A summer afternoon lounging in and wandering through Vienna’s Neubau neighborhood is enough to make anyone fall in love with the city. With what feels like more art per capita than anywhere else in the world, the district celebrates Old World culture and cutting-edge modernity simultaneously. Spend at least a day shuffling between cultural institutions and taking advantage of the profusion of public space, where locals and visitors mix and meet.
Start in Maria Theresa Square, the gateway to the Museumsquartier and a hub of the neighborhood, located next to the Innere Stadt. Enjoy coffee and a pastry on the fiberglass couches scattered around while setting the day’s itinerary. Peruse the collections of MUMOK, the country’s best modern art museum, or see the past at the Museum of Art History. The Leopold Museum displays more works by Egon Schiele than anywhere else in the world. Continue on to the Kunsthalle Wien, showcasing contemporary art.
For an unusual but splendid celebration of Viennese taste and design, wander through the historic objects in the Imperial Furniture Museum, with one of the world’s largest furniture collections. Pieces date back to the 1700s. Take a relaxing stroll through the narrow, cozy streets of the Spittelberg, which seems a world away from the monumental scale of the neighborhood.
Neubau is one of Vienna’s innermost districts, located just west of the Innere Stadt. With trams, buses and the train running through the district, it is easily navigable by public transportation as well as on foot. Get here from Vienna’s main train station in 10 minutes by car, 15 minutes by public transportation or 35 minutes on foot. The district, though slightly more car-friendly than the Innere Stadt, is best explored on foot or with public transportation, especially during peak tourist season.
In fall, pick up souvenirs and great vintage fashion at Neubau flea markets that spring up along Neubaugasse, selling art, clothing and tchotchkes.