Vienna is a hospitable city, on a human scale and full of attractions. It offers large internationally famous museums, whose headquarters are established in ancient residences of the Habsburg dynasty, also has a wonderful historic center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Go around the city in a carriage, admire the works of Schiele and Klimt and taste the delicious Austrian sweets, perhaps at the Hotel Sacher where you cannot miss a taste of the mythical cake of the same name.
Do not think this is enough to make you fall in love with Vienna.
Try to visit it during the Christmas period!
In the meantime, here are the 10 things not to be missed !
1 – Hofburg Palace
Photo by roman_babakin. TheImperial Palace of Vienna , better known as Hofburg Palace, is made up of several buildings built in different eras and covers an area of ​​about 240,000 square meters, divided between 18 wings, 19 courtyards and 2,600 rooms. Attractions include the Royal Apartments, the National Library, the Court Silverware Museum, the Museum dedicated to Sissi.
The Schatzkammer, or the Imperial Treasury Chamber which preserves, among other things, the crown of the Holy Roman Empire in gold, enamels and precious stones, dating back to the year 962, can also be visited.
To visit the entire complex it is necessary to buy two tickets separated, one for the area of ​​the royal apartments and one for the Treasury. Entrance tickets to the Imperial Treasury can also be purchased online.
Practical info: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: U3 underground stop Herrengasse. Tram 1, 2, D and J, Burgring stop. Bus 2A or 3A, Hofburg stop – Get directions
- Hours: from September to June open every day, including holidays, from 9:00 to 17:30; in the months of July and August from 9:00 to 18:00. More info on the official website
- Ticket price: Royal Apartments, Silverware Museum, Sissi Museum admission € 15.00 (plus € 3.00 guided tour); from 6 to 18 years reduced to € 9.00 (plus € 1.50 guided tour); students aged 19 to 25 and Vienna Card holders € 14.00 (plus € 3.00 guided tour). Treasury room admission adults € 12.00, children and teenagers up to 19 years free.
2 – Duomo di Santo Stefano
Photo by chokniti. It is a building that is visited by nearly three million visitors every year. It is a huge and majestic Gothic cathedral , whose construction and life are linked to real historical facts and legends. Covering the top of this tall building is a magnificent roof made up of 250,000 colored tiles, positioned to form the Austrian coat of arms.
The bell tower, also affectionately called Steffl (Stefanino), has a characteristic tapered spire. The north tower is instead covered by a Renaissance dome where the Pummerein, a large bell weighing over 20 tons, resides.
The Cathedral can be visited for free independently as long as no mass celebrations are in progress.
Practical info: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: Metro U1, U3, Stephansplatz stop – Get directions
- Hours: open Monday to Saturday from 6:00 to 22:00, Sundays and holidays from 7:00 to 22:00
- Ticket cost: admission is free. Attention because during religious services it is not possible to go beyond the initial part of the Cathedral. The various guided tours have rates that vary according to the choice, age and number of participants, usually starting at a cost of € 5.00
3 – Museum of Art History
Photo by ivankrasnodar1976. The Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Vienna Art History Museum. It was born at the behest of the Emperor Franz Joseph who needed a place to keep the vast and rich collections of the House of Habsburg. It is one of the richest and most important art museums in the world . Inside there is an Art Gallery and collections ranging from Egyptian and Oriental to Ancient Art, Sculpture, Decorative Arts and Numismatics.
On the first floor there is the Gemaldegalerie with masterpieces of pictorial art including the “Madonna nel verde” by Raphael, the “Madonna del Rosario” by Caravaggio and some works by Rembrandt, Tintoretto and Titian.
If you prefer to plan your visit in advance, you can buy the entrance ticket online. A combined ticket is also available which includes both admission to the Kunsthistorisches Museum and admission to the Crown Treasury of the Hofburg Palace.
Practical info: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: By metro via U2 Museums Quartier stop, U3 Volkstheater stop. Tram D, 1, 2. Bus 2A, 57A – Get directions
- Hours: open every day from 10:00 to 18:00 (Thursday from 10:00 to 21:00) from June to August, from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 (Thursday from 10:00 at 21:00) from September to May
- Ticket cost: Admission € 14.00, students up to 27 years and over 65 pay € 11.00, children and teenagers up to 19 years enter for free
Vienna City Card or Vienna Pass Vienna is an expensive city, therefore the purchase of a card is essential to save on attractions and travel.
The City Card offers unlimited travel on public transport and small discounts for specific attractions. The Vienna Pass offers free admissions to all major attractions and unlimited travel on tour buses. If you are staying in an area far from the center and plan to use public transport often, we recommend the purchase of the City Card. If, on the other hand, you intend to travel mainly on foot, the Vienna Pass
4 – Albertina Museum is better.
