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
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…
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…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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, …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…