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.

The Donaukanal is a regulated water channel running through Vienna. During summertime the canal banks are filled with after-workers, creatives and party people strolling up- or downstream or grabbing a drink at one of the many bars.

Palmenhaus is a café, brasserie and bar inside a 1901-built greenhouse located in the Viennese Hofburg palace gardens. You can enjoy your coffee unter the massive steel structure on the light-filled inside of the greenhouse or – during summertime – on the outside terrace overlooking the Burggarten gardens.

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.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum is Austria’s largest art museum. Its picture gallery houses the collections of the Habsburgs. There’s everything from Brueghel to Velásquez and Vermeer to Caravaggio. I especially recommend getting lost in the Egyptian and Near Eastern collection though.