What to see
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or often known by its German name, Stephansdom, or simply “Little Stephan” (Steffl), is one of the most iconic buildings in Vienna. The oldest parts of this incredible church are the 12th-century Giant Gate (Riesentor) and the Heidentürme, which literally means “Pagan Towers”, as they were built from rubble left over from the Roman period. Much of the modern church was completed in the 14th century and its foundations as a stunning Gothic cathedral live on from that period. The first thing that strikes you as you see the cathedral is the magnificent tower and wonderful tiled roof. But the interior is just as majestic, with a stunning Gothic stone pulpit in the main nave designed by an unknown artist. Everything about the cathedral is absolutely enchanting, right down to the hand railings depicting salamanders and toads fighting an eternal battle of good and evil. The Baroque high altar is even a piece of art, as it shows a scene of the stoning of St. Stephan. Also found inside the cathedral is the Renaissance red marble tomb of Friedrich III. The cathedral witnessed many of the most important events of the Habsburg Dynasty and Austrian history, and it even held the famous Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi’s funeral in 1741.
Hofburg Palace
The Hofburg Palace was the seat of the government in Vienna between 1279 and 1918, and is one of the best places to see the full range of Austria’s cultural and historical heritage. The oldest part of the palace dates back to the 13th century and more or less corresponds to today’s Swiss Court (Schweizerhof). The Renaissance Swiss Gate here dates back to 1553 and is particularly striking. This courtyard adjoins a bigger one called the In der Burg or Innenhof, which houses a monument to Emperor Franz II. This is the palace where the last queen of France, Marie Antoinette (famous for her “Let them eat cake” utterance) was born and it’s seen so much history and culture that it’s not just its stunning architecture which makes it so famous. Each emperor through history wanted this special palace to reflect their glory, and as a result they all added new sections to it. The Early-Baroque Leopold Wing, the 18th-century Imperial Chancellory Wing, the Amalienburg and the Gothic Burgkapelle (Royal Chapel) are just some of these additions. Now the palace is used as offices for the Austrian presidency and also houses a number of museums.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
In 1891, the Kunsthistorisches Museum was built next to the imperial palace to showcase the extensive collection of the imperial family, and it was inaugurated by Austro-Hungarian kind Franz Joseph I. In addition to many famous works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, the museum houses Raphael’s Madonnaof the Meadow, Vermeer’s The Art of Painting, Velazquez’s Infanta paintings, and many important works by masters like Rubens, Rembrandt, Dürer, Titian, and Tintoretto. The museum’s archaeology halls feature displays brought from Ancient Egypt and the Near East. Another section of the Kunsthistorisches features artifacts brought back from the ancient city of Ephesus in Anatolia. The museum is housed in the Neue Burg building in the square of Heldenplatz and is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Schönbrunn Palace
The name Schönbrunn means “beautiful spring” and was named so because of the artesian well that provided the palace with water. The palace has been expanded many times throughout history. Its current appearance took shape in the 1740s and 1750s during the reign of the Empress Maria Theresa. This residence of the Habsburg monarchs has over 1,441 rooms, though only 40 are open to visitors. If you join a tour of the palace, they’ll take you through 26 of the rooms and tell you all you need to know about Austria’s most famous family. The gardens of Schönbrunn are as magnificent as the palace itself. There’s a massive zoo, wonderful sculptures and an incredibly ornate fountain called the Neptune Fountain. On you visit to Vienna, you should be sure to visit this palace, where Mozart himself performed when he was just 6 years old.
Castle Garden
Castle Garden (Burggarten) was designed in 1819 by Austrian architect Ludwig Gabriel von Remy and botanist Franz Antoine. It’s situated between the Vienna State Opera house and the Hofburg Palace, and features some wonderful monuments and sculptures. Perhaps the most famous of these is the statue of Mozart, though the sculptures of Goethe and Emperor Franz Joseph I are also worth seeing. On the edge of the gardens as part of the Hofburg Royal Palace is the Butterfly House. This tropical oasis in a beautiful Art Noveau palm house allows you to take in the vivid colors of around 400 live, free-flying butterflies as they soar past waterfall and exotic plants – a perfect spot for taking some truly spectacular photographs.
