Location: Vienna
Top Things to do in Vienna
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What to do and see in Vienna, Austria: The Best Places and Tips
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.
Restaurants in Vienna
1. Historic Center of Vienna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
The historic centre of Vienna is rich in beautiful architecture, including Baroque Castles and Gardens, as well as the late-19th-century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.
Reviewed By Lance H
You will get a good feel for the city in this location. Plenty of shopping and historic buildings as well as places to eat. No visit to Vienna is complete without coming here.
2. Schonbrunn Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31 reviews
The Cultural World Heritage Site of Schönbrunn Palace is Austria's most frequently visited tourist attraction. In the palace the residential and state rooms with their original furnishings and decorations convey an authentic impression of the imperial lifestyle. The park and Gardens surrounding the palace make Schönbrunn in a unique synthesis of Baroque art as well as providing a convenient and highly popular recreational area for Vienna's population.
Reviewed By Isurava - Melbourne
Maybe I’ve reached an age when I should stay at home but frankly the crowds and their behaviour at this ridiculously opulent palace is akin to the worst type of anti-social behaviour one sees today in our increasingly less civilised tourism trade.
Having said that given that the worst offenders were Russian and Chinese I’m not sure they know how to behave in any event in these situations.
So having been pushed, shoved, whacked with backpacks and cut off a dozen times in 45 minutes we left.
Is it worth seeing.....not really. Not unless you like being trashed by a mob of rude tourists many of whom wouldn’t know how to act with any degree of decorum or politeness to save themselves.
3. Imperial Palace (Hofburg)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
For centuries the Vienna Hofburg was the centre of the Habsburg empire. Today the palace houses three museums which afford historically authentic insights into the traditions and everyday life of the imperial court: The Imperial Apartments with their original furnishings and decoration, the Sisi Museum with its sensitive staging of the empress' life, and the Imperial Silver Collection which contains a comprehensive range of tableware and other utensils used at the imperial court.
Reviewed By Gary W - League City, Texas
A must not miss for those interested in the royal history of Austria. The connecting but very differently decorated rooms of the Emperor and his Empress Sisi are amazing to see. They are also arranged well for self guided tours. Near the city center for easy access. The outside architecture should be viewed too. Well worth visit!
4. Belvedere Palace Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Former residence of the Prince of Savoy consists of two palaces: one houses the Museum of Medieval Austrian Art and the Museum of Austrian Baroque; and a second contains the Austrian Gallery.
Reviewed By Stevie70 - London
We visited the day after Schoenbrunn and have to say we enjoyed it more. It is much more relaxed without the crowds, has a great art collection and the only annoyance was trying to see Klimt’s ‘Kiss’ through a crowd of Chinese tourists that insisted on taking endless selfies right in front of it.
We had. A good morning here and can recommend it to art lovers.
5. St. Stephen's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Austria's most prominent national symbol, this magnificent Cathedral is known for its intricately tiled roof and its nearly 500-foot-tall South Tower, which provides amazing views of the entire city.
Reviewed By 150hotelnightsayear - Durham, North Carolina
I cried.
This active Catholic church is nothing more than a tourist destination.
We came to visit at Easter and intended on coming for Easter Vigil or Easter morning mass.
If you are Catholic, if you are Christian, coming here will make you sad. Because it is about selling a ticket, selling a picture, selling your soul.
Casting lots.
Exactly what Jesus asked us NOT to do.
6. Kunsthistorisches Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Experience one of the world's foremost museums! Let yourself be enchanted by works spanning five millennia, from Ancient Egypt to the modern era. Experience unique major works by Dürer, Raphael, Titian and Velázquez as well as the world's largest collection of Bruegel paintings, all in a magnificent setting. The Kunstkammer Vienna, featuring the famous Saliera by Benvenuto Cellini, is a veritable universe of art and beauty guaranteed to transform any visit into an unforgettable experience. Included in the ticket are the collections at the Neue Burg on the opposite side of Vienna's Ringstrasse. Here you will see the instruments used by the great composers and be transported back to chivalrous times when knights held sway and tourneys and hunting shaped courtly life.
Reviewed By interceptpubs - Columbus, Indiana
This is one impressive museum, combining artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome (not to mention Babylonians, etc.) with European art and artifacts from Renaissance and beyond collected by the Hapsburg monarchy over the centuries into one massive collection contained in an beautiful building that itself is also worth close examination as an artwork in itself.