Photo by Bwag . It takes its name from its founder, Duke Albert of Saxony-Teschen and houses a collection of graphic art, the Graphische Sammlung, among the most prestigious and complete in the world, made up of more than a million prints by ancient and modern artists: Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Rubens, Klimt, Picasso and Goya, but also Chagall, Monet, Cezanne, Miro, Warhol and many others. The works are exhibited to the public in rotation, it may be that during your visit you can admire the famous “Hare of Durer”, the most important piece and symbol of the Museum.
The museum is located within a historic complex that belonged to the Habsburgs, so during your visit you can also admire the 20 finely decorated and restored state rooms. If you prefer to plan your visit in advance, you can buy the entrance ticket to the Albertina Museum online.
Practical info: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: By Metro U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz stop or U3 Stephansplatz stop – Get directions
- Hours: open every day from 10:00 to 18:00, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 21:00. During public holidays, the same hours are valid for the respective working day.
- Ticket price: ordinary adults € 16.00, over 65 and under € 2611.00, disabled € 7.00, under 19 years free, Vienna City Card holders € 12.00
5 – Parco del Prater
The famous city park adored by both Viennese and visitors. The park was once the emperor’s hunting reserve, today you can visit it on foot or take the Liliputbahn train. One part is occupied by the large Wurstelprater amusement park which includes 250 attractions including the famous Riesenrad, the Ferris wheel in operation since 1897, one of the symbols of Vienna from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.
Watch out for queues : obviously the Ferris wheel is a must, everyone wants to take a ride and admire the city from above. For this reason it is advisable to purchase the skip-the-line ticket in advance.
Practical info: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: Metro U1 stop Praterstern. Bus 80A – Get directions
- Hours: always open, 24 hours a day, the Wurstelprater and open from 15 March to 31 October from 10:00 to 1:00
- Ticket price: free admission, attractions are subject to charges. Tickets for the Ferris wheel range from € 9.50 for adults to € 4.00 for children aged 3 to 14, children up to 3 years free
6 – Schonbrunn Castle
Photo by milachka. Schonbrunn Castle is the most famous Austrian imperial palace , as well as one of the most beautiful Baroque complexes in Europe. Unesco World Heritage Site, it is the summer residence of the Habsburgs and is surrounded by a large park of 120 hectares, open to the public since 1779. The complex houses the Royal Apartments but also the oldest theater in Vienna and a museum where carriages are exhibited. of the Court of Vienna.
The Imperial Tour allows you to visit 22 of the 1441 rooms that make up the castle, the Grand Tour, 40 rooms including the sumptuous apartments of Maria Theresa . In the park there are numerous statues, fountains and some paid attractions such as the labyrinth and the Tiergarten,the oldest zoological garden in Europe .
As this is one of the most visited attractions in Vienna, it is preferable to purchase the skip-the-line ticket in advance. If you are also interested in a city tour by tourist bus, take a look at the combined tour bus + Schonbrunn Castle.
Practical info: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: Metro U4 Schonbrunn stop. Tram 10, 58 stop Schonbrunn. Bus 10A stop Schonbrunn – Get directions
- Hours: from 1 April to 30 June from 8:00 to 17:30, from 1 July to 31 August from 8:00 to 18:30, from 1 September to 31 October from 8:00 to 17:30 and from 1 November to March 31st from 8:00 to 17:00. Open every day, including holidays
- Ticket price: Imperial Tour (with audio guide) adults € 12.90, children aged 8 to 18 € 9.50, students aged 19 to 25 € 11.90. Grand Tour (with audio guide) adults € 15.90, children aged 6 to 18 € 10.50, students aged 19 to 25 € 14.60
7 – Belvedere Castle
Photo by homrak. The Belvedere Castle has always been considered one of the most beautiful princely residences in Europe . The residence was commissioned by Prince Eugene of Savoy and took place between 1714 and 1722. The complex includes two buildings with a garden that connects them, structured on three levels, with fountains, statues, stairways and basins.
Today it houses the Austrian Art Gallery made up of three sections: the Baroque Art Museum, the Museum of Medieval Works and the 19th and 20th Century Art Gallery where the very famous “Kiss” by Gustav Klimt is kept.
Also as regards the Belvedere Castle, the entrance ticket can be purchased online.
Practical info: directions,
- How to get there: Metro U1 Sudtirolerplatz stop. Tram D, Schloss Belvedere stop, 18 and O, Quartier Belvedere stop. Bus 69A, Quartier Belvedere stop – Get directions
- Hours: Upper Belvedere open every day from 10:00 to 18:00, Lower Belvedere, Orangerie and Stables open every day from 10:00 to 18:00, Wednesdays from 10:00 to 21:00. Stables open every day from 10:00 to 12:00.
