Things to do in Vienna

Vienna has hundreds of beautiful historic attractions and cultural treasures to explore, from stunning Baroque palaces to the world-famous 'flying' Lipizzaner stallions. The Imperial Palace is home to the Schatzkammer, which is the greatest treasury in the world and holds treasure from as far back as the Holy Roman Empire. The Fine Arts Museum across from the palace houses many of the art collections gathered by the Habsburgs and is sumptuously decorated with marble, gold leaf and stucco ornaments.

Another of Vienna's most recognisable attractions is the giant Ferris wheel called the Riesenrad, which is located in a large wooded park. And for those partial to song and dance, the Vienna State Opera performs a vast repertoire of operas, operettas and ballets.

Vienna has been home to some of classical music's greatest composers, and visitors can easily spend a day touring the residences where Beethoven wrote his 5th Symphony, Haydn composed The Creation, and Strauss wrote the Blue Danube Waltz. No musical tour would be complete without seeing the Mozart Memorial.

Most of the city's attractions are encompassed by the Ringstrasse, which makes them easily accessible, especially on foot or by bike. The Vienna Card is handy for reduced fares when using public transport in the city. With so many beautiful areas, cultural attractions and historic sites, Vienna is definitely a city to spend plenty of time in.

Hofburg photo

Hofburg

The Hofburg Palace was the home of the Habsburg dynasty for 600 years, its fortifications continually expanded since its construction in the 13th century. As well as housing the pr…

Hofburg

The Hofburg Palace was the home of the Habsburg dynasty for 600 years, its fortifications continually expanded since its construction in the 13th century. As well as housing the president's offices, the palace now encompasses 22 separate museums, the National Library, a 14th-century Augustinian church, the famous Spanish Riding School and the Royal Chapel. The most popular museums are the Kaiserappartements, the Sisi Museum and the Imperial Silver Collection. Situated in the Hofburg Palace, the 14th-century royal library is among the oldest and finest in the world. Its some six million items include papyri, manuscripts, ancient books, maps, portraits, music and photographs. The Grand Hall is a palatial room topped by a dome, designed in the Baroque style and decorated with statues and exquisite frescoes.

Website www.hofburg-wien.at

Spanish Riding School photo

Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is one of the oldest surviving riding schools in the world, where classic dressage is still practised in its purest form. This institute was fou…

Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is one of the oldest surviving riding schools in the world, where classic dressage is still practised in its purest form. This institute was founded in 1572 and named for the Lipizzaner horses, which are of Spanish origin. Since the collapse of the Danube Monarchy in 1920, the horses have been bred at the Federal Stud in Styria. The horses perform their tricks in the Winter Riding School, commissioned by Emperor Karl VI. Performances take place between February and June, and September and December. With shows booked up months in advance, the easiest way to see the horses is during training sessions. Situated in the stables is the Lipizzaner Museum, which displays the history of the school.

Website www.srs.at/en/

Karlskirche photo

Karlskirche

Karlskirche is the most outstanding Baroque church in the city and its 236-foot (72m) high dome flanked by two columns forms an iconic landmark of the Viennese skyline. The church …

Karlskirche

Karlskirche is the most outstanding Baroque church in the city and its 236-foot (72m) high dome flanked by two columns forms an iconic landmark of the Viennese skyline. The church was commissioned by Emperor Charles VI after a great plague swept through Vienna in 1713, and is dedicated to the revered healer Saint Charles Borromeo. The lavishly decorated interior includes frescoes and visitors can get a closer look by taking the elevator to the roof, which is included in the entry fee. Although the lift carries visitors most of the way up, there are some steps to be climbed to get to the very top of the dome.

