Vienna Tourism puts Vienna’s districts in the foreground – the Viennese tourist guides offer their own tours – also for Viennese, and at the start from May 24th to 26th they are even free.

Vienna (OTS) – Vienna’s neighborhoods are pulsating. As places of encounter, exchange and creativity, they increasingly fascinate visitors to the city who are looking for authentic experiences and encounters with originals in the post-pandemic travel age. Vienna has a lot to offer. Under the motto “Heartbeat Streets”, Vienna Tourism 2024 is giving the city’s neighborhoods, which couldn’t be more different, an international stage – and in doing so includes the people who shape these districts. Vienna’s tourist guides are now taking up this idea by including the city’s hidden gems in their program as part of newly developed “Grätzel Tours” and putting them in the spotlight. A total of 32 tours through 17 districts of Vienna can now be booked. To start with, these tours will be free from May 24th to 26th. Those interested can register on the website.

Tourism director Norbert Kettner

“We see great potential for Vienna’s visitor economy in the interaction of Vienna’s neighborhoods, as half of all visitors are coming to the city for the second time. A third are even our regular guests. We want to position Vienna’s attractions more broadly and allow the city’s people and companies to participate more in Vienna’s tourism success. I would like to thank the Viennese guides for pursuing this goal through the new Grätzel tours together with Vienna Tourism – this means a significant reinforcement of our message.”

Gerti Schmidt, Chairwoman of Leisure and Sports Companies in the Vienna Chamber of Commerce

“Vienna has so much to offer, far more than the major sights that are part of a visit to Vienna for many guests who are visiting the city for the first time. But the exciting thing – especially for us as tour guides – is telling stories that people don’t know yet. Exploring alleys and squares that aren’t on the agenda for a classic visit to Vienna. And thereby making people want to visit Vienna again and again. I am convinced that we are not only attracting guests to Vienna, but also making an exciting offer to the people of Vienna.”

32 tours through 17 districts of Vienna

In New York it is called “Neighborhood”, in Madrid “Barrio”, in Berlin “Kiez” – and in Vienna districts are called “Grätzel”. Most of them emerged from the former settlements outside of what was then the city center, today’s first district. The centers of these districts are usually defined by markets or main squares and the adjacent streets. Each district has its own extraordinary combination of architecture, urban feeling, culinary and shopping spots and, above all, people – its own sights, its own audience, its own character and charm. Vienna’s tour guides convey this famous Viennese attitude to life as part of their Grätzel tours – which range from the peculiarities of Spittelberg, “Red Vienna” or Josefstadt at night. The “The Wicked Stuwerviertel” tour explores the area between Mexico Square, the front garden market and the Venice Au, while the “Sigmund Freud Tour” in the ninth district follows in Freud’s footsteps along broken taboos, revolutionary ideas and groundbreaking inventions in the history of medicine , which not only paved the way into the unconscious, but also into the 20th century. The development from the central cattle market and slaughterhouses to a district with high-rise buildings next to old brick buildings can be seen on the “St. “Marx then and now”. These and many other tours also offer Viennese people new opportunities to experience their own city with new eyes.

Links:

• Annual theme 2024 “Heartbeat Streets. Vienna’s vibrant districts”: www.heartbeat.wien.info
• Grätzeltours – overview and booking options:
• Free participation in guided tours from May 24th to 26th after registering on the website.
• The respective meeting points and times for the individual tours are also listed on the website.

Questions & Contact:

Vienna Chamber of Commerce – Press and Newsroom
Mag. (FH) Stephan Fuchs
T +43 1 514 50-1465
E stephan.fuchs@wkw.at | W wko.at/wien/news

Walter Strasser
Press spokesman for Vienna Tourism
Tel. +43 1 211 14-111
walter.strasser@wien.info