Vienna/Inner East

Leopoldstadt (2) is the southern half of the island that is formed between the Danube and the Danube Canal. It stretches from the more wild forests of the Prater in the south up through the point where the Prater becomes a more formal park and amusement park where the transportation hub Praterstern is located. Going onward to the north are several neighborhoods from the Gründerzeit with dense housing including impressive Neo-Baroque buildings. Towards the north of the district along the Danube Canal across from Schwedenplatz is the Karmeliterviertel (Karmeliter Quarter) which was once a Jewish ghetto and today is the hub of Jewish life in Vienna. This area is indeed quite diverse across the board and is becoming gentrified. At the edge of that area is the Augarten. The area past that has been hand-picked for an intense development project that will turn several former freight yards into entire new neighborhoods. Along the Danube are numerous massive housing projects from the 1920s onward.

Brigittenau (20) is the northern half of the island between the Danube and the Danube canal. It consists mostly of land gained by the regulation of the Danube in 1870-75. Hence it does not contain any distinctive historical areas.

The main train station of the area is the 🌍 Praterstern, the ultra-modern multi-modal station opened in the new millennium, where bus, tram, U-Bahn, S-Bahn and long-distance train lines converge at a namesake intersection, from which the district's main streets project in a star-like fashion. You can reach it directly from Vienna International Airport with the S7 S-Bahn. Both U-Bahn lines serving the district,  U1  and  U2 , stop at the Praterstern, and pretty much all tram lines have a terminus there.

You can access the district on foot by crossing the Donaukanal, which runs along the border between the Innere Stadt and Leopoldstadt or Brigittenau via the numerous bridges. The  U4  line, which stops along the Donaukanal, can take you to Wien Mitte/Landstrasse, where you can drop your luggage (depending on the airline you travel on) and board the City Airport Train on your way out of Vienna. Tram lines 1 and 2 also run along the Donaukanal (and along the Ring), and continue to the Inner East – the line 2 to Brigittenau, while line 1 ends up in the middle of the Prater park.

The district is served by U-Bahn lines U1 (southwest-northeast from Innere Stadt to Donaustadt) and U2 (northwest-southeast from the Ring around the Innere Stadt to Aspern in Donaustadt). Both lines stop at the Praterstern.

The U1 is most useful to get to the Leopoldstadt from the old town and the Hauptbahnhof. U2 can be useful to get to the southern part of Donau's waterfront and the attractions there (Donaumarina), the Ernst-Happel-Stadium, as well as the Messe.

Tram lines run along the Taborstrasse/Dresdner Strasse (line 2), Wallensteinstrasse/Norwestabhnstrasse/Nordbahnstrasse (line 5), and numerous streets in the northern part of Leopoldstadt (extension of lines 2 and 5, as well as lines 31 and 33). Tram line 1 has a terminus in the southern end of the Prater park, at Prater Hauptallee.

The southern part of Leopoldstadt is scarcely served by public transportations and if you want to get in or out of there and you are not anywhere close to an U2 station, you need to use the buses, walk, drive or take a taxi.

