Vienna, Austria, one of the most beautiful cities in the world with rich history, culture and architecture. Whether it’s strolling around in an old castle, or walking on streets and alleyways, peeking into a beautiful cathedral, enjoying historical artefacts and royal treasures in the multitude of museums, which is home to Mozart and Beethoven by the way, or visiting the world’s oldest zoo, there’s plenty to see and do in Vienna.
 |
| Just happened to walk by one night |
Poker is not available 24 hours of the day in Vienna so it’s best to enjoy the city during the day and play poker at night. Right in the middle of the city centre is Casino Wien which means Casino Vienna. They usually run games after 7pm and close at 4am and the usual stakes are €5/5. However I have seen them running as high as €100/100 PLO. You will need to bring your passport to register each day you visit the casino. Tell them you are coming for poker otherwise they will charge you an entry fee. Also note that there’s a strict dress code so no shorts or hoodies. You can check the website for games by going to poker.casino.at, then select Wien for Vienna and it will show what games are running at the moment. They only have free water and everything else costs money. Food in this area is expensive because it’s in a touristy area but there’s a restaurant just around the corner called Wienerwald that has good food and reasonable prices.
 |
| Remember to bring your passport with you |
 |
| Old school chips |
When I was in town there were the Concord Card Casinos (also known as CCC) and Montesino Card Room. Unfortunately I have been told they are no longer in operation.
It’s good to note that ATM machines can only dispense €400 at a time. However the poker rooms can accept foreign currencies and you can buy them back in the same day. Their rates are actually better than the money changers. Just remember to keep your receipt after changing your money.
Food is also my passion but unfortunately Viennese food isn’t spectacular. But when you’re there be sure to have the famous Schnitzel. Also try the Leberkase which is like Viennese luncheon meat. Try Viennese sausages and hotdogs, and coffee in their local cafes. They have a wide selection of cakes and pastries. They are also famous for their open face sandwiches which are quite good. For a quick and cheap meal, grab a snack from the supermarket like a sandwich or bread roll and don’t forget their freshly squeezed orange juice. Their boiled beef and goulash are also popular dishes unfortunately I didn’t like them very much.
 |
| I still can't pronounce Schnitzel properly |
There’s so much to see in Vienna and I got a Vienna Pass to get free entrances to most of the sights. This pass will also allow you access to the hop on hop off bus however there are other companies offering this service too. I recommend visiting the Schonbrunn Palace unfortunately no cameras were allowed inside. From there walk to the Schonbrunn Zoo, the world’s oldest zoo and voted best zoo in Europe for 5 years in a row. There are tonnes of museums and collections but my favourites are the Albertina where you can see priceless art by Picasso and others, the Imperial Treasury to see royal treasures made with gold and precious stones, Museum of Natural history, and Kunsthistoriches Museum’s amazing collection and architecture. The Belvedere Palace was nice too especially on a nice sunny day. I took a long bus ride to Forchtenstein Castle and had an interesting tour of the place.
 |
| Huge polar bear at Schonbrunn Zoo |
 |
| World's oldest working Ferris Wheel |
 |
| Belvedere Castle |
Vienna is just a 4-hour train ride away from Prague which will be on another blog post. If you want something more than just poker then Vienna is a good choice. Overall I had a great time but I would recommend visiting during a warmer time of year.
