Vienna, the capital of Austria, and one of the most beautiful European destinations can give visitors a real travel experience. Here you can visit Schönbrunn, the summer residence of the Habsburgs, get lost in the labyrinth there, admire the sea life at the Haus des Meeres, or experience real adrenaline in the Prater amusement park. All this and much more Vienna has to offer. Here is a list of 15 places you should definitely not miss when visiting Vienna.
1. Belvedere Castle (Schloss Belvedere)
Belvedere Castle is one of the most important monuments from the time of the Habsburg Monarchy. This Baroque building is open to the public and you will even find a museum with an exhibition of paintings by Gustav Klimt, including his most famous work, The Kiss. In addition, Belvedere has really beautiful gardens.
2. St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Dome of St. Stefan is located in the historic city center and is a landmark of Vienna. Tourists can visit the catabombs or go to one of the two towers, where they will have a beautiful view of the whole city. Occasionally there are concerts in the church and tickets can usually be bought right in front of the church.
3. Prater, Vienna
The Prater is an integral part of Vienna. This amusement park attracts visitors to the experiences on its giant caterpillar tracks and all kinds of carousels.
4. Castle Schönbrunn (Schloss Schönbrunn)
Of course, the most important stop in Vienna is the former seat of the Habsburg dynasty and thus Schönbrunn Palace. Among the most famous monarchs who inhabited this castle are the Enlightenment ruler Maria Theresa, Emperor Francis Joseph I and his wife Elizabeth of Bavaria, known as Sissi. In addition to visiting the castle itself, you can walk through the castle gardens and also visit the local zoo, which is one of the oldest in the world.
5. City Hall (Wiener Rathaus)
Another important Viennese building is the town hall. It officially serves as the seat of the mayor and governor of Vienna. You can find it on Friedrich Schmidt Square, where the popular Christmas markets take place every December.
6. Vienna Opera (Wiener Staatsoper)
The Vienna Opera is one of the most important operas on the world stage. It is not for nothing that Vienna is also referred to as the city of musicians. The opening of the new opera house was accompanied by the famous opera Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
7. Church of St. Charles Borromeo (Karlskirche)
One of the most beautiful churches in Vienna is the Church of St. Charles Borromeo, also called the Church of St. Charles. This sacral building is located on Karlsplatz Square and you can recognize it thanks to its two massive pillars. The architecture of this church is quite different from other temples in the city.
8. Hundertwasserhaus, Vienna
The original purpose of the Hundertwasserhaus was to accommodate socially disadvantaged families. However, today this building is one of the most visited monuments in Vienna. This house got its name from its architect-Hundertwasser, who tried to shape ideas and façade and the interior of the house are therefore not as flat as classic houses. The whole building is winding, has an uneven surface and the interior and exterior are overgrown with greenery.
9. Shopping arcade, Vienna
The historic city center has a really diverse shopping arcade. You will find there really many important fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Versace or Gucci up to fast fashion brands such as Zara and H&M. However, if you don’t want to peek in the city center, Mariahilfer Straße, which is one of the longest and largest shopping streets in Vienna, is also a good shopping spot.
10. St. Peters church
One of the most famous churches in Vienna is the baroque church of St. Petra, located in the historic center of Vienna.
11. Labyrinth
The natural maze in Vienna is an attraction for both children and adults. It is located next to Schönbrunn Palace and admission is free. It is not difficult at all to get lost in this maze, but fortunately it is not so big that you would have to spend several hours there looking for an exit. So a visit to the maze is really worthwhile for such an experience.
12. Hofburg, Vienna
The Hofburg is one of the most famous sights of the Habsburg monarchy and is one of the most visited cities in Vienna. This palace has served the Habsburg monarchy since the 13th century and was also the residence of the emperors of the Roman Empire.
13. Burggarten
Right next to the Hofburg are the beautiful royal gardens, which are fully open to the public. Both locals and tourists alike get used to having picnics here or having a coffee in the restaurant next to the House of Butterflies.
14. Volkssgarten
Like the Burggarten, the Volksgarten is a public park in Vienna. A beautiful rose is blooming here and the overall atmosphere of the park is very calm. The garden is home to an imitation of the Acropolis of Athens.
15. Museum of Natural Sciences, Vienna
For museum enthusiasts, Vienna has a wide collection in its natural sciences museum. Here you will find rich specimens of precious stones, animals from around the world, but even the skeletons of prehistoric dinosaurs.
How many of the mentioned places have you managed to visit in Vienna? If you liked these tips, be sure to read the article about the romantic Austrian village of Hallstatt.
