Vienna for under £100 a night
THINK of Vienna and images of museums, grand palaces and world-class opera performances may spring to mind. But look beyond the Austrian capital’s obvious attractions and you will find it is teeming with hip bars, cosy coffee houses and easy-going neighbourhoods. Best of all, the city of spies and Sigmund Freud is very compact, making it a wonder to wander around on a frosty weekend break.
Where to stay Ruby Marie Hotel
IN THE heart of the city’s trendy district, Neubau, this modern hotel has slick rooms with comfortable beds and impressive music systems.
Go for a room on the eighth floor for private balconies with sweeping city views. Don’t leave without having a drink on the roof terrace. Doubles from £62 (ruby-hotels.com).
Hotel Daniel
THIS hotel can be spotted thanks to a bizarre boat sculpture on its roof. Located in the Landstrasse district, it grows its own vegetables, and produces honey from beehives on the seventh-floor balcony.
Make sure you’re comfortable around whoever you check in with — showers with glass doors are in the centre of the 116 quirky, comfortable rooms. Doubles from £83 (hoteldaniel.com/en/vienna).
Magdas Hotel
THIS cosy hotel sits on the edge of the Prater park and the city’s famous Ferris wheel. Run by a team of former refugees and hospitality staff, Magdas Hotel has a warm atmosphere, colourful bedrooms and a delicious buffet breakfast. Doubles from £52 (magdashotel.at).
Max Brown
SURROUNDED by coffee shops and cafes, Max Brown is a bright, cheerful hotel in Neubau. The 143 rooms offer stunning views. Don’t leave without visiting chef Eyal Shani’s new restaurant Seven North. Doubles from £81 (maxbrownhotels.com).
Where to eat Ulrich
THERE is a reason this modern restaurant (ulrichwien.at) has held on to its reputation as one of the best in Vienna. Its diverse menu is ideal for sharing. Tear into one of its chorizo and Manchego flatbreads (£7.50) and try the king prawn skewers with aioli for £5.35.
Naschmarkt
WITH 120 food stands and restaurants, there is something for everyone at Vienna’s largest food market (naschmarkt-vienna.com) Graze the deli stalls for dates stuffed with prosciutto and goat’s cheese or grab a falafel wrap (£2.70).
If you would prefer to sit down, try trendy Israeli restaurant Neni. You will have to queue, but its soft pitta bread and burnt aubergine with tomato salsa (£6.70) makes the wait worthwhile.
Trzesniewski
THE perfect spot for a quick, cheap bite to eat, the venue (trzesniewski. at) serves delicious open sandwiches on moist rye bread (£1.25 each). Toppings include crab, sardines with onions, and truffled egg with ham.
Palmenhaus
AN EXOTIC array of plants climb the walls of this bright, atmospheric restaurant (palmenhaus.at), which was once a greenhouse. Enjoy fresh grilled sardines (£16) and a glass of Riesling (£4) while looking over at the Burggarten, a garden built for the emperor in 1818.
Cafe Diglas
THERE is no better place to experience Viennese coffee-house culture than here (diglas.at). Just 150 metres from the historic Stephansplatz square, you can tuck into a gooey apple strudel (£4) with an earthy espresso (£2.80).
How to get there
RYANAIR offers return flights from £7.50 (ryanair.com). Jump on the City Airport Train and be in central Vienna in 16 minutes (£10.50).
The Vienna City Card gives unlimited travel on public transport and discounts for museums, tourist attractions and restaurants (£21 for 48 hours, viennacitycard.at).
You must be triple vaccinated to enter Austria as a tourist, and also have proof of a negative PCR test taken no more than 48 hours before the time of entry. See ‘entry requirements’ at gov.uk.