Below we have prepared some useful information for your stay in Vienna.
Orientation
Vienna is easy to navigate and a very welcoming city to spend time in. You should have no trouble getting around even if you do not speak German, since most people speak English. The currency accepted is Euro, and many banks offer currency exchange. There are no roaming charges if you use a sim card from any of the EU countries. In case you want to buy a contract-free sim card, they are available at practically every grocery shop.
The conference will take place in the second district of Vienna, at the WU Campus. If you are arriving from the Viennese airport, you will have a short 20-40 minute ride to the centre or the conference site. Below is the route we recommend.
Infrastructure and airport transfer
Vienna’s public transport is very efficient! There is no need for a car to get around the city during the conference. There are some ticket options, but the weekly ticket for public transport (WienerLinien) should cover all your mobility needs (including airport transfer). We recommend the subway trains (U-Bahn) for quick and easy city travel. The closest station to the conference site (WU Campus) is “Messe Prater”.
For all purposes of city navigation, ticket buying, bike renting – this is the go-to app: WienMobil
From Airport (Flughafen Wien) to Conference site (Messe Prater):
- Train. Take the REX7 Train to station “Wien Praterstern”. Take the U2 Line to station “Messe Prater”.
- Taxi. An approximately 30min ride from the airport for ca 42 €.
Health and Safety
COVID/Pandemic info – Although we recommend being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for events of this size, there are no limitations for participation, if you are not vaccinated.
Tap water in Vienna is exceptionally good and safe to drink, since it comes directly from the alpine mountains to your tap.
The European/national emergency telephone number is 122.
Free-Time
Here are some suggestions for your off-conference schedule time in Vienna.
–Prater Park. Our conference campus is just next to the extensive Prater city park. The spacious green fields under shady trees are just 5 minutes away and yours to explore. The Prater Park is also a great choice for a run. Directly next to
–Prater Amusement Park. The all-year-round amusement park, directly next to the campus (how cool is that, right?), is something you can spend your conference breaks on or go to in the evening for some adrenaline fun on the amusement rides as well as for traditional Viennese cuisine.
–Coffeetime. Since you are visiting the city of “coffeehouse culture”, it’s worth to spend some time with good tasting coffee. Some of these places here are known to have good taste: Viennese Coffee Roastery, CoffeePirates, Café Jelinek, or the traditional Café Demel or Café Central in the first district (city centre).
–Hiking in the hills around Vienna. The large green spaces on Vienna’s map are not just home for birds and squirrels. There are extensive hiking trails that will get you to the best views of the city. We recommend City Hiking Path 1 for an afternoon in the Viennese vineyards.
–Culture. Vienna is the place for your traditional cultural experience. Regardless of if you are looking for theatre, opera, or museum experiences. We have them all. The only thing you will not have, is enough time to see and do all of it.
–Swim and Beach (yes, you read that right!). The Danube River is just minutes away from the WU Campus. It offers you kilometres of cool and shady spots to spend your summer day next to the water. Just bring a towel, or don’t!
–Bar & Dance. If you are into exploring the city at night, you will find plenty of places offering stacked bars and dancing floors. We recommend MuseumsQuartier, Tanzcafe Jenseits and the Cabaret Fledermaus.
