Around the 19th century, the region where Austria is now was called the Austrian Empire. The sound o..

Around the 19th century, the region where Austria is now was called the Austrian Empire. The sound of horse hooves reverberated throughout the streets, and a magnificent palace stood tall in the center of the city. Now, people’s laughter, not the sound of horse hooves, takes over on the streets, but the buildings are still there. In particular, Vienna is rewriting the legacy of the past in the way it is today.

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Vienna, Austria / Photo = Unsplash

This summer, the Austrian Tourism Authority proposed a “stay-at-home art trip” that breathes Vienna in a completely different way. The imperial stable, once filled with the sound of horse hooves, has become Vienna’s most beloved ‘living room in the city’. The 19th-century palace and the 300-year-old post office reopened as fascinating hotels while preserving the timeliness of the time.

Gone are the days of travel when looking back on history through the glass of the museum. Now, empty travel is expanding into the experience itself of feeling the history and artistic inspiration of the city with the whole body in the space where you stay.

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View of Muzeum Skvartier (MQ) / Photo = Austrian Tourism Board

The first is MuseumsQuartier Wien (MQ). It is recommended not to see the exhibition, but to travelers who want to breathe the culture of Vienna itself. This year marks the 25th anniversary of MQ, which opened in 2001. More than 50 cultural organizations, including the Leopold Museum, Mumok, and Kunsthalle Wien, are gathered on a scale of about 90,000 square meters.

It is the largest complex cultural district in Europe. Once an imperial stable in the past, it is today considered a living room in a city where empty citizens and travelers from all over the world sit side by side and enjoy the sunshine, and a role model for urban regeneration around the world.

What makes MQ so special is not on a huge scale. It’s a landscape that fills the place. After touring the art museum as if swimming, stopping by cafes and restaurants, sitting in an outdoor square and enjoying live performances on a summer day, that is the real face of MQ.

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Leopold Museum of Art / Photograph = Unsplash

The courtyard’s signature outdoor furniture ‘Enchis’ changes color every year. This year, it is a yellow color reminiscent of pink and lemon soda inspired by Austrian desserts. The most common daily life is to sit obliquely on the entrances and pass the time before and after viewing the exhibition.

This year’s MQ, which marks its 25th anniversary, fills the year with the theme of “MQ Generation MQ.” From June 30 to January 25 next year, the MQ Fryraum will hold an exhibition titled Vision and Resistance – How Museums Quartier Wien Changed Vienna, reflecting on MQ’s 25-year trajectory.

The Leopold Museum of Art presents ‘Premier!’ which introduces the Austrian National Bank Collection until October 11. Kunsthalle Vienna will hold “Lives and Works in Vienna. Contemporary Art from Vienna,” a collection of 130 works by 56 contemporary artists working in Vienna, until Oct. 26.

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Hotel Palais Schotek’s Garden Terrace / Photo = Austrian Tourism Board

If you want the experience of walking into the middle of that romance and falling asleep instead of looking through the museum window, there is Palais Chotek. It is the place where the 19th-century Neo Renaissance style palace near Ringstrase in Vienna was restored and reborn as a hotel.

The dizzyingly high ceilings, delicate stucco decorations, and antique stairs fully convey the sense of space in the empty imperial era. There are 164 rooms and suites on top of the palace’s elegant formality, with a calm and modern sense. When you stay in a room facing a tranquil courtyard, you feel like time is passing slowly even though you are in the middle of the city.

Sophie Shortec, the origin of the hotel’s name, was famous for bringing people together regardless of their status and background during their lifetime. Her hospitality spirit extends to All Day in the hotel today, providing a cozy shelter for travelers.

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A view of the bar at the Wild Apartment Hotel Vienna Plaishmarkt, remodeled from a 300-year-old post office building. / Photo = Tourism Austria

If you are a traveler who loves the free rhythm of the Vienna locals, it is worth paying attention to the Wild Apartment Hotel Vienna Plaishmarkt. Located between the square of Schweden and St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, the former post office building with a history of more than 300 years has been sensibly remodeled.

The high vaulted ceilings, thick walls and cool open windows contrast with the stylish modern interior. The room is equipped with a simple kitchen, so it is good to stay for a few weeks, not a few days, and live the daily life of an empty local.

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A witty interpretation of late 19th-century architecture, The Companion Vienna exterior / Photo = Austrian Tourism Board

If you want to enjoy Vienna’s local sensibility the most trendy, The Companion Vienna is noteworthy. It is a new design hotel that interprets architecture in the late 19th century near Vinseo Station. Natural materials such as marble, metal, and wood and ardeco elements were arranged rhythmically while keeping the existing structure with traces of time alive. The wall rail design that penetrates the entire space adds a unique sense of unity.

Some of the 138 total rooms overlook the vibrant Maria Hilper Street at a glance. The restaurants Boca and Calypso bars in the hotel flexibly break down the boundaries of gastronomy and relaxation. It is a suitable option for those who consider indulging in space itself a joy of travel.