Vienna, Austria — Where to Go
Vienna Sightseeing Overview
Vienna's role as the seat of the Hapsburg Empire for over six centuries (1278-1918) is written large in its wealth of imposing architecture and in the city's abundant artistic and musical heritage. Many of the world's greatest composers lived and performed behind Vienna's magnificent baroque facades.
The heart of Vienna is the Innerestadt - the area that lay within the city walls, until they were demolished in the mid-19th century. It is here that some of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions can be found, along with pedestrianized streets lined with countless shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. The center point is Stephansdom, the city's celebrated gothic cathedral, which is surrounded by the wide Stephansplatz. Today it stands in stark contrast cheek by jowl with the controversial multi-paned glassy facade of the ultra-modern HaasHaus.
Following the demolition of the city walls in 1857, the Ringstrasse was laid out and some of Vienna's most beautiful buildings were built along it. Among the most important are the Staatsoper (State Opera House), Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum), Parlament (Parliament), Rathaus (City Hall) and Burgtheater (Palace Theater).
Although most major attractions are in the First District, the other inner districts have much to offer. Leopoldstadt (Second District) lies on the eastern side of the Danube Canal, and is where the massive Prater, the site of Vienna's famous fairground, can be found.
Mariahelf (Sixth District) includes Vienna's busiest shopping street, Mariahilferstrasse, and the colorful Naschmarkt (Produce Market) and adjacent Flohmarkt (Flea Market). The surrounding area is developing into one of the city's trendiest quarters packed with beisls (small taverns), theaters, cafés and pubs. Just off Mariahilferstrasse is also the MuseumsQuartier, a must-visit area, particularly by night, which has developed into the new cultural heart of the city.
Alsergrund (Ninth District) is often called the academic quarter - Freud's home, now a museum, is located here, as is the splendid Lichtenstein Palace, which now houses the Museum of Modern Art. Further afield, in Hietzing (13th District), is Schönbrunn Palace, one of the world's finest baroque edifices and the former summer residence of Habsburg royalty.
Vienna Tourist Information
WienTourismus
Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse
Tel: (01) 24555.
Website: www.wien.info
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1900.
Other tourist information offices are located in the airport's arrivals area. A number of annually printed guides are available, including Kunst & Genuus (Arts & Delights), Architecture, Konzert-Cafés, monthly events and a Gay Vienna guide.
Vienna Sightseeing
The Vienna Card (www.wienkarte.at) offers discounts at 200 attractions, theaters, shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as on the CAT train from the airport. It also includes unlimited travel on the U-Bahn, bus and tram networks (including night buses) for 72 hours. Passes are available from tourist information offices, hotels and Wiener Linien sales and information counters.
Vienna Sightseeing
The Vienna Card (www.wienkarte.at) offers discounts at 200 attractions, theaters, shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as on the CAT train from the airport. It also includes unlimited travel on the U-Bahn, bus and tram networks (including night buses) for 72 hours. Passes are available from tourist information offices, hotels and Wiener Linien sales and information counters.
Key Attractions in Vienna, Austria
Albertina
As the largest Hapsburg residential palace, Albertina dominates the southern tip of the Imperial Palace on one of the last remaining fortress walls in Austria. It boasts the largest and most valuable graphical collections in the world, with works such as Dürer's Hare and Klimt's studies of women. On permanent display in the Albertina's new exhibition collection are the most exciting art movements of the last 130 years: from French impressionism to German expressionism to the Russian avant-garde and the present. Monet's Water Lily Pond, Degas' Dancers and Renoir's Girl are on view, alongside paintings by Macke, Chagall, Rothko, Rainer and Katz.
01, Albertinaplatz 1
Tel: (01) 534 830
Website: www.albertina.at
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (Wed until 2100).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Belvedere
The Oberes Belvedere (Upper Belvedere Palace), built in 1721-23 for Prince Eugene of Savoy, offers terrific views across the gardens to the Unteres Belvedere (Lower Belvedere) and the city beyond. Artwork from the middle ages and the Baroque era is featured in the Unteres Belvedere. The Oberes Belvedere houses art from the 19th-century classical, Romantic and Biedermeier periods on the second floor and post-1918 art on the ground floor. The first floor includes paintings by Gustav Klimt (including the iconic Der Kuss/The Kiss), Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and other fin-de-siècle artists.
03, Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Prinz Eugenstrasse 27
Tel: (01) 795 570.
Website: www.belvedere.at
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1800 (Wed until 2100 for Unteres Belvedere).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Hofburg
The Imperial Palace until 1918, the Hofburg today houses the office of the Austrian president, an international conference center, a dozen museums, the chapel where the Vienna Boys' Choir sings and the hall in which the Lipizzan stallions perform. Visitors can tour the Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments), including Franz Joseph's and Sisi's (Empress Elisabeth's) private rooms, the great audience hall, dining rooms and staterooms. Schatzkammer (Treasury), Schweizerhof 1, contains stunning exhibits that exemplify the power and wealth of one of Europe's most important empires. The Sisi Museum showcases many personal objects and some of the most famous portraits of the beautiful empress. Also within the central core, the Prunksaal (State Hall) of the Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library) is a jewel of baroque architecture and one of the most beautiful historical libraries in the world.
01, Innerer Burghof 1, Kaisertor
Tel: (01) 533 7570 (Imperial Apartments, Imperial Silver Collection and Sisi Museum) or 5252 44031 (Treasury).
