More Than Apfelstrudel

A Modern City in the Heart of Europe

With a metro population of 2.6 million, Vienna is the cultural, economic, and political center of Austria and lies at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe. The bustling city is rich in history and culture and known for its unique heritage in music and the arts. Vienna has a reputation as a hub of international diplomacy and hosts more than 40 international organizations, about 320 bilateral and multilateral diplomatic representations with about 3,800 diplomats and more than 6,000 international officials.

Facts

Vienna is…

…the sixth-largest city in the European Union, and the second-largest in the German-speaking world. Vienna is known for its wealth (5th richest city in the EU) and significant industry sector—especially in R & D and information technologies. It is also one of Europes fastest growing metropolitan areas.

…young, innovative, and successful: There are more than 200,000 university students studying at 15 universities, making it the number 1 university city in the German-speaking world. There are numerous other research institutions such as the Institute for Science and Technology (IST) or the Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften (ŒAW). Vienna is a European epicenter for start-ups and an ideal breeding-place for innovation.

… internationally recognized for its unmatched quality of living. Again and again, several international organizations named Vienna the “most livable city in the world”. In 2019, Mercer named Vienna the city with the world’s highest quality of living for the tenth consecutive year. It shines with its political and social stability, extremely low crime-rates, affordable cost of living, innovative and healthy public infrastructure, and environmental awareness.

… a global capital of the Arts. There are over 120 theaters including the Burgtheater (which is often called the primate theater in the German-speaking area), the English Theatre and dozens of smaller houses that cater to every taste. Vienna is famed for its rich tradition in classical music. It is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Boys Choir, and the famous Musikverein, to name just a few examples. There are over 160 museums, amongst them the Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of the world’s largest and most important museums, the Albertina and the Museum of Modern Art.

… a European research epicenter. In 2020, there were 1.560 research organizations (848 companies), representing 31% of all such institutions in Austria, which employed 46,000 people. 30%, or €3.3 billion, of Austrian R & D funding was invested in Vienna, and the city government itself spent €111 million on research funding. [Source]

… a Headquarters City. As the fourth UN headquarters after Geneva, Nairobi and New York, Vienna is a hub between East and West and a place where different cultures meet. The Austrian capital is home to the headquarters of 15 UN organizations, the OSCE and OPEC as well as 18 other international organizations. 200 international companies have their Eastern European headquarters in Vienna (including JVC, Henkel, Beiersdorf, Siemens, BASF, Bosch, Coca-Cola, Eli Lilly).

… a culinary delight. Other aspects of Viennese culture that are synonymous with the historic old town include Viennese cuisine, the legendary coffeehouse culture and retro shopping at former purveyors to the imperial court. Local chefs draw on influences from various countries, conjuring up exciting dishes that never fail to capture the imagination.