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The Hofburg was for more than six centuries the seat of the Hapsburgs, and has served as the official residence of every Austrian ruler since 1275. Today, the imperial palace is arguably Vienna's top cultural draw.
The fabulous Austrian Crown Jewels, which includes the sparkling Imperial Crown of Austria, are among the priceless exhibits on public show in the Hofburg Treasury.
Walking through the richly decorated Imperial Apartments offers visitors a fascinating and intimate window into the personal and luxurious lives of the Hapsburgs. Among the sumptuously-styled salons and bedrooms is the remarkably preserved silver chamber, which dates back to the 15th century.
The main summer residence of the Hapsburg rulers, the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace dates back to the 18th century. Franz Joseph, the longest-reigning emperor of Austria, was born at Schönbrunn in 1830, and it's where he died, in 1916.
Schönbrunn equals the Hofburg for ostentatious extravagance. Tour highlights of this Baroque masterpiece include a chance to see the Imperial Apartments, including those once used by Empress Maria Theresa and Franz Joseph.
A palace highlight is the remarkable Great Gallery, which dazzles in white and gold stucco decoration, features a set of huge crystal mirrors, and a series of ceiling frescoes that make the gallery one of the most grandiose Rococo ceremonial halls in existence.
The most important religious building in Vienna, St. Stephen’s Cathedral was completed in 1160 and is remarkable for its ornately patterned, richly colored roof, which is festooned with over 200,000 glazed tiles. Pictured is the interior.
Vienna is not short on palatial attractions, and Belvedere Palace is another must-see historic building complex worthy of exploration. The palace is, in fact, two impressive Baroque buildings, the Upper and Lower Belevdere, both set in immaculate landscaped grounds. Each has its architectural merits, the Upper Belvedere (pictured), for example, distinguished for its ground hall floor and ceremonial staircase, while the Lower Belvedere is noted for a rich ceiling fresco set over a marble-clad hall.
Set within the palace is the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, a museum which houses an extensive collection of Austrian art dating back to the Middle Ages. The world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt's paintings is found here, including his 1909 masterpiece, 'The Kiss' (pictured).
Always worth half a day of your time, Vienna Zoo, or Tiergarten Schönbrunn, is home to more than 750 species. Founded in 1752, Schönbrunn is the world's oldest continuously operating zoo. Among the residents waiting to greet you are a family of adorable giant pandas.
One of Vienna's most recognized landmarks is the famous Wiener Riesenrad, or Giant Ferris Wheel. Standing at the entrance to the Prater amusement park, the wheel was constructed in 1897 and features 15 beautifully appointed gondolas. A ride will provide wonderfully romantic views of the city.
Opened in 1869, the Vienna State Opera House stands as one of the world's largest and most resplendent theaters. The inaugural performance took place in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elizabeth. It's home to the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Ballet.
If you're in Vienna during carnival season, try and catch the glittering Vienna Opera Ball. A tradition dating back to 1814, the fashionable event's undoubted highlight takes place during the opening ceremony with the introduction of 180 debutante couples (pictured). Accompanying music includes the famous 'Blue Danube' Viennese waltz by Johann Strauss II.
Kunsthistorisches, Austria's largest art museum, is housed in one of Vienna's most palatial buildings and showcases the priceless art collections of the Hapsburg royal family. You'll need a good two hours to appreciate the formidable ensemble of art works, which includes the astonishing 'Tower of Babel' (pictured), painted in 1563 by Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
A guided tour through Vienna's City Hall (Wiener Rathaus) includes entrance to several impressive halls, many of which are set around attractive inner courtyards. The City Senate Chamber with its gilt-edged coffered ceiling and enormous Art Nouveau candelabra is a highlight. The Rathaus also houses the well-known Wiener Rathauskeller restaurant.
The 18th-century Karlskirch is distinguished by a facade that corresponds to a Greek temple portico, with twin 33-m (198 ft) Triumphal Pillars that wouldn’t look out of place in Rome. The Austrian-born American actress Hedy Lamarr (Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler) was married in the church chapel in 1933. Karlskirche (seen in the left of the photograph) is considered one of the finest Baroque churches in Vienna.
The Art Newspaper lists the Albertina as one of the most visited art museums in the world. Renowned for its peerless collection of drawings and old master prints, many of which hang in the historic wing—in fact a 17th-century palace that once served as home to the Hapsburg's archdukes—the museum's highlights include the 1495 'Study for the Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci and 'The Painter and the Buyer' (1565) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
The cavernous Dinosaur Hall (pictured) is a favorite attraction at this superb facility. But the collections also include the so-called Venus of Willendorf, a voluptuous figurine that has been dated back to between about 28,000 and 25,000 BCE. The main museum's staircase is overlooked by a gorgeous 19th-century ceiling fresco, 'The Circle of Life.'
The spectacular Imperial Crypt set beneath Capuchin Church and Monastery serves as the final resting place of 145 members of the Hapsburg family, including Emperor Charles VI, Franz Joseph I, his wife Elizabeth, and their son Rudolf. The Maria Theresa vault also merits special attention.
