Page 228 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

226  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS ENTER T AINMENT IN VIENNA  227

ENTERTAINMENT IN VIENNA Viennese bread roll, Facilities for the Disabled
are often filled with Legislation in recent years
Vienna offers a wide range of entertainment, venues. Vienna has some of the best German- caviar, egg, smoked has made Vienna, with its
particularly of the musical variety. Grand speaking theatre in Europe and even one salmon, cheese or sometimes inconvenient old
opera is performed at the Staatsoper, or State entire theatre group devoted to English- salami. Glasses of buildings, far more accessible,
Opera House, (see pp140–41) and the Theater language productions. There is an IMAX Sekt, a sparkling or “barrier-free”, to use the local
wine, are always
term. A comprehensive booklet
an der Wien (see p142). Dignified orchestral super-size cinema, and most films are shown available. in English can be downloaded
concerts and elegant Viennese waltzes take in English or subtitled. Within the Ringstrasse, Buffets are usually at www.wien.info/en/travel-info/
place at great balls during the Carnival the city buzzes with late-night revellers open for up to one accessible-vienna. Many venues
season, and waltzes are played in the relaxed enjoying music clubs, such as the Roter Engel, hour before the start will assist those in wheelchairs
atmosphere of the Stadtpark. The famous discos and bars with live music. At the end of a performance and to special viewing areas.
are often fairly empty.
white Lipizzaner stallions dance to Austrian of the night, there is public transport to They are an ideal
classical music at the Spanish Riding School, take you home, and always a sausage stand place to have a Transport
and the Vienna Boys’ Choir perform at various open on the way. Dancing at the grand Opera Ball (see p141) small bite to eat and Normal service on the buses,
some thing to drink, and the trams and underground
individual seating plans and it coffee is extremely good. (U-bahn) lines shuts down
Wiener Volksoper (see p228) – is a good idea to have them in It is not usual to tip ushers around midnight, depending
all have one central booking front of you when booking at theatres, unless you are on the route. For night owls, the
office, the Bundestheaterkassen your tickets by telephone. Most being shown to a box, but subway lines stay open 24 hours
(see p229). However, tickets for hotel porters will also have you may round up the price on Friday and Saturday nights
performances at any of these copies of seating plans for the of a theatre programme. and every night before a public
four theatres can also be principal venues. Coats and hats have to be holiday. Lines run every 15
purchased at the box office If you book by telephone left in the cloakroom before minutes. There are also 26 bus
of the Wiener Volks oper and remember that Parkett (stalls) you go to your seat. There is routes running from midnight
the Burgtheater. are in front and are usually usually no fixed charge, and to 5am, some going deep into
Tickets usually go on sale the most expensive. In some tipping is at your discretion. the suburbs. These night buses
two months before the theatres the front rows of the are marked “N-”, with the
performance. However, bear in stalls are known as Orchester- Late Night number of their route, and they
mind that tickets for September sitze. The Parterre (back stalls) run every 30 minutes. Taxis will
performances of the Vienna are cheaper and the dress circle Many of the better restaurants not be found cruising looking
State Opera are sold during (the grand or royal circle) is stop serving food as early as for fares; instead, they wait
the month of June. called Erster Rang, followed by 10pm. But music clubs such as at designated taxi stands
Written applications for the Zweiter Rang (balcony). At U4 (see p229) carry on into the or at hotels. They can also
tickets for the state theatre the Burgtheater and Opera early hours. Restaurants with be requested by phone.
must reach the Vienna State House, there are two extra late hours are noted in the
Opera ticket office (address as levels called the Balkon and Where to Eat and Drink section DIRECTORY
Bundestheaterkassen) no later Galerie. The higher you go, the (see pp210–19). In addition to
than three weeks before the cheaper the seats are. Boxes are these, there are cafés open until Late Night
The stage of the Theater in der Josefstadt (see p118) date of the performance. known as Logen and the back 1am and scores of very late- Bitzinger bei der Albertina
Standing-room tickets are seats are always cheaper than night takeaway shops. But
Practical Information Booking Tickets sold at the evening box office the front seats. you have not been to Vienna Albertinaplatz. Map 4 D1 & 5 C4.
Open to 4am.
The best way to find out You can buy tickets from online one hour before the start of At the Wiener Volksoper (see until you have joined the
what’s on is to check the agencies such as culturall.com, the performance. p229) they still have Säulensitze, 4am sausage devotees at a Würstelstand am Hoher
Vienna tourist office website viennaclassic.com, vienna Tickets for the state theatres, seats where the view is partly Würstelstand. North American Markt
(www.wien.info), which lists concerts.com, viennaticket. the Theater an der Wien (see obscured by a column. These fans of the cheese dog will Hoher Markt 1. Map 2 E5 & 6 D2.
over 10,000 events. Other com and wien-ticket.at, p142), the Raimund Theater cheap tickets are bought by become instant converts to Open to 4am.
handy internet guides are and also direct from the (see p229) and Konzerthaus music lovers who come to the Käsekrainer. Würstelstand
vienna.eventful.com and appropriate box office (see p228) are also valid listen rather than to view. There Südtirolerplatz
vienna.inyourpocket.com. (check opening hours, for public transport for are four tiers of boxes at the Südtirolerplatz. Map 4 E5.
Many of the most high- since these vary), or two hours before, and Volksoper, known in ascending Alternative Open to 4am.
profile events are fully sold reserve them by six hours after, all order as Parterre, Balkon, Erster Vienna is not just about history Zum Scharfen René
out several months in telephone. The phone performances. Rang and Zweiter Rang. and tradition. Explore the Schwarzenbergplatz 5.
advance, but concierges numbers and addresses Buffets at Vienna’s principal emerging hipster culture and Map 4 E2.
at the more upmarket hotels for the booking offices are At the Theatre theatres provide alcoholic street life, for free, in a 3-hour Open to 5am.
generally know where the listed in the Music, Theatre and non-alcoholic drinks, and tour that is unique and enter-
best shows are and how and Cinema directories (see If you visit the theatre in tasty snacks which range from taining. Visits to squats, artists’ Alternative
to obtain tickets. pp229–30). The four state person, you will be able open sandwiches at the workspaces and street art in Free Original Vienna
Posters around town theatres – the Burgtheater to see the seating plan Akademie theater (see p230) areas like Kirchengasse and Alternative Tour
advertise upcoming events, (see pp134–5), the and make your choice and Volks oper to the more along the canal are designed By reservation only.
shows and concerts, and daily Akademie theater (see accordingly. The monthly elaborate concoctions at the to show the other side of this Tel 664 585 6206.
news papers, although in p230), the Opera House Billboard programme for the state Opera House and Burgtheater. city of tradition. Evening pub ∑ free-vienna-tours.com
German, are also informative. (see pp140–41) and the column theatres also contains Sandwiches, made from a crawls are also arranged.

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