Literary Vienna: Writers, Coffeehouses and Scandals
From Grillparzer and Schnitzler to Thomas Bernhard
TopicWien- Duration
- 2.0 hours
- Languages
- German, English
This private literary walking tour of Vienna's old town follows the writers who made the city famous. You hear where great works were written, argued over and celebrated.
Vienna has been a city of literature for centuries. Franz Grillparzer wrote for the Burgtheater, and around 1900 the authors of Young Vienna, including Arthur Schnitzler and Hugo von Hofmannsthal, met at Café Griensteidl. Karl Kraus mocked them in his magazine Die Fackel.
The poet Peter Altenberg sat in Café Central so often that he even had his mail delivered there. Stefan Zweig described the lost Vienna in The World of Yesterday, and after 1945 Café Hawelka became a meeting place for artists and writers. Thomas Bernhard turned his unease with Vienna into great literature.
Your guide reads short passages, tells you about theater scandals and friendships, and shows why the coffeehouse mattered so much to Viennese writing.
Highlights
- Young Vienna with Schnitzler and Hofmannsthal
- Peter Altenberg at Café Central
- Karl Kraus and Die Fackel
- Stefan Zweig's World of Yesterday
- Theater scandals at the Burgtheater
The route
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1Michaelerplatz
Start at the former site of Café Griensteidl.
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2Herrengasse
Café Central and the writers of 1900.
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3Burgtheater
Grillparzer, Schnitzler and famous opening-night scandals.
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4Dorotheergasse
Literary meeting places after the war.
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5Graben
Finish with Bernhard and Viennese grumpiness.
Who this tour is for
For book lovers, theater fans and anyone who wants to read Vienna between the lines.
Frequently asked questions
Are entrance fees included?
No, entrance fees are never included in the tour price. When you book, we are happy to tell you which admissions apply to your group.
How is the price calculated?
This is a private tour for your group only. The price is per group, not per person, which makes it great value for families and friends traveling together.
Is the tour enjoyable without literary background?
Absolutely. Your guide tells the stories in a lively, anecdotal way. No background is needed, and reading tips are available on request.
