Things to see in Vienna
Attractions
Belvedere
The Oberes Belvedere (Upper Belvedere Palace), built from 1721-23 for Prince Eugene of Savoy, offers terrific views across the gardens to the Unteres Belvedere (Lower Belvedere) and the city beyond. Artwork from the Middle Ages and the baroque era are featured in the Unteres Belvedere. The Oberes Belvedere houses art from the 19th-century classical, Romantic and Biedermeier periods on the second floor and post-1918 art on the ground floor. Highlights include paintings by Gustav Klimt (including the iconic The Kiss), Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and other fin-de-siècle artists.
Address: Central, Prinz Eugenstrasse 27, Vienna, 1030Telephone: +43 1 795 570
Opening times:
Lower Belvedere: Daily 1000-1800, Fri 100-2100.
Upper Belvedere: Daily 900-1800, Fri 900-2100.
Website: http://www.belvedere.at/enAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: Yes
Hofburg
The Imperial Palace until 1918, the Hofburg today houses the office of the Austrian president, an international conference centre, several museums, the chapel where the Vienna Boys' Choir sing and the hall in which the Lipizzan stallions perform. Visitors can tour the Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments), including Franz Joseph's and Sisi's (Empress Elisabeth's) private rooms, the great audience hall, dining rooms and staterooms. Schatzkammer (Treasury), at Schweizerhof, contains stunning exhibits that exemplify the power and wealth of one of Europe's most important empires. The Sisi Museum showcases many personal objects and some of the most famous portraits of the beautiful empress. Also within the central core, the Prunksaal (State Hall) of the Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library) is a jewel of baroque architecture and one of the most beautiful historical libraries in the world.
Address: Kaisertor, Michaelerkuppel, Vienna, 1010Telephone: +43 1 533 7570
Opening times:
Daily 10000-1700.
Website: http://www.hofburg-wien.at/enAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Schloß Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Palace)
Schönbrunn Palace is Vienna's answer to Versailles and was used as the summer residence of the Habsburgs from the 18th century until 1918. Of the 1,441 rooms in the palace and its adjacent buildings, 45 state rooms are open to the public. The golden-yellow palace is set within equally magnificent gardens, landscaped in the baroque style, with some fabulous views. The palace and gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The Gloriette is a triumphal arch that stands on the hilltop behind the palace and affords a stunning view over the grounds and the city beyond. The Palmenhaus (Palm House) is an excellent example of late 19th-century architecture, with cast-iron columns delicately holding up the glass walls and roof. The world's oldest zoo (from 1752) can be found in the park too.
Address: Central, Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, 1130Telephone: +43 1 811 130
Opening times:
Daily 0800-1730 (Apr-Jun); 0800-1830 (July-Aug); 0800-1730 (Sept-Oct); 0800-1700 (Nov-Mar).
Website: http://www.schoenbrunn.at/enAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: Yes
Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral)
The imposing St Stephen's Cathedral marks Graben's eastern end and is known for its brightly coloured roof tiles. Inside, though, it's a genuine masterpiece of baroque design with wonderful altars and vast ceilings. Construction began on the cathedral in the 12th century and was completed in 1433. Major restoration and rebuilding work was necessary after the cathedral caught fire at the end of WWII. The Square outside the Cathedral is a popular meeting place too, and it often throngs with people.
Address: Central, Stephansplatz 3, Vienna, 1010Telephone: +43 1 5155 23054.
Opening times:
Mon-Sat 0600-2200.
Sun and public holidays 0700-2200.
Website: http://www.stephanskirche.atAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Prater
The Prater is a giant wooded park in Vienna's 2nd district, most famous for its fairground and for being the location of one of Vienna's most emblematic sights: the century-old Riesenrad (Ferris wheel). Made famous in the 1949 film The Third Man, the Ferris wheel was completed in 1897, at a time when other such rides stood in cities like London, Paris and Blackpool. This wheel, however, is one of the only ones to survive.
Address: Prater, Prater, Vienna, 1020Telephone: +43 1 7280 516
Opening times:
Daily 1100-2300.
Website: http://www.prater.at/GeneralInformation.php?LI=1Admission Fees:
No
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Museum of Fine Arts)
This magnificent building was constructed to house all the Imperial Habsburg collections in one place, although these grew to occupy the Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace too. The grand staircase provides passage to the galleries, which include the Greek and Roman Antiquities, Egyptian-Oriental and Coin collections. The Kunstkammer (art chamber) houses sculpture and decorative arts. The Gemäldegalerie (picture gallery) has works by Old Masters, including Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian as well as the most comprehensive collection of Brueghels in the world. The twin building directly opposite holds the old fashioned, but superb Museum of Natural History.
