This brief introduction contains information on the Gretl Guides: Taste of Vienna Tour, including the length of the route, nearby restrooms, dietary restrictions, and other logistical concerns. A map of the full route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If you’d like to donate, head to https://ko-fi.com/gretlguides or...

This tour begins on Stephansplatz—St. Stephen’s Square—at the center of Vienna’s first district and reachable by the U1 and U3 metro lines. After a few tips on navigating Vienna, this episode explores the importance of bread in the medieval diet (and the fate of dishonest bakers), divulges some secrets hidden beneath the square, and relates the legend of the “Stock-in-Irons.” A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram,...

Just around the corner at Grünangergasse 8, we find the historic façade of the “Kipferl House”: a perfect opportunity to identify the ancestors of some of your favorite pastries. You’ll hear the surprising histories of the pretzel, bagel, croissant, and even Austria’s favorite jelly donut, the Krapfen. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because...

After a walk through one of Vienna’s most charming “Durchhäuser,” our next stop is the triangular Lugeck. Once you’ve had your fill of Austria’s most renowned main dishes (like Schnitzel, Goulash, and Tafelspitz), stick around for dessert! A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If you’d like to donate,...

This episode takes you past Vienna’s oldest tavern (open since 1447), where we meet a local wine-loving celebrity, encounter some nearly 500-year-old reminders of the First Turkish Siege, and ruminate on how the medieval city managed its meat supply. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If you’d like to...

Located just a few steps away, the busy Schwedenplatz junction lies at the heart of Vienna’s former largest market. Here we address some historical issues of child hunger, hear what Richard the Lionheart has to do with the construction of the Ring Wall, and learn how the humble potato became a staple of modern Austrian cuisine. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from...

In this episode we visit Vienna’s oldest standing church, which also happens to be it’s only one dedicated to the patron saint of salt. After discussing Vienna’s relationship with this important commodity, we turn to the dark history of Morzinplatz (as the Vienna headquarters of the Gestapo) before popping into the church itself to marvel at some curious human remains. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and...

At Vienna’s oldest bakery—in business since 1536—we get a chance to pick up some pastries! Along with a few recommendations, I guide you through how to order in German. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If you’d like to donate, head to https://ko-fi.com/gretlguides or...

Who’s thirsty? Just around the corner, at the city’s oldest continually-operating beer joint, you’ll have a chance to sample some classic Austrian brews while I talk you through a history of beer and beer-making. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If you’d like to donate, head to...

Vienna’s two Turkish Sieges left some major culinary marks on the Austrian capital. Here at Am Hof, we explore the two most celebrated legacies of these flashpoints with the Ottomans, examining both the legend and historical facts surrounding Kipferl and Kaffee. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If...

A visit to Vienna wouldn’t be complete without a glass (or three) of wine. At the historic Esterházy cellar, I’ll walk you through a typical wine list before turning to the topic of Austrian viticulture through the ages. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If you’d like to donate, head to...

At one of the capital’s most iconic coffee houses, this episode tracks coffee as it spreads across Europe over the past 400 years or so. We then narrow our focus to the phenomenon of the Viennese coffee house itself: a unique cultural institution nearly synonymous with the art, philosophy, and literature of the fin-de-siècle. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from...

Care to sample the sweets at the emperor’s favorite candy shop? At the “imperial and royal” court confectioner, you’ll find a mouth-watering panoply of bon bons, truffles, tartes, cakes, and petit-fours (as well as a few savory items)…not to mention the edible window displays. Even the waitstaff—the “Demelinerinnen”—offer a unique reminder of the imperial past. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/by9ta3z Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and...

From the elevated terrace overlooking the square, you’ll hear about the Albertina Museum and its revolutionary original admission policy, learn about the political turmoil in Austria during the period leading up to the Second World War, indulge in some of Vienna’s most beloved street food (with tips on how to order a sausage in Viennese dialect), and hear about the origin of the famous Sachertorte: Vienna’s most iconic dessert. A map of the entire route can be found at the following link:...

Our final stop takes us outside of the first district, to the city’s largest open-air market. Here you'll confront the bold and decorative aesthetic of the Vienna Secession movement, wander through the fragrant market stalls, sample the variety of tastes that combine to create “Austrian” cuisine, pass the “Papageno Door” of the Theater an der Wien (and say hello to one of Mozart’s closest buddies), and peruse the hidden treasures of the Saturday morning “Flohmarkt” (the largest flea market in...

This brief introduction contains information on the Gretl Guides: St. Stephen’s Inside & Out Tour, including the duration, possible fees, nearby restrooms, and other logistical concerns.

The first episode of this tour takes a lap around the outside of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. You’ll witness the structure's architectural evolution, decode the enigmatic symbols embedded in and around the church's main portal, find the insignia of the Austrian Resistance Movement, see the cathedral’s scars from World War II, hear the legend of the shorter North Tower, learn how to seek asylum inside the church, get the gory details on Vienna's two Black Death epidemics, and hear how St....

In the second half of this tour, we head inside the church. Admission to the north aisle is free; or you can pay a small fee to access the rest of the nave. Here, you’ll get a chance to touch the relic of one of the cathedral’s early patrons, come face to face with the master architect responsible for the church’s most impressive late Gothic appointments, hear how Catholic numerology is embedded in the structure, meet the emperors who founded and elevated St. Stephen to a cathedral, and...

This brief introduction contains information on the Gretl Guides: Vienna’s Must-Sees Tour, including the length of the route, possible fees, nearby restrooms, and other logistical concerns. A map of the full route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/zxjv65n6

This tour begins on Stephansplatz—St. Stephen’s Square—at the center of Vienna’s first district and reachable by the U1 and U3 metro lines. In this episode you’ll get tips on navigation and orientation, discover a hidden Gothic chapel, learn about the fate of dishonest bakers, and hear the legend of the “Stock-in-Irons.” A map of the entire route can be found at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/zxjv65n6

Interested in just a few useful terms to get you by while you’re in town? Or maybe you plan to study German longer-term? This episode offers: - vocabulary and pronunciation tips - how to differentiate between Austrian (and Viennese) from other forms of German - the nuances of my favorite Viennese curse word - recommendations for language learning resources Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like...

Dine out with the ease and confidence of a local! This episode covers: - navigating the menu for vegans, vegetarians, and people with allergies or dietary restrictions - seating, ordering, finding the restroom, toasting, and asking for the bill in German - how (and when) to order tap water - bill-paying etiquette (for cash and card) and tipping customs Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If...

Get to know your hosts in the Austrian capital! After 15+ years of living in Vienna, I’ve got two theories on what has shaped the local character. Plus, my tips on how you can better understand the Viennese while you’re here. Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If you’d like to donate, head to https://ko-fi.com/gretlguidesor https://www.buymeacoffee.com/GretlGuides. Thank you!

Everything you’ll need to know to manage your finances while you travel in Austria. Topics include: - how to spot a good cash machine - answering that “accept conversion?” question - why your card might not work here - recommended resources for handling multiple currencies Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter—I love to hear from listeners! This content is free because of donations from users like you. If you’d like to donate, head to https://ko-fi.com/gretlguidesor...