As with other top tourist destinations in Europe, Vienna is sprinkled with more than a fair share of ‚Sehenswürdikeiten‘. The city has something for everyone – grand palaces, interesting and varied museums, theater, nature and much more. A single trip in the Vienna Ring Tram will take one through so many landmarks, that its impossible to stay indifferent to the rich cultural legacy of Wien and then there is just such a a great variety of things to see, do and experience here. So often, a few lesser known delights of the city do get overlooked when people are here on short visits. I thought that I would make a small list of my personal favorite venues in Wien that tourists could enjoy.

1. Wien’s flea market: The Naschmarkt near Karlsplatz is really one of Wien’s best attractions. Open on all days except Sundays, visitors can come here to enjoy a tantalizing selection of small shops selling fruits, vegetables, spices, homemade foods and milk products that will thrill even those among us with the most particular culinary tastes. The sheer variety of foods, from authentic Austrian cuisines to French bread  and Turkish kebabs makes one’s mouth water. If you need a break from the shopping, get a coffee and just enjoy looking the beautiful market from the window.
2.  Stadthallenbad: An indoor swimmingpool complex, the Stadhallenbad houses three swimming pools open to the public (for a small fee). You can enjoy a clean, well maintained 50 meter pool for lane swimming or just to hangout by the pool. There are also many other indoor and outdoor pools dotted across Vienna, so just find one that’s close by to enjoy a nice dip.
3. Some Middle Easter Culture: One of the most surprising things for me about Wien was the spacious, modern mosque near the Neue Donau Station. Beautifully designed and situated right by the river, I would recommend a small stop by the Vienna Islamic Centrum for people who would like to get a glimpse of Islamic architecture and social life. The people working at the center are extremely friendly and most of them speak Deutsch, so you can spend some time chatting with them. You will often find student groups from local schools and colleges visiting the center to learn about Islamic culture and theology.