Website www.karlskirche.at

Schonbrunn Palace photo

Schonbrunn Palace

The magnificent Schonbrunn Palace was used as the summer residence of the Habsburgs, who were once among the most prominent royal houses of Europe, from the 18th century onwards. S…

Schonbrunn Palace

The magnificent Schonbrunn Palace was used as the summer residence of the Habsburgs, who were once among the most prominent royal houses of Europe, from the 18th century onwards. Set among superb gardens, this vast symmetrical structure is everything visitors would imagine an imperial palace to be. A tour of the palace offers visitors the chance to view the superb assortment of Baroque and Rococo State Rooms and to admire the famous ceiling frescoes of the Great Gallery and the Hall of Mirrors where Mozart once played. The vast gardens are popular with locals and tourists alike, and include a zoo, a maze, the Privy garden and the Gloriette with a viewing terrace. Also within the grounds, the Orangery hosts classical concerts during the summer season.

Website www.schoenbrunn.at

Giant Wheel photo

Giant Wheel

One of Vienna's most recognisable landmarks, the Giant Wheel is located in a large wooded park and playground known as the Prater. It was built in 1897 by an English engineering fi…

Giant Wheel

One of Vienna's most recognisable landmarks, the Giant Wheel is located in a large wooded park and playground known as the Prater. It was built in 1897 by an English engineering firm and is the only one of its era still standing. By contrast, the Ferris wheels in Chicago, London, Blackpool, and Paris have long since been destroyed. The wheel's 15 gondolas take 20 minutes to manoeuvre around and offer magnificent panoramic views of the city. Cautious visitors need not worry about the age of the Giant Wheel as it has been very well maintained over the decades! This is a fun attraction for the whole family and will delight the children.

Website www.wienerriesenrad.com

Belvedere photo

Belvedere

The Belvedere is a world-renowned museum, housing Vienna's most prestigious art galleries displaying excellent examples of Austrian works from the Middle Ages to the present day. I…

Belvedere

The Belvedere is a world-renowned museum, housing Vienna's most prestigious art galleries displaying excellent examples of Austrian works from the Middle Ages to the present day. It boasts an unrivalled collection of paintings by Klimt, as well as famous pieces by Schiele, Renoir and Monet. The complex consists of two splendid 18th-century Rococo mansions, facing one another across sweeping grounds offering views over the city. The Medieval and Baroque works are presented in the Lower Palace where many rooms have been preserved in their original state.

Website www.belvedere.at

Vienna State Opera photo

Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera performs a repertoire of nearly one hundred operas, operettas and ballets every day from September to June. The opera house was founded in the early 18th cen…

Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera performs a repertoire of nearly one hundred operas, operettas and ballets every day from September to June. The opera house was founded in the early 18th century but rebuilt in 1945, and is today a romantic and regal setting in which to enjoy the performances. As seating tickets are not easily available, an alternative is to buy standing tickets. The State Opera collaborates closely with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and their famous New Year concert requires advance bookings of up to one year. The building is beautiful and of interest in itself, even if visitors are unable to catch a show.

Address Opernring 2

Website www.wiener-staatsoper.at

Transport

Take the U-Bahn lines U1, U2, U4 or the 59A bus to Karlsplatz or Oper stations

Opens Guided tours are offered Tuesday to Sunday; check dates and times online or via telephone

Admission

Combination tickets for tour and museum are available and come at varied prices, check website for details. Concessions available.

St Stephen’s Cathedral photo

St Stephen’s Cathedral

The cathedral is one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe, with its massive south tower standing at 445 feet (136m) tall. A dominant feature on the Vienna skyline, its 343 s…

St Stephen’s Cathedral

The cathedral is one of the greatest Gothic structures in Europe, with its massive south tower standing at 445 feet (136m) tall. A dominant feature on the Vienna skyline, its 343 steps can be climbed for fantastic views. It has been in a state of continual preservation and repair since its original construction in the 12th century due to fire, sieges and bombardment. The cathedral is built of limestone and has an ornately patterned and richly coloured roof covered by glazed tiles. The interior is rich in wood carvings, sculptures and paintings and has numerous chapels, altars and catacombs. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was married here, had children baptised here, and his funeral was held in the Chapel of the Cross.

