Vienna City Guide

Vienna is the capital of Austria, and is a charming and vibrant city as well as a city of culture and music. Great composers like Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert lived in Vienna. The city’s beautiful architecture offers a romantic setting. Wander along narrow medieval alleyways, relax in a coffee house or spend an evening in a traditional wine tavern.

What to do and see in and around Vienna

St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is situated in the heart of Vienna and its roof is one of Vienna’s most famous landmarks . The church was built in the 12th century and completely revamped in Gothic style during the 14th century.

Wiener Staatoper (Vienna State Opera)
The Vienna Opera house is world famous thanks to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and their opera performances. The festive building itself was built 1869 in an Italian Renaissance style.

Belvedere Palace
The two palaces which make up the Belvedere musuems were originally built as summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The lower Palace is the home of the Austrian Museum of Baroque Art with paintings from the 18th century while the upper Palace has a collection of 19th and 20th century Austrian art (including works by Klimt and Schiele).

Hofburg
Vienna’s Imperial Palace was originally a medieval castle but today not much remains from that time. The magnificent palace has been extended and renovated many times with architectural features of gothic as well as art nouveau style. Today the palace is the home of the National Library, several museums and the Spanish Riding School.

Spanische Reitschule (Spanish Riding School)
The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the oldest riding school in the world. The school was founded in 1572 and practises classic dressage. The beautiful Lippizaner horses are of Spanish origin, hence the name of the school. The horses perform to classical music in a magnificent Baroque hall in the Imperial Palace.

MUMOK (Museum of Modern Arts)
The Modern Arts Museum is located in Vienna’s museum quarter. The museum has an excellent collection of modern art on display, including works by Picasso, Magritte, Kandinsky and Bacon.

Kunsthistoriches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts)
Vienna’s Museum of Fine Arts is considered to house one of the most important art collections in the world. The museum has paintings by many great painters including Rubens, Titian, Bruegel, Raphael and Velazquez.

Schönbrunn Palace
The historical Schönbrunn Palace is arguably one of the most beautiful buildings in Austria. You can admire the impressive apartments on a tour of the residence. The Palace and its gardens are listed on UNESCO’s world cultural heritage list.

Haus der Musik (House of Music)
This museum offers visitors an interactive musical experience. Through modern technology you can conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra or mix your own CD. There is also a museum on the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra and many of the Austrian composers, including Haydn, Mozart and Mahler.

Naschmarkt
The centrally located Naschmarkt dates back to the 16th century. Stroll around the stalls offering fruit, vegetables, Viennese specialities and other goodies or enjoy a meal in one of the restaurants. On Saturday mornings you can pick up a bargain in the flea market.

Hotel Sacher
Head to Hotel Sacher, in the heart of Vienna, to sample some delicious Sacher-Torte. The historical Sacher hotel is something of a Viennese institution. The hotel was founded by Eduard Sacher the son of the creator of the Sacher cake.