Discover the Bermuda Triangle in Vienna!
Share
There’s a square in the old city. It’s not a particularly impressive square, or for that matter all that large, but it is nevertheless a square of great secular significance. Judenplatz, as it is called, has come to represent a turning point in Austrian political thinking, which is finally holding its hand up and accepting responsibility for the past crimes of National Socialism. Like its neighbour Berlin, Vienna is witnessing a revolution of revelation, where its less than illustrious history is no longer swept under the carpet but exposed, warts and all for everyone to see. Vienna is bending over backwards to embrace and rebuild its former Jewish heritage, and going there today, you certainly feel they have taken huge strides forward in making this a reality.
This is a stunningly beautiful city and the countless museums and landmarks documenting its famous people and buildings are seemingly everywhere you turn. You may also be surprised at the list of famous names that have walked these streets; Marie Antoinette, Mahler, Schubert, Johann and Richard Strauss, Sigmund Freud, The Von Trapp family immortalized in The Sound of Music, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Fritz Lang, Billy Wilder, Fred Zimmermann and Otto Preminger to name but a few. Of course these were also the streets where Beethoven and Mozart plied their trade and whilst a visit to both of their houses is recommended, you should avoid one of Vienna’s less desirable sights: the hordes of tacky hawkers in Mozart costumes falling over themselves to sell you tickets to concerts.
Vienna has always been a must-see city, its glorious architecture and classical music heritage has no equal, but it is fast becoming a place where young and old can happily co-exist and enjoy their own particular brand of activity without overlapping. Trendy bars live alongside traditional restaurants and cafes that really seem to bring home what eating out is all about. The clearest example of this is right near The Danube in Bermudadreieck, or The Bermuda Triangle area. Why the seemingly out-of-place moniker? Because some might say it’s guaranteed you’ll get lost amongst its maze of cobbled streets piled high with staggering amounts of restaurants, bars and music clubs! That may be true, but it does have a real old feel to it that goes back to when the old merchant ships came up river and their crews were looking for a good night out. You’ve been warned.
You simply cannot come to Vienna and not indulge. With a seemingly endless supply of cafes and cake shops there seems little point in attempting to follow your cholesterol free diet, so just for a few days let it all go and just throw yourself into it. Apple Strudel and Sacher Torte are on tap everywhere with great coffee to wash it down and always with a glass of water on the side. Very Viennese.
It’s not a cheap city, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the place without breaking the bank. I would for instance recommend taking the CAT from the airport. It’s a train service directly into the city centre, takes 15 minutes and only costs about £5. Using the hop-on / hop-off bus tour will give you a feel for the city and teach you some interesting facts along the way. And you can even conduct the Vienna Philharmonic yourself using a virtual baton at the House of Music.
Vienna is a walking city, and whilst you can get to all of the sights on foot you’ll be pretty tired at the end of day which brings me nicely on to the Radisson SAS Style Hotel. This is a stunning example of the modern boutique species. A visionary contemporary design right in the centre of the old town next to the famous Café Central. This hotel has been lovingly designed and created by architects who have completely understood how to create an environment that captures your visionary senses from the moment you walk in. From the unique coloured glass lobby floor, to the 78 beautifully crafted rooms with brown marble and Italian glass bathrooms with walk in showers, you get a real sense of design achievement here. It’s relaxing, luxurious and a perfect example of how to present understated top end luxury without the hyperbole. The Style really does deliver, in a comfortably informal way. I loved it.
If time permits, you can grab a train and visit Slovakia’s capital Bratislava, only 45 minutes away down the Danube. It’s the only place in the world where two capital cities are so close, but remember though: Bratislava is not in the Euro zone so you will need to change currency. It’s well worth a day trip though.
Email
Add to your Pocket Guide
When I went Vienna last time, i have seen Bermuda Triangle in vienna. This traingle is awesome and i have seen a lot of things. Vienna offers much more than what we expect. It is a city living off its past. I knew about the culture, tradition, festival of Vienna. Viennale film festival and the Vienna Festival Weeks are most interesting thing which I enjoyed alot. Staying at some of the world’s grandest hotels; viewing the sites and get seats to listen to one of the world’s greatest orchestras, playing in one of the world’s leading opera houses are most adventures things to do.