Website www.stephanskirche.at

The Albertina photo

The Albertina

Formerly the residence of Habsburg archdukes and archduchesses, the Albertina houses one of the largest and greatest graphic art collections in the world, which includes drawings, …

The Albertina

Formerly the residence of Habsburg archdukes and archduchesses, the Albertina houses one of the largest and greatest graphic art collections in the world, which includes drawings, old master prints and modern works. The museum explores the development of graphic arts since the 14th century and there are more than 60,000 works on show. Artists featured include Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Manet, Picasso and Cezanne. The Albertina is also one of the most beautiful examples of classical architecture in the world. There is a pleasant cafe for refreshments, while the museum is beautifully conceived, with each room decorated to complement the art on display.

Website www.albertina.at

Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum) photo

Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum)

The Fine Arts Museum is one of the world's foremost museums of fine and decorative arts, and houses many of the collections gathered by the Habsburgs, who were among the chief dyna…

Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum)

The Fine Arts Museum is one of the world's foremost museums of fine and decorative arts, and houses many of the collections gathered by the Habsburgs, who were among the chief dynasties of Europe from the 15th to the 20th century. The magnificent building is crowned with a 197 foot (60m) high dome, while the inside is sumptuously decorated with marble, gold leaf and stucco ornaments, a fitting home to the formidable artistic treasures collected over the centuries. The collections range from Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman relics to medieval, Renaissance and Baroque paintings. The museum faces the Natural History Museum across the Maria-Theresian Platz, which has an identical exterior.

Website www.khm.at

Haus der Musik photo

Haus der Musik

The House of Music is an interactive discovery museum devoted to music and is located in the former Palace of Archduke Charles. Four floors take visitors past the music and memorab…

Haus der Musik

The House of Music is an interactive discovery museum devoted to music and is located in the former Palace of Archduke Charles. Four floors take visitors past the music and memorabilia of the great composers who lived in Vienna, such as Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert, while also allowing visitors to discover today's top musicians and explore the future of music on computers. Visitors can conduct an orchestra, listen to what an unborn child hears in the womb or paint a musical picture. The museum is critically acclaimed for its innovative design and allowing visitors to experience music using the senses of sight, sound, touch and hearing.

Website www.hdm.at

Natural History Museum photo

Natural History Museum

The impressive Natural History Museum is situated within a Renaissance Revival building identical from the outside to the Fine Arts Museum opposite. It is the third largest natural…

Natural History Museum

The impressive Natural History Museum is situated within a Renaissance Revival building identical from the outside to the Fine Arts Museum opposite. It is the third largest natural history museum in the world and has some of the oldest exhibits, including early Stone Age artefacts. Visitors can travel through the planet's history, ranging from the diversity of nature to the origins of culture. Guided tours, lectures and workshops on a variety of interesting themes are offered regularly at the museum.

Website www.nhm-wien.ac.at

Wiener Prater photo

Wiener Prater

This large public park is a great place for families to enjoy a day in the sunshine. Visitors can stroll along the Hauptallee, where chestnut trees line the way, or visit the Plane…

Wiener Prater

This large public park is a great place for families to enjoy a day in the sunshine. Visitors can stroll along the Hauptallee, where chestnut trees line the way, or visit the Planetarium and the Prater Museum, both located inside the park. The Wiener Prater also has a small amusement park with a Ferris Wheel, a rollercoaster and a number of other fun rides and diversions, as well as food stalls and games booths. There is plenty of open space here for kids to run around and the cheesy, innocent fun of the amusement park is enjoyable for the whole family. Entrance to the park is free but individual rides must be paid for.

Website www.prater.at

Freud Museum photo

Freud Museum

One of Vienna's most famous sons, Dr Sigmund Freud revolutionised the study of psychology with his ideas. Though many of his theories once wildly popular have been discredited, the…

Freud Museum

One of Vienna's most famous sons, Dr Sigmund Freud revolutionised the study of psychology with his ideas. Though many of his theories once wildly popular have been discredited, the term 'Freudian slip' and other ideas still pervade society today. The Freud Museum in Vienna houses a number of antiques and mementos of the doctor inside the offices in which he practised from 1891 to 1938. Guided tours are available and the museum has a gift shop offering photos and other memorabilia, as well as books written by Freud. This attraction will be very exciting for those interested in Freud and his work, and it will provide a good introduction for those who are unfamiliar.

Website www.freud-museum.at