Especially when studying abroad, life isn't all university and work. If you’re looking for activities to spend your free time doing, Vienna has more than enough to offer. From theatre to cinema - many places even give students discounts.
Theatre
At this point you've probably seen or heard of the big Viennese theatre-institutions. Burgtheater, Volkstheater, Staatsoper, etc. offer a wide range of plays - from classical to contemporary. If you’re less into Goethe and more into queer-feminist avantgarde theatre, the alternative stages are definitely worth your attention. Brut, Kosmos, Werk-X and Tanzquartier not only offer amazing plays (often also in English) but also great discounts for students! Check out their websites to find the detailed program!
Poetry Slams
If you haven’t discovered Poetry Slams for yourself then your time has officially come! Vienna is home to a vibrant slam-scene with many different events to discover. Whether you’re Poetry-Newbie or Slam-Connaisseur, series like Sinn & Seife at Café 7*Stern or Ein ganz normaler Poetry Slam will make you cry with laughter. Make sure to check FOMP and our Eventkalender to stay up-to-date with interesting slams!
Flea Markets
If you’re looking for cheap furniture or cute decorations, flea markets are definitely the place to go. Whether it’s summer or winter, many flea markets open throughout the whole year. Every last saturday of the month, Design Lichblicke opens their storage halls - what you’ll find is midcentury and vintage furniture made in heaven. They even do deliveries, make sure to bring cash though. Another gem is Hallenflohmarkt METAMarkt. Lamps, Fashion and even Furniture - it all waits to be discovered by you!
If you click here, you’ll find even more flea-markets worth your time!
Cinema
You want to watch a movie but don't understand German? Fear not, there's many independent cinemas in town, that show movies in their original version. Votivkino is located right next to the Universität Wien main building - on the program you’ll find indie movies in many different languages next to some bigger productions. Haydn English Cinema and Artis International are located in 1070 and 1010. Both show current big movies and some smaller productions in English with subtitles.
Gartenbaukino, Burgkino, Top Kino and Schikaneder also show many movies in English. Browse through our Cinema-Guide to get an overview.
Make sure to check out the next page for restaurants, cafés and clubs!
With almost two thousand restaurants and well over 800 cafés, you’ll never run out of delicious meals or soothing coffee in Vienna. And because nothing saves the day quite like a delicious lunch (especially in between exhausting lectures), here are our top picks near the biggest faculties.
Universität Wien main building and Altes AKH
Spitalgasse 17, 1090
The Pirates really know how to do coffee right! The café is right next to Altes AKH and the perfect place to spend your lunch break! Besides great coffee you can choose from a variety of delicious (vegan) snacks and cakes. The only downside: Available seats are often rare, especially those close to power outlets. Worst case: Take your cold brew to-go and find a cozy spot in one of the many courtyards of the Campus.
1683 - Handmade Bagels & Farm Coffee
Währinger Straße 12, 1090
1683 Bagels is home to some of the best Bagels in town. You can choose from a wide range of different toppings, sauces and fillings - from sweet to savory. There are several locations all over Vienna, the one in the 9th district is fairly close to the main university building at Schottentor. Make sure to also check out their coffee from the in-house roastery!
Universitätsring 10, 1010
Swing Kitchen is a true staple in Vienna! The local fast-food chain will surprise you: Everything on the menu is vegan. You can try many different burgers, nuggets, wraps and homemade cakes. The food is a bit pricier than you’d might expect, the extra euros are definitely worth it though - it doesn’t only taste amazing, the ingredients are locally sourced and of best quality. Since we all crave fast-food sometimes, it’s a good alternative to McDonald’s, Burger King & Co.!
TU
Gußhausstraße 19, 1040
Directly at Karlsplatz you can find some of the best burritos in town! They’re not only customizable and incredibly tasty - you can also choose from many different combinations (with or without coriander, by the way). Our tip: dine-in and enjoy cool music and hipster-approved drinks with your meal.
Margaretenstraße 22-24, 1040
There’s no better place for your after-uni-Spritzer than Schikaneder. The authentic bar makes you feel like straight out of Before Sunrise. There’s lots of wine, cheese-toasties and arthouse-movies in the attached cinema. The ultimate insider tip: Every sunday you can join in on a public-viewing of Tatort for free - an Austrian cult-show and a good way to practice your language-skills!
Operngasse 23, 1040
This cute little bakery teleports you to the French Riviera - almost at least. It’s not only a great background for your next Instagram-post, the bread is even better than the interior. ;-) They serve baguettes, sandwiches and everything sweet. Bon appétit!
WU
Bruno-Marek-Allee 23, 1020