. Enjoy an evening with Mozart at the Vienna Mozart Concert staged in the atmospheric Musikverein. Make an evening of it with a three-course dinner in the historic Grand Hotel Vienna, located just opposite.
Cafe culture
Visiting a famous coffeehouse is an essential Viennese activity. Coffeehouses are places to meet, talk, read, as well as to enjoy coffee, other beverages, and food. Austrians drink more coffee than beer, so it’s easy to appreciate how important coffeehouses are to Austria’s social fabric. Two coffees to order are mélange (cappuccino) and einspänner (coffee with whipped cream).
The drinks are accompanied by numerous cakes like chocolate cake, strudel, and golatschen (pastry with sweet cheese or jam filling). Sachertorte is widely available, but it is best at the Sacher Hotel.
Vienna’s most atmospheric coffeehouses include Demel, Café Central, and Hawelka. However, it’s worth noting that tourists have discovered the charm of these outlets, and queues are common. Many locals choose less touristy coffeehouses such as Café Westend, Café Frauenhuber, and Café Landtmann.
Demel is known for its cakes and coffee, which they have been serving for over 200 years. Nearby, Café Central has always been popular with Vienna’s writers and scholars, but service here may be affected by current renovations. Hawelka is where artists once met, and its atmospheric interior is most appealing.
Food and wine
Several famous European dishes originate in Austria. Wiener schnitzel (breaded veal) is a classic Austrian dish, as is tafelspitz (boiled veal or beef, best sampled at Plachutta Restaurant) and sausages from sidewalk stalls like Wiener Würstl.
Visit Grinzing on the edge of the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) for its many wine taverns, called buschenschank or heuriger, that line its narrow streets. The name originates from the current year’s wine or heuriger. Patrons come to drink this wine and eat traditional dishes in taverns like Mayer am Pfarrplatz.
Enjoy other Austrian wine styles like Grüner Veltliner (white) and Blaufränkisch (red) produced by estates such as Höpler, Laurenz V, Tschida, and Tement to appreciate how their wines have captured the attention of global connoisseurs.
Use your Scoot flight savings to shop in Vienna, where the best retail precincts are the pedestrian-only areas like Kärntner Strasse, the Graben, and Mariahilfer Strasse. Visit Julius Meinl (located on the Graben), one of the world’s finest gourmet food stores, and Naschmarkt for fresh produce and Saturday flea markets.
Gemütlichkeit is a local word used to convey the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer; it’s often used to describe what the Viennese know visitors will experience when they spend time in the world’s most liveable city.
Getting there
Scoot flies direct from Singapore to Vienna with convenient connections from Kuala Lumpur. Splurge a little and travel in comfort on ScootPlus with complimentary meals, non-alcoholic beverages, a blanket, Wi-Fi, and extra space and legroom.
Where to stay
I divided my nights in Vienna between two design-focused hotels that are in the portfolio of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH)—Das Tyrol and the Altstadt Vienna. Vienna’s fine art museums, such as the Kunsthistorische Museum and Secession, are a ten-minute walk from Das Tyrol, while the MuseumsQuartier is directly opposite.
Das Tyrol provides guests with an arts package to access select museums. The hotel features contemporary art in all parts of the hotel, and guests have complimentary access to a sauna and steam room. Breakfast is served à la carte with meats, cheeses, cooked-to-order eggs, and wholegrain breads. Wherever you want to go from Das Tyrol, you’re almost there with two metro stations nearby (U2 and U3).
Design-focused travellers are also attracted to the Hotel Altstadt, located near Das Tyrol. It’s celebrated for its quirkiness, attention to detail, and artworks. A lavish breakfast with sparkling wine and complimentary afternoon tea and cakes are culinary highlights, while the hotel’s location, in a local neighbourhood, ensures that it is close to bars, cafés, and restaurants.
Useful information
Visit the Vienna Online Travel Guide for tips and guides to the city of Vienna. The Vienna PASS is a sightseeing card, valid for several museums, galleries, and attractions (of the 90 on offer).
