Vienna is a city that relishes its past, and it has the attractions to prove it. The historic city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is full of palaces, monuments, churches, and beautiful architecture. Here are some must-see attractions in Vienna:
- Schönbrunn Palace: One of the finest baroque palaces in Europe, it was the official Habsburg summer residence. It has ornate rooms and vast, elaborate gardens.
- St. Stephen's Cathedral: This massive cathedral has stood in the heart of Vienna since the early 13th century. It features Gothic architecture, intricate stonework, and panoramic city views from its towers.
- Hofburg Palace: This 13th-century palace was the winter residence of the Habsburgs and is now the residence of the President of Austria. It includes the Sisi Museum, dedicated to Empress Elisabeth, and the Imperial Apartments.
- Belvedere Palace: This consists of two palaces with ornate 17th-century French-style gardens and houses a remarkable collection of Austrian art, including Gustav Klimt's famous painting, The Kiss.
- Kunsthistorisches Museum: This museum features a vast collection of ancient art and European masterpieces, including works by Titian, Velasquez, Van Dyck, and Rubens.
- MuseumsQuartier Wien: This cultural institution comprises numerous top-notch museums, such as the Leopold Museum and the Museum of Modern Art (MUMOK).
- Tiergarten Schoenbrunn: Located within the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace, it is one of the world's oldest zoos.
- Wiener Staatsoper: Vienna's renowned opera house offers nearly 300 performances each year.
- Austrian National Library: The spectacular State Hall, with its baroque decor and frescoes, is a must-see.
- Volksgarten Rose Garden: This garden features a blast of colour with row after row of different varieties of roses.
- Sigmund Freud Museum: This museum is housed in Freud's former apartment and practice, offering insight into his life and work.
- Café Central: One of Vienna's most famous coffee houses, known for its grand atmosphere and delicious cakes and pastries.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Coffee and cake | Café Central, Café Sacher, Konditorei |
Palaces | Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, Hofburg Palace |
Art | The Kiss, Klimt, Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, Hundertwasser Museum, Leopold Museum, Albertina Modern, Kunsthistorisches Museum |
History | Historic Centre, Stephansdom Cathedral, Volksgarten Rose Garden, Spanish Riding School, Heldenplatz, Military History Museum, Mozart's Apartment, Sigmund Freud Museum, Capuchin Crypt, Roman Ruins |
Music | Vienna State Opera, St. Peter's Church, House of Music |
Christmas Markets | Belvedere Christmas Market |
Zoo | Tiergarten Schoenbrunn |
Gardens | Volksgarten, Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, Burggarten |
Library | Austrian National Library |
Film | The Third Man |
Architecture | Kunst Haus Wien, Loos American Bar, Secession Building, Loos Haus, Emil Löwenbach Apartment, Zaha Hadid's Library, Haas Haus, Karlskirche |
Shopping | Burggasse |
What You'll Learn
Schönbrunn Palace
The palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in the country. The history of the palace and its vast gardens spans over 300 years, reflecting the changing tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. It has been a major tourist attraction since the mid-1950s.
The 1,441-room Baroque palace was constructed from 1696 as a grand hunting lodge and later became the official Habsburg summer residence. Under the supervision of Maria Theresa, the only female Habsburg ruler, Schönbrunn evolved into an expansive paradise with ornate rooms and vast elaborate gardens comparable to King Louis XIV of France's palace at Versailles. One of the finest baroque palaces in Europe, Schönbrunn was one of the first places in Austria to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 1996.
A tour will lead you through apartments belonging to Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph, his wife Elisabeth (better known as Sisi), and Archduke Franz Karl. Other highlights include the Blue Staircase, the Mirror Room, and the Hall of Ceremonies. The palace grounds, which are free to visit all year round, include impressive fountains, statues, monuments, trees, and flowers, as well as the magnificent Gloriette.
The palace is also home to the Tiergarten, the oldest zoo in the world, and the Imperial Carriage Museum.
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St. Stephen's Cathedral
The current Romanesque and Gothic form of the cathedral was largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV and stands on the ruins of two earlier churches. The most important religious building in Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral has witnessed many important events in Habsburg and Austrian history.
The cathedral has 256 stairs from top to bottom, and its south tower is its highest point. The tower room offers a panoramic view of Vienna and is reached via 343 steps. The north tower, at 68 metres (223 ft) tall, is roughly half the height of the south tower.
The main entrance to the church is named the Giant's Door, or Riesentor, possibly referring to the thighbone of a mammoth that hung over it for decades. The name may also refer to the funnel shape of the door, from the Middle High German word risen, meaning 'sink' or 'fall'.
