Vienna Sightseeing & Travel Guide

Vienna is – as I am confident you have found out already – the capital of Austria, but also the biggest city of the nation (with a population of 1.6 millions) and due to its past as a capital of a vast empire, it is packed with sightseeing attractions, things to do and places to go to.

All that makes Vienna a “European grade A capital” that I would rank among the top 6 with Rome, London, Prague, Paris and Budapest in terms of general appeal. For an overview of the central attractions, see my "Vienna Sightseeing Map", for live-images my Vienna Webcam directory. For those readers that are in a rush, have a quick look at the 10 most highly recommended attractions of Vienna here:

Top-10: Best Attractions of Vienna

1.) Schönbrunn Palace, Gardens and Zoo
2.) Belvedere Palace & Austrian National Gallery
3.) Museumsquartier: District of Museums
4.) Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History)
5.) Ringstraße Road: 19th century boulevard (by tram!)
6.) Stephansdom Cathedral, Gothic centre of Vienna
7.) Zentralfriedhof Cemetery & Composer's Honour Tombs
8.) Hofburg: Treasury, National Library, Albertina & more
9.) Heurige Wine Taverns & vineyards in outskirts
10.) Staatsoper National Opera

Vienna Attractions in Detail

Vienna is packed with impressive architecture

So what is there to see? The historic “Erster Bezirk” (first district - Vienna has a total of 23 districts) is neatly framed by the Ringstraße Road. That is because the Ringstraße runs where the city walls were until their destruction in the 19th century - an inner circle that is echoed by an outer one, the Gürtel.

Within the Ringstraße, you will also find the Houses of Parliament (in “interesting” neo-Classical style), the Justizpalast, the Heldenplatz (Square of Heroes), the City Hall, the University, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum, the Votivkirche Church, and the Hofburg Palace. Note also my outline of the most important sightseeing attractions of Vienna in a more structured manner.

Grade A Capital: Video of What to See in Vienna

A concise, but pretty cool intro to Vienna sightseeing, unfortunately with the usual sightseeing sterotypes.

Vienna's Museums & Exhibition Venues

I provide a complete list of museums in Vienna. The Kunsthistorische Museum is among the finest art museums of Europe and shouldn’t be missing on your list of museums. Other grand museums include the Albertina; the new buildings of the “MuseumsQuartier” such as the MUMOK or the Leopold Museum; the Gallery of Austrian Art in Schloss Belvedere, and the Liechtenstein Museum (hosting parts of the private collection of the Princes of Liechtenstein).

The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna contains the fourth-largest collection of paintins in the World

Interesting, but in a different category, are the Technisches Museum (technology), the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum ("Military History Museum"), the Wien Museum Karlsplatz and its Musikerwohnungen (Composers' Flats) and Naturhistorisches Museum (natural history). Vienna's Jewish Heritage can be explored in two museums and the main synagogue Stadttempel. The "House of Music" is a museum for sound, less touristy than the "Mozart House Vienna".

The Secession, the Museum for Applied Art MAK or the Lehrsammlung of the Academy of Fine Arts, the Künstlerhaus, the KunstHaus Wien are other highlights. The Hofburg Palace houses a total of five museums: The Schatzkammer (treasury), the Ephesos Museum, the Ethnology Museum and the amazing Habsburg's Arms Collection and a Museum of Old Musical Instruments. Nearby, you also find the Austrian Film Museum.

Changing exhibitions of usually high quality can be seen in the BA-CA Kunstforum (focus on classic modernism). Kids might enjoy the "Haus des Meeres", an aquarium or the Zoom Kindermuseum in the MuseumsQuartier. The Josephinum on the History of Medicine and the Freud Museum on "Sigi the Psycho", as well as the Tobacco Museum will be museums for specialist interests. Post-modern, contemporary art can be enjoyed at the tiny Museum of Young Art MOYA Vienna.

Cathedrals, Churches & Chapels: C-Sightseeing

The Stephansdom is Austria’s national cathedral and a building in typically German Gothic style. Every time I see the “Steffel”, I am thoroughly under-whelmed by the architecture; I normally leave in the hope that with age I would learn to appreciate the building, but so far – and despite of my appreciation for Gothic sacral buildings elsewhere – I am no big fan of this one. Doesn’t matter, you will go there as every good tourist does. Climb the tower (there’s only one anyway, as they ran out of money for finishing a second tower) for great views.

The Jesuite Church is widely neglected by the crowds, yet it is a very nice church and located in Vienna's most charming spot

Down the Graben Street is the “Peterskirche” in opulent Baroque. I like that one. Other famous churches include the “Votivkirche” (neo-Gothic, ugly and boring), “Karlskirche” (Baroque, by Fischer von Erlach – remember this name if you go to Salzburg; a very nice building, but I prefer his Kollegienkirche in my hometown); the church of the Schottenstift Monastery; Minoritenkirche; and the church of Viennna’s biggest psychiatric hospital, Otto Wagner’s “Kirche am Steinhof” (Jugendstil, and what a Jugendstil it is! You will have to go there by tram, it is off the centre, but worth the trip).

