The brand new Museum Quarter is getting most of the hype these days, and not without reason. But it's worth making the effort to step beyond the inner city and check out this stalwart of Vienna's cultural scene. Of course it's got Klimt's 'The Kiss' but there's lots of other great stuff too. And the view over Vienna is fantastic.

www.vienna-life.com/culture/culture_details/22-Belvedere_Gallery

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A museum that is a tribute to the truly unique ecological, architectural and artistic work of 20th-century Austrian artist Hundertwasser. Set among a row of suburban Viennese houses, it defies straight lines with its uneven floors, trees growing from the floor and bold unmistakable mosaics. The museum showcases Hundertwasser's art and life. The cafe/restaurant serves lovely meals and cakes, wine and coffee and is set in an indoor and courtyard oasis.

Untere Weißgerberstraße, 13
1030 Wien;
Tel: 43 1 712 04 91
www1.kunsthauswien.com/english/mainindex.htm

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The Secession houses Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze and various paintings. It is a very beautiful building and the artwork is amazing.

Also in the area is the Naschmarkt, which is on all week, except Sundays, and sells everything form spices to clothes. I visit every time I go to Vienna, which is about 3 times a year. I bring back the best paprika outside Hungary and flower petal tea. It is very cheap and great quality.

Mon-Fri 6am-6.30pm, Sat 6am-5pm,
Food stalls: Mon-Sat 6am-1opm, farm produce market: Sat 6am-5pm

Secession Friedrichstraße 12, A-1010 Wien; U4, U2 Karlsplatz;
www.secession.at/e.html


Naschmarkt is near The Secsseion you can see it form the entrance.

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The building itself is a key work of Viennese Art Nouveau with its beautiful laurel leaf gilt dome roof. It is a must for Klimt fans as it hosts the famous Beethoven Frieze.
It also hosts a number of important contemporary art exhibitions. I think it provides a nice contrast to the more traditional art galleries in the city.

Secession, Association of Visual Artists Vienna Secession
Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Vienna;
tel: 587 5307;
www.secession.at/e.html

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The Belvedere is where you'll find The Kiss. The Secession houses the intriguing Beethoven Frieze and the beautiful portrait of Emilie Floge can be found at the Vienna State Museum (Karlsplatz).
For Jugendstil and Wiener Werkstatte visit the MAK.

I'm looking forward to staying at the Levante Parliament as I stayed there 20 years ago when it was unlovely student accommodation - it's also very near the Cafe Eiles, frequented by politicians and the actor, Klaus Maria Brandauer.

The best Tafel Spitz (boiled beef not stew) can be found at Cafe Schottenring and the cafe at the Kunsthistorischesmuseum does a fantastic buffet on Sundays (you can even wander off between courses).

Finally, in Winter, for cheap, healthy entertainment - feed the red squirrels at Schonbrunn.

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A complex of cultural museums/institutions and more, very close to the sprawling shopping street Mariahilferstr. Some nice bars and bookshops and interesting little knick-knack places in this popular place. Check out the old computer-games store there, nostalgia ahoy!

Museumsquartier, Underground same name

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A must for any Klimt fan is the Klimt Villa, his last surviving studio.

Hidden in Wien-Hietzing, it is one of the creative centres of early 20th century art. Gustav Klimt (1862 - 1918), the main representative of Viennese art nouveau and co-founder of the Wiener Secession had his studio there during the last six years of his life. Only in summer 1998 was the existence of this studio undoubtedly proved, which led to the foundation of the Gustav Klimt Memorial Society. Soon after Klimt´s death, the original studio house was furnished with a second story and turned into a villa.

The Klimt Villa was declared as a protected zone in 1999, which was enlarged in 2000, but still has not been placed under protection like a historic monument. However, the original concept of the ensemble Klimt used - his studio, his reception room and the side rooms together with the adjacent garden and park - have survived nearly completely.

It must be pointed out that a great number of Klimt´s most important works were created in this studio. Here Klimt portrayed many ladies of society and finished painting some of his wonderful landscapes (especially Attersee motifs).

Feldmühlgasse 15a / Wittegasse;
Directions: Catch underground U4 to Unter St. Veit
or the 58 tram to Verbindungsbahn;
Admission: free, but donations are welcome;
opening times: check website (appointments may be necessary);
www.klimt.at

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The Liechtenstein Museum opened just three years ago, enriching the already crowded field of
not-to-be-missed Viennese museums. The summer palace of the Liechtenstein family has restored the
palace to house their spectacular baroque collections of paintings and sculpture, which spent long decades underdisplayed in Liechtenstein.

Just floating up one of the grand staircases to the 'Herkulesaal' is to glimpse life as it once was for
this very privileged family; it’s hard to grasp that a whole room-full of Rubens 'cartoons' is privately owned.

Happily the princely collections are now elegantly displayed, including the newly-acquired,
over-the-top Badminton Cabinet and the golden coach which sets the scene as you enter the Sala Terrana. (No surprise that it was sent to Italy in the 1770s to collect the Emperor's bride!) After you view the collection you can stroll through the historic gardens and dine in style at either of the two fine restaurants inside the gates, Rubens 'Palais' or 'Brasserie'.

Scrupulously planned and lit as a fine art museum, the aura of family still hovers over the Liechtenstein Museum, illuminating a golden age of Viennese life and style.

Fuerstengasse 1, 1090 Vienna;
www.liechtensteinmuseum.at
tram: from the Ringstrasse/Schottentor
via route D to Porzellangasse. Entrance is on the little side street,
through imposing cast-iron gates

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