Robbie Williams in Vienna

Book your tickets now 

and stay in our apartments just minutes away from the venue!

You will love the mediterranean air and

the excellent food in Vienna at that time!

Vienna in summer - definitely a good choice!

Drink a Heurigen at the Heuriger! Cheers!

It's raing cats and dogs - yes - this weather these days in Vienna is similar to the UK.

Rainy all day, damp, greyish - all in all, not a summer weather to go to the lakeside or to climb a mountain.

But Vienna has that much to offer, dont mind the weather!

Even if it's damp and not sunny, as long as there are no gusty winds and no rain why not pop into a Heurigen and chill the Viennese way!

The definition Heurigen comes from the german word 'heuer', which means this years'.

We use it for 2 meanings:

-  Heuriger can be the wine, which is harvested this year

-  Heuriger can be the place, where the winemaker sells his wine

It is a typical Viennese vocabulary, as more in the West of Austria, in Styria for example you would say Buschenschank, if you mean the winesellers place.

That said, Viennese people go to the Heurigen, sit at the Heurigen, often in the private garden of the winemaker and drink Heurigen! Got it?

It was in 1784, when Kaiser Franz Joseph allowed the winemakers to sell their own wine in their own house without any special licence. 

Until today the tradition Heurigen is allowed  to open for a special period of time during the year only, while selling their Heurigen together with a small variety of traditional and local food.

This is why in a good Heurigen you will find only some small amount of cold, rarely warm food and almost never a menu card.

Sometimes local pastries are sold, which are home-made and delicious. Like this "Kardinalschnitte"

To know when the Heurigen is opened, just look out for the Buschen, a green bunch of pines hanging above the entrance of the Heurigen. If it is out it is "ausg'steckt", meaning the Heurigen sells it's Heurigen. Go for it!

Post Nr 100 - let's celebrate!

This is our 100th post!

It is quite a challenge to report daily about our home town!
Although we try hard, it's not as easy as it was when living abroad, where every little sign felt fit for a report.
But we try our very best to prepare you for your stay in Vienna or to keep you updated only.

We are in search for all kind of topics, may it be funny happenings, events, traditions and weird signs ..... sometimes it takes longer, as still there is a main job we are running after and our blogging is just a spare time challenge!

Please have patience!

Finally we've decided to make ourselves a little present and opted for climate change in Vienna!

Our apartment Prater is equipped with a wonderful Air Condition since yesterday - kind of indulgence in Vienna, but definitely a very welcomed comfort for our guests!

Donauinselfest - the biggest open-air festival of Europe

June 24th - 26th - Friday to Sunday

3 days nonstop music, action, fun'n'food'n'drink

A-Must-See-Event when in Vienna

FREE ENTRY
up to 3 million visitors (estimated)
10 stages
4,5km partyzone
2000 musicians
600 hrs programm in 3 days
5 police-stations
40 caravans
150 tents
5 meeting points
7.500 m barrier tape
50 km cables
290 mobile toilets

Here you'll find you personal 3days-program.

Whether is a sports activity, a creative or fun activity, whether for children, teens, students, grown-ups or oldies, a music event or a comedian, a pop, rock, country or folk(sy) music - give it a go and search your fav spot!

Our recommendations for the 28th Danube Island Music Festival:

- take a picnic rug with you

- wander around and stop wherever you feel good

- carry some water with you, as you may expect long queues in front of the

  food stalls

- don't forget the suncream, when visiting during the day

- don't use your bicycle late afternoon and night as the crowd won't allow

  moving anymore

- leave your dog at home unless it loves crowds and can tolerate rotten food

  from the ground

- use public transport only - U1 Stop Donauinsel

- have your mobile with you, switched on and be alert, in case you get lost

  from your friends or family

- don't carry any valuables with you - the party is very safe, but still: it's a

  huge crowd!!!!

- don't carry any alcohol with you - it's strictly forbidden! 

Here is the line-up for the 3-days!

