Austria's rooftops: the Alps and Vienna from above
A mountain country in the heart of Europe
A landlocked country in Central Europe, Austria shares its borders with Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It has around 9.2 million inhabitants, spread across nine Länder (federal states), and its capital is Vienna. The heart of the Habsburg Empire for centuries, it regained its sovereignty in 1955 and declared itself neutral the same year; it has been a member of the European Union since 1995 and its currency is the euro.
The Alps cover around two-thirds of the country, rising to the Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak at almost 3,800 metres. The Danube flows across the north of the country for some 350 kilometres, passing through the Wachau Valley and Vienna. Austria is also renowned for its lakes, such as Lake Hallstatt, for baroque cities such as Salzburg and for its musical tradition.
Why head up to the rooftops
In Austrian cities, the rooftops tell the story: Gothic spires, baroque domes, verdigris copper roofs and the façades of imperial palaces, with mountains or hills as a backdrop. From a perched terrace, you can take in monuments, parks and river at a single glance. Austrian rooftops sit atop contemporary hotels, department stores, museums and even iconic towers.
Vienna, the first stop
A capital with remarkable rooftops
Vienna is home to most of the country's rooftops: terraces facing the spire of St. Stephen's Cathedral, a summer garden on the Ringstrasse, a glazed bar on the 18th floor of a tower designed by Jean Nouvel, a terrace on the roof of the Leopold Museum, a restaurant at the top of a former flak tower and a revolving restaurant 170 metres up in the Donauturm.
Very different atmospheres
Some venues focus on cocktails and DJ nights, others on Viennese or Mediterranean cuisine, on brunch or on a glass of Austrian wine at sunset. Prices remain close to those of the other major Western European capitals.
Practical tips
Season, currency and booking
The climate is continental: open-air terraces come alive mainly from May to September, and several close in winter, while glazed or covered rooms stay open all year round. Prices are shown in euros and bank cards are widely accepted. At sunset, the best tables are in high demand: it is best to book whenever possible, and to dress smartly in upmarket hotel bars.
Photo: Kevin Poh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
