Dear friends of artemezzo,
July belongs to summer in Vienna. The days are long, the evenings lively, and if you know where to go, you will find refreshment and enjoyment even on the hottest days.
By and on the Water
Vienna is fortunate to be surrounded by waterways. The Danube Island stretches for more than 20 kilometres through the city, offering sunbathing lawns, cycling paths and swimming spots right by the water. The New Danube is ideal for swimming, while the Old Danube has an almost Mediterranean feel, with boat rentals and sailing schools. And if you prefer quieter places, the Danube floodplains offer peaceful waterside retreats that are hard to find in most major cities.
My favourite recommendation for hot summer days, however, is a little higher up: Krapfenwaldlbad, a public swimming pool nestled in the hills of the Vienna Woods with spectacular views across the city. Once you have looked out over Vienna’s rooftops from there, you will want to come back.
A Companion for Green and Refreshing Summer Days
Many of these places, Danube Island, Krapfenwaldlbad, and the vineyards on Kahlenberg, are featured in my book, “Green Places of Happiness in Vienna.” It presents 80 green urban retreats, from hidden courtyards to peaceful swimming spots on the city’s outskirts, each with practical information, directions and a personal recommendation. The perfect companion for a summer spent not just in Vienna, but truly discovering it.
Museums in Summer, Cool Spaces, Great Stories
When the summer heat peaks, Vienna’s great museums offer a welcome escape, and are worth visiting at any time of year. The Kunsthistorisches Museum brings together under one roof masterpieces by Bruegel, Vermeer and Velázquez, the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection, the Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities, and the Kunstkammer Vienna, one of the world’s finest cabinets of curiosities, with around 2,200 objects including Cellini’s famous Saliera.
The Albertina celebrates its 250th anniversary this year. Its special exhibition “Collecting for the Future” runs until 11 October and features Dürer’s Young Hare, one of the museum’s greatest treasures and an original watercolour from 1502 that is only rarely displayed for conservation reasons.
Discover Vienna’s Art, Together
A great museum can be overwhelming. That is where we come in. Instead of trying to see everything, we focus on selected masterpieces, reveal the connections between artists, artworks and architecture, and tell the stories behind them, without overwhelming you with dates and facts. If you wish, the tour can start directly at your hotel or another convenient meeting point. Our “Vienna Artfully” tour can also be booked directly on our website.
Open-Air Cinema
From July onwards, the Film Festival at Rathausplatz lights up Vienna’s summer evenings with free screenings every night until 6 September. On its 300 m² giant screen, you will find everything from opera and classical music to pop and rock, this year’s programme includes Bruce Springsteen, Amy Winehouse, The Magic Flute and The Phantom of the Opera. International food stalls open daily from 11 a.m.
If you prefer a greener setting, the Filmarchiv Austria screens films in its Augarten garden until 30 August, now with a second venue in the Baroque atrium courtyard. FRAME[O]UT presents international short and documentary films every Friday and Saturday in the courtyard of the MuseumsQuartier, while the rooftop cinema at Vienna’s Main Library returns with this season’s theme, “Mind Games.”
Whether you are looking for a refreshing swim, an inspiring museum visit or a warm evening under the stars, Vienna offers the perfect summer experience. We would love to help you discover the city in your own way. Enjoy July, and we hope to see you in Vienna soon.
Write to us, we will plan your personal Vienna experience together:
office@artemezzo.com | +43 664 3892951
Warm wishes,
Martha Tretter and the artemezzo team
artemezzo | BoutiqueTours Vienna
Experience culture. Feel the stories. Enjoy Vienna.
