Austria’s capital and its largest city, Vienna has become one of Central Europe’s most treasured gems for a number of reasons. Named for the eighth time as the world's number one city to live in, and listed as one of the best destinations to visit in the world, Vienna offers a myriad of attractions for visitors, young and old.
From historic palaces to reputed art galleries, to fabulous shopping and cultural spots, to great restaurants and cafés serving scrumptious cakes and fabulous coffee, to natural beauty as far as the eye can see, Vienna has it all. And so, it's really no surprise that it's become a top travel destination choice amongst Muslims worldwide for its numerous attractions, beautiful natural scenery and relaxed atmosphere.
We’ve only listed 5 reasons to why a visit to Vienna is a must here, but in all honesty, we could have come up with quite a number more! No matter how many times you’ve been there, there’s always something new and exciting to explore and discover.
If you haven’t realized by now, we love Vienna, and we're sure you will too!
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Find a Mosque near you in Vienna
Find a Halal Restaurant near you in Vienna
The UNESCO World Heritage site, Schönbrunn Palace is one of Austria’s most important historical and cultural heritage sites. Once the Imperial Summer residence of Emperor Leopold I, the Baroque palace today is one of Vienna’s top attractions. Learn all about the history of the Palace and its residents, explore the grand state rooms and private apartments with their original furnishings, marvel at the art, and wander the palace’s extensive grounds while here.
Boasting not only a variety of picturesque, natural must-sees, the stunning manicured grounds also feature a number of beautiful fountains, monuments and statues, glasshouses, an Orangery, a maze, among other gems. While the Schönbrunn Palace is on every history buff's itinerary, we cannot think of one person that wouldn’t be interested in at least a part of it. In our opinion, a trip to the Schönbrunn definitely completes a visit to Vienna!
Address: Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien, Austria
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am to 5pm (up to 6.30pm during certain months)
Ticket Price: Imperial Tour - Adults: € 14.20, Children (aged 6 - 18): € 10.50
Grand Tour - Adults: € 17.50, Children (aged 6 - 18): € 11.50
Classic Pass - Adults: € 24.00, Children (aged 6 - 18): € 15.20
Contact: +43 1 811 13-0
Website: www.schoenbrunn.at
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If you’re like us and can’t go a day without coffee, you’re going to be more than happy to even extend your stay in Vienna! The city’s long standing coffee house culture means that you will come across a wide array of unique Viennese coffee houses in their most traditional form when exploring the city. Intrinsic to Viennese culture, coffee houses like Café Griensteidl, Café Sacher, Café Central and Café Drechsler are visited by locals and tourists alike.
In addition to its obsession with coffee, Austrians are also passionate about their sweet treats, evident in the number of legendary bake houses found across the city of Vienna. After a tiring day of shopping, museum hopping or sightseeing, what better way to kick back and relax than at one of Vienna’s atmospheric coffee houses, sipping a cup of Viennese coffee and savouring a slice of Sachertorte, Vienna’s most famous chocolate cake!
Vienna is home to over 100 museums as well as a number of art galleries - even some which are world-renowned - making it almost impossible for museum and art lovers to pick just a few. Boasting art displays from world-famous artists, to collections dedicated to natural history, these museums attract tourists from across the globe. Vienna’s historical inner-city houses a number of imperial buildings amongst museums such as the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the feather in the cap of Vienna’s museum and art gallery scene.
In the city’s 7th district, the cultural quarters - Museums Quartier hosts a variety of museums, from the Museum Moderner Kunst (MUMOK), to the Leopold Museum, and the Kunsthalle Wien amongst a selection of buildings of Baroque architecture.
A few of Vienna’s other must-visit museums include the Naturhistorisches Museum, Heeresgeschichtliches Museum, and the Albertina.
Picture Credit - Böhringer Friedrich, commons.wikimedia.org
Like we mentioned above, Vienna truly is a destination that appeals to everyone. A shopaholic’s paradise, Vienna houses a plethora of upscale luxury boutiques such as Prada, Roberto Cavalli, Carier, Louis Vuitton and Chanel, in addition to many others, in the place known as the Goldenes Quartier. And, located in the heart of the city, Kohlmarkt is the place to go for fine jewellery and rare gems. If you’re in the mood to learn more about Viennese food items, and crafts, head to the Vienna Naschmarkt and the Brunnenmarkt, and explore away! Frequented by locals and tourists who come to take in the market’s sights and sounds, the markets feature countless stalls where you will find everything, from food and drinks to antiques.
Picture Credit - Bwag, commons.wikimedia.org
While Vienna may not be an obvious Muslim holiday spot, it is in fact quite Muslim-friendly. The destination is a popular holiday getaway for Muslims all over the world. With about 13% of Viennese being Muslims, finding Halal food and mosques in Vienna is easier than you'd ever think!
There are a number of Halal restaurants in Vienna that serve a variety of cuisines, from Middle Eastern to Asian, so you won’t have to stick to a strictly vegetarian diet as you would in most other European cities there. To find Halal food near you in Vienna, we highly recommend downloading the HalalTrip Mobile app in advance.
You'll also be able to find Mosques and prayer spaces near you in Vienna. With around 8 mosques, such as the popular Islamisches Zentrum Wien (Vienna Islamic Centre), they not only serve the local Muslim community, but also allow Muslim tourists to explore the city without having to worry about missing their prayers. Mosques in Vienna are also the perfect place for tourists to head to if they're looking to interact with and get to know the Viennese Muslim community.
Tip: Muslims should be aware that although Halal restaurants in Vienna serve meat that is all Halal, finding alcohol on the menu at these restaurants is very common.
Read word of mouth tips from Vienna's locals
Read more about Austria on the Halaltrip Travel Blog
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Hishama is a Lankan born, ex-Dubai-an who enjoys all things travel. When she's not at her day job as an Online Marketing Specialist, you will find her hanging out with friends at one of the city's newest cafés, reading a Jodi Picoult novel, Netflix-ing pretty much anything, obsessing over broadway, or just dreaming of her next big adventure abroad that she wishes she could afford.
