Sights to See
The following is a curated list of sights that all travellers should have the chance to visit while in Vienna…
Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens
The spectacular Schönbrunn Palace and gardens lie five kilometres southwest of the Vienna city centre. UNESCO listed since 1996, the palace is a remarkable example of Baroque imperial architecture, standing within sprawling, ornamental gardens. Originally built as a hunting lodge at the end of the 17th century, the building was frequently expanded and updated throughout the centuries. The current magnificent Baroque design, resplendent in Schönbrunn Yellow, dates to the mid 18th century when during the reign of Maria Theresa it become the grand summer residence and centre of court and political life. Today, you can tour 40 of the 1441 rooms including the Imperial apartments, state rooms, Great Gallery and Gobelin Salon. See the intricate walnut panelling, bespoke rosewood furniture, crystal chandeliers, incredible artworks and tapestries while marvelling at the scope and scale of the palace rooms. The lavish, luxurious furnishings and decoration have been preserved and it is amazing to experience how the Habsburgs lived.
The extensive gardens were designed in the Baroque style in the 1770s, also under the direction of Maria Theresa. Open to the public since 1779, the gardens are a lovely open green space, very popular with the Viennese people. Wander through the gardens and explore the many unique features including the Gloriette, Neptune Fountain, Roman Ruin, Orangerie, Maze, Zoo and Palm House.
Tickets are needed to enter the palace. The Imperial Tour, €18, is a self-guided audio tour though 22 rooms. The Grand Tour, €22, is a self-guided audio tour through 40 rooms. Purchase your tickets online in advance to secure a time window to avoid queuing on arrival.
Entry to the gardens is free, however, tickets are needed to enter the Gloriette (€4.50), Maze (€6), Privy Garden (€4.50) and Orangery (€4.50).
The Hofburg
The sprawling Hofburg complex, in the centre of Vienna, was the home of the Habsburg Empire for more than six hundred years. Initially a medieval castle dating to the 13th century, the complex was added to significantly throughout the centuries. Today the Hofburg encompasses 18 buildings, 19 courtyards and over 2,600 rooms. With the collapse of the Habsburg Empire in 1918, the Hofburg passed into the ownership of the Austrian state and now houses the Austrian parliament along with an extensive range of public spaces and museums including: the Sisi Museum, Imperial Apartments, Imperial Silver Collection, Spanish Riding School, Kunsthistorisches (Art History Museum), Chapel of the Imperial Palace, Imperial Treasury, Albertina, Austrian National Library and Natural History Museum.
With one ticket you can explore the Sisi Museum, Imperial Apartments and Silver Collection. The Sisi Museum, dedicated to Empress Elizabeth of Austria, displays over 300 personal items of the beloved Empress including her clothing, parasols, fans, gloves and travelling medicine chest.
Tour the 24 spectacular Rococo rooms of the Imperial Apartments of Franz Joseph and Elizabeth. With authentic furniture and decorations from the 19th century you can see exactly how the Habsburg royals lived and worked, while marvelling at the state rooms including the study, bedrooms, audience chambers, dining rooms, salon rooms and the Bergl Room, with its unique landscape murals.
The Silver Collection showcases 7,000 items and objects that were used by the court household. Items include: silver plates and dishes with the imperial coat of arms, silver cutlery with a dolphin motif, fine glassware, copper kitchenware, ornate porcelain, and the spectacular Milan and Old French Centrepieces.
Tickets to the Hofburg are €15 with an audio guide, or €18 with a guided tour (of the Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments).
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic symbols of Vienna. This grand Gothic monument sits in the heart of the city and is culturally, architecturally and historically significant to the people of Austria. Originally built as a Romanesque church in 1137, the cathedral has been consistently added to and refurbished throughout the centuries. The current Gothic design dates to the mid 14th century. The church is renowned for its spectacular patterned roof tiles in vivid yellow, green, white and brown. The north side of the roof features the coat of arms of the city of Vienna and Republic of Austria while the south side features the Imperial double-headed eagle. The Cathedral is also famous for its towers. The South Tower, known affectionally as Steffl, stands at 136.4 metres and today you can climb 343 spiralling steps to see spectacular views across Vienna. The North Tower contains Austria’s largest bell, the Pummerin, which is rung on special occasions, including to ring in the new year.
The inside of the cathedral features ornate marble flooring, soaring gothic columns, chapels, altars and a spectacular organ. Don’t miss the beautiful Baroque High Altar, carved from black marble, that depicts the stoning of St Stephen.
The Cathedral is free to enter, however, to climb the towers or visit the underground catacombs you must purchase a ticket.
The Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere Palace encompasses two beautiful Baroque buildings, the Upper Belvedere and Lower Belvedere, set among extensive landscaped gardens. Originally built by the Austrian General Prince Eugene in the early 18th century as a summer palace, the estate was later acquired by Empress Maria Theresa, who transformed the Upper Belvedere palace into an exhibition space for the royal art collection. Following the principles of Enlightened Absolutism, the exhibition was opened to the public in 1781, making the Belvedere one of the first museums in the world. Today the Belvedere Museum is Austria’s most important and most visited art museum. Highlights of the museum include artworks by Klimt (including the iconic “The Kiss”), Schiele, Funke, Monet and van Gogh. The building itself is a work of art with many grand halls and rooms – don’t miss the Carlone Hall with its outstanding ceiling fresco and the two storey Marble Hall with its red-brown marble and frescoes.
Today, the Lower Belvedere serves as temporary exhibition and event space, however, like the Upper Belvedere, the palace itself is architecturally fascinating. The ornate Marble Hall and Gallery, originally ceremonial spaces, feature stucco war trophies on the walls, ceiling frescoes and the stunning Mehlmarkt Fountain. The Gold Cabinet, refurbished by Maria Theresa, is a spectacular room filled with porcelain and large mirrors – unchanged since 1765.
Also on site is the Belvedere 21. Built in 1958 in a post-war modernist building, Belvedere 21 hosts contemporary Austrian and international art, film, music and events.
Tickets to the Upper Belvedere are €16. It is best to pre-purchase your ticket in advance selecting a time slot, to avoid waiting times.
The Spanish Riding School
The world famous Spanish