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| Vienna
Sightseeing |
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Sightseeing
Overview
The heart of Vienna is the Innerestadt, the area
that lay within the city walls, until they were demolished during
the mid-19th century. and it is here that some of Vienna’s
most popular tourist attractions are to be found, along with pedestrianised
streets lined with countless shops, bars and restaurants and cafés.
The centre point is the Graben which is a wide
square lined with shops and pavement cafés under large umbrellas.
Following the demolition of the city walls in 1857, the Ringstrasse
was laid out and some of the city's most beautiful buildings
were built along it, between 1858 and 1865.
Among the most important are the Staatsoper (State
Opera House), Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum
of Fine Arts), Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural
History Museum), Parlament (Parliament), Rathaus
(City Hall) and Burgtheater.
Most od the major attractions are located in the First District,
the other inner districts have a great deal to offer.
Leopoldstadt (Second District) lies on the eastern
side of the Danube Canal, it is here that the massive Prater
can be found. Landstrasse (Third District) includes
the Schwarzenberg Palace and the Konzerthaus,
although the main attraction is the Belvedere Palace.
Wieden (Fourth District) is a small neighbourhood
that is just as fashionable as the First District. Most of the city’s
activity centres are around Karlsplatz, with its
domed namesake, Karlskirsch. Margareten (Fifth
District) is a little more residential and the historic homes of
Schubert and Gluck still stand
here.
Mariahelf (Sixth District) includes
Vienna’s busiest shopping street, Mariahilferstrass.
The Naschmarkt and the Flohmarkt,
on Saturday morning, add to the excitement, while the surrounding
streets are packed with Beisls, theatres, pubs
and cafés. Neubau (Seventh District) includes
the Spittleburg Quarter, where the old houses have
been renovated into boutiques, restaurants, galleries and theatres.
Josefstadt (Eighth District) was once the area
favoured by civil servants, the Josefstadt Theatre,
the city’s oldest (1788), is still in operation. Alsergrund
(Ninth District) is often called the academic quarter, Freud’s
home, now a museum, is located here, as is the Lichtenstein
Palace, which now houses the Museum of Modern Art.
Tourist Information
Wien Tourismus
Albertinaplatz/Ecke Maysedergasse
Telephone number: (01) 2111 4222. Fax number: (01) 216 8492.
E-mail: info@info.wien.at
Website: www.info.wien.at
Opening hours: Daily 0900–1900 hrs.
The other tourist information offices are located in the airport
arrivals area, at Westbahnhof train station, on the Danube Island
near Florisdorfer bridge Triester Strasse 149 (at the end of the
A2 motorway, in the south of the city) and at service centre Auhof
on the A1 motorway. These provide information, make reservations
and supply brochures, maps and the Vienna Card
(see below). A number of annually printed guides are available,
including Kunst & Genuus, Architecture, Konzert-Cafés,
monthly events and even a Gay Vienna guide.
Passes
The Vienna Card offers discounts of up to 50 per
cent at dozens of attractions, 5–10 per cent discount at a
number of shops, as well as special offers at a variety of cafés,
restaurants and Heurigen (wine taverns). It also includes unlimited
travel on the U-Bahn, bus and tram networks
(not included on night buses) for 72 hours. The Passes are available
from tourist information offices, hotels and Wiener Linien sales
and information counters for €16.90. Vienna Cards
are also available for purchase in advance with a credit card (telephone
number: (01) 7984 40028). The Wien Tourismus website
(see above) shows all the attractions covered by the Vienna
Pass.
Key Attractions
Stephansdom (St Stephen’s
Cathedral)
St Stephen’s Cathedral marks Graben’s eastern end and
is easily spotted, due to its brightly coloured roof tiles, from
more distant viewpoints. Construction began on the cathedral during
the 12th century and was completed in 1433. Major restoration and
rebuilding work was necessary after the cathedral caught fire at
the end of World War II.
Stephansplatz 1
Telephone number: (01) 5155 23767. Fax number: (01) 5155 23191.
Website: www.stephansdom.at
Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz.
Opening hours:
Daily 0600–2000 hrs, services Saturday 1900 hrs and Sunday
1015 hrs (September–June), Sunday 0930 hrs (July–August)
guided tours Monday–Saturday at 1030 hrs and 1500 hrs, Sunday
1500 hrs.
Hofburg
The Imperial Palace until 1918, the Hofburg is almost a city in
itself and today, it houses the office of the Austrian president,
an international conference centre, a number of museums, the chapel
where the Vienna Boys’ Choir sings and the
hall in which the Lipizzan stallions perform. Visitors
can tour the Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments),
including Franz-Josef’s private rooms, the great audience
hall, dining rooms and staterooms. The Hofsilber und Tafelkammer
(Court Silver and Tableware Chamber) is also on show. The Schatzkammer
(Treasury), Schweizerhof 1, contains stunning exhibits that exemplify
the power and wealth of one of Europe’s most important empires.
The Imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire rests here, as does
the crown of the Austrian Empire, the 15th-century
Burgundian treasure and the treasure of the Order of the Golden
Fleece.
Innerer Burghof 1, Kaisertor
Telephone number: (01) 533 7570 Fax number: (01) 5337 57033 or 5332
4352 (Treasury).
Transport: Main entrance on Michaelerplatz at the western end of
Kohlmarkt, nearest U-Bahn Herrngasse (U3).
Opening
hours: Daily 0900–1700 hrs(Imperial Apartments and
Court Silver, Wednesday and Friday–Monday 1000–1800
hrs, Thursday 1000–2100 hrs (Treasury).
Admission: €7.50 (Imperial Apartments and Court Silver), €8
(Treasury).
Spanische Hofreitschule
(Spanish Riding School)
For well over 400 years, the horses of the Spanish Riding School
have performed their elegant manoeuvres at the Imperial Stables.
The Lipizzaner Museum Wien (located at the stables)
traces the history of these renowned performing horses and offers
the opportunity to see into the animals’ quarters. The easiest
way for visitors to see the horses in action is at their morning
training sessions, 1000–1200 hrs Tuesday to Saturday. Tickets
to the training sessions, which involve classical dressage exercise
to music, are only available at the door on the day. Tickets for
the actual performances are in high demand and need to be booked
well in advance. The season generally runs from March to
June and from September to December. Gala performances vary from
month to month, usually Saturday or Sunday mornings and occasionally
Friday evenings. Tickets are available on the Internet, by post
or by fax and cost €35–105 (seated) or €24–28
(standing room). Final dress rehearsals before the season starts
are slightly cheaper (€20).
Michaelerplatz 1 (Riding School ticket office), Reitschulgasse 2
(Lipizzaner Museum)
Telephone number: (01) 533 9031 (Riding School) or 5252 4416 (Lipizzaner
Museum). Fax number: (01) 535 0186.
E-mail: office@srs.at or
lipizzaner@khm.at
Website: www.spanische-reitschule.com
or www.lipizzaner.at
Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz, tram D, J, 1 or 2, bus 57A to Burgring.
Opening hours: Daily 0900–1800 (museum),
Tuesday–Saturday 1000–1200 hrs.
Admission: €5 (museum), €11.50 (training sessions, €14.50
(combined ticket).
Schloss Schönbrunn
(Schönbrunn Palace)
Schönbrunn
Palace is Vienna’s answer to Versailles and was used
as the summer residence of the Hapsburgs from the 18th century until
1918. The golden-yellow palace is set within equally magnificent
gardens, landscaped in the Baroque style, with some monumental views.
The palace and gardens are included in the UNESCO World
Heritage List. The Gloriette is a triumphal arch that stands
on the hilltop behind the palace and affords a stunning view over
the grounds and Vienna beyond. The Palmenhaus (Palm
House) and Schmetterlingshaus (Butterfly House)
are excellent examples of late 19th-century architecture, with cast
iron columns delicately holding up the glass walls and roof. The
‘Roman ruins’ in the garden are a typical folly (built
during the Hapsburg’s time) and are often used for staging
summer productions of Don Giovanni and The world’s
oldest zoo can be found within the park, it was commissioned in
1752, to amuse and educate the court.
Schönbrunner Schloss Strasse 13
Telephone number: (222) 8111 3239. Fax number: (222) 8111 3333.
E-mail: info@schoenbrunn.at
Website: www.schoenbrunn.at
Transport: U-Bahn Schönbrunn or Hietzing (Zoo).
Opening
hours: Daily 0830–1700 hrs (April–October,
until 1900 hrs July and August), daily 0830–1630 hrs (November–March).
Admission: €7.50, €14 (VIP Pass, including the Grand Tour,
the Bergl Rooms, the Maze, the Gloriette viewing terrace and the
Court Bakery, April–October only).
Belvedere
The Oberes Belvedere, which was built in 1721–23,
for Prince Eugene of Savoy, offers terrific views across the gardens
to the Unteres Belvedere (Lower Belvedere) and Vienna beyond. Artwork
from the middle ages and the Baroque era is featured in the Unteres
Belvedere. The Oberes Belvedere houses art from the 19th-century
classical, Romantic and Biedermeier periods on the second floor
and post-1918 art located on the ground floor. The first floor is
what draws visitors, with paintings by Gustav Klimt
(including der Küss), Egon Schiele and other fin-de-siècle
artists.
Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Prinz
Eugenstrasse 27
Telephone number: (01) 79557. Fax number: (01) 798 4337.
E-mail: belvedere@belvedere.at
Website: www.belvedere.at
Transport: U-Bahn Südbahnhof; tram D.
Opening
hours: Tuesday–Sunday 1000–1800 hrs.