The glory of St. Stephen's Cathedral is its ornately patterned, richly coloured roof, covered by 230,000 glazed tiles. Above the choir on the south side of the building, the tiles form a mosaic of the double-headed eagle that is symbolic of the empire ruled from Vienna by the Habsburg dynasty. On the north side, the coats of arms of the City of Vienna and of the Republic of Austria are depicted.
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Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Kunsthistorisches Museum, or the Museum of Fine Arts, is one of the most important museums in the world. It is housed in a palatial building on the Vienna Ring Road, with an octagonal dome. The museum was opened in 1891 by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary, at the same time as the Natural History Museum, which sits directly across Maria-Theresien-Platz. The two buildings were constructed according to plans by Gottfried Semper and Baron Karl von Hasenauer.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum is the largest art museum in Austria, with a vast collection of ancient art and European masterpieces. The building itself is lavishly decorated with marble, stucco ornamentation, gold-leaf, and murals. The grand stairway features paintings by Gustav Klimt, Ernst Klimt, Franz Matsch, Hans Makart, and Mihály Munkácsy. The Kunsthistorisches Museum is also home to the world's largest collection of Bruegel paintings.
The museum's collection includes works from Ancient Egypt to the modern era. Notable works in the picture gallery include:
- Pieter Brueghel the Elder's The Fight Between Carnival and Lent, Children's Games, The Tower of Babel, The Procession to Calvary, The Hunters in the Snow, and The Peasant Wedding
- Caravaggio's The Crowning with Thorns, Madonna of the Rosary, David with the Head of Goliath, and Self-Portrait
- Jan van Eyck's Portrait of Cardinal Niccolò Albergati
- Tintoretto's Susanna and the Elders
- Johannes Vermeer's The Art of Painting
- Diego Velázquez's portraits of the Spanish royal family
The Kunsthistorisches Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in art and history. The building itself is a work of art, and the collection inside is extraordinary.
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Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere Palace is a must-see attraction in Vienna, housing beautiful art and gardens. The complex consists of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the third district of the city, on the southeastern edge of its centre.
The Belvedere was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy and was constructed during a period of prosperity in Vienna, which was then the imperial capital and home to the ruling Habsburg dynasty. The complex was designed by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, who studied civil engineering in Rome under Carlo Fontana. The gardens were designed by Dominique Girard, who trained in the gardens of Versailles as a pupil of André Le Nôtre.
The Upper and Lower Belvedere palaces now house an outstanding array of Austrian art from renowned artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Oskar Kokoschka. The Upper Palace features works from the permanent collection, while the Lower Palace houses temporary exhibitions. The palaces are said to be among the best examples of Baroque architecture in the world.
The Belvedere is also home to the iconic painting "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt, which is considered a must-see for any visitor to Vienna. The gardens offer perfect views for photography, especially in the early morning.
The Belvedere is easily accessible by public transportation and offers a charging station for electric cars, a city bike station, and bicycle racks.
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Hofburg Palace
The Hofburg Palace is a must-see when visiting Vienna. This former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty is located in the centre of the city and has been the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria since 1946. The palace was built in the 13th century by Ottokar II of Bohemia and has been expanded several times since. It served as the imperial winter residence, with Schönbrunn Palace as the summer residence.
The Hofburg is like a city within a city. It has been the seat of government since 1279 and has been expanded over the centuries to include residences, chapels, libraries, treasuries, theatres, and the Spanish Riding School. The palace faces Heldenplatz (Heroes' Square), which was ordered under the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I.
The Hofburg houses three museums: the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection. The Imperial Apartments feature original furnishings and decoration, while the Sisi Museum offers an insight into the life of Empress Elisabeth, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph. The Imperial Silver Collection contains tableware and utensils used by the imperial court.
The oldest parts of the palace date back to the 13th century and include a gothic chapel from the 15th century and the treasury, which is affiliated with the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The Court Music Chapel is located inside the Court Chapel, where the Vienna Boys' Choir traditionally sings mass on Sundays.
The Swiss Court dates back to the Renaissance during the reign of Emperor Ferdinand I. The Swiss Gate entrance displays the many titles of Ferdinand I and the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The Amalienburg, named after Empress Amalie Wilhelmine, is another wing of the palace, constructed in the late Renaissance style.
The Hofburg also includes the Leopoldine Wing, built in the 1660s under Emperor Leopold I, and the Imperial Chancellery Wing, which accommodated the offices of the Imperial Vice-Chancellor. The Hall of Ceremonies, built at the beginning of the 19th century, features an ornate coffered ceiling and 26 crystal chandeliers.
With so much to see, the Hofburg is a must-visit destination when exploring the rich history and culture of Vienna.
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