The iconic Stephansdom in Vienna, fondly referred to as Steffl (Little Stephan), is one of the city's most treasured masterpieces. This Gothic church has stood on the same spot since the 12th century, evinced by the Romanesque Riesentor (Giant...
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Austria's stunning cultural heritage is best exemplified in its Hofburg, once the home of the Habsburgs from 1273 to 1918. The original part of the palace, the 13th-century Schweizerhof (Swiss Courtyard), was named after the Swiss guards that...
Schloss Belvedere, a masterpiece of baroque architecture, is world-renowned for its beauty. Designed by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1668, it was commissioned by Prince Eugene of Savoy, the brilliant military strategist who defeated the Turks...
Take a tour of the world-renowned Staatsoper, Vienna's premier opera and ballet venue, and immerse yourself in its architectural and musical excellence. On the 40-minute guided tour, you can explore the neo-Renaissance hall, even if you don't...
UNESCO's World Heritage Site, the opulent summer palace of the Habsburgs, boasts 1441 rooms. Forty of them are open to the public for exploration, including the private apartments of Empress Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph. The Imperial Tour covers...
Visitor center for National Park Donau-AuenWien-lobAU National Park House is the visitor center for the Viennese part of the National Park Donau-Auen. As a multifunctional information and environmental center at the entrance to the Lobau,...
A sightseeing square and the geographical center of ViennaStephansplatz is named for the Stephansdom, St. Stephen's Cathedral, the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna. Sites to take in at Stephansplatz include the cathedral, two exclusive...
The largest park in central Vienna covers 60 sq km, boasting a variety of magnificent natural beauty and recreational activities. From majestic poplar and chestnut trees that are adorned with russet and gold in the fall season, to fragrant white...
Previously a place for members of the Habsburg court to host guests, the Albertina is now home to a terrific collection of graphic art. In the permanent Batliner Collection, you can admire over 100 pieces of artwork from Monet to Picasso. The...
Friedrich von Schmidt, the designer of Cologne Cathedral, completed Vienna's neo-Gothic City Hall in 1883, modelling it after Flemish city halls. With intricate stonework, pointed-arch windows and spindly turrets, it is considered to be the...
Originally dug by the Romans in order to protect their city of Vinodoba, Graben, Vienna's most glamorous shopping street, was created when Leopold V filled in the ditch and constructed a fortifying city wall that ended at Freyung in 1192. This...
A street for shopping, walking, and sightseeing Kaerntnerstrasse is a wonderful shopping street in Vienna’s noble historic area. This street encompasses the stretch from the State Opera House to St. Stephans Cathedral. You won’t find...
Viennese Art Nouveau architectureThe Wienzeilenhäuser by Otto Wagner are an ensemble of three houses that were built between 1898-1899. They are located on the Linken Wienzeile, not far from the Naschmarkt in the 6th district. The...
Adolf Loos' modernist masterpiece, completed in 1911, infuriated Franz Josef so much that it prompted the emperor to order the curtains to be drawn on all palace windows that overlooked the building. Now, this architectural gem is home to a bank.
Maria am Gestade, one of Vienna's few surviving Gothic structures, was constructed between the years of 1394 and 1414. Believed to be first built from wood by Danube boatsmen around 880, the church was reconstructed with stone to make it a...
Believed to date back to 740, Vienna's oldest church is an impressive sight. Its tower is composed of 12th century stonework and its roof dates back to the 15th century. The west side of the church is flanked by an iron Renaissance door from the...
The Schmetterlinghaus, housed in the Habsburg family's 1901 Jugendstil glasshouse, is shared with the Palmenhaus bar in the Burggarten. Inside, hundreds of butterflies flit around and a shop stocks butterfly-themed items. On cold days, visitors...
The MuseumsQuartier, with its sprawling 90,000 sq metres of exhibition space and mix of museums, cafes, restaurants and bars, is one of the world's most impressive cultural hubs. This remarkable ensemble is housed within the former imperial...
The curves, vibrant colors, and mosaic details of this apartment building clearly show off the unorthodox, artistic style of Hundertwasser, the renowned architect from Vienna whose signature is characterized by its uneven surfaces.
Constructed between the years 1716 and 1739, the impressive Karlskirche - Vienna's finest baroque church - was born out of a vow made by Karl VI during the 1713 plague. Located at the southeast corner of Resselpark, the church was designed and...
