Vienna — Imperial Elegance and Open Scene

Gay Vienna is manageable, easy to explore on foot and more relaxed than the city's imperial reputation suggests. The centre of the scene is located around the Naschmarkt, where the fourth and sixth districts meet. In Mariahilf, bars, cafés and meeting places are lined up in a small space, from the Türkis Rosa Lila Villa to Café Willendorf and the traditional Café Savoy. This is the best area if you want to stay close to the action. If you like it historic, you will find one of the oldest and most beautiful gay saunas in Europe in the first district, the Kaiserbründl.

Highlights include Vienna Pride with its rainbow parade along the Ringstrasse, which takes place in late May and early June and fills the city for several days. If you come during this time, you should book the accommodation early. That being said, there's something going on all year round, and Vienna combines well with classic sightseeing, from Schönbrunn to St. Stephen's Cathedral. The best time to travel is spring and early summer, when the weather is mild and a lot happens around Pride anyway. The subway takes you everywhere, there are hardly any long distances.