Websites: www.hofburg.wien.info; www.hofburg-wien.at
Opening hours: Daily 0900-1730/1800 (Imperial Apartments, Imperial Silver Collection and Sisi Museum); Wed-Mon 1000-1800 (Treasury).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts)
This magnificent building was constructed to house the Imperial Hapsburg collections in one place, although these grew to also occupy the Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace. The grand staircase provides passage to the galleries, which include the Antiquities, Egyptian-Oriental and Coin collections. The Kunstkammer (art chamber) houses sculpture and decorative arts. The Gemäldegalerie (picture gallery) has works by Old Masters, including Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian, and the most comprehensive collection of Brueghels in the world. The twin building directly opposite houses the old fashioned but superb Museum of Natural History.
01, Maria-Theresien-Platz 1
Tel: (01) 525 240.
Website: www.khm.at
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1800 (Thurs until 2100).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
MuseumsQuartier
On the site of the former imperial stables, this large cultural complex (akin to London's South Bank Center) is one of the biggest of its kind in the world. Don't miss the excellent Leopold Museum, a must for anyone interested in Austrian art, and MUMOK, the Museum of Modern Art. The MuseumsQuartier (MQ) is a very pleasant place to hang out for a few hours, especially on a summer evening, when the place is packed with students and people of all ages relaxing outside on its large bench-like constructions or eating and drinking in one of the many alfresco cafés.
07, Museumplatz 1
Websites: www.mqw.at
Schloß Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Palace)
Schönbrunn Palace is Vienna's answer to Versailles and was used as the summer residence of the Habsburgs from the 18th century until 1918. Of the 1,441 rooms in the palace and its adjacent buildings, 40 state rooms are open to the public. The golden-yellow palace is set within equally magnificent gardens, landscaped in the baroque style, with some fabulous views. The palace and gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Gloriette is a triumphal arch that stands on the hilltop behind the palace and affords a stunning view over the grounds and the city beyond. The Palmenhaus (Palm House) is an excellent example of late 19th-century architecture, with cast iron columns delicately holding up the glass walls and roof. The world's oldest zoo (est 1752) can be found in the park.
13, Schönbrunn Palace
Tel: (01) 8111 3239.
Website: www.schoenbrunn.at
Opening hours: Daily 0830-1700 (Apr-Jun and Sept-Oct); 0830-1800 (July-Aug); 0830-1630 (Nov-Mar).
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
UNESCO site: Y.
Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School)
For over 400 years, the horses of the Spanish Riding School have performed their elegant maneuvers at the Imperial Stables. The easiest way for visitors to see the horses in action is at their morning training sessions, 1000-1200 Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets to the training sessions, which involve classical dressage exercise to music, are only available at the door on the day. Tickets for the actual performances are in high demand and need to be booked well in advance. The season generally runs from March to June and from September to December. Gala performances vary from month to month, usually Saturday or Sunday mornings and occasionally Friday evenings. Final dress rehearsals before the season starts are cheaper and tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
01, Michaelerplatz 1
Tel: (01) 533 9031.
Website: www.srs.at
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 1000-1200 (morning training sessions). Guided tours Tues-Sat in the afternoon. Gala performances are usually held on Sunday morning at 1100, occasionally on Friday evenings.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral)
The imposing St Stephen's Cathedral marks Graben's eastern end; it is a landmark from afar not least due to its brightly colored roof tiles. Construction began on the cathedral in the 12th century and was completed in 1433. Major restoration and rebuilding work was necessary after the cathedral caught fire at the end of WWII.
01, Stephansplatz 1
Tel: (01) 581 8640.
Website: www.stephanskirche.at
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 0600-2200, Sun 0700-2200; guided tours in English Apr-Oct daily 1545.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Further Distractions
HausderMusik(HouseofMusic)
The Haus der Musik is an intriguing new addition to Vienna's museum scene, offering a link between technology and art. It includes the museum of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, where visitors are given the opportunity to view the last New Year's Day Concert; the Sonosphere, where many aspects of sound are presented, using hands-on computer technology and giant instruments; the Virtual Conductor, where visitors can use virtual technology to conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; and the Brain Opera, an interactive musical environment with unique ultramodern musical instruments. There are also historic displays of great Viennese composers, from Haydn to Berg, a wine bar, a café and several concert rooms.
01, Seilerstätte 30
Tel: (01) 513 4850.
Website: www.hausdermusik.com
Opening hours: Daily 1000-2200.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
KunstHausWien (Vienna Art House)
KunstHausWien is the unmistakable architectural expression of Friedensreich Hundertwasser's unique vision. Appearing like a Klimt painting as seen through a kaleidoscope, the building contains an exhibition of Hundertwasser's artwork as well as a bright café with a chic clientele and relaxing garden. The nearby Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment project, which can only be viewed from the street.
03, Untere Weissgerberstrasse 13
Tel: (01) 712 0491.
Website: www.kunsthauswien.com
Opening hours: Daily 1000-1900.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Liechtenstein Museum
Built between 1690 and 1712, the Liechtenstein Palace is one of the finest examples of baroque architecture in the city; it's also home to the impressive private art collection of the Liechtenstein family. The rich interior, worth the admission charge alone, is complemented by works from the likes of Rubens, Rembrandt, and Raphael.
09, Fürstengasse 1
Tel: (01) 3195 7670.
Website: www.liechtensteinmuseum.at
Opening hours: Fri-Tues 1000-1700.
Admission charge: Y.
Disabled access: Y.
Prater
The Prater is a giant wooded park, most famous for its fairground and the location of one of Vienna's most emblematic sights - the century-old Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel) made famous in the 1949 film The Third Man.
02, Prater
Websites: www.wiener-prater.at