Located in Vienna's Museumsquartier, the Leopold is home to one of the largest collections of modern art in Austria. Indeed, lovers of contemporary art can ponder works by esteemed figures such as Klimt, Picasso, and Egon Schiele (pictured, 'Self-Portrait with Striped Shirt,' 1910 ), among many other great and influential names.
The oldest café in Vienna, Demel is also the city's oldest serving bakery. Founded in 1786, this is where to enjoy the finest cakes and pastries in town, baked to traditional centuries-old recipes and presented by teams of polite but formal waiting staff wearing black dresses trimmed with white lace collars.
The tallest structure in Austria, the 252-m-tall (826 ft) Donauturm, or Danube Tower, looms over the north bank of the Danube River at Vienna's Donaustadt district. High-speed elevators zoom visitors to the tower's viewing platform for Instagram-worthy views of the entire region.
The narrow artificial island known as Donauinsel is a favorite Vienna recreational area. Accessed by bridge or water taxi, the island is a popular spot to walk and relax for locals. Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs fringe the waterfront. Danube Island is the location of the Donauinselfest, an internationally known annual open air festival that takes place in June.
Austria's National Theatre serves as the world's most important German-language theater and has hosted many famous thespians since its founding by Emperor Joseph II in 1776. What you see today is a faithful rebuild, the original building having been almost completely destroyed during the Second World War. The theater is pictured in winter, when a ice rink opens in front of the building.
Hitler's Anschulss (annexation) of Austria into Nazi Germany on March 12, 1938 immediately provoked a more intense wave of antisemitism across the country. The Kristallnacht pogroms of November 1938 were especially brutal in Vienna, when the city's synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses were burned to the ground. The Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial serves both to celebrate and commemorate Vienna's Jewish population. The nearby Jewish Museum houses poignant displays relating to their social, cultural, and religious lives.
Vienna's Sigmund Freud Museum is dedicated to the life and work of one of Austria's most famous sons, Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. The museum is housed in the building where Freud lived for 47 years and where he produced most of his writings.
Delve underground on a tour of the Vienna Sewer System, a subterranean world of tunnels and rivers made famous by its appearance in the 1949 Orson Welles film 'The Third Man.' This is easily one of the city’s more unusual tourist attractions. You'll need to book ahead for a tour.
The oldest secular frescoes in Vienna, discovered in 1979 during restoration works, the Neidhart Fresken are preserved in a house at Tuchlauben 19. The building dates back to the 14th century and was adorned around 1398 by the wealthy Viennese merchant Michel Menschein with a large-scale picture series. The frescoes show scenes from everyday life.
Sources: (Sisi Museum) (Aenigma) (Smithsonian Magazine) (CoffeeAndTeaCorner)
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Vienna is celebrated for its traditional coffee houses. Typically, a Viennese coffee contains espresso, chocolate syrup, chocolate ganache, and an assortment of whipped cream and toppings. The coffee house has played an important role in shaping Viennese culture, and you simply can't leave the city without enjoying a cup, perhaps in the famous Café Schwarzenberg, or Café Landtmann, a favorite haunt of Sigmund Freud and Gustav Mahler.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria (1837–1898), affectionately known as Sisi, resided at the palace. The Sisi Museum is set within the the palace's Stephan apartments, so named after Archduke Stephan Viktor. Visitors can browse the collection of personal effects that once belonged to the princess, items that include parasols, fans, gloves, clothing, and beauty preparations. Elisabeth, the longest-reigning Empress of Austria at 44 years, was assassinated in Geneva in 1898 by Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni.
For more that 450 years this venerable equestrian institution has been dedicated to the preservation of classical dressage and the training of beautiful Lippizaner horses. The school is one of Vienna's top attractions, with performances always sold out in advance. Be sure to purchase tickets that include a behind-the-scenes tour, which includes access to the stables, and a morning training session.
Vienna is one of Europe’s great historic cities. For centuries the seat of the powerful Hapsburg monarchy, Vienna served as the gateway between West and East Europe, its imperial grandeur exemplified by sumptuous palaces and imposing churches. Today, the Austrian capital’s splendor is little diminished. Set on the mighty Danube River, the city is famous for its exuberant architecture, masterpiece-filled museums, world-class opera scene, and delightful coffee-house culture.
Click through for a better view of Vienna.
A view of Vienna
Discover the royal and regal delights of the Austrian capital
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Vienna is one of Europe’s great historic cities. For centuries the seat of the powerful Hapsburg monarchy, Vienna served as the gateway between West and East Europe, its imperial grandeur exemplified by sumptuous palaces and imposing churches. Today, the Austrian capital’s splendor is little diminished. Set on the mighty Danube River, the city is famous for its exuberant architecture, masterpiece-filled museums, world-class opera scene, and delightful coffee-house culture.
Click through for a better view of Vienna.