Location: Leopoldstadt
Top Things to do in Leopoldstadt
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Things to do in Vienna, Vienna Region: The Best Specialty Museums
In Vienna, the coffee house isn’t just a hangout: it’s an institution. Lingering over a newspaper with a pastry and a strong espresso drink is, according to UNESCO, officially a Viennese cultural pastime. Walk off your slice of Sachertorte with a self-guided tour of the city’s stunning traditional, Secessionist, and modern architecture, such as the Imperial Palace, the State Opera House, the Kirche am Steinhof, or the Kunsthistorisches Museum, an exercise in ornate geometry.
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1. Circus & Clown Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
This popular family attraction brings to life famous clowns and circus performers from throughout history. Machen Sie einen Rundgang inmitten von Requisiten einst weltberühmter Artisten, Clowns, Magier und Illusionisten, Plakaten und Stichen sowie bunt glitzernden Kostümen! Lassen Sie sich von den leidenschaftlichen Museumsmitarbeitern in die zauberhaft faszinierende Welt des Circus und der Clowns entführen!
2. Johann Strauss Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 51 reviews
In 1867 in this apartment, Johann Strauss composed the world-famous waltz "The Blue Danube", Austria's "unofficial national anthem"! Strauss lived seven years on Praterstrasse, then a fashionable and elegant Viennese suburban street. His own instruments, furniture and paintings illustrate Strauss's work as a composer, musician and conductor, but the whole presentation brings Strauss close to us in private as well, a man who married three times, an enthusiast at billiards and cards, and a caricaturist. Moreover, there are reminiscences of his other apartments, the Vienna ballrooms and concert halls of his time, and also the other composers in the family circle: Johann Strauss the Elder and the talented brothers Josef and Eduard.
Reviewed By 476jael - Long Island, United States
Vienna is the City of Music with numerous master composers of classical music, including Haydn, Gluck, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler, and so on. Vienna is also the city of Viennese Waltz and Johann Strauss, Jr., who composed many waltz and polka music, especially "The Blue Danube" waltz which has been the soul music for many Viennese. When the news of Strauss' death was relayed to the conductor of the orchestera performing in a benefit concert at Vienna's Volksgarten, the conductor stopped the orchestra performance. Then, he quietly instructed the orchestra members to start playing "The Blue Danube". The audience immediately sensed the death of their beloved composer, and rose to their feet in silence. Strauss' last home in Vienna is now Johann Strauss Museum, attracting worldwide lovers of Strauss music to the museum. This museum can be easily reached from Stephans Cathedral, Vienna's most prominent old town landmark, by U-Bahn as shown below: (1) Take U-Bahn "U1" [Red Line] to "Leopoldau" direction. Try to board the head car of the U-Bahn. (2) Get off at "Nestroyplatz" stop [2nd stop], and exit the station by taking the nearby up-escalator and walking through the concourse toward "Praterstrasse" exit [toward right side] --> Go up to the street via up-escalator. --> As you get off the escalator, you will see on the right hand side a pink color building with "dm" sign. Walk past this pink building, and walk to the next mud color building with small Austrian flags on the 2nd floor level, which houses Strauss home/museum. [See the attached photos]. (3) Walk to the dark wood color door with sign "Johann Strauss Wohnung" on the side wall of the door. --> Press the door bell marked " Johann Strauss Wohnung" on the right side wall of the door. --> Enter the door to the inner court --> Ring the door bell marked "Johann Strauss Wohnung" on the side wall of another dark wood color entrance door. (4) Walk up the staircase or take the elevator/lift next to the staircase, and enter the door on the left hand side of the dark wood color door with sign "Johann Strauss Wohnung". --> Enter the door, and walk to the dark color door with sign "Wien Museum Johann Strauss Wohnung". The door shows the opening hours of the museum. [Tuesday~Sunday: 10.00 a.m. ~ 1.00 p.m. & 2.00 pm ~ 6.00 pm]. (5) Open the door to enter the museum, pay the admission fee, and walk through the multiple rooms of the beloved composer's home/museum, admiring the composer's memorabilias, and listening to his various compositions with headphones in place. [Camera picture taking without flash is allowed]. Infamous "The Blue Danube" waltz was composed in this house. --> After viewing the museum, exit the museum doors to the street --> Turn left, and walk back to the U-Bahn station entrance/exit escalators. --> Go back to the train platform area via down-escalators. (6) Now you have a choice on the platform. [Choice 1: Go back to Stephansplatz by taking U-Bahn ["U1 Oberlaa" direction=platform 2 (Gl. 2)]. [Choice 2: Visit Johann Strauss' "Blue Danube" which is 3 stops away via U-Bahn] (7) If you decide on the Choice 2, take U1 train to "Leopoldau" direction via "platform 1 (Gl. 1)". While waiting for the train, walk further toward the rear car of the train. --> Take the train, and get off at "Donauinsel" stop [3rd stop]. --> Turn right, and walk toward the exit --> Go down to the ground floor, and exit the station via the left side door. --> Walk down the stairs leading to the river bank on the left side, and enjoy watching the river which is "Blue Danube". Unlike muddy river water on the Old Town side of Danube, the water here is clear. When the clear water reflects blue sky, its color turns to blue color, making it "Blue Danube". But on a day with heavy cloud or after heavy rain, the water even on this side of the island loses blue color. It is best to visit here on a clear day with blue sky. Danube water on the side of the Old Town usually looks muddy water --> After admiring the Blue Danube, you can go back to the train station --> Go up to the platform via the left hand side this time, which is the opposite side where you got off the train before. --> Return to Stephansplatz (5th stop).
3. Madame Tussauds Vienna
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 864 reviews
At Madame Tussauds Vienna you can meet masters and monarchs, superstars and top athletes from Austria and all over the world. Visitors get up close to their favourite idols! They dance with Michael Jackson and play football with David Alaba. You have the chance to get another view of Empress Sisi – ‘Sisi Uncovered’ – an experience with 5 senses, a world debut at Madame Tussauds.
Reviewed By Oliapolia - Vancouver, Canada
The wax figures are life-like and visitors are able to pose and take fun pictures with the figures. There are also a few interactive components ! Overall, super fun experience!
4. Strauss Memorial Rooms
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 15 reviews
The former home of Johann Strauss, this house now serves as a museum on the life of one of Austria's most famous musicians.
5. Chocolate Museum Vienna
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 237 reviews
"You know I care about you, when I share my chocolate with you" Welcome to the magical and sweet world of chocolate. We want you to embark on a unique adventure through our museum which will open all of your senses and show you the magnificent beauty behind different types of chocolates.
Reviewed By drbrown11
Excellent experience, good fun and lots of chocolate! Good interaction and great way to spend a couple of hours
6. Crime Museum Vienna
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 172 reviews
The Viennese Crime Museum is situated in one of the oldest houses of “Leopoldstadt” (the second district of Vienna). The house was called “Seifensiederhaus” in former times and was built long time before its first documentation in 1685. Within numerous rooms, the visitor walks through the history of the police- and judgement system as well as the crime history of the Middle Ages until nowadays. The visitor encounters the penal system of the Dark Ages as well as the last public executions of Vienna. He meets the most popular criminal cases of former times as well as the attempt on Kaiser Franz Josef’s life and the development of the “Criminal Investigation Department”. Experience the last 300 years of the “dark side of Vienna”, things that concerned people, their life of lust and sorrow, of joy and death.
Reviewed By zrdilts
If you are interested in crime and other dark aspects of history, this museum is a must-see in Vienna. The displays are almost all in German, but the audio guide works well to translate. Be warned though, this is not for the faint of heart. Unlike any other museum I've been to!
