Mariahilf

Understand

Mariahilf contrasts between the more raw areas around the Wien River where the Naschmarkt is. The district covers neighborhoods of bars and other popular bohemian and queer haunts along the Gumpendorfer Straße, and it borders Neubau along Vienna's most popular shopping street Mariahilfer Straße up the hill from the Gumpendorfer Straße.

Getting there

The underground line U3 is available to the north, the U4 to the south and the U6 to the north on the districts borders.

See

1 Haydnhaus (Haydn's House), Haydngasse 19, ☏ +43 1 596 13 07, fax: +43 1 1 505 87 47 7201, [email protected]. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00. Joseph Haydn spent the final twelve years of his life in this home, during which time he composed the oratorios The Creation and The Seasons. The house has been a museum since 1899, and careful restoration has included the small garden, which is now also open to the public. €4 (adults), €3 (seniors/students/Vienna Card), free (children/youth under 19), free the first Sunday of every month. 2 Haus des Meeres (Aqua Terra Zoo), Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1 (U3 Neubaugasse), [email protected]. M-W 09:00-18:00, Th 09:00-21:00, F-Su 09:00-18:00. A marvelous zoo, with a rain forest glasshouse, tiny apes, aquariums with sharks, and terrariums with reptiles and venomous snakes. Other highlights include an interesting exhibit of Mediterranean sea life and the aquarium's beloved sea turtle, "Puppi." The apes and birds are allowed to freely mingle with the visitors, but don't attempt to touch or feed them. It is in one of the surviving air raid defense towers from WWII, a so-called Flakturm. During wartime, the building provided fire control for Vienna's anti-aircraft artillery, housed some of the first radar equipment, and is designed to withstand a direct bomb hit, an earthquake, and wind speeds up to an overpressure of ten bar. Its former gun emplacements are now a platform on top affording nice views over the roofs of Vienna. €14.20 (adults), €10.90 (concessions). 3 Rahlstiege, Rahlgasse. The staircase connects the Mariahilfer and the Gumpendorfer Strasse. It was built in 1870.

Do

1 Kletterzentrum Flakturm, Esterhazypark (U3 Neubaugasse, U4 Kettenbrückengasse (5 min walk),), ☏ +43 1 585 47 48, [email protected]. May-Sept: M W F-Su 14:00-darkness; Tu Th 12:00-darkness. On one side of the 2nd Worldwar bunker there are routes to climb high up until its roof with great views into the roofs of Vienna. The routes are usually hard and require some endurance. The alpine club organises courses for beginners and intermediate. On the other side there are boulder problems set. The outdoor climbing in middle of a historic city makes this a favorite choice for many climbers during the hot season. €12. (updated Jun 2016) 2NOT EXISTING IMAGE Theater an der Wien, Linke Wienzeile 6, ☏ +43 1 588 30 1010, fax: +43 1 588 30 991010, [email protected]. This historic theater was founded by Emanuel Schikaneder (best known as Mozart's librettist for The Magic Flute). The building was designed by Franz Jäger, and completed in 1801. Since opening it has been the venue for many historic premieres of opera, theatre, and symphonies, including Beethoven's Fidelio in 1805 and Johann Strauss II's Die Fledermaus in 1874; since 2006 it has functioned mostly as an opera house. The side entrance, known as Papagenotor, has a sculpture of Papageno, the character whose role was Schikaneder played in the premiere of The Magic Flute. 3 Raimund Theater, Wallgasse 18-20, ☏ +43 1 58885 (tickets), fax: +43 1 588 30 991010, [email protected]. Constructed in 1893 as a venue for German folk dramas and plays, the building was later used for operettas. Since 1985 it has hosted German-language and international musicals. 4 Apollo Kino, Gumpendorfer Straße 63, ☏ +43 1 587 96 51. A Cineplexx theater with plenty of choices including original versions. The cinema opened here in 1905. According to seat numbers it is one of the biggest in Vienna. 5 Haydn Kino (English Cinema Haydn), Mariahilfer Straße 57 (U3 Neubaugasse), ☏ +43 1 5872262. The theatre projects mostly English films

Buy

1 Naschmarkt (right at the U4 subway station Kettenbrueckengasse). Shopping: 06:00-19:30, Sa 06:00-18:00; food stalls: M-Sa 06:00-23:00. This is the largest of Vienna's 22 market places and provides a unique blend of typical Vienna costumely and oriental flair. Stroll through the market and be part of the amazing ambiance. If you like to cook, you will find all the spices you could possibly want at the Naschmarkt; on offer are regional and exotic fruits and vegetables, cheeses, meats, baked goods, and seafoods, as well as many small restaurants serving Viennese as well as international dishes. The side of the Secession tends to be more touristy and thus more expensive than the side of the Kettenbrueckengasse. 2 Naschmarkt Flea Market (Flohmarkt beim Naschmarkt), Linke Wienzeile (U4 Kettenbrückengasse). Sa and holidays 06:30-18:00. Need used lederhosen? How about a doner kebab at the Naschmarkt or an Austrian war bond from the first World War? This is the place to go on Saturdays. Pick through the detritus of an imperial society, you never know what you will find hidden under that stack of terrible fuzzy sweaters. Couture gowns, communist medals from all the former Eastern Bloc countries, tobacco pipes, broken pocket watches. Worth at least a full morning. Flea markets are the best possible blend of high and low culture, and a way to truly get to know a city. Walk all the way from the flea market end of the Naschmarkt through the food stalls end to arrive at the Secession building, on the left close to the Karlsplatz metro stop. (It is illegal to export antiquities from Austria, even if you legally buy them at a market.) 3 Mariahilferstraße (stretches from the Museumsquartier to Westbahnhof, subway through stations (east to west) Museumsquartier (U2), Neubaugasse (U3), Zieglergasse (U3), or Westbahnhof (U3/U6)). The longest and most popular shopping avenue in Vienna, featuring all kinds of stores, many flagship stores from international brands, etc. More diverse an

Eat

There is good international cuisine and many restaurants are located in the Mariahilf inner district (Italian, Japanese, Greek, and Turkish food). The Naschmarkt market attracts many tourists, as does the Mariahilfer Strasse. Beware that many restaurants are smoker-friendly, and packed and loud in peak times. Usually better food is found off of the main thoroughfares. During summer people go to the Mariahilfer Strasse for an ice-cream. The budget section lists good value food for tighter budgets.

Budget 1 Café Do An, Naschmarkt Stand 412, ☏ +43 1 585 82 53, [email protected]. M-Sa 07:00-24:00. Several salads are served. Free Wi-Fi. Usually it is well packed by a "bobo" public. €5-8. 2 Eis-Greissler, Mariahilfer Straße 33 (In the middle of U3 Neubaugasse and U2 Museumsquartier). 11:00-23:00. Serves vegan and interesting ice-cream varieties. 3 Natsu I, Gumpendorf