The Augustinerkirche Church at the Hofburg houses some amazing tombs. Baroque masterpieces are the Jesuitenkirche, the Bernardiskappelle at the Heiligenkreuzerhof and Dominikanerkirche in Vienna's nicest corner. See also the Franziskanerkirche Church nearby, the Piaristenkirche and the Carmelite Church. The Michaelerkirche is among the oldest churches of the city and famous for its catacombs. Even older is St. Ruprecht, nearby the neo-Gothic church Maria am Gestade.

Palaces, Palais & Castles of Vienna

Once upon a time, there was an aging, reactionary emperor who knew very well that his multinational empire was doomed to die. To fight the fading of his power, he decided to build the biggest, most pompous and most pretentious pseudo…sorry: neo-Classical palace in Europe. So he built the Hofburg. In fact, they just extended it and made things worse.

The Neue Burg at the Hofburg Palace is the strangest wing of the strangest palace in Europe

Tour the Hofburg to see the Kaiser's private rooms; see its furniture in the Hofmobiliendepot off the city centre; visit the treasury, the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule), the National Library (good one) and learn where Austria’s president and chancellor reside. The Hofburg is also home to the Vienna Boys' Choir in the Burgkapelle Chapel and nearby you find the Ballhaus, the chancellery.

More impressive palaces to me, however, are the playful Belvedere of Prince Eugen of Savoyien and Schönbrunn Palace, a World Cultural Heritage Site of UNESCO, and the affiliated Tiergarten Schönbrunn zoo. Strolling around in the first district, you will come across dozens of smaller palaces ("Palais" - see also my list of Vienna's Palais).

Later "Gardenpalais" include the Palais Auersperg or the Palais Trautson. In the 19th century, large corporations built Palais, such as the Palais Ferstel or the Münze Österreich. The "Karl-Marx-Hof" is a socialist apartment house that was called the "Palace of the People".

Theatres, Opera & Concert Halls of Vienna

Vienna just wouldn't be Vienna if it didn't use every single opportunity available to pimp out its musical and theatrical heritage. The most important venues of these genres are the Wiener Staatsoper and the Burgtheater Theatre. Alternatively, go to a concert in the Musikverein Concert Hall or the Wiener Konzerthaus and Akademietheater.

Alternatively, enjoy an opera in the Volksoper, the Theater an der Wien or the Wiener Kammeroper, there are also plenty of theatres to choose from (for example, the Volkstheater or the Theater in der Josefstadt). For light entertainment, see the Etablissement Ronacher or the Raimund Theatre. For a more systematic approach, see the Vienna Theatre Museum first.

Other "Must-See" Attractions in Vienna

The Prater is a famous amusement park with Europe’s oldest Ferris wheel (the Riesenrad). The Riesenrad is only one of several places from where you can enjoy views on Vienna from above. Explore the traditional or modern Cafés of Vienna and have a Melange and a piece of Sacher tart (the original Sacher tart is sold in the Hotel of the same name, but frightfully expensive). Stroll over the Naschmarkt market for some fresh fruit. Stop by a Heurigen (traditional pub) for a drink or two. Check out my article on Vienna's coolest neighbourhoods for places to stroll and dine.

Baroque facades everywhere: Must be Vienna

For those who enjoy shopping, the area around the Graben will be great (note also the Trinity Column there) and fancy boutiques can be found by the squares Am Hof with the Imperial Armoury and the nearby Bohemian Chancellery and the Hoher Markt. The Donauturm offers great views over Vienna. For themes, try to to explore the Jugendstil or Art Nouveau heritage.

The Ringstraße has many attractions to offer that are easily missed: For example, the Roßauer Kaserne, the Kriegsministerium or Otto Wagner's Jugendstil Postsparkasse. Do not miss out on the last destination of many Habsburgs: The "Kapuzinergruft" (Emperors' Tomb) or other famous cemeteries like "Zentralfriedhof" central cemeteries with its impressive collection of decomposing composers.

For cafes, read my "guide to Viennese Cafes". Finally, if you stay for more than three days, I recommend to do some day-trips into Vienna's surroundings. For green in the city, see my guide to the Parks of Vienna. Modern architecture include extravagant buildings such as the Haas Haus, the Gasometer City, the office towers of the Wienerberg City, Vienna's new Public Library or the United Nations Office Vienna (UNO City). On a practical note: see my list of places that offer free wireless lan in Vienna for access to the internet.

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Sightseeing Guides to Vienna's Districts

District Overview - 1st (Innere Stadt) - 2nd (Leopoldstadt) - 3rd (Landstraße) - 4th (Wieden) - 5th (Margarethen)- 6th (Mariahilf) - 7th (Neubau) - 8th (Josefstadt) - 9th (Alsergrund) - 10th (Favoriten) - 11th (Simmering) - 12th (Meidling) - 13th (Hietzing) - 14th (Penzing) - 15th (Fünfhaus) - 16th (Ottakring) - 17th (Hernals) - 18th (Währing) - 19th (Döbling) - 20th (Brigittenau) - 21st (Floridsdorf) - 22nd (Donaustadt) - 23rd (Liesing)