Romance in Vienna

A walk through the Old City, a boat ride on the Danube or a rest at a heuriger: Vienna has many romantic aspects. 10 reasons for all lovers and honeymooners to come to Vienna

Romantic walks on cobblestoned streets

Winding lanes, arcade-lined courtyards, time-honored palaces: in Vienna, the city center is especially romantic. In the oldest quarters of the city on the Danube around St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the narrow lanes are paved with cobblestones as they were centuries ago, while a stroll along Schönlaterngasse or Domgasse becomes an encounter with the past. Romantic walks can also be found on Spittelberg, a quarter in the 7th district with beautifully preserved houses from the Biedermeier period.

Hundreds of flowers in Vienna’s parks

Of course, Vienna is particularly romantic in the spring. The chestnut trees blossom in the Prater, 400 types of rose bloom in the Volksgarten, and the fragrance of lilac pervades the city's many other parks. In total Vienna provides 850 parks and green spaces (280 of them imperial).

Ride in a horse-drawn carriage

Anyone who would prefer not to walk should hire a Fiaker (horse-drawn carriage) and take in the palaces, mansion houses and architectural gems on four wheels. There are Fiaker stands dotted all around the first district, including on Stephansplatz, Heldenplatz, Albertinaplatz and in front of the Burgtheater.

Green Vienna

On the edge of town, the vineyards in the 19th district and the greenery of the Vienna Woods are particularly idyllic and offer a wonderful view of the city. Then it's off to a heuriger, one of the typically Viennese wine taverns that have long been places of pilgrimage for (new) lovers.

Boat rides and picnics

Also atmospheric is a boat ride on the Old Danube, in particular the full moon rides with a glass of Prosecco. The restaurant "La Crêperie" even puts together a variety of picnic baskets for the boat ride. Lovers can also have a picnic basket put together by the Villa Aurora on Wilhelminenberg and seek out a romantic spot with a view of Vienna.

Alte Donau, 1220 Vienna, www.alte-donau.info

Dancing the waltz

Waltzing romantics will feel right at home at one of the numerous balls, which are held in Vienna not just during Carnival. Romantic dance evenings can also be enjoyed on a (private) waltz dancing course.

Dinner in Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel

For many people, a candlelight dinner is the very essence of romance. A candlelight dinner for two is offered by, for example, the Romantic Crystal Dinner in Vienna's Giant Ferris Wheel.

Giant Ferris Wheel, Riesenradplatz 1, 1020 Vienna, www.wienerriesenrad.com

Share a piece of cake with your loved one in a traditional Vienna coffeehouse

In a typical Viennese coffeehouse the bustling city life meets the comforts of your living room. Since 2011, the traditional Viennese coffee house has even belonged to the intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO. Traditional cafés such as the Sacher, Central, Griensteidl, Museum and Sperl entice with a wide variety of coffee drinks, international newspapers and pastry creations. Around 150 are classic coffeehouses, where the waiters are still dressed in black, and the décor is as unpretentious as it was in the ‘good old days’: wooden floors, marble-topped tables, and seating that is simple and plush.

But maybe Viennese pastries are too delicious to share!

Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”

One of the most famous pictures of a couple kissing is exhibited in Vienna: in the Belvedere, lovers can view Gustav Klimt's masterpiece "The Kiss" up close and even exchange a quick peck themselves.

Schloss Belvedere, Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Vienna, www.belvedere.at

Live like an emperor

Honeymooners have the chance to stay where Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth once had their private chambers – in a truly unique hotel suite inside Schönbrunn Palace, one of Austria’s best-known tourist attractions. An apartment on the top floor of the east wing of Schönbrunn Palace which was once reserved for close relatives of the imperial court has been converted following a carefully monitored refurbishment project. Guests check in at the nearby four-star Parkhotel Schönbrunn, run by Austria Trend Hotel, which also operates the suite.

The suite exudes imperial charm, with the interior and finishings taking their cues from the decorative style running through the rest of the former Habsburg summer residence: gold, black and white provide the colour scheme, which is touched off by luxury wood elements and the court damask design. Also known as pineapple damask, this famous red fabric was used in the decoration of all of the Habsburg residences in the 1830s. Delicate stucco work, Maria Theresa chandeliers, and herringbone parquet floors complete the imperial ambience. The 167m² four-person suite boasts two bedrooms, two modern bathrooms, a salon, a generous living room and a kitchenette. The views of the formal gardens and the Gloriette and Neptune Fountain are an absolute highlight.

Schönbrunn Palace, 1130 Vienna, www.thesuite.at