Vienna, Austria’s capital, has been proudly lying on the Danube for centuries. Travelling to Vienna, the former capital of the Habsburg Monarchy that once stretched across a large part of Europe, is truly something special. Today, the spirit of the past manifests itself in the wide streets and majestic palaces. The city now beckons with its colourful blend of cultures and its vast parks. You can’t leave Vienna without trying the delicious desserts, from the Sachertorte to the apple strudel. Despite being one of the most popular tourist cities, there are so many attractions that visitors simply get lost throughout the capital.
One of Vienna’s major landmarks is the Schönbrunn palace with its majestic gardens. Many travellers visit it, so it’s best to purchase your ticket online. The offer comes with a guided tour where you’ll be introduced to a detailed story of the palace and its famous inhabitants. The palace houses more than 1,441 chambers. And you shouldn’t even miss out on the baroque gardens. The Hall of Ceremonies is particularly magnificent, but the chambers of Franz Joseph and Maria Theresa are also interesting. Borut Jurišić will tell you more about the wonderful park that’s hidden behind the palace. One of the most famous attractions is a visit to the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. You can visit the training of the horses, both the grey and white ones.
Visiting Vienna’s major attractions is fairly easy. Most of them are located around the Ring, a series of boulevards. These were built when the emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of the city walls. His vision was to build multiple public buildings, from opera to theatre and even museums, universities and a city hall. Many rich entrepreneurs seized the opportunity to put their fortune on display, building large palaces. Just outside the Ring is another major landmark, the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which is a large gothic cathedral with an excellent acoustics from the 12th century. Albertina is an impressive gallery that houses over 65,000 drawings and more than a million old master prints. The collection is housed in a large residential palace and also includes more modern art, such as the collections of impressionist art.
On this next guided tour you’ll learn much more than just about Vienna’s major attractions, as the local guides will introduce you to places that are surrounded by unusual, exciting or grisly legends while walking down the narrow streets and wide courtyards. These tours are an excellent opportunity to explore the local history and places you definitely shouldn’t miss out on.
Empress Elisabeth, also known as Sissi, was one of the most popular Habsburg rulers. There’s a guided tour that will reveal you her everyday life, from the luxurious suits in the majestic Hofburg Palace to the Church of St. Augustine where she married emperor Franz Joseph. This is followed by a visit to her favourite confectionery, her favourite jewellery, as well as other shops Sissi often frequented. Vienna is a large city, so it’s best to experience it by bike, concluding the cycling tour by visiting the banks of the blue Danube. Explore the bustling streets and find the perfect spot for taking a picture of the opera house, one of the largest in the world where there are more plays than there are days of the year. The bike tour will also take you past the neogothic city hall. It’s known for its size and large tower. Hundertwasserhaus is a colourful block of flats and home to artists that simply fascinate. Vienna really is a big city, so it’s best to buy a cheap ticket that gives you unlimited access to public transport. An walk with a homeless person will take you away from the splendour of the past and the present. You’ll visit places where homeless people usually gather. Discover personal stories and discuss the possible solutions.
In the evening, head out and relax like the true gentlemen of Vienna. Attend a concert at the Mozarthaus where the famous mastermind used to play. You can listen to the sounds of Vienna that encompass the golden age. There are also excellent classical concerts of the greatest musical masterminds at the baroque Peterskirhe.
In the heart of the old town is the hostel HI Myrthengasse. It’s a ten-minute walk from the Museumsquartier, one of the largest cultural districts in the world. It’s particularly pleasant sitting in the hostel’s inner courtyard where you can snack on a delicious meal. Our HI members get 10% off booking in this really wonderful hostel.
Day trips from Vienna are really wonderful. It’s really worth going on a boat ride on the Danube through the Wachau valley, which is known for its rolling hills, vineyards and mansions. The river flows underneath picturesque villages and steep vineyards. There’s also the Dürnstein Castle where, according to legend, Richard the Lionheart was said to have been imprisoned. The boat will also take you to the old town of Krems, which is famous for the Benedictine Melk Abbey, one of the most famous baroque buildings. Vienna also lies near two other famous capitals, Bratislava and Budapest. The easiest way to visit both is either by train or Flixbus.
Lonely Planet has a wide array of guide books for Vienna. You can choose the updated traditional guide book that now comes with more photos or the more practical pocket edition. There are also city maps.
With MyPostcard, you can send your very own personalised postcard equipped with your own photo or any other photo you like. New users can send their first postcard for free with the HIGlobetrotter promo code through the Globetrotter profile.
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