Admission: €7.50
Kunsthistorisches
Museum (Museum of Fine Arts)
The museum was built to house the Imperial Hapsburg
collections in one place, although these have now grown to such
an extent that some are housed in the Hofburg and in Schönbrunn
Palace). The grand staircase in the Kunsthistorisches Museum
provides passage to the galleries, which include the Antiquities,
Egyptian-Oriental and Coin collections. The Kunstkammer
houses sculpture and decorative arts. The Gemäldegalerie
has works by Old Masters – including Dürer, Raphael,
Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian and the most comprehensive
collection of Brueghels in the world.
Maria-Theresien-Platz 1
Telephone number: (01) 525 240. Fax number: (01) 5252 4503.
E-mail: info@khm.at
Website: www.khm.at
Transport: U-Bahn Babenbergerstrasse or Volkstheater.
Opening
hours: Tuesday–Sunday 1000–1800 hrs (until
2100 hrs Thursday).
Admission: €9.
Naturhistorisches
Museum (Natural History Museum)
The Naturhistorisches Museum is the mirror image of the Kunsthistorisches
Museum, housing collections of anthropological, geological
and palaeontological exhibits, including a variety of dinosaur and
ice-age mammal fossils. A highlight among the prehistoric artefacts
is the 25,000-year-old ‘Venus of Willendorf’
sculpture.
Maria-Theresien-Platz 1
Telephone number: (01) 521 770. Fax number: (01) 523 5254.
Website: www.nhm-wien.ac.at
Transport: U-Bahn Babenbergerstrasse or Volkstheater.
Opening
hours: Wednesday–Monday 0900–1800 hrs (until
2100 hrs Wednesday).
Admission: €6.50.
Further
Distractions
Prater
The Prater is a giant wooded park, fairground and the location of
one of Vienna’s most famous sights, the century-old Riesenrad
(Giant Ferris Wheel). Harry Lime fought here in The Third
Man (1949) and Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy fell in love
here in Before Sunrise (1995).
Prater
Telephone number: (01) 969 7817.
E-mail: info@wiener-prater.at
Website: www.wiener-prater.at
Transport: S-Bahn or U-Bahn Praterstern; trams O, 5 or 21.
Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel)
Prater 90
Telephone number: (01) 729 5430. Fax number: (01) 7295 43020.
E-mail: info@wienerriesenrad.com
Website: www.wienerriesenrad.com
Opening hours: Daily 0900–2400 hrs (May–September),
daily 1000–2200 hrs (March-April and October), daily 1000–2000
hrs (November–February).
Admission: €7.50.
KunstHausWien
(Vienna Art House)
KunstHausWien is the unmistakable architectural expression of Friedensreich
Hundertwasser’s unique vision. Appearing like a Klimt
painting as seen through a kaleidoscope, the building contains an
exhibition of Hundertwasser’s artwork as well as a bright
café with a chic clientele and relaxing garden and the goulash
is very good. The nearby Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment project,
which can only be viewed from the street.
Untere Weissgerberstrasse 13
Telephone number: (01) 712 0491. Fax number: (01) 712 0496.
E-mail: information@kunsthauswien.com
Website: www.kunsthauswien.com
Transport: Trams N and O to Radetskyplatz.
Opening
hours: Daily 1000–1900 hrs.
Admission: €8, all exhibitions half price on Monday.
Kaisergruft (Imperial Burial Vault)
The Imperial Burial Vault in the Kapuzinerkirche (Capuchin Church),
which was build between 1622 and 1632, is well worth a visit. The
vault became the burial place of the Hapsburgs
and the highlight is the double casket of Maria-Theresa and Franz
I.
Neuer Markt 1
Telephone number: (01) 5126 85316.
Website: www.kaisergruft.at
Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz or Karlsplatz.
Opening
hours: Daily 0930–1530 hrs.
Admission: €3.60.
Haus der
Musik (House of Music)
The Haus der Musik is a major new addition to Vienna’s museum
scene, offering a link between technology and the arts. The ground
floor has concert spaces and a wine bar, while the first floor houses
the museum of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,
where visitors are given the opportunity to view the last New
Year’s Day Concert. The second floor is the Sonosphere,
where many aspects of sound are presented, using hands-on computer
technology and giant instruments. The third floor is dedicated to
historic displays of great Viennese composers, from Haydn
to Berg. One room features the Virtual
Conductor, where visitors can use virtual technology to
conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The
fourth floor includes the Brain Opera, an interactive
musical environment with unique ultramodern musical instruments.
The fifth floor includes concert rooms and an excellent café
with superb views over St Stephen’s Cathedral. All exhibitions
are presented in both German and English and anyone can happily
spend hours here, whether you enjoy the music or not.
Seilerstätte 30
Telephone number: (01) 516 4851. Fax number: (01) 516 4848.
E-mail: info@haus-der-musik-wien.at
Website: www.hdm.at
Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz, Karlsplatz or Schwarzenbergplatz.
Opening hours: Daily 1000–2200 hrs.
Admission: €8.50 (Haus der Musik), €5 (Vienna Philharmonic
Museum),€10 (combination ticket). |
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