Friday:

3.30pm THE LEGENDARY DALTONS: Country & Western - Insel (16)

6.15pm JAMES COTTRIALL: Fest - Insel (6)


8.25pm SIDO: Fest - Insel (6)


8.45pm Vanilla Sky: Rock - Insel (11)


11.00pm Söhne Mannheims: Fest - Insel (6)


Saturday:
 
4.00pm CRIPPLE CREEK BAND: Country & Western - Insel (16)



6.00pm Umberto Tozzi: Fest - Insel (6)


7.30pm Nits: Fest - Insel (6)


8.45pm Peter Cornelius & Band: Fest - Insel (6)


9.10pm Die Paldauer: Schlager & Volksmusik - Insel (10)


10pm Europe: Fest - Insel (6)

Sunday:


8.40pm MILOW: Fest - Insel (6)


9.00pm PULS 4 - Insel (12)

Vienna is hot!

Sorry for not posting these first June days!

But Vienna is that hot at the moment.

We do have our first summer period! 30 Celcius almost all day, blue sky, scorching heat ...
constant need for water, a pool, a river, wind, air condition, al-frescos, whatever!

Our suggestions:

Try the Badeschiff in the very centre on Vienna

or a sailing trip on the old Danube (U1 Station Alte Donau)

or Vienna's best icecream for

€ 2,50 only

at Zanoni & Zanoni at Lugeck

on your way from Schwedenplatz to Stephansplatz

But prepare - slowly thundersorms will kick in - also not uncommon at that time of the year!

Fancy a Full Moon Boating at the Old Danube

Save these dates! If you are in Vienna that time, we have an ultimative night event for you! 

May 17th 

or

June 15th 

or

July 15th 

or

August 13th 

Do you fancy a romantic boat hire, gurgling water around you, 
full moon above you, a botte of prosecco next to you
ahhhh and maybe a pleasant 'n' appealing partner?


Then head out for the boat hire stands at the Old Danube. This map shows the hiring companies (extended opening hours on these days) and food locations.
Take the U-Bahn U1 and get out at stop Old Danube, only 4 stop from bluedanube apartments.


Now you just need some insect repellent and good weather!


And a romantic partner!

Schoenbrunn Castle is Vienna's Hampton Court Palace

Must-do in Vienna - Tourist attraction No 1 - and really worth a visit:
Schoenbrunn Castle is waiting for you. Soon an interesting event is coming up.
So prepare and have some insights!


Enjoy our slide show and ideally plan your visit to Schoenbrunn in the afternoon. Less people - better light!

To The Beach

Wanna go to the beach?

No problem in Vienna!

3 beaches are  already opened! Yes, you've read correctly: we do have beaches in the city of Vienna! And what a kind of beaches too!


Telaviv Beach

This groovy beach brings a slice of seaside cheer to the capital this summer and comes with excellent international food, great drinks and the best music ever with live gigs and DJ's you don't want to miss!

Hermanns Strandbar


The second beach at The Danube Canal proves that you don't need to fork out on travel to a far flung land to enjoy a slice of seasonal fun. Destined to attract people of all ages, this place offers great food 'n' drinks and the perfect place to relax in between shopping, work or sightseeing.

Sand In the City

Sunglasses at the ready! The place where you normally skate along wrapped in thick jackets and shivering all the time has transformed into a single sand landscape.
So if you're out for the feel of sand under your feet, pop in and enjoy music and food!

You'll love them! Go there, when the weather is fine, stick your feet in the sand and indulge with good bits 'n' bites and excellent drinks.


Enjoy the beach feeling during day or even at night, when the first mediterranean evenings make their way into Vienna and you start hearing the chirping noise.

Old Danube Season Opening - it's boating time!

Today, 27th April, another summer season was opened on the Vienna Old Danube - so what and where is this 'Old Danube'?

It is one of the former river beds of the Danube, located north of todays regulated Danube.
It is one of Viennas uncountable leasure paradises, only 5 kms away from the city centre. With a length of around 8 kms and a superb water quality it is the place to be for swimmers, boaters and sun seekers. A broad variety of bars and restaurants provide a pleasant venue for your lunch or dinner, or just a drink in between - and the nice thing is, most of them can be reached by boat. So, go there, hire a boat, have a drink and enjoy your time.

Directions from bluedanube apartments - again quick 'n' easy. Take the U1 and exit at station 'Alte Donau', then this unique gem lies right in front of you.

Enjoy! And don't forget the suncream!