You can see St. Stephen's Cathedral from afar and the City Hall is also hard to miss in Vienna. Away from the well-known sights, however, Vienna prefers to keep some of its treasures well hidden. In the city's quiet, often hidden courtyards, you will find oases of peace, cozy cafés and special stores with history. Here we show you our favorite hidden courtyards where you can leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and discover the mysterious Vienna. Just take a turn and immerse yourself in a piece of Viennese history.

Tip: When moving from one secret passageway to the next, make sure you have your Vienna Welcome Card with you. It entitles you to great discounts with many mobility partners.

Raimundhof

The Raimundhof is probably the most famous courtyard in Vienna. This is mainly due to its central location in the middle of the Mariahilferstraße shopping mile, but its cozy bars and cafés certainly play their part too. The row of several stairwells and courtyards is a wonderful place to stroll and, of course, enjoy a treat or two. Browse through cool designer accessories at KLEINGRÄFIN, grab an açai bowl to go at Superfood Deli or make yourself comfortable with coffee and cake at the Secret Garden Café.

Tip: If you're ever in the area, you should definitely pay a visit to the immersive experience world IKONO Vienna. You can even get a 20% discount on your ticket with the Vienna Welcome Card.

Arkadenhof of the University of Vienna

An absolute must for Harry Potter fans is the Arkadenhof at the University of Vienna. The curved arches of the arcade courtyard corridors visually transport you straight to magical Hogwarts. If Dumbledore, Hagrid and co. are not your cup of tea, it's definitely worth a visit. In summer, it's best to grab a book and enjoy the peace and quiet under a shady tree. In the colder months, you can watch the hustle and bustle of students from here and marvel at the golden fall or white winter. The café in the Arkadenhof is also open all year round for a little refreshment or a warming cup of coffee. And if you still have some time afterwards, the Albertina is just a short walk away.

The best part? With the Vienna Welcome Card, you can admire the iconic works of art from Monet to Picasso for 10% less.

Schlossquadrat

If you are out and about in Vienna's Margareten district, there is no way around the Schlossquadrat. The building dates back to the 14th century and is accordingly quaint and idyllic. But we have to admit: as beautiful as the Schlossquadrat may be, our route there is almost always driven by hunger. And that's really no wonder, as there are four restaurants waiting for your visit. For steak, ribs and burgers, Gergely's is the best place to stop by, and if you fancy a bit of dolce vita, we recommend Trattoria Margareta. You'll find real Viennese food culture at Silberwirt and the dream team of burgers and happy hour at Cuadro. No matter what you choose, all four restaurants serve their own brand of beer, “Das Margaretner”. 

Margaretenhof

Speaking of the 5th district: Here's the next tip for Vienna's Margareten district. The Margaretenhof is just a stone's throw away from the Schlossquadrat. And we don't want to insinuate anything, but there is probably no Viennese who hasn't imagined what it would be like to live here. Visually, the Margaretenhof transports you straight to England with its combination of apartment building and cottage idea. Unfortunately, the closed wrought-iron gates separate you from the beautiful avenue, but it's always worth taking a look at this mini London. 

Tasting Worm Farm

According to one legend, the Schmeckender-Wurm-Hof owes its bizarre, but all the more memorable, name to a dragon that was up to mischief here. Another story tells of an alligator and a bouquet of flowers. Nobody really knows why the farm is called that, but what we can say for sure is that it is definitely worth a visit: It is definitely worth a visit. The narrow passageway between Wollzeile and Lugeck in the 1st district has existed since the 17th century and takes you on a short, relaxing journey through time, away from the hustle and bustle of the city center.

Tip: For a bit of culture after your window shopping, it's best to stop by the Spanish Riding School or the Sisi Museum. The Vienna Welcome Card entitles you to great discounts on admission.

Fancy even more tips away from the mainstream? Here we show you the most unusual tours through Vienna. And you can find out the best way to get from A to B in this article on the best means of transportation in Vienna.