Vienna Orientation

Vienna is divided into 23 Bezirke (districts). District numbering begins in the city center, Innenstadt. The borders of the center, the Ringstraße (ring road) on three sides and the Danube Canal on the fourth were originally the location of a wall that protected the city from invaders. At the center of the Innenstadt lies Stephansplatz and the pedestrian district. The best way to reach Innenstadt is to take the U-bahn to Stephanspl. (U1, U3) or Karlsplatz (U1, U2, U4); Schwedenplatz (U1, U4) is close to the city’s nightlife. Tram lines 1 and 2 circle the Innenstadt on the Ringstr., with line 2 heading clockwise and 1 counterclockwise.

The Ringstraße consists of different segments, such as Opernring and Kärntner Ring. Many of Vienna’s major attractions lie within District I and immediately around the Ringstr. Districts II-IX spread out from the city center following the clockwise traffic of the Ring. The remaining districts expand from yet another ring road, the Gürtel (Belt). Similar to the Ring, this major thoroughfare has numerous segments, including Margaretengürtel, Neubaugürtel, and Währinger Gürtel. Like Vienna’s street signs, Let’s Go indicates the district number in Roman or Arabic numerals before the street and number.

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