The galleries occupy the top three floors (although the uppermost is not nearly as extensive) with an entrance hall, shop, cloakroom, etc. below. The first gallery floor (labeled as the 0.5 level in the museum floor plan) contains ancient objects on one side of the building starting with the age of the Pharaohs in Egypt and proceeding through ancient Greece and then Rome touching on other cultures along the way and then Renaissance through early 20th century European objects collected by and/or made for the Hapsburg monarchs on the other side. The quality and quantity of the material presented is simply astounding, but items are generally just labeled simply in German, so you'll want to spring for the audio guide (available in English, etc.) so you can get a more detailed commentary on highlighted objects along the way. The second gallery floor (or 1 level) is devoted to paintings from the old masters - Rembrandt, Durer, Vermeer, Raphael, etc. - and is again a huge collection of just plain amazing works of art. The top floor (or 2 level) is much smaller with a coin and medal gallery and some art from Charles V's campaign in North Africa.
Don't forget while wandering through the galleries and connecting halls and staircases to look at the building itself - the murals by Gustav Klimt are particularly noteworthy, but the architecture and materials used overall to finish this palace of the arts are also unrivaled.
Even a quick walk through the galleries just looking at all of the objects and paintings on display and stopping for a closer study of the most well known pieces will take you three or four hours, but you could easily spend one or even two enjoyable days here. Everything is utterly fantastic!
7. The Third Man Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 483 reviews
OPEN EVERY SATURDAY 2 - 6 pm! For more opening hours check our webpage ! The THIRD MAN MUSEUM is THE place to go but ONLY for film fans and all those interested in the post-war history of Vienna. Private museum without sponsors and without subsidies, but a 100% passion! The Third Man Museum contains much heart and soul. And you can feel it! EXCLUSIVE guided tours on any day of the week by request!
Reviewed By Rosbar54 - London, United Kingdom
This charming private museum is a great contrast to the palaces, art and music and shopping of Vienna. Housed in three different buildings it gives you amongst other things the background to the filming of The Third Man - actors, sets, music, etc The impact of the film in places like Japan and the historical context of post war Vienna. All the fascinating exhibits are captioned in German and English. A highlight is being able to sit and watch a short extract from the film as part of the visit. The Museum is only open 2-6 on Saturdays but it’s a short walk from the fantastic Naschtmarkt. A must if you have seen the film or even hummed the zither theme. Highly recommended if you’re all Klimted out.
8. Kirche am Steinhof
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 508 reviews
Reviewed By RikiUSA - Edmond, Oklahoma
Eye-catching Otto Wagner architecture. For us, the exterior was stunning and one couldn't help the certain intrigue with the marble architecture. This beautifully domed structure is small, the history provided is informative and the architect is Wagner. If travelers have the time, the beautiful, unique Kirche am Steinhof provides a nice historical perspective. If visitors are in the area a view of the exterior is sufficient.
9. State Hall of the Austrian National Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The baroque world in the State Hall What comes to mind when you think of a library hall? Enter the State Hall of the Austrian National Library and your expectations are guaranteed to be exceeded. Feel the essence of history. The State Hall – built in the 18th century as part of the former Court Library – is a breathtaking 80 metres long and 20 metres high. An intricately decorated dome and numerous frescos provide an imperial flair. This baroque jewel is home to over 200,000 tomes. Four magnificent Venetian globes, each with a diameter of over one metre, provide the finishing touch to the heart of the Austrian National Library.
Reviewed By Gary W - League City, Texas
Even if you are not into Libraries do not miss this in Vienna. This is the most beautiful library room I've visited anywhere, including the Vatican. Everywhere you look is almost unbelievable to behold. The decor is just stunning. Take time as well to view some of the large globes from the 17th century. Just WOW!
10. Vienna U-Bahn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 713 reviews
Reviewed By LukiLukeGO - Basel, Switzerland
I like the Vienna subway, but it needs to be mentioned:
1. There are only about a handful of lines
2. Vienna is (in my view) mainly a tram city - especially towards downtown
3. Sometimes it's faster to take a tram
4. The Vienna subway is sometimes above ground and is rather an S-Bahn
While the ticket kiosks give you various options in tons of different languages, there are some tickets what are better bought at an office. I really liked the 24/48/72 hrs tickets.
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