• 🌍 Prater, Leopoldstadt (U1, tram O, 5, 21 Praterstern, S1-S3, S7, S15 Wien Nord), ☏ +43 1 4000-8042. Daily 24 hr. This large park began life as a carriage-riding area for the nobility, and is still a popular place to spend a weekend afternoon with family. Free. (updated Feb 2017)
  • 🌍 Wurstelprater, ☏ +43 1 728-05-16, fax: +43 1 728-52-74, info@wiener-prater.at. General park: open daily 24 hr; rides and attractions: 15 Mar - 31 Oct 10:00-01:00. This year-round amusement park (map available here was established in the late 18th century, and is most famous for its Riesenrad (see listing below). The park also includes standard fun rides as well as a Madame Tussauds wax works cabinet and the Liliputbahn (a narrow-gauge railroad). Possibly the weirdest attraction though is the Kugelmugel (Antifaschismusplatz 2), a spherical house (diameter 7.68m) that, after failing to get a planning permit, declared independence from Austria. First built elsewhere and carted off to the Prater by Austrian authorities, it now sits uninhabited and fenced off with barbed wire. Free (general admission), €1.50-5 (individual rides and attractions). (updated Feb 2017)
  • 🌍 Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel), Riesenradplatz 1, ☏ +43 1 729 54 30, fax: +43 1 729 54 30 20, info@wienerriesenrad.com. Varies by season, usually 09:00/10:00-19:45/23:45. An English engineering firm (Walter Basset) built the giant ferris wheel from 1896-97. Others of the same era, built for world exhibitions and other parks in Chicago, London, Paris, etc. have long since been torn down. The Riesenrad has become a well-known symbol of Vienna, featured in many movies (most famously in The Third Man) and picture postcards. It has 15 gondolas, some of which are incredibly ornate and large enough to host an extended family inside, offering a spectacular panorama of the city. Additionally, the cabins are available to rent, for cocktails, dinners, or special events. The travelling time is 10-20 minutes. Adult 14+ €12, child €5. (updated Feb 2021)
  • 🌍 Zeiss Planetarium Wien, Oswald-Thomas-Platz 1, ☏ +43 1 89 174 150 000, fax: +43 1 89 174 350 000, planetarium@vhs.at. Box office opens 45 min prior to the show. Offers a variety of shows, and guided tours. Adult €9, child 5-14 or Vienna Card €6.50, child up to 4 free. (updated Feb 2021)
  • 🌍 Pratermuseum, Oswald-Thomas-Platz 1 (in the planetarium building, near the Riesenrad), ☏ +43 1 726 76 83, fax: +43 1 505 87 47 7201, office@wienmuseum.at. F-Su and holidays 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00. A small museum devoted to the history of popular entertainment. Adult €5; senior, student, or Vienna Card €4, child or youth under 19 free; free the first Sunday of every month. (updated Feb 2021)
• 🌍 Johann Strauß Wohnung (Johann Strauss Apartment), Praterstraße 54, Leopoldstadt, ☏ +43 1 214 01 21, fax: +43 1 505 87 47 7201, office@wienmuseum.at. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00. The 'Waltz King' lived in this elegant apartment from 1863 until 1870; his most famous piece 'An der schönen blauen Donau' (The Blue Danube) was composed during his time here. Included with the items on display is one of the composer's violins. Adult €5; senior, student, Vienna Card €4; child or youth under 19 free; free the first Sunday of every month. (updated Feb 2021)
• 🌍 Wiener Kriminalmuseum (Vienna Criminal Museum), Große Sperlgasse 24, Leopoldstadt, ☏ +43 664 300 56 77. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-17:00. This museum is dedicated to the history of police and the justice system, from the Middle Ages until World War II. Exhibits relating to famous Viennese criminals are included. Adult €8, student up to 16 with ID €4. (updated Feb 2021)
• 🌍 Circus- und Clownmuseum (Circus and Clown Museum), Ilgplatz 7/1, Leopoldstadt (U2 Messe-Prater), ☏ +43 676 4068868, circus@bezirksmuseum.at. Su 10:00-13:00, every 1st and 3rd Th 19:00-21:00. This unusual museum houses a collection of props and costumes, with rotating exhibits. Free. 
• 🌍 Otto Wagner Schützenhaus, Obere Donaustraße 26, Leopoldstadt (U2 Schottenring), ☏ +43 1 21 24 222, reservierung@wienerschuetzenhaus.at. Daily 11:00-24:00. Designed by Otto Wagner, and built in 1908, this was part of a planned redevelopment of the Donaukanal. After many years of neglect the building was fully restored in 2010, and now houses a restaurant. 
• 🌍 Flaktürme VII (Flak towers), Augarten, Leopoldstadt, ☏ +43 1 332 26 94 (Augarten management), office@kultur.park.augarten.org. Daylight hours. This is a pair of anti-aircraft defense towers/bunkers, built by the Luftwaffe during World War II. During construction multiple rail tracks were laid across the park, and it is believed that hundreds of war victims were buried in mass graves on the grounds, still undiscovered. At 55 m high, the round Gefechtsturm (G-Tower, or gun tower) is the highest flak tower built during the war. The pair have proven nearly impossible to remove, and are now protected because of their historic value. 
• 🌍 Millennium Tower, Handelskai 94-96, Brigittenau (U6 Handelskai). At 171 metres (561 feet), the tower was Vienna's the tallest building until the DC Tower was completed across the Danube, and continues to be a poignant landmark of the district. It was designed by the architects Gustav Peichl, Boris Podrecca and Rudolf Weber. The tower has 51 floors and houses the commercial complex known as "Millennium City". 

