The Eurovision Song Contest, the annual international music competition that brings together performers and fans from across Europe and beyond, will take place this May in Vienna, Austria. Travelers arriving for the 70th edition of the contest will find plenty of reasons to extend their stay and explore the Austrian capital beyond the arena. Between performances and festivities, Vienna offers a rich backdrop of Baroque palaces, world-class concert halls, riverside cafés, vibrant markets, and green parks—a city that balances imperial grandeur with contemporary life.
Vienna consistently ranks among the world’s most livable cities, and Cox says its appeal lies in its balance. The city is clean, safe, and culturally vibrant, with architecture, music, and culinary traditions woven into daily life. At the same time, its proximity to nature and relaxed pace make it feel calmer than many major European capitals.
Born and raised in Vienna, Cox is best known internationally for her role in the historical Netflix-drama-series The Last Kingdom, as well as numerous German-language film and television productions. The daughter of Irish and British classical pianists who moved to Vienna to study and teach, she grew up immersed in music, theater, and the city’s rich cultural life—influences that continue to shape how she experiences Vienna today.
Here, Cox shares where to stay, eat, and explore, offering a 24-hour snapshot of Vienna during Eurovision season.
What makes Vienna such a special place to visit?
I’ve traveled a lot and spent time in cities all over Europe, as well as Los Angeles and New York, and Vienna is still incredibly special. It’s not for nothing that it’s often ranked one of the most livable cities in the world. It’s very clean and very safe, and there is an incredible amount of culture here—music, theater, art, architecture. You can do almost anything you want in Vienna and still feel secure, which is quite rare for a big city. The seasons are also beautiful. You have proper winters, fantastic summers, and wonderful spring and autumn. And the people are very lovable. At first they can seem quite rude—especially the waiters, who are famous for it. But, it’s almost part of the Viennese character. I even heard of someone being told he was too friendly to be a proper Viennese waiter. When you get to know people a bit more, though, they are among the loveliest and warmest in the world.
Is Vienna a good place to visit year-round?
Absolutely. It feels like a completely different city depending on the season, which is why I think it’s worth visiting more than once. May, when Eurovision takes place, is one of the best times to visit. It’s spring, around 20°C, with sunshine, birds singing, and everything in bloom. Winter brings magical Christmas markets. Autumn has a completely different mood with the changing leaves. Summer is beautiful too, although it can get very hot—and in Europe we don’t always have air conditioning everywhere—so spring is ideal.
Where do you recommend visitors stay?
A beautiful place to stay is Palais Rudolph. It’s set in a historic building with elegant, high-ceilinged rooms and views over a small square in the city center. Even though it’s right in the middle of Vienna, it feels calm and quiet, which I really love. It gives you the feeling of staying inside the city’s history while still being very comfortable.
Vienna mornings can be special. Where do you go for breakfast?
I love Café Sperl, which is located close to the center of town—an ideal place to start the day.
Coffeehouses are one of the biggest parts of Viennese identity. This beautifully renovated historic café has existed since 1880 and also has a lovely patio to sit outside in the warmer months. I recommend trying a classic Viennese breakfast with bread rolls called Semmeln. Vienna is amazing for bread and rolls. You can find really great bread everywhere, which I actually missed when I spent time in Los Angeles. After that, I would definitely choose something sweet, like Topfenstrudel, a pastry filled with cream cheese and topped with vanilla sauce.
Where should visitors go for lunch?
If you love sushi, Kojiro is incredible. It’s a very small place and the fish is unbelievably fresh; it’s some of the best sushi I’ve ever had. For something more special, I recommend Chez Bernard, a French restaurant with a beautiful rooftop terrace. I usually order the filet steak with spinach and truffle fries. The atmosphere and the food are both fantastic.
And for dinner?
Emily: For pizza, Ragazzi makes amazing classic pizzas and pasta. I’d order a quattro formaggi pizza. If you want classic Viennese cuisine, try Oswald & Kalb for Wiener Schnitzel. It’s slightly off the tourist path and feels more local. Wiener Schnitzel is quite heavy, so we don’t eat it every day, but when it’s done properly, it’s wonderful.
What classic Vienna experiences shouldn’t visitors miss?
You should definitely visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of the most important art museums in the world. I would also not miss the Leopold Museum, which has the world’s largest collection of Egon Schiele. They also exhibit works by Oskar Kokoschka and even a puppet of his lover Alma Mahler—Gustav Mahler’s wife—whom I had the luck of portraying in a film a few years ago. Afterward, you can have coffee or relax in the MuseumsQuartier, where the lounge chairs are perfect for resting in the sun. The Vienna State Opera is also worth seeing not only for performances, but simply for the interior. Vienna is world-class when it comes to opera and classical music, so attending a concert is truly special.
What captures the heart of Vienna beyond the grand landmarks?
There are beautiful old cinemas where they also show english speaking movies. My favorite is Gartenbaukino! One thing that makes Vienna unique is its closeness to nature. You have an incredible cultural city, but you’re also surrounded by the Vienna Woods. There are marked walking routes around the edges of the city that guide you through forests and hidden paths. They are called Stadtwanderwege. I also recommend visiting a Heuriger in Grinzing: traditional wine taverns where you drink local wine and eat simple food. Families go there too; it’s very much part of Viennese life.
Where might fans run into you?
I love finding peace in one of the beautiful gardens in the city center, like Burggarten. I spend hours there in summer reading, learning my lines, and meeting friends. There’s also a spot in Burggarten called Palmenhaus, which is a lovely place to have coffee and cake.
Is there an area visitors might overlook?
The 16th district, where the Eurovision Song Contest will take place, is a bit off the beaten track. It’s not considered one of the better areas—more everyday Vienna—but it’s where I grew up, where I went to school, and where my mom still lives, so I spend quite a bit of time there.
Visitors could go to Yppenplatz, which has a market and a nice You can walk through the market and find really good fruit and vegetables, spices, and things like that. Around the square there are cafés where you can eat and have coffee.
Where should visitors go shopping?
Most tourists go to the first district around Stephansplatz, where St. Stephen’s Cathedral is. It’s a more upscale area with higher-end shops, and there is also a shopping center called Haas Haus.
If you want something more mid-range—where more Viennese people shop—go to Mariahilfer Straße. For smaller, more special boutiques, explore the streets around it. My favorite clothes shop there is Luv the Shop on Gumpendorferstraße.
Where should visitors go at night?
If you want to go clubbing, U4 is a well-known club that has been around for a long time. When I was a student, I used to go there. It’s also where the famous musician Falco used to party.
For something smaller and very special, there’s Loos Bar in the center of Vienna. It’s tiny and really nice. I recently discovered they’re open during the day, which I didn’t know before. And because I’m breastfeeding at the moment, I tried their alcohol-free cocktail — and it was actually really good.
Is there something about Vienna people don’t expect?
When I travel and say I’m from Austria, everyone mentions The Sound of Music. But actually, nobody from Vienna has seen it, not one of my friends, and I haven’t either. It’s strange because it’s such a strong reference abroad, but here it isn’t part of everyday life.
Vienna, Austria
