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Vienna Maps & Attractions Guide
Vienna maps & Attractions - Things to do
in Vienna
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Vienna
Attractions - Things to do
1. Hofburg
Innerer Burghof 1, Kaisertor
www.hofburg-wien.at |
What is it? The Hofburg Palace, or Imperial Palace, was
the home of the Austrian Hapsburgs for 600 years. The first
fortifications were erected by King Ottakar Premyst in the 13th
century and were added to by every generation until it became the
monumental structure it is today. As well as housing the
president's offices, the palace now encompasses 22 separate
museums, the National Library, a 14th-century Augustinian church,
the famous Spanish Riding School and the Royal Chapel, where every
Sunday the Vienna Boy's Choir sing Mass (they have performed for
the Royal Court since 1498). It will be impossible to even catch a
glimpse of everything on display at the Hofburg, so visitors should
be selective. The most popular of the museums is the
Kaiserappartements, which takes visitors on a tour of the Kaiser's
imperial apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver
Collection.
Hours of Operation: Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, Silver Collection:
daily 9am to 5pm (until 5.30pm in July and August)
Phone:(01) 533 7570 |
2. Spanish Riding School
Michaelerplatz 1
www.spanische-reitschule.com |
What is it? The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is the
oldest and last riding school in the world where classic dressage
is still practised in its purest form. This Institute was founded
in 1572 and named for the Lipizzaner horses, which are of Spanish
origin. The Imperial Court Stud was originally situated near the
village of Lipizza (hence the name of the horses) but since the
collapse of the Danube Monarchy in 1920 have been bred at the
Federal Stud in Styria. The horses perform their tricks in the
Winter Riding School, which was commissioned by Emperor Karl VI.
Performances take place between February and June, September and
December but are in high demand and booked up months in advance
(details on their website). The easiest way to see the horses is
during their training sessions. Tickets are only available at the
door, and cannot be booked in advance. Situated in the stables is
the Lipizzana Museum, which displays the history of the
school.
Hours of Operation: Museum: daily 9am to 6pm; training sessions: Tuesday
to Saturday 9am to 12pm
Phone:(01) 533 9031 |
3. Museum of Fine Arts (Kunsthistorisches Museum)
Maria Theresien Platz
www.khm.at |
What is it? This museum was built between 1872 and 1891
to house the vast collections then owned by the Hapsburgs who were
enthusiastic patrons and collectors of the arts. With its
magnificent renaissance architecture and superbly decorated
ceiling, the museum is a masterpiece in its own right. It is one of
the richest and most important in the world; its collections range
from Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman Antiquities to the
Collections of Medieval Art and the splendid Renaissance and
Baroque Collections. It houses the works of Rubens, Rembrandt,
Vermeer, Dürer, Raphael, Titian, Bruegel and Van Dyke, to name just
a few.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm; Thursday 10am to 9pm.
English guided tours from entrance hall, Tuesdays 11am, Friday and
Saturday 3pm.
Phone:(01) 525 240 |
4. Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunner Schloss Strasse 13
www.schoenbrunn.at |
What is it? The magnificent Schönbrunn Palace was used as
the summer residence of the Hapsburgs from the 18th century
onwards. Set amongst superb gardens this vast, symmetrical
structure is everything you would imagine an imperial palace to be.
A tour of the palace offers visitors the chance to view the superb
assortment of Baroque and Rococo State Rooms and to admire the
famous ceiling frescoes of the Great Gallery and the Hall of
Mirrors where Mozart once played. The vast gardens are popular with
locals and tourists alike, and include a zoo, a maze and labyrinth,
the Privy garden, and the Gloriette with viewing terrace. Also
within the grounds, the Orangery plays host to classical concerts
during the summer season.
Hours of Operation: Palace: daily 8.30am to 5pm (April to June,
September, October); 8.30am to 6pm (July, August); 8.30am to 4.30pm
(November to March). Park: open daily at 6am (6.30am from November
to March), closing times vary according to the season, between
5.30pm and 9pm
Phone:(0)1 8111 3239 |
5. Giant Wheel
Prater 90
www.wienerriesenrad.com |
What is it? One of Vienna's most recognisable
attractions, the Giant Wheel is located in a large wooded park and
playground known as the Prater. It was built in 1897 by an English
engineering firm and is the only one of its era still standing (the
ferris wheels in Chicago, London, Blackpool and Paris have long
since been destroyed). The wheel with its 15 gondolas takes twenty
minutes to manoeuvre around and offers magnificent panoramic views
of the city.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to midnight (May to September); daily 10am
to 10pm (March, April and October); daily 10am to 8pm (November to
February)
Phone:(01) 729 5430 |
6. Belvedere
27 Prinz Eugen Street
www.belvedere.at |
What is it? The Belvedere consists of two splendid rococo
mansions, designed in the early 18th century, which face each other
across formal, sloping grounds which offers excellent views over
the city. From the outside it is Vienna's finest palace complex,
built by Prince Eugène of Savoy (1680-1735), the famous general who
saved Vienna from the advance of the Ottoman Empire. The museums in
the two palaces house some of Vienna's most renowned art galleries,
offering excellent examples of Austrian art from the middle ages to
present day. Their displays include an unrivalled collection of
paintings by Klimt as well as famous works by Schiele and
Kokoschka, Renoir and Monet. The Medieval and Baroque works are
presented in the Lower Palace where many rooms have been preserved
in their original state.
Hours of Operation: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm, entrance is until
5.30pm
Phone:(0)795 570 |
7. Vienna State Opera
Hanuschgasse 3
www.wiener-staatsoper.at |
What is it? The Vienna State Opera performs a repertoire
of near-one hundred operas, operettas and ballets every day from
September to June. The opera house was founded in the early 18th
century (it was rebuilt in 1955 after being all but destroyed in
1945) and makes for a romantic and regal setting in which to enjoy
the performances. As seating tickets are not easily available, an
alternative is to buy standing-room tickets, which are well priced
and can be purchased on the same day (but expect long queues). The
State Opera collaborates closely with the Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra, and their famous New Year concert requires advance
bookings of up to one year. The waiting list for the subscription
concerts is 13 years!
Hours of Operation: Guided tours are offered most days at 2pm and 3pm.
Check dates online or via telephone
Phone:(01) 5144 42250 |
Vienna Holidays guide
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Transport -Vienna boasts one of the finest public
transport systems in Europe; it is safe and easy to use, and
consists of punctual buses and trams, a fast U-Bahn (underground)
and S-Bahn (railway).
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