• 🌍 Bezirksmuseum Brigittenau (Brigittenau District Museum), Dresdner Straße 79, Brigittenau, ☏ +43 1 330 50 68, fax: +43 1 330 50 68, bm1200@bezirksmuseum.at. Su 10:00-12:00, Th 17:00-19:00, closed on holidays and school breaks. This little museum tells the story of the district itself through pictures, views and models. Free. (updated Oct 2017)
• 🌍 Brigittakirche, Brigittaplatz, Brigittenau. This Neogothic church is a landmark of the Brigittenau district. It was built between 1868 and 1874. 
• 🌍 New Campus of the Vienna University of Economics and Business (Neubau WU / Wirtschafts Universität Wien), Welthandelsplatz 1, Leopoldstadt. This stunning new campus opened in 2013, with buildings designed by international architecture firms from Spain, the UK, Germany, Japan, and Austria. The star of the campus is theLibrary & Learning Center, designed by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. 

• 🌍 Trabrennbahn Krieau (Krieau Race Track), Nordportalstraße 247, Leopoldstadt, ☏ +43 1 728 00 46, info@krieau.at. In use since 1878, this race track is used for harness racing, hosting regional, national, and international races. The track schedule is available online. 
• 🌍 Wiener Sängerknaben (Vienna Boys Choir), Palais Augarten, Leopoldstadt. Not generally open to the public except on special occasions. Founded at the pleasure of the Habsburgs. On 20 July 1498, Emperor Maximilian decided to hire six singing boys, the first permanent boys choir attached to the court. He also made arrangements for their education – fringe benefits that are difficult to get from a modern employer. The choir served the monarchy until its demise at the beginning of the First World War. The last Imperial Chaplain, Monsignor Josef Schnitt reestablished the Boys Choir in 1924 as a private institution. To earn money, the choir began to perform outside the Imperial Chapel. Even though they are a not-for-profit organization, the rising costs of educating the choristers from a very young age as well as providing music required establishing the Verein Wiener Sängerknaben necessary. The choir sings high mass every Sunday morning (Sep-Jun) at the Hofburgkapelle (Imperial Chapel) in the Imperial Palace, and appears regularly at evening concerts in the Musikverein. 
  • 🌍 MuTh (Musik und Theater), Obere Augartenstrasse 1E, Leopoldstadt (U2 Taborstraße), tickets@muth.at. Box office: M-F 16:00-18:00, and 1 hr before the start of a performance. A concert hall and multi-purpose auditorium for the Vienna Boys Choir, opened in 2012. A calendar of upcoming events is published here; tickets can be purchased at the door or online. 
• 🌍 Kino wie noch nie (Filmarchiv Austria), Obera Augartenstraße 1, Leopoldstadt (next to MuTh; U2 Taborstraße), ☏ +43 800 808 133, reservierung@kinowienochnie.at. An open-air film festival held annually from the beginning of July until mid-August, this festival hosted by the Filmarchiv Austria screens independent international films. Pre-purchased tickets can be picked up at the concerge at 19:30 before the screening. Adult €8.50, senior or student €7, block of 10 tickets €65/€50. (updated Feb 2021)
• 🌍 Messe Wien (U2 Messe/Prater or Krieau).

  Run by Reed Exhibitions, who operate fairgrounds throughout Austria, Vienna's fairgrounds are not as known for major events as the ones in Frankfurt, Munich or Hannover, but still play host to many events important to the Austrian, Central European and German-speaking markets. The fairgrounds were completely reconstructed at the turn of the millennium and a new rotunda with a part of the historic Messeturm lattice tower placed on top was built at the main entrance, providing a beacon visible from afar.

  The fairgrounds are quite large, with four main halls, a congress centre and three entrances, close to U-Bahn stations Messe/Prater and Krieau on the U2. If there is an interesting event there, this may serve as a rainy-day alternative for the Prater amusement park. Most events happen January through May and October/November. Check the calendar if the event is of interest and open to the public.

   
• 🌍 Ernst-Happel-Stadion (Praterstadion), 2., Meiereistraße 7 (U2 Stadion), ☏ +43 1 728 08 54, info@wienersportstaetten.at. Austria's biggest stadium (capacity 50.000) is frequently hosting major sports events like soccer (Austrian National Squad; Rapid Wien; Euro League and Champions League), track-and-fields, as well as the occasional concert (e.g. Bon Jovi, Helene Fischer). Vast training compound adjacent. (updated May 2016)

• 🌍 Schweizerhaus, Prater 116, Leopoldstadt (in the Prater), ☏ +43 1 7280152 0, fax: +43 1 7280152 29, info@schweizerhaus.at. 15 Mar - 31 Oct: daily 11:00-23:00. Large beer garden, some say they have the best beer in Vienna and they also offer traditional Austrian dishes at moderate prices. Also well-known for its excellent Stelze (knuckle of pork). 
• 🌍 Prater Dome, Riesenradplatz 7, Leopoldstadt (in the Prater amusement park, Praterstern U1, U2), ☏ +43 1 9081192900. Austria's largest club. Come dressed like euro-trash to get in. Thursday is ladies' night with free entry and drinks. Popular with the young conservative working class. 
• 🌍 Bricks, Taborstraße 38, Leopoldstadt (Taborstraße U2), ☏ +43 1 216 37 01, webmaster@bricks.co.at. Daily 20:00-04:00. A small bar with a DJ and dance floor. It is a very local place and the crowd is an array of people of all ages from the neighborhood. 
• 🌍 Fluc und Fluc Wanne, Praterstern 5, Leopoldstadt (between the Prater Park and Praterstern Station, U1, U2). An upstairs bar and its downstairs club-like half Fluc Wanne (meaning tub). Most of the club is underground in an former underpass, so do not miss it. More alternative with very diverse DJs and bands. 
• 🌍 Pratersauna, Waldsteingartenstraße 135, Leopoldstadt. Vienna's edgiest hot-spot club deep inside the Prater amusement park, it can be hard to find. Ask directions or take a cab. The club is a former sauna normally with a pool and sauna area depending on the current configuration. There are several dance floors, an outdoor area and a dark room. 
• 🌍 Schank zum Reichsapfel, Karmeliterplatz 3, Leopoldstadt (2 Karmeliterplatz), ☏ +43 1 212 25 79, schank@zumreichsapfel.at. M–Sa 16:00–24:00. This Vienna Heurigen serves both excellent wines, native juices, Murauer beer and cold specialities from the Schneeberg or Carinthian Gailtal. 

• Left Bank of the Donaukanal, Riverbank between Augartenbrücke and Franzensbrücke (Schottenring and Schwedenplatz metro stations). During the warm season, the riverbank gets incredibly lively in the evenings. Find a wide range of bars with artificial beaches serving cocktails, among them the very trendy Adria or Tel Aviv Beach. Or get some drinks from a supermarket and enjoy the party on low budget. Sit next to the river and impressive graffiti and enjoy a drink or two in the evening sun. (updated May 2016)

This area of Vienna is very safe, even at night, and no problems should occur here at all.

The one exception to this is the Praterstern train station, which many Viennese locals tend to avoid at night. Although it gets quite shady at night and it's best to avoid it during that time, nothing should really happen to you as long as you have basic common sense. A police station is nearby as well. Its also wise to avoid the Prater at night.

The obvious place to go next inside of Vienna is Innere Stadt. The other possibility is to continue outside the Ring to Vienna/Outer East.