Vienna is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, with its numerous museums, palaces, and opulent gardens attesting to the city’s richness and splendour.
Vienna served as the seat of the Hapsburg monarchy, which was very supportive of the arts, sciences, and music during its time in power. This means that you can choose from a wide variety of impressive museums.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Vienna
As the birthplace of musical greats like Beethoven, Strauss, and Schoenberg, a trip to Vienna would not be complete without taking in a performance at the world-renowned Vienna State Opera.
Take a stroll along the Ringstrasse, admiring the beautiful architecture as you go, and then proceed into the heart of Venice to view several of the city’s most famous sights all at once.
1. Schonbrunn Palace
The 1,441-room Schönbrunn Palace is one of Vienna’s most popular tourist destinations due to its opulence and similarity to Versailles. Originally commissioned by Emperor Leopold I and completed between 1696 and 1712, Maria Theresa transformed the castle into her vacation residence.
There are many things to see and do at the Palace Park, including the Gloriette, a marble summerhouse perched on top of a 60-meter-high (200-foot-high) hill, the Privy Garden, the oldest zoo in the world, and a maze and labyrinth.
2. Belvedere
Many palaces and an orangery from the late 17th century make up the Belvedere, which is an important feature of Vienna’s historical panorama. The Lower and Upper Belvedere; the palace stables; and the palace orangery are all part of this Baroque-style park and palace complex. This elaborate summer residence was commissioned by Prince Eugene of Savoy.
The palaces housed French royalty who had to evacuate the country during the French Revolution. When illuminated, the Belvedere is a sight to behold, and it also offers fantastic vistas of Vienna below.
3. Ringstrasse
The Ringstrasse is a route that encircles the central area of Vienna and is a little over 5 kilometres (3 miles) in length. Many of Vienna’s most prestigious palaces, museums, and stately mansions flank each side of this street, many of which were commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph in the middle of the nineteenth century.
The State Opera House, the Museum of Natural History, City Hall, and the Vienna Stock Exchange are just few of the landmarks that line the street. All of these structures are works of art in its own right, and they span a wide range of architectural eras and styles. The Ringstrasse was opened to the public in 1865 after construction had begun in 1857.
4. St Stephen’s Cathedral
Stephansdom, or St. Stephen’s Cathedral, was originally built as a parish church in the 12th century. The Vienna Archbishop of the Catholic Church now presides here. After being completely destroyed during World War II, the church was reconstructed in under seven years, and regular services have resumed ever since.
One of Vienna’s most recognisable sights, the cathedral dominates the city’s skyline. Almost 230,000 glazed tiles make up its stunning roof. More than 18 altars from various eras decorate the church, which also houses priceless artwork.
5. Graben
The Graben is a well-known thoroughfare in the heart of Vienna. Graben, which literally means “trench” in German, was the site of an ancient Roman encampment in what is now Austria’s capital city of Vienna. Vienna had a city wall and ditch surrounding it back in those days.
After being filled in, the trench became the foundation for an early neighbourhood street in Vienna. Before the Graben became a marketplace and the homes of the city’s aristocracy, it was home to artisans who built their homes there out of wood. It is now a posh shopping promenade where you can find unique items like Vienna Porzellan.
6. Spanish Riding School
The Winter Riding School at the Hofburg is where the Spanish Riding School’s famous public performances featuring Lipizzan horses are held. Classical dressage is what the Riding School calls these shows, but most people who see them just think it’s magic.
This method of teaching horses has been used by the academy for over 400 years. Since roughly 1735, the 68 stallions (whose bloodlines trace back to Spain) have been performing and training at the Winter Riding School. Both horses and riders spend years in intensive training.
7. Wiener Rathaus
Visitors to the Wiener Rathaus won’t find any places selling wieners, although there is a highly regarded Vietnamese restaurant on the premises. Instead, it’s the municipal government centre and state capital of Vienna.
The Rathausmann, a symbol of Vienna, sits atop the tower of this Gothic-style edifice, which was completed in the 1880s. Construction for a major refurbishment of the Wiener Rathaus began in 2016 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.
8. Vienna State Opera
Seeing an opera in Vienna is a must for each tourist. The Vienna State Opera is the place to go if you want to experience the city’s association with the spectacular art form. The original opera house opened in 1869 on the Ringstrasse, but it was heavily damaged by a bomb during World War II.
The current, exquisite high Renaissance edifice opened in 1955. The interior is just as lavish, with marble staircases, plush lobbies, and an absolutely stunning theatre. The Vienna State Opera is a cultural mecca, with performances ranging from opera and ballet to classical concerts.
9. Naturhistorisches Museum
The Natural History Museum in Vienna is astonishingly home to approximately 30 million pieces, making it one of the most important museums of its sort in the world. There are 39 display cases filled with everything from fossils and gemstones to ancient artefacts and plush animals.
The displays and exhibits there are fascinating, and visitors will learn a lot from them. The gorgeous palace, with its fine galleries, stairs, and lobbies, is almost as impressive as the huge collection. The Natural History Museum, like the Kunsthistorisches Museum right across the street, was constructed in the late nineteenth century on the Ringstrasse.
10. MuseumsQuartier
The MuseumsQuartier is a fascinating tourist destination thanks to the enticing variety of art, architecture, culture, and leisure activities available there. Several museums, artist studios, and cultural programmes call the complex home, and visitors to the many exhibitions and festivals held there add to the complex’s popularity.
Visitors can choose from a wide variety of attractions at MuseumsQuartier, including the Leopold Museum, the Kunsthalle Wien, the Tanzquartier dance centre, and the Q21 artist’s group.
