12 Top Things To Do In Vienna, Austria

Introduction

Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it's easy to see why this has been known as the "city of music." This historic city has a lot to offer visitors. Here are some things you can do while visiting Vienna:

The Prater

The Prater is an amusement park that has been around since the early 1800s and is the oldest in the world. It has a carousel, a Ferris wheel, and several other rides.

The Prater is also home to Europe's largest beer garden where you can enjoy some good German food and drink while listening to polka music or swing dancing.

Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the former main summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty. It's located in Vienna, Austria, about 5 km south of central Vienna.

Built on 12 separate palaces (also known as pavilions), it was initially commissioned by Emperor Franz I and began construction in 1712. It took 40 years before construction was complete, with Emperor Joseph II moving into his new home in 1765.

The palace is open to the public today and has been since 1873 (although tours were limited during WWII). You can see both interiors and exteriors of this gorgeous palace---which includes a baroque park with ponds and fountains---and tour its extensive gardens as well as its zoo!

Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera is the most important opera house in Austria. It opened in 1869 and has been home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra since then. The building itself is a stunning masterpiece of architecture, built in the style known as Ringstraßenstil or Ringstraße Style, where buildings are built with Classical details on a medieval street plan.

The opera house is located on the Ringstraße boulevard, which encircles Vienna's old town center like a crown; it sits at one end of this grand boulevard that stretches for over four miles (six kilometers). With its neoclassical exterior and white columns supporting balconies overlooking an illuminated courtyard below during night performances, it's easy to see why this is considered one of Europe's most beautiful theaters.

The Habsburgs' Winter Palace, Hofburg Palace, and the Treasury

If you are interested in history and architecture, Hofburg Palace is the place to visit. It was originally built in the 13th century as a residence for the Austrian rulers. The Habsburgs used it as their principal winter residence and it was also Vienna's main palace until 1918. Today, it is still used by presidents of Austria as well as for other state purposes such as meetings with foreign heads of state or official receptions and banquets.

The Treasury holds one of Europe's largest collections of jewelry, porcelain, and silverware from China, Japan, and Persia dating back to the 15th century onwards. You'll find several rooms filled with valuable objects from different eras including Oriental weapons, armory displays, and paintings by artists such as Rubens and Canaletto

Belvedere Palace

This palace is located in Vienna, Austria. It was originally built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The palace was designed by Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, who also designed Schönbrunn Palace and St Stephen's Cathedral. Construction began in 1714 and finished in 1719. In 1746, Empress Maria Theresa purchased the palace from Prince Eugene's descendants and made it her preferred residence when visiting Vienna until her death there on November 29th, 1780 at age 81 years old (born May 13th, 1717). Her husband Emperor Francis I died here on August 18th, 1835 at age 76 years old (born January 28th, 1768). Today it houses both museums about Austrian history before 1918 and furniture collections from various eras including those owned by Maria Theresa herself which are displayed in six rooms decorated with original furniture from around Europe at large times during her reign over Austrian lands which included parts of modern-day Poland as well as Czechoslovakia plus Hungary up until 1920 when these states became independent entities once again after WWI ended that year due to Germany being defeated thanks largely due its ally Austria-Hungary falling apart along with them thanks mostly because both countries had lost millions upon millions of people fighting against each other during this war so badly depleted their population numbers left them unable to continue fighting anymore effectively thus ending both countries' participation permanently in the war.

Stephansdom Cathedral

It's hard to miss Stephansdom Cathedral, Vienna's most famous church. The church is named after Saint Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary and founder of the Hungarian state. It was first built in 1147 and rebuilt in Gothic style in 1350.

The cathedral has two towers---one for men and one for women---and a steeple covered with copper plates that shine at night like a beacon from afar (you can see it from many places around Vienna). Inside are massive stained glass windows filled with images of saints, angels, prophets, kings, and queens from history (even Napoleon). There are also beautiful paintings on all walls leading up to an altar where religious services take place twice daily (once at 10 am and once at 6 pm).

Schonbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence in Vienna. The palace was built between 1696 and 1711 as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, who went on to become one of the most successful military commanders on the European continent.

Schonbrunn Palace is now open to the public and is one of the most-visited attractions in Austria. Visitors can tour its numerous rooms, including its grand state apartments, dining room with ceiling frescoes by CARLO MARIA GIUSTI (1718-1780), and gardens which include a maze that dates back to 1560.

Vienna's City Hall

Vienna's City Hall is a true masterpiece of architecture. Built between 1872 and 1883, it was designed by Friedrich Schmidt and Ernst van der Rohe. Today, the building serves as a museum that showcases the history of the city through documents, photographs, and more. Plan on spending at least an hour here to get a sense of what this place means to Vienna residents.

This impressive building stands next to Rathausplatz, which translates to "City Hall Square" in English. This spot is perfect for taking photos while you enjoy some ice cream or buy flowers from one of the many stalls lining Kärntner Straße (an alley that runs along City Hall).

To get there: Walk down Kärntner Straße until you reach Rathausplatz; then walk along Burggasse until you reach Stadtpark (City Park), where you can enter through either Lothringerstraße or Albertinaplatz entrances depending on how much time you have available- both are accessible from inside City Hall itself! You can also take public transport like buses 110 or 12A towards Schottentor U-Bahn Station if needed!

Costs: Free admission - but donations are accepted!

Things To Do: Look at historical documents in their archive room while listening to live piano music playing throughout most days during summer months (May-September); take beautiful photos outside surrounded by lush greenery all year long even though winter temperatures may seem pretty cold with windchill factors over 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).

Prater

Prater is a funfair, amusement park, and zoo all rolled into one. Located in the city center of Vienna, this amusement park is a great place for families to spend the day.

Prater features many rides, including bumper cars and roller coasters---but it's best known for its Ferris wheel. It's not only an iconic landmark of Vienna but also one of the world's oldest operating wheels (it opened in 1897). The views from up here are spectacular!

St. Stephen's Cathedral

If you want to see some of the most beautiful architecture in Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral is a must-see. It's the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of Archbishop Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, OP. The Gothic cathedral is Romanesque in form but has been thoroughly remodeled over time---the current Romanesque and Gothic form of its nave being its most important part in architectural history.

The building was started by Duke Frederick I Barbarossa in 1155 after his victory over Hungary at the Battle of Lechfeld (11 August 1146). He intended this church as a chapel for his palace that had recently been built on this site but he died before work began on it; his son Henry II commissioned its completion around 1166/67 under architect Dietrich (Dieter) von Andlau; it was consecrated ca. 1172-75 by Archbishop Conrad III von Hochstaden (died ca 1192), who also added further structures including walls, towers, side chapels and cloisters around 1205/09 when he rebuilt much of the city after its destruction during an earthquake two years earlier; it was rebuilt again between 1768--71 by J.-F.-J.-Borromini and others after another fire destroyed much of what remained from earlier restorations and renovations; J.-A.-C.-Schöffel designed further modifications between 1865--69 after yet another earthquake damaged parts of his earlier additions while other parts were repaired again during subsequent decades until today when very little remains from those early days except perhaps some foundations or even older ones found elsewhere nearby still buried beneath newer constructions nearby such as underneath streets like those around Hauptplatz Square where there may have been shops once located before they were paved over centuries ago!

Austrian Parliament Building

The building is located in the heart of Vienna, on Parliament Square. The building was designed by architect Karl Schwanzer and built between 1884 and 1897. It has been the seat of the Austrian parliament since 1929.

The building consists of two wings: an older one with a high tower that contains offices for MPs and their staff; and a newer wing, including debating chambers for plenary sessions at which all members of Parliament can be present.

A viewing platform can be accessed via a lift from inside the main entrance hall (this costs €4). On clear days you'll be able to see as far as Schönbrunn Palace and even Salzburg Cathedral!

Hofburg Palace

If you're a fan of history, then the Hofburg Palace should be on your itinerary. The palace was built in the 13th century and has been home to various Austrian rulers throughout its lifetime. It is now primarily used as an administrative building by Austria's Federal President. Don't let this fool you though---the Hofburg contains some of Vienna's most important museums!

The National Library, Museum of Art History, Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum), and Leopoldina are just a few of the great museums housed within the Hofburg complex. The National Library houses over 12 million items including manuscripts and books from all over Europe dating back centuries; these collections include documents from Mozart himself! You can also find works by Raphael or Dürer here too. Check out their online database before visiting so that you know which authors/works are worth checking out first-hand during your trip!

Conclusion

Vienna is the perfect place for a romantic getaway, with its rich history and beautiful architecture. It's also a great city for kids, with plenty of attractions and activities that will keep them busy all day long. Whether you're planning a vacation or just looking for something fun to do during your time in Austria, we hope this guide has been helpful!