Vienna, Austria
Vienna – often voted as the most desirable city in the world to live in, it certainly has wealth, style, and capital city feel without the massive skyscrapers of many cities. I was intrigued at how low rise the central area is and how classically grand and stately many of the buildings and areas were…. was not expecting that! From the Parliament to the Opera it was all classical buildings but not overpowering with lots of green space in what must be prime land for such an important city.
Trams trundle by and horse drawn carriages appear and disappear (touristy I know, but very elegant too). A city so walkable that I didn’t even need the trams as planned. Book up way in advance for the Spanish Riding School displays – I didn’t and it was to my cost that I missed it !
Vienna is such a calm and picturesque city. I was surprised at the orderliness and great maintenance of the buildings. As a capital it felt such a low-rise city and much of the city centre was full of very grand and ornate buildings.
What to see in Vienna.
My visit to Vienna was part of a 3 city trip also to Bratislava and Budapest by train. See how to travel between these three cities here
I took very few photos here as I was not expecting to do this site so apologies for the lack of usual in-depth info. The city is very walkable and it is easy to get from site to site especially as the traffic is not overwhelming as in many other cities.
So many of the main sights are actually nestled alongside or near to what is effectively the inner ring road call the Ringstrasse. Thus you can start at one place and almost just follow the road and dart off to the side to see a few extra buildings as you go along.
Karlskirche.
I started at Karlskirche (St Charles Church), nearest Metro stop Karlsplatz, just a few blocks off the Ringstrasse opposite a huge water pond and park.
The buildings is known as one of the most important and decorative in Vienna and is impressive from the outside. Inside it is gloriously decorative and you can go up to the roof and look down on the rooftops of nearby buildings and the park.
Vienna Opera House.
A walk back to the Ringstrasse and a few minutes along the road brought me to one of my favourites sights – the Vienna Opera House, (click here for info). Such a grand decorative building from the outside, with its tall columns forming the arches of a huge balcony at the front, statues astride the edges of the domed roof and columned walkway at the entrance.
I was lucky to be able to fit in a tour of the interior when I arrived and it didn’t fail to impress. The guided visits are offered in German, English and Spanish at regular interval at a charge but I noticed they offered tours in Italian, French, Russian and Japanese upon enquiry at their website www.wiener-staatsoper.at .
The highly ornamental interiors, with rich wall decorations, arches, mirrors, ceiling embellishments and mosaics were a delight and the guide took us out onto the stage and we saw the huge mechanical workings of the stage sets. Well worth the tour.
One of the rooms that particularly caught my eye was full of cubist designs from the 1930s. Whilst at first seemed out of place in what was a very gilded and Romanesque building, it actually gave a relief from the somewhat ostentatious (but beautiful) gold and marble decorations.
Behind the Opera House is the famous Sacher Hotel where the well known sachertorte chocolate cake was invented and still served in its café today.
So many Museums, Galleries and Palaces!
A walk further along the Ringstrasse takes you to the Neue Burg Palace with its internal Museum and a plethora of nearby Museums across the road – the Fine Arts Museum and the Natural History Museum face each other in large imposing buildings with the Maria -Teresien Platz between them.
Hofburg Palace.
I did not go in either due to time constraints but instead crossed in front of the Neue Burg Palace through the extensive gardens and out onto the Michaelerplatz as I wanted to see the famous Hofburg Palace from the outside, next to the very well known Spanish Riding School, (click here for info). There were several horses and carriages lined up in front, ready to take tourists on a leisurely drive around Vienna, many copying the famous white horses from the School.
Café Central, Vienna.
Across the road were several unique buildings and the famous Café Central was just along the road from here on Herrengasse. It is well known in its day as a meeting place for Trotsky and Freud and many other notaries but today is best known as a coffee and cake lovers paradise. In Summer it is not unknown for customers to queue up outside for a table.
St Stephens Basilica
From here it was a few minutes walk to St Stephens Basilica, (click here for info), with its distinctive zig zag tiled roof and twin towers. It dwarfs the surrounding area , which contain some of the most prestigious shopping streets in Vienna.
Parliament, Vienna.
From here it was a double back along the same route and on to the Parliament building. The sight of this building was a surprise as it is quite a low rise, wide building with a huge oval carriageway up to the central high portico. It was impressive in its ornamentation and charioteered statues and gave the impressive of a Roman Senate building.
Vienna Burgtheater.
A walk further along the Ringstrasse takes you to the cicular fronted and roofedge statued Burgtheater – a performing arts venue, with interior decorations by Klimt that stands imposingly opposite the very architecturally different Rathaus (City Hall).
Vienna City Hall
The Rathaus’s Gothic style reminded me of Munich City Hall and London’s Houses of Parliament. What was a relief was the huge vaulted walkway at the front – a place to get a welcome respite from the rain that had just started. Its central tower dominated the area and it could be seen anywhere from the picturesque gardens it was set in.
Votivkirche
A short walk away is the Votivkirche a large highly carved church built in 1879 as a thank you for the emperors survival of an assassination. It was undergoing repairs but the height of the twin towers was impressive in what is a relatively low rise capital city.
Schonbrunn Palace
No pictures I’m afraid but the Schonbrunn Palace is probably Vienna’s most iconic building and a visit was definitely needed. It was so easy to get there by tram and a trip on one of these just has to done – yep I come from a city with no trams so they are something new for me.
