Vienna Waits For You
Gay friendly, yes, but much more

Enjoyment in Vienna is, for me at least, the great diversity of art, architecture, events and culinary highlights - says Life Ball organiser Gery Keszler. The Life Ball is Europe's largest AIDS fundraiser and the pride of Vienna's vibrant gay and lesbian community.

Vienna has a sizeable gay and lesbian scene: from queer café to cocktail bar, from lesbian restaurant to leather place, from bathhouse to dance club, it is all there. But in addition to all this Vienna truly is the world capital of music, and it is host to some of the most exquisite museums in the world. And yes, the city is also known for its distinct coffee culture and imperial nostalgia.

Few European cities have such a rich history (let alone a gay history) as the Austrian capital. Gay emperors, generals or composers of days gone by and all the gays and lesbians of today convert Vienna into a unique place to visit.

But even beyond the obvious gay and lesbian places, Vienna is queerer than meets the eye. For centuries homosexuals have left their distinctive marks in Austrian arts and politics, sometimes subtle, yet noticeable. And many a visitor today is suddenly confronted with the whole truth about the personality of that special historic figure: "Yes, he was too!" So don't be surprised to find that - apart from the gay and lesbian scene - Vienna holds a colorful range of cultural and culinary pleasures, of delightful shops and curious delights.

	Music & Art
	In Vienna you can live and experience art, listen to music and dive deeply into the worlds of sound. More famous composers have lived here than in any other city - in Vienna, music is literally in the air: Waltzes and operettas have their home here, and so do musicals "made in Vienna," which have conquered international audiences.

	Historic Vienna
	Whether you are there for a day or for an extended stay, why not combine sightseeing with the gay history of Vienna on one of the gay historic tours.

	Architecture & Design
	The appearance of the city today is marked by the architectural style of the fin-de-siècle (until about 1900) whose prime examples can be found around the Ringstrasse.

	Cafe Culture
	Viennese coffee culture and the relaxed, kicked-back atmosphere (in German called “Gemütlichkeit”) are legendary. You have to indulge and enjoy. The gay and lesbian cafés and bars combine Viennese charm with queer lifestyle.

	Shopping
	Vienna not only lets you see beautiful things, they can be yours to take home. The most “homosexual” shopping area - in close proximity to the Gay District along Linke Wienzeile - is Mariahilfer Strasseand its sidestreets with large department stores and trendy boutiques

	Festivals & Events
	Apart from regular theater and music produtions, there are numerous arts festivals in Vienna well worth seeing all year round.