Haus der Musik
The Haus der Music (House of Music) is located between St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Vienna State Opera House, and in 2002 it won the Austrian Museum Prize for its innovative design. Music-lovers flock to this museum located in the former palace of Archduke Charles II Francis over a 5000 m² area and featuring a wide variety of musical exhibits. The first floor keeps its historic atmosphere, and holds original documents from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra with interesting information regarding Austrian composers Mozart and Strauss as well as German composers like Beethoven.
Hoher Markt Square
Hoher Markt Square was originally part of a Roman army camp, and now it’s one of the most popular spots in the city. To mark the importance of this spot in the city, between 1911 and 1917, sculptor Franz von Matsch designed the “Ankeruhr,” or Anker Clock. This Jugendstil clock is covered with mosaics, and sits like a bridge between two buildings. Each hour the clock strikes brings out a different historical figure with their own personal chime. Among these are the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, composer Joseph Haydn, poet Walther von der Vogelweide, Empress Maria Theresa and Prince Eugene of Savoy. At noon, each of the figures appear, along with different classical music compositions from their own periods. The square is a great place to admire this unusual presentation of the culture and history of the city.
Hundertwasser House
Hundertwasser House was designed by Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser along with architect Joseph Krawina, and is one of Vienna’s most important architectural monuments. The colorful façade of the building is what it’s best known for. The house was designed in a way that would allow its inhabitants to change the exterior and the windows of the building to their own tastes, and now it’s one of the most interesting buildings in the whole city. The house is located on the corner of Kegelgasse and Löwengasse, and its balconies and terraces feature over 200 bushes, making it like an oasis in the big city. You are only allowed to view the building from the outside, as its interior is closed to tourists. However, you may visit the Hundertwasser exhibit just a few hundred meters along at the KunstHausWien.
St. Charles’s Church
Karlskirche, or St. Charles’s Church, is one of Vienna’s most elegant pieces of architecture, and is located in the southeast corner of Resselpark. This Baroque church was designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and built between 1716 and 1739 after Karl VI ordered it following the end of the plague in 1713. The church was finished by von Erlach’s son. The monumental twin columns at the front of the church were inspired by the emperor Trajan’s column in Rome, and they feature depictions of the life of St. Charles Borromeo. The church was named after this saint, who helped plague victims in Italy. You can go up to the imposing dome that features and incredible set of frescoes by Australian artist Johann Michael Rottmayr, which includes a scene of the ascension of St. Charles Borromeo.
Museumsquartier
The Museumsquartier is a stunning part of the city set where court stables used to stand. They themselves were quite impressive, having been designed by Austrian architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, among others. This spectacular 60,000 square meter center for culture and the arts houses many different museums, cafés and dining establishments. The setting is just perfect, as it incorporates the atmosphere of the past into a modern space. The buildings here blend the Baroque origins of the stables with what still has the feel of modern architecture, and the museums they house boast some truly impressive collections. Among the museums you’ll find inside the Museumsquartier are the Kunsthalle Wien, the Leopold Museum, MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna), Architekturzentrum Wien and the Tanzquartier. Take a whole day just to walk around this quarter and take the opportunity to see some of the most important museums in Vienna.
What to eat
Vienna Schnitzel
Vienna Schnitzel is beef, turkey or chicken pounded flat, dipped in egg and coated in breadcrumbs before being fried. It’s served with lemon and potatoes, with butter on top. Schnitzel is such a basic dish that it’s a part of many other cuisines, though the ones you eat in Vienna are still just about the only ones in the world made using marmalade. It’s this critical ingredient that makes the dish so special here. Afterwards, head over to one of the nearest bakeries and enjoy one of the city’s famous pastries for a truly delicious meal.
