Vienna is the city where Western classical music was invented, codified and continuously performed for 400 years — and where that tradition coexists today with a surprisingly vital contemporary scene. Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and Mahler all composed here; the Vienna Philharmonic still plays in the Musikverein with an orchestral quality that has no peer anywhere. But the same city that built that institution also developed the Second Viennese School (Schoenberg, Berg, Webern), has a thriving electronic music scene in the Prater and Gürtel areas, and runs jazz clubs and indie venues that operate as if no one told them Vienna was primarily a classical city.
New to Vienna nightlife? The Gürtel — the elevated train line that forms the inner ring road — is the artery of Vienna's contemporary nightlife: the arches beneath the tracks contain bars, clubs and music venues that run from the straightforward to the genuinely experimental. Chelsea and B72 are the most established. Grelle Forelle on the Danube Canal is Vienna's best electronic music venue. For classical music, standing-room tickets at the Staatsoper (State Opera) are available for €3–6 on the night of performance — one of the great value experiences in world music tourism.
Vienna's jazz scene is active and underrated: Porgy & Bess on Riemergasse books international and Austrian jazz with the seriousness of a major programme. The Vienna Jazz Fest in late June/July runs across the Rathaus, Porgy & Bess and outdoor stages. The WUK cultural centre in Alsergrund handles experimental music, world music and leftfield programming that fills the gap between the Staatsoper and the Gürtel clubs. Vienna's waltz and classical tradition reaches its tourist-accessible peak at the many chamber music concerts in the Palais Auersperg and Schönbrunn — expensive but acoustically remarkable.
Practical tips for first-timers: Vienna's U-Bahn and tram system runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday; otherwise it stops at midnight. The city is compact enough that walking between venues in the 1st and 7th districts is practical. Classical concert dress codes at the Staatsoper and Musikverein are smart-formal; other venues are casual. Vienna is expensive but subsidised arts keep classical tickets affordable. Cloud Atelier tracks Vienna events across classical, jazz and electronic formats so you can plan the right mix for your visit.