Address: Central, Maria-Theresien-Platz, Vienna, 1010Telephone: +43 1 525 240
Opening times:
Daily 1000-1800.
Website: http://www.khm.at/enAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
MuseumsQuartier
On the site of the former imperial stables, this large cultural complex (akin to London's Southbank Centre) is one of the biggest of its kind in the world. Don't miss the excellent Leopold Museum, a must for anyone interested in Austrian art, and MUMOK, the Museum of Modern Art. The Museums Quartier (MQ) is a very pleasant place to hang out for a few hours, especially on a summer evening, when the place is packed with students and people of all ages relaxing outside on its large bench-like constructions or eating and drinking in one of the many alfresco cafés.
Address: Central, Museumplatz 1/5, Vienna, 1070Telephone: +43 1 523 5881
Opening times:
Varies
Website: http://www.mqw.at/enAdmission Fees:
Varies
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School)
For over 400 years, the horses of the Spanish Riding School have performed their elegant manoeuvres at the Imperial Stables. The easiest way for visitors to see the horses in action is at their morning training sessions, which take place from 1000-1200 Tuesday to Friday. Tickets to the training sessions, which involve classical dressage exercise to music, are only available at the Visitor Centre on the day. During the main season, these can also be found at the Box Office at Josefsplatz. Tickets for the actual performances are in high demand and need to be booked well in advance. The season generally runs from March to June and from September to December. Gala performances vary from month to month, usually Saturday or Sunday mornings and occasionally Friday evenings. Final dress rehearsals before the season starts are cheaper, and tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Address: Central, Michaelerplatz 1, Vienna, 1010Telephone: +43 1 533 90310
Opening times:
Opening times vary.
Website: http://www.srs.at/enAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
KunstHausWien (Vienna Art House)
KunstHausWien also known as Museum Hundertwasser is the unmistakable architectural expression of Friedensreich Hundertwasser's unique vision. Appearing like a Klimt painting seen through a kaleidoscope, the building contains an exhibition of Hundertwasser's artwork as well as a bright café with chic clientele and a relaxing garden. Art is a central motif of Viennese life, and this is the place to come if you want to understand why art and Vienna are so inexplicably linked. The nearby Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment project, which can only be viewed from the street.
Address: Central, Untere Weißgerberstraße 13, Vienna, 1030Telephone: +43 1 712 04 91
Opening times:
Daily 1000-1800.
Website: http://www.kunsthauswien.com/enAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Albertina
The largest Habsburg residential palace, Albertina dominates the southern tip of the Imperial Palace on one of the last remaining fortress walls in Austria. It boasts the leading and most valuable graphical collections in the world, with works such as Dürer's Hare and Klimt's studies of women. On permanent display in the Albertina's new exhibition collection are the most exciting art movements of the last 130 years: French impressionism, German expressionism and Russian avant-garde make up some of the most impressive bodies of work. Picasso and Monet also make an appearance, with Monet’s Water Lily Pond enchanting all who visit. Degas's Dancers and Renoir's Girl are also on view, alongside paintings by Macke, Cézanne, Chagall, Rothko, Rainer and Katz.
Address: Central, Albertinaplatz 1, Vienna, 1010Telephone: +43 1 534 830
Opening times:
Daily 1000-1800.
Website: http://www.albertina.at/en/homeAdmission Fees:
Yes
Disabled Access: YesUNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Wien Tourismus
Address: Central, Albertinaplatz / Maysedergasse, Vienna, 1010Telephone: +43 1 24555
Opening times:
Mon-Fri 0900-1800.
Website: http://www.wien.infoVienna’s main tourist office should be the first stop for visitors. They can help with a hotel booking, maps, sightseeing information and advice on where to eat.
Tourist passes
The Vienna City Card offers discounts at more than 210 attractions, theatres, shops, cafés and restaurants, as well as unlimited travel on the U-Bahn, bus and tram networks (including night buses) for 24, 48 or 72 hours. One child up to the age of 15 travels free with each Vienna City Card holder. Passes are available from tourist information office on Albertinaplatz, hotels and Wiener Linien sales and information counters.
You may also turn your Vienna City Card into the Vienna City Card TRANSFER or Vienna City Card TOUR.
Vienna City Card TRANSFER: Vienna City Card with the additional bonus of having transfer on all modes of transport to and from Vienna Airport.
Vienna City Card TOUR: Vienna City Card with an option for a 24-hour hop-on-hop-off with Big Bus Tours Vienna and a guided city walk. For more information, go to www.viennacitycard.at.