The renowned Schönbrunn Tiergarten, established in 1752 by Franz Stephan as a menagerie, is the world's oldest, continually-operating zoo. From the pavilion built in 1759 and used as an imperial breakfast room, the zoo's layout fans out like the...
Vienna’s most beautiful fountainDonner Fountain (Donnerbrunnen) was created between the years 1737 and 1739 by sculptor Georg Raphael Donner. This is one of his great Baroque masterpieces. The statues on the edge of the fountain represent...
Classical equitation in the Renaissance traditionFor 430 years the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Reitschule) has been training horseback riders in the tradition of haute école. Riders are taught to study the horse's movements and...
A boulevard encircling the old city of ViennaRingstrasse, constructed in the 19th century, is the street that was built to replace the old city walls. In 1857, Emperor Franz Joseph I, ordered the demolition of the walls. This changed the...
The KunstHausWien showcases the eclectic and imaginative artistry of the late Viennese artist and environmental activist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928–2000), who famously rejected the "godless" linear form. Its curved ceramics, undulated...
Vienna has the remarkable MuseumsQuartier to thank for its existence - a museum made possible by the efforts of ophthalmologist Rudolf Leopold. As a young student in 1950, Leopold bought his first Egon Schiele for a low price, and his collection...
Chronicling the unique history of ViennaHistorical Museum of the City of Vienna (Historisches Museum der Stadt Wien) includes a full-scale model of old Vienna encircled by the city wall. Another model, after the wall's demolition, shows...
In 1897, nineteen visionary artists left the Künstlerhaus, the main artistic establishment in Vienna, to form the Wiener Secession (Vienna Secession). This group included Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffmann, Kolo Moser and Joseph Olbrich. It was Olbrich...
The largest suburb in the district of DöblingGrinzing is part of Döbling, the 19th district of Vienna. Until 1892 this used to be an independent municipality. The name means literally "of the people who belong to a man named...
The historic Austria Pavilion, originally designed by Karl Schwanzer for Expo 58 in Brussels, has been reimagined as Belvedere 21. Under the creative direction of Adolf Krischanitz, the light-filled, glass-and-steel building has been transformed...
The Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna covers a span of four billion years of natural history and is displayed in a late-19th-century building with elaborately stuccoed and frescoed halls, as well as a cupola. It includes fossils, minerals,...
White wine with a viewHeurigen are wine taverns that only sell wine from their own vineyards. Smart by normal standards, this gorgeous location has stupendous views over the vineyards and the city below. The steep walk up from Grinzing...
Always open, scheduled guided tours included with admissionThe Parliament Building designed by Theophil Hansen was built between 1873 and 1883. Greek style architecture with Corinthian columns is in deference to Greece, the birthplace of...
The seat of the Grand Masters of the OrderChurch of Teutonic Order known as the Church of St. Elisabeth of Hungary is a Roman Catholic religious order formed in the late 12th century. It is near the Stephansdom. Originally a Gothic...
Situated right in the center of the ArsenalThe Museum of Military History was the first Viennese museum. Designed by Ludwig Foerster and Theophil Hansen, it was built from 1850 to 1856. This imposing structure displays Byzantine,...
One of the oldest churches in Vienna, AustriaChurch of St. Michael (Michaelerkirche) is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. This Romanesque edifice was once parish church of the Imperial Court, then called Zum Heiligen Michael. Although...
A 1620's baroque masterpieceChurch of the Jesuits (Universitatskirche) is a two story Baroque building with double towers. It is located adjacent to the buildings that made up the old University of Vienna. The outside is beautiful yet...
The Peterskirche, one of the most beautiful churches in the city, was constructed in 1733 by the renowned baroque architect, Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. There are several sights within the church that are worth seeing, including a fresco on the...
Precious treasures covering a millennium of European historyImperial Treasury (Schatzkammer) is located in Hofburg Palace; the entrance is at the Swiss Courtyard. This museum displays a fascinating number of valuable artifacts. The...
More clocks than you can countThe Clock Museum of Vienna or Uhrenmuseum, is a tribute to the heyday of clockmaking in Austria. Back in the day, the country produced some of the most impressive time pieces in the world and this museum is...
