THE PLACE TO EXPLORE
VIENNA VERY CLOSE
People who come to Vienna usually have a long list of sights planned that they don’t want to miss: Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and much more.
But you don’t have to go far to get to know Vienna from a more personal side. In the vicinity of our two hotels, the IMLAUER Hotel Wien and the IMLAUER Hotel Nestroy, you can get to know the urban life and hustle and bustle of the city and discover some of its sights.
Come with us on a journey through Vienna’s 2nd district!
The giants of the Augarten
If you walk from our hotels in the direction of Taborstraße and turn right one block to the intersection “Obere Augartenstraße”, you are practically in front of the Vienna Augarten. Originally one of the imperial hunting grounds, this park is now an extensive area that invites you to take a stroll, relax or go for a run.
Two of Vienna’s six flak towers, relics from the Second World War, stand in the middle of the Augarten. They were built for anti-aircraft defense and as shelters. After the war, it was realized that they could not be easily demolished due to their massive construction and proximity to residential areas. Today, some of these flak towers are in use, e.g. the Haus des Meeres in the 6th district. Above all, however, they are also memorials to the horrors of war and have become an integral part of the Viennese cityscape.
White gold and the finest craftsmanship
If you take a stroll through the Augarten, you should definitely visit the Vienna Porcelain Museum, which is located here. The Viennese porcelain manufactory has been located in Augarten since 1923, but has a long tradition.
Only a few years after the secret of the production of “white gold” was discovered in Dresden (1710, Meissen porcelain), porcelain production also began in Vienna in 1718. Viennese porcelain quickly made a name for itself and is still very popular today.
The Porcelain Museum is located right next to the porcelain manufactory in Vienna’s Augarten. Here you will not only learn more about the production of porcelain, its history and the different styles of Viennese porcelain. You can also shop to your heart’s content and buy souvenirs.
The Crime Museum
Even closer than the Augarten is the Vienna Crime Museum, an interesting place to learn more about crime and the fight against it in Vienna. You start again from the hotel in the direction of Taborstraße, cross it and continue along Haidstraße. In the second cross street you will find the Crime Museum on the right (Große Sperlgasse 24).
The building alone is a sight to behold. The so-called “Seifensiederhaus” has been documented since the 17th century. In 20 rooms you can learn all about the dark side of wine and crime-fighting from the Middle Ages to the present day.
A hip neighborhood
If you need a refreshment now, you should definitely visit the Karmelitermarkt. Simply continue along Haidstraße and you will find yourself in front of the market. Fresh fruit and vegetables are available here from Monday to Saturday and there are many trendy bars and restaurants all around.
The Karmelitermarkt is particularly beautiful on Saturdays, when farmers from the surrounding area of Vienna offer their products. Here you will find home-baked bread, local cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables, home-made jams and juices and much more.
It’s a wonderful place to stroll around, enjoy a relaxed meal or drink and you’re sure to find a souvenir or two to take home.
Pure pleasure
This attraction doesn’t need much explanation and is on the agenda of almost every visitor to Vienna: the Vienna Prater. This time you start from the hotels in the direction of Nestroyplatz. Here you can either take the subway to Praterstern or walk along Praterstraße to the left to get to Praterstern.
The Vienna Prater, affectionately called the “Wurstlprater” by the locals, is an amusement paradise for young and old with its countless attractions. Here you can have a wonderful scare, let the adrenaline rush through your veins or have some nostalgic fun in an autodrome.
You should definitely not miss a ride on the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel. It is one of Vienna’s landmarks and has been making its rounds in the Vienna Prater since 1897. At a height of 65 meters, it offers a wonderful view over Vienna.
The green heart of Vienna
Some Viennese claim that the Wurstlprater is the soul of the city. Here you can really observe the Viennese spirit. The adjacent park area, on the other hand, is the green heart of the city. Like the Augarten, this part of the Prater was originally an imperial hunting ground. Today it is a large recreational area that offers plenty of space for running, cycling or walking.
This is a wonderful place to relax and unwind. And if you get hungry or thirsty, then head for the Schweizerhaus. There you’ll find the best stilton and ribs, in true Austrian style.