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Do you visit Vienna? Top 5 Tourist Traps – And Alternatives!

Everyone knows that as soon as a perfectly rational human being goes on vacation, they lose all common sense and end up buying trinkets and knickknacks in souvenir shops at astronomical prices. You’ve also probably visited a tourist mecca and heard all about the must-see sights and shows, only to shell out a wad of money and leave sorely disappointed. Vienna is no different. However, I am here to help you stay away from vacation disappointments and find the highlights of Vienna.

Tourist Trap #1: The Lipizzaner Horse Shows

The Spanish Riding School was founded in 1572, which makes it the oldest and most prestigious in the world. With beautiful baroque architecture housed within the Hofburg Palace, the architecture alone is worth a visit, not to mention the majestic Lipizzaner horses. However, before paying up to €173 for the performance (don’t bother with a cheap or fixed ticket, all you’ll see are people’s heads and some white specks doing somersaults), why not check out their morning workout? You will see the horses up close (12 euros) or add a guided tour of the stables with a combined ticket (26 euros).

Tourist Trap #2: Grinzing, or any other restaurant with tour buses in the parking lot

You’ll want to try authentic Viennese cuisine during your visit to Vienna, and there’s no better place than a traditional Heurige (wine tavern/restaurant). One of the main Viennese attractions is Grinzing, a collection of Heurige in the vineyards overlooking Vienna. Instead of pushing through the hordes of Japanese tourists, you’ll be much happier venturing outside of Vienna to Heurigefrequented by locals. there is great Heurige in Austria Weinviertel (wine quarter) in Stammersdorf and Hagenbrunn or in the picturesque town of Perchtoldsdorf to the south. All of these towns are within easy reach of Vienna.

Tourist Trap #3: Hotel Sacher

While in Vienna you must try the world famous Sachertorte. This world famous dessert consists of two layers of chocolate cake separated by a layer of apricot jam in the middle and covered with a dark chocolate glaze. Now the Hotel Sacher is entitled to the “Original Sachertorte”, which makes it the most expensive, but definitely not the best. While Cafe Sacher, located directly across from the State Opera, offers a sumptuous atmosphere, if you’re looking for a really good Sacher cake, then I would personally recommend L. Heiner, located at Wollzeile 9 or Tirolerhof in the city center.

Tourist Trap #4: Cafe Central

Cafe Central was one of the most venerable coffee shops in Vienna. Intellectuals and authors such as Peter Altenberg, Theodor Herzl, Egon Friedell, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Anton Kuh, Vladimir Lenin, Adolf Loos, and Leon Trotsky would gather here to discuss politics, philosophy, economics, and the like. With such famous clients, a long history, and a beautiful atmosphere, it’s no wonder all the guidebooks recommend it. However, this is all a bit misleading. The real Café Central was located in another part of the building, the Palais Ferstel, and closed at the end of World War II. Although you’ll see these celebrities of yesteryear smiling at you from the informational signs around the cafe, they never actually sat at your table. Also, there really is nothing special about this cafe. The architecture is nice, but the food and drinks are mediocre and not worth the inflated prices in my opinion. If you want to visit a Viennese coffee shop, try Cafe Prückel or Cafe Hawelka where they have buchteln, sweet dumplings from yeast dough with jam fillings. Under no circumstances should you choose a Starbucks and therefore pass up the opportunity to experience the unique personality of each Viennese coffee shop.

Tourist trap #5: Any souvenir shop in Vienna’s 1st district, the city center

I know, I know: you are in Vienna, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. You’ve traveled, seen the sights, had a great time and want a souvenir to remind you of your time here. However, before you decide to buy a Klimt poster for €50 (there are some excellent poster/print shops in Vienna), why not give some thought to a) if you really need it and b) if you’re wasting your hard-earned money. did it cost to win? a true piece of Austrian culture, probably cheaply made in China. My advice: don’t bother going into a souvenir shop in the city center, there’s nothing you need there and it’s not worth the price. So before you take that snowball to the register, try some of the following places for some unique Viennese souvenirs:

Museumsquartier Gift Shop: Cool, but Not Necessarily Cheap, Offbeat Souvenirs
Naschmarkt – why not take home some Austrian specialties like schnapps or pumpkin seed oil?
Antique Shops: There are fantastic finds hidden beyond the city center, especially in the 4th, 6th and 7th arrondissement.

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