- Ticket price: ticket for the Upper Belvedere adults € 14.00, over 65s and students up to 26 years € 11.50, children and teenagers up to 18 years free. Lower Belvedere and Orangerie + Stables adult ticket € 11.00, over 65s and students up to 26 years € 8.50, children and teenagers up to 18 years free. Klimt Ticket (Upper Belvedere + Lower Belvedere) adults € 20.00, over 65s and students up to 26 years € 17.00, children and teenagers up to 18 years free
8 – Landstrasse
district Photo of Bwag. During your visit to Vienna you cannot miss a visit to the Landstrasse district. Here is the complex of 52 colorful public houses that were designed in the 1980s by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, a multifaceted architect, sculptor and painter who used salvaged ceramics to decorate the walls of the buildings.
Within the district is the KunstHausWien Museum , designed by Hundertwasser himself and presents a permanent collection of works by the great Austrian artist, and also regularly hosts temporary exhibitions by other artists. Tickets for the museum can be purchased online.
Practical info: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: Metro U1 and U4 stop SchwedenPlatz, then tram 1 direction Prater Hauptallee, stop Radetzkyplatz or Metro U3 or U4 to Landstrasse / Wien Mitte then tram O direction Praterstern getting off at Radetzsky Platz – Get directions
- Hours: the neighborhood is always accessible. A visit to the KunstHausWien museum costs around € 12.00
- Ticket cost: Free
Wi-Fi hotspots in Vienna : the municipality offers visitors over 400 free Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the city, 40 of which are in the first district, the tourist area. Some of the best known hotspots are the square in front of the Town Hall, the Stephansplatz, the MuseumsQuartier, the Naschmarkt, the Prater area, all railway stations and many metro stations.
9 – Donauturm (Danube Tower)
Photo by roman_babakin. The Danube Tower allows you to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city at 360 degrees. It is a tower 252 meters high, at the top of which there is a rotating platform.
Inside the platform there is an exclusive restaurant, perfect for a romantic dinner or a special occasion. To reach the platform there are 2 super-fast lifts, capable of reaching the summit in less than 35 seconds. It is a popular attraction, so entry is always subject to long queues with grueling waiting times. It is recommended to purchase the skip-the-line ticket for the Danube Tower in advance.
Practical info: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: Donauturm Bus – Get directions
- Hours: every day from 10:00 to 24:00
- Ticket cost: € 7.90
10 – Hotel Sacher
Photo by sergio_pulp.
It is forbidden to visit Vienna without visiting the Cafe of the Sacher Hotel to taste a slice of the famous Sachertorte. Here you will find the original one and you can enjoy it immersed in a refined and elegant atmosphere.
This typical dessert now famous all over the world was created in 1832 by the confectioner Franz Sacher for Metternich, the then Austrian Foreign Minister.
You might be a little surprised by the fact that a slice of cake costs from € 5.00 to € 7.00 , but remember that it is the original recipe that has been kept for almost 200 years …
SEE ALSO : 10 things to eat absolutely in Vienna
Practical information: directions, timetables and prices
- How to get there: Metro U1, U2, U4 stop Karlsplatz – Get directions
- Hours: open every day from 8:00 to 24:00
- Ticket cost: Free. A slice of Sachertorte costs around € 5.00
“Alternative” Sacher Cake : If you want an excellent Sacher Cake but don’t want to stand in line at the Hotel, we recommend an alternative location: Cafe Demel. Do not doubt the quality of the cake, just think that Franz Sacher, inventor of the most famous dessert in Vienne, actually worked for Demel when he invented his specialty.
5 things to do in Vienna
Listen to a concert of Classical Music
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- Listening to a Classical Music concert : it’s the city of music, so don’t miss a concert at Schonbrunn Castle or, better still, at the Kursaloon, the hall where Strauss conducted his orchestra. Tickets start from € 59.00 (more info and online reservations).
- Cruise on the Danube : you want to enjoy the city from an alternative point of view Take
a splendid cruise on the Danube! - Tour of the most beautiful churches : among the 10 things to see we had to omit some of the most beautiful churches in the world: from the church of San Francesco d’Assisi to the Karlskirche, passing through the Votivkirche and Maria am Gestade.
- Admire the skyline at sunset : one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city is the Das Loft, the sky bar of the Sofitel Hotel, from which you can enjoy a crazy sunset.
- “Do-it -yourself” cultural tour between libraries and universities : for culture lovers, there are some wonderful places to visit such as the historic building of the University of Vienna and the University Library, the futuristic campus of the Vienna School of Economics and finally the Austrian National Library.
Plan your stay in Vienna
- Low cost flights: from € 69.98 – compare flights
- Where to sleep: Hotel and b & b from € 62.00 per night – see the offers
