What to see in Vienna, places of interest in the Austrian capital

Vienna, the capital ofAustria, is reflected in Danubio and, with its one million six hundred thousand inhabitants, it boasts a heritage of history, art, architecture, customs and curiosities that make it highly recommended for more than one visit.

Vienna today it is a cosmopolitan and international city: the constant expansion of the borders of the European Union towards the east is an event that works in its favour, carving out an increasingly strategic role for it.

In the shadow of its majestic imperial palaces, a rich world of creativity and innovation has developed, ranging from artistic avant-gardes to ethnic and high-class cuisine.

Things to do and see in Vienna

Vienna, the capital of Austria presents itself with an austere appearance and majestic architecture. Things to do and see at Vienna they are numerous because the Austrian capital is the stronghold of a past that today is evolving more and more thanks to the very lively cultural and intellectual life. Let's see what to see and what to do in the sumptuous capital of Austria.

1 Vienna what to visit in 1 minute

For an overview of Vienna, it is best to start from Old Town enclosed in big ring tree lined called Call. Worth seeing St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hofburg, residence of the Habsburgs, with the imperial apartments and a notable treasure of gold and silver, the Spanish Riding School, Kapuzinerkirche with the Habsburg tombs, theState Opera, Albertine Museum, Graben and other streets and squares full of charm and history. Beyond the Call they find the new MuseumQuartier, the Belvedere Castles with their art treasures, the St. Charles Church, Sezession building, the Prater with the Ferris wheel, Schonnbrunn Castle with the beautiful park. At a dance pace, to the notes of a Viennese waltz, we set off at the end of this beautiful tour of Vienna towards the metro pavilions designed by Otto Wagner, in Karlsplatz.

2 Vienna places of interest not to be missed

• To immerse yourself in the climate of the city it is advisable to immediately head towards one of the traditional ones Vienna coffeehouse, perhaps in the streets of Old town, famous for the elegance and refined sociability of the premises.
• Here the Opera House, here is the Fine Arts Museum, here they stand out Towers of the Pagans in the presence of the grandiose Stephen's Cathedral.
• In this area, the emblem of the Habsburgs cannot be missing, that is Imperial Palace (Hofburg), become over the years Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of the most valuable museums in terms of fine arts, as well as among the 10 largest museum complexes in the world. For those who love modern art, the doors are open to MUMOK, as well as to Leopold Museum.
• They are very beautiful to look at Lipizzaner horses who put on a show inside the stables of the Spanish Riding School.

3 Stephen's Cathedral

La Stephen's Cathedral, in Vienna, is the largest of its kind in the whole ofAustria. Built in Gothic style, between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, the cathedral is considered a real attraction for those who come to Vienna. Visitable there South Tower 137 meters high. There North Tower it has a Renaissance style spire that is associated with the pre-existing Gothic. Inside the Stephen's Cathedral there is the tomb of Frederick III, in red marble.

4 ringstrasse

La Old City (Old town) is delimited by ringstrasse. It is a perimeter that separates the medieval area of ​​the city from the rest that developed over the centuries.

5 Opera House

Il Vienna State Opera Palace, located in the old part of the city, has seen performances by giants of classical music such as Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms. Vienna, on the other hand, like the rest of Austria, has given birth to illustrious people of not only national fame.

6 Imperial Palace and Museums Quartier

Il Imperial Palace in Vienna it was an important place during the Austro-Hungarian period. After the First World War it was transformed into the headquarters of the Museums District which includes several places of culture and is considered one of the largest cultural spaces in the world. Other points of interest not to be missed:

• Spanish riding school which collects the history of horses. It is also possible to attend training sessions (morning) and visit the stables;
• Kunsthistorisches Museum which houses large collections of Habsburg;
• MUMOK Museum of Modern Art where it is located Pop art, Wharol, George Brecht and many other artists exponents of modern and contemporary art;
• Leopold Museum you will find the largest collection of Egon Schiele in the world;
• Schloss Schönbrunn, baroque style palace heritage of theUnesco;
• Sigmud Freud Museum, the house where the psychoanalyst lived which collects objects, documents and photographs.

7 Famous people from Vienna

Vienna it was the cradle of famous people who made the art, science and culture of the city shine in the world: here they filled the air with notes Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Mahler, Brahms and others; here she theorized Sigmund Freud (whose house, transformed into a museum, can be visited); here he painted Gustav Klimt: The Kiss, a famous canvas, is exhibited in Austrian Belvedere Gallery, as well as the work Judith I. Still on the subject of painting, Vienna has also seen growth Egon Schiele and many, many other intellectuals and prominent figures.

8 Vienna at Christmas: the markets

Il Vienna Christmas Market the most famous is the one on Rathausplatz, the square in front of the town hall, which boasts an enormous Advent wreath (12 meters in diameter), animated by stalls full of toys, carousels, trains and with the trees of the beautiful park studded with fairy lights. But not to be missed are also the market on Freyung square, whose origins date back to 1772, also known as theOld Viennese Baby Jesus Market, on whose stalls you can find refined handicrafts, glass decorations, ceramic objects and traditional nativity scenes. And that, splendid, housed in the courtyard of honor of the Schonbrunn Palace, former summer residence of the Habsburgs.

Do not miss: Vienna, the best itineraries

Christmas and Vienna - Photo by Julius Silver

9 Prater Park

At this point you can take a leap across the Danube, in Prater Park, inside which there are ancient and traditional rides. Very famous Ferris wheel, built with wooden cabins from which you can admire the city from a spectacular view from above.

10 Sachertorte

After so much wandering among imposing buildings and works of art, one cannot but end the day in Vienna without enjoying a slice of Sachertorte, perhaps right in the caféHotel Sacher in Vienna, a temple of Austrian pastry making in which the Sacher recipe it is still jealously guarded today, despite imitations and attempts to emulate its appearance and taste.

11 Surroundings of Vienna

In the surrounding area, there are also tourist attractions Donau-Auen River Park on the border with the Slovakia, the elegant spa town of Baden with houses in style Biedermeier andKlosterneuburg Abbey, one of the most important of theAustria, which guards the precious Verdun Altar. These destinations are also suitable for those who prefer to visit theAustria by camper.

12 Getting around in Vienna

Vienna can be easily explored on foot however, it will be fun to take one of the trams or metropolitan trains, characterized by the art nouveau style. Just two of these trams, number 1 and number 2, allow you to admire one of the evident symbols of the power of the Habsburgs: the Call (ringstrasse o Der Wiener Ring), an avenue that surrounds the old city, within which the major attractions of Vienna are present. The use of Vienna Pass it is recommended. It allows you to take advantage of a series of discounts. There Vienna City Card it is valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours. This way you can get around for free using public transport Vienna or by bus HOP ON HOP OFF di Big Bus Tours and benefit from over 210 discounts, from the museum to the Heuriger, starting from 17 euros.

13 Where to have fun in Vienna

The Austrian capital is the scene of countless events, places to have fun. During the carnival weeks alone, for example, there are more than 200 neighborhood dances and parties ready to entertain the visitor, among these one of the most evocative is the one organized at the Karl-Marx-Hof (Town Hall Building). Tasty and unusual dishes, extravagant fashion and young art have made the area surrounding the market Karmelitermarkt one of the liveliest in Vienna.

14 Where to buy in Vienna

In the larger centres, pubs, breweries, irresistible ice cream parlors and pastry shops, shopping centers they embody a constant attraction for tourists hunting not only for monuments and museums, but also for tasty attractions and some good deals. TO Vienna, we also go from Loden, from Tostmann and from Lanz.

15 What to eat in Vienna

A Vienna you certainly can't miss it Wiener Schnitzel (equivalent to our Milanese cutlet), the Backhandl (the breaded and fried chicken) and the Sacher cakes.  Often and erroneously identified with the Viennese one, the Austrian cuisine it is an enviable palette of its many regional tables. Here are some tips on what to eat in Austria.

16 Where to sleep in Vienna

- accommodation in Vienna they are within the standards of European capitals. In the more chic areas, star hotels have a not too low cost. However there are hotels, always in the area adjacent to the train, at a good cost. As well as the hotel extra offers: B&Bs, holiday homes, guest houses. You just need to know how to choose carefully and let yourself be advised.

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