Culture & Lifestyle

Food & Dining — A Taste of the World in One City

Vienna’s food culture is one of the city’s richest stories.
It was shaped over centuries by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, global trade routes, migration, intellectual circles, and everyday Viennese traditions. What you taste in Vienna today is not “just Austrian cuisine” — it’s a blend of Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Jewish, Turkish, Balkan, and Mediterranean influences, refined and reimagined in true Viennese style.
This mix created a kitchen that is comforting yet elegant, traditional yet global, simple yet deeply cultural.

From pastries born in imperial courts to dishes influenced by Ottoman sieges and Mediterranean spice routes — Vienna’s cuisine mirrors Europe’s entire history.
And then there’s the coffeehouse culture: a UNESCO-protected tradition that served as a second home for writers, artists, philosophers, and students for more than 300 years. Studying in Vienna often means studying with a Melange in hand, in rooms where Freud, Trotsky, or Klimt once sat.

• Kaiserschmarrn was a happy accident by Emperor Franz Joseph’s chef.
• The first Viennese cafés emerged after Ottoman soldiers left behind sacks of coffee beans in 1683.
• The famous Sacher Torte was invented for a diplomat’s special dinner in 1832.
• Many “Austrian” dishes actually originate from former empire regions — e.g., Gulasch (Hungary), Palatschinken (Czechia), Apfelstrudel (likely Turkish roots).
• Vienna’s Naschmarkt has operated since the 16th century and reflects centuries of trade between East and West.

Vienna’s cuisine is not just food —
it’s heritage, storytelling, migration, creativity, and comfort on a plate.

Culture & Arts – The Heartbeat of Vienna’s Identity

Vienna is a city shaped by centuries of artistic excellence, intellectual exploration and musical innovation. Culture here is not a separate activity — it is part of everyday life. As the former capital of a vast empire, Vienna attracted thinkers, composers, architects and artists from across Europe, turning the city into a melting pot of ideas that still define its character today.

Vienna’s musical history is unmatched. Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Haydn, Mahler and Strauss all lived and worked here, creating one of the richest musical legacies in the world. This tradition continues today: the Vienna Philharmonic maintains a unique sound largely because its musicians are recruited directly from the Vienna State Opera orchestra.

The visual arts also have deep roots in Vienna. The revolutionary Vienna Secession shaped modernism through artists like Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. Masterpieces such as Klimt’s The Kiss at the Belvedere are among the most photographed artworks in Europe.

Vienna’s intellectual heritage is equally impressive. Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis here, Ludwig Wittgenstein reshaped philosophy, and Karl Popper redefined scientific reasoning — contributions that gave Vienna a reputation as an early 20th-century “intellectual capital of the world.”

For students, this creates a unique opportunity: Vienna offers both academic depth and cultural richness in a way few other cities can. Culture is woven into daily life, turning every concert, museum visit, bookshop and café into part of a continuous learning experience.

Events & Seasons – A City With a Rhythm of Its Own

Each season brings its own atmosphere: elegant winters full of lights and music, lively summers along the Danube, a vibrant cultural autumn and a blossoming spring that fills the parks and courtyards with life. The city’s event calendar is one of the richest in Europe, shaped by classical concerts, film festivals, open-air events, international gatherings and cultural celebrations that reflect centuries of heritage.

Vienna is also known for hosting Europe’s largest free open-air festival, one of the world’s most famous New Year concerts and over 20 major cultural festivals every year. Students benefit especially from affordable tickets, public events and the city’s tradition of openness — many intellectual and artistic happenings are free or offered at reduced student prices.

Fun Facts:

• The Vienna New Year’s Concert is broadcast in over 90 countries each year.
• Donauinselfest attracts up to 3 million visitors – making it Europe’s biggest free festival.
• Christmas markets in Vienna date back to the 13th century.
• The city hosts more than 2000 cultural events every week — from classical stages to experimental art.

For students, this means Vienna becomes more than a place to study — it becomes a constantly shifting backdrop of experiences, seasons and traditions that enrich daily life.