Country guides
Europe
Things to do in Austria
Scenic, deliciously polished and charming, Austria brings to mind images of skiing in the Alps, exploring Vienna's impressive Baroque architecture and sampling the warm, rich cuisine of the alpine villages and their friendly inhabitants. It is the birthplace of many famous figures, including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Sigmund Freud, not to mention Arnold Schwarzenegger. Austria is also home to Swarovski crystals, Lipizzaner stallions and the 11th-century Hohensalzburg Fortress, as well as one of the largest youth parties in Europe, the Danube Island Festival.
Austria is a year-round destination, with snowy winters perfect for mountaineering, skiing and snowboarding, and mild summers ideal for sightseeing. The many sights and attractions are made accessible by the national railway system, the U-Bahn, extensive motorways and various ports and harbours. With all these magnificent highlights so easily within grasp, taking a trip to this beautiful country in the warm heart of Europe is guaranteed to be a fulfilling, memorable experience for anyone.
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
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/
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
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
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
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
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
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