The Werkbundsiedlung in Vienna is one of those places where you can study how people (aka famous architects) in the past imagined the “modern way of living”. While walking through this housing estate you can soak up the unique atmosphere of something that is both historic and thought-provoking for the future at the same time. (Photo: Bwag/Wikimedia)

Vienna’s 7th district, called Neubau, is one the city’s hippest neighborhoods. If you want to stroll along the trendy streets of Vienna, have a drink, do some shopping, grab a bite to eat than I would recommend to walk along Kirchengasse, Zollergasse, Lindengasse and Neubaugasse. Looking for some Austrian souvenirs? Here some suggestions: - Get a pack o freshly roasted coffee at the "Jonas Reindl", or "Kaffeefabrik" roasters/coffeeshop.  - Minus Plus hair salon produce their own organic hair products called „Less is more“.  - „Mühlbauer“ hat store is an over 100 years old family business, with a great choice of handmade hats and headgear.  - At „Geschirr Niessner“ you can get one of the famous pastel enamel pots from Riess, manufactured in Lower Austria. - „Sonnentor“ sell organic teas and herbs grown by Austrian farmers. You’ll find plenty of nice coffeeshops and small restaurants along the way.

A newcomer to the Vienna art scene, GOMO bravely takes on a relatively art-unpopulated area near the main train station. Exhibition and performance program revolves around a distinctive aesthetics of the space (an old garage) and a large yard with plenty of greenery is used extensively and with gusto in all seasons.

There is one thing finally that is good about vienna’s small size, to reach the river danube and its two side arms in summer, when its boiling hot, takes only few minutes. All the life is transferred from the center to the river banks, swim and barbecue in summer, ice skating in winter. If you exit the subway at Neue Donau station you will see the small tower of viennas biggest mosque that is located on the danube island. You can go there and visit, if you are lucky, you will be offered dryed figues and dates and you can watch the prayers repose themselves lying on mattrasses in the cool.

This tiny family-run Japanese restaurant right at the Naschmarket serves great authentic Japanese food. No matter which dish I tried, I loved every single one of them. Plan a little waiting time, they have only 6-9 seats, but it’s worth the wait.  By the way, take a look at the building, it’s the famous Majolica House by the famous Jugendstil architect Otto Wagner.