The Palace is huge and it takes a few hours to get around due to the enormity of the building and rooms and there was a lot to see …… and then there are the out buildings and the massive gardens . It would take a whole day to see everything and time constraints meant I saw the house and a small garden next to the main building only.
It was unfortunately also pouring with rain and so the hoped for longer stroll in the geometrically laid out areas was put off.
April, 2016.
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The architecture here looks amazing. I’d love to visit Vienna one day, even if it’s just to see the Votivkirche. Nicely written and very informative. Thank you.
Thanks for the comments, glad you enjoyed it. It will get enhanced and extended one day as this was a brief visit. Loved this city so much that I will defo return.
Sounds like a place Tina would love. Palaces, churches, museums & art galleries. I love the pictures.
Thanks for the comments. It efo has al of thise things – n the beer is good too!
Vienna is so dreamy! I cannot wait to go here one day.
Let’s hope covid is eradicated n we can all travel safely again – n you can head here!
I’d love to see the Vienna Opera House. And some of these spots I hadn’t heard of so thanks for listing. Also, would love a Vienna coffee in that cafe!
The Central Cafe is a must thing to do in Vienna. So much history and so many historical figures have visited it in its long past.
This is such a great article, and it really makes me anxious to visit Austria. The photos are wonderful, too!
Thank you for your comments. Check back on the post in the future as I have plans to revisit it and expand its content.
The history museum of Vienna is one of the coolest museum I have been in my life
If you mean the Natural History Museum, that is on my list for my next visit. This post was a mini-guide as I had limited time on my tour for 3 countries over 10 days. Thanks for the advice, I’ll be visiting it when I next get there.
There’s quite a bit to see in Vienna, coupled with it’s history and the wonderful architecture, it sounds like a really cool trip!
Thanks for the comments. My next visit there will take in some of the many sites I didn’t have time to see.
Wow, I’m speechless from the beautiful architecture of Vienna – especially Votivkirche Church. While I don’t drink coffee, I would have to stop into a cafe for a dessert or pastry! This definitely keeps Vienna on my list of places to visit!
Coffee and cake stops are an absolute must in Vienna. The Sachertorte hotel serving that famous chocolate would be where I would head for.
What a great introduction to Vienna, it looks like such a great city for exploring architecture. As a musician, it has been a city that calls me. I’ve been there with my music students but I really need to explore it on my own. I need more time to admire the roof of St. Stephens and just meander through the city.
Lyn | http://www.ramblynjazz.com
The city has a huge musical history past and that must be so appealing to you. I still feel I haven’t seen all I want to in the city so I’d love to revisit one day.
Vienna is one of those amazing cities I absolutely must visit one day. From your photos, the city looks really beautiful. I like the zig zag roof tiles on the basilica and the spires of Votivkirche. And I would love to see the views from Karlskirche.
Vienna is certainly a great city and I loved exploring it. It contains some beautifully classical buildings to enjoy
Nice post on some of the interesting things to see in Vienna! I really would like to visit this city as I know it has many things to offer. Café Central looks like a perfect place to stop and have a coffee! St Charles Church looks to have amazing architecture. Thanks for sharing this!
Glad you enjoyed it. Vienna has a lot to offer and is a beautiful city, so hope you can get there one day.
Vienna truly encapsulates the essence of architectural grandeur and cultural richness like no other city. From the harmonious blend of historical opulence and modern vibrancy, to its layed back mood. Its charm doesn’t just lie in its past, it’s a city that continues to evolve while honoring its heritage.
Great reading Barry!
I would definitely agree with everything you have said there. I loved the beautifully maintained and historical buildings. It is such a walkable city and a pleasure to do in the Summer sun.
Vienna is a place that is calling us to visit. We haven’t made it there yet but your post has certainly enhanced our desire to see this most beautiful city. It looks as though we could spend hours exploring the museums and galleries, as well as admiring the amazing architecture. We would just love to see the Klimt decorations inside Vienna Burgtheater. And Café Central particularly appeals, although not the queues, so perhaps an off-season visit, in the colder weather when a hot coffee and great cake would be particularly appropriate.
All you suggest sounds just fine. It is a great city to spend some quality time in and explore. The museums are plentiful and just wandering the streets admiring the architecture is a delight in itself.
Vienna is my favourite city and I can never get tired of it. I’ve been a few times now and also test lived for three months there last summer. It is an incredible city that keeps on giving and never fails to engage me. Don’t worry too much about the Spanish Riding School. I understand this is highly marketed as “the top thing to do in Vienna” but the show was super unspectacular. You would enjoy more a stroll around Schonnbrunn, drink coffee at a traditional coffee house or explore the nearby vineyards.
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
It was a pity to miss the Spanish Riding School, but I know what you mean as I’m not particularly into horses or those events. I just loved walking around the city and taking in the atmosphere of this wonderful place.
I wasn’t completely sold on Vienna, although I did love the architecture, the amazing museums and since I was there in December, the Christmas markets which were top notch. I do feel like I need to give Vienna another chance though, especially after reading how you enjoyed it and all the other comments in favor of the city. Maybe I’ll have to slow it down a bit, hit up a few more cafes and explore more in depth.
I do hope you give Vienna another chance. I really enjoyed it (despite its high prices). The café society here is big so maybe you will enjoy that.