{"id":70484,"date":"2024-04-08T15:56:48","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T14:56:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=70484"},"modified":"2025-09-22T09:45:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T08:45:09","slug":"wienliebe-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/wienliebe-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"The #wienliebe festival"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wienliebesmall.jpg\" alt=\"Flag of Vienna next to a neogothic tower\" class=\"wp-image-70485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wienliebesmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/wienliebesmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vienna shrugs off its modesty, puts on its finest clothes and presents some of the best the city has to offer in the #wienliebe three-day festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open-air festival<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus on gastronomy, with music, arts &amp; crafts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Located on the central Rathausplatz<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2026 dates: TBA (was Sept 18-21 in 2025)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take in a  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_AnEvent\" rel=\"sponsored\">classical concert<\/a>*  while visiting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/activities\/events-in-vienna\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1658\">Events in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/september\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"18457\">Vienna in September<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Celebrating a city<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe2.jpg\" alt=\"Festival with neogothic building in the background\" class=\"wp-image-72163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe2-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The imposing Rathaus makes a great background and the broad white canopies offer an alternative to the usual wooden booths found at such events)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now here&#8217;s a festival after my own heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna often hosts events presenting the delights of one of Austria&#8217;s regions, like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/steiermark-fruhling\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3191\">Steiermark<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/burgenland-kultinarium\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"15017\">Burgenland<\/a>, or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/waldviertelpur\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"413\">Waldviertel<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And now, like a debutante stepping out after watching from the sidelines, Vienna has finally presented\u2026Vienna; the #wienliebe festival took place for the first time in May 2024 and returned in September 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The name translates to Vienna Love, and that first edition on the large <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/rathaus\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"79\">Rathausplatz<\/a> square attracted around 54,000 visitors with its culinary, cultural, and crafted treats for locals and visitors alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food &amp; drink<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/walkingtourbitzinger.jpg\" alt=\"Bitzinger sausage stand\" class=\"wp-image-50332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/walkingtourbitzinger.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/walkingtourbitzinger-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Bitzinger folk were there last time out. The photo shows their popular sausage stand near the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/albertina\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2995\">Albertina museum<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna is known for its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/heuriger\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30836\">Heuriger<\/a> wine taverns, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/sausages\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1200\">sausage stands<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/coffee-houses\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7689\">caf\u00e9s<\/a>. Not to mention its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/vienna-cakes\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22533\">cakes<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/traditional-food-drink\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1654\">traditional foods<\/a> like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/wiener-schnitzel\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"45\">Wiener Schnitzel<\/a>, which is practically a staple food here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All the above typically make an appearance at #wienliebe courtesy of some of the better-known city establishments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, for example, we had Plachutta (famous for their beef <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/tafelspitz\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2047\">Tafelspitz<\/a>), the Schweizerhaus from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/wurstelprater-amusement-park\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"35559\">Prater<\/a> (ditto for their pork knuckle), Bitzinger (all about the sausages), Gerstner (bringing on the cake), Leberkas Pepi (all about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/leberkase\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"7203\">Leberk\u00e4se<\/a>) and Zum Schwarzen Kameel (caf\u00e9 and restaurant tradition).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On my visit, most of the offered menus were heavy on meat, but you could still find vegetarian &amp; vegan options.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe4.jpg\" alt=\"Open-air brewery stand\" class=\"wp-image-72165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe4.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe4-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Look for a selection of beers from the Ottakringer Brauerei)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/ottakringer-brewery\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"61602\">city brewery<\/a> usually spreads Viennese tradition in half-litre glasses. And you have a chance to sample the city&#8217;s best wines (Vienna has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/vienna-wine\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2414\">flourishing wine sector<\/a> thanks to the kindness of the local geological and meteorological deities).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Music &amp; (agri)culture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Traditional Viennese songsters use the kind of accented German you won&#8217;t find on your language app. But a programme of main stage performances takes in a wider spectrum of offerings. From chamber music and waltzes to Austropop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last time out, a smaller stage in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/rathauspark\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"84216\">neighbouring park<\/a> also presented traditional tavern music: the kind you find at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/remassuri\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"84763\">Remassuri show<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe3.jpg\" alt=\"Stage in front of the Rathaus\" class=\"wp-image-72164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe3.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/wienliebe3-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Various entertainments took place on a large stage)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A small number of booths allow local businesses to showcase their handcrafted products. These cover the kind of creative crafts you might otherwise find at the seasonal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/christmas-markets\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1680\">Christmas markets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the adjoining park commonly features a farmer&#8217;s market, offering up goodies from farms and food businesses. Along with vineyards, Vienna has some significant food growing areas, especially horticulture (not so much alpine cattle).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, one of the fascinating facts I like to bore people with and ensure they never invite me to dinner again is that Vienna produces more aubergines than the rest of the country combined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I really am that fun at parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dates, tickets &amp; tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I don&#8217;t have 2026 details at the time of writing, but the previous edition ran from September 18th to September 21st. Entry is free, and opening times last time out were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Thursday: 2pm to 10pm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Friday: 10am to 10pm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Saturday: 10am to 10pm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sunday: 10am to 6pm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>My experience with these big open-air festivals is that they can get remarkably busy. So we usually go at the start of the Saturday or Sunday before the crowds grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to #wienliebe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Rathausplatz is central and best reached directly by tram, though you can walk to it easily from various subway stations in the centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trams: take line 2 to Parlament or lines 1, D, 71 to Rathausplatz \/ Burgtheater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subway: use the U2 line and get out at Rathaus station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/spezial\/wienliebe\/\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1CvFy08QgKnm1x4rkMf89o2bjRoLw78on\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vienna showcases itself with a three-day festival of cultural, culinary and crafted delights<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":70485,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-70484","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-events","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70484"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85874,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70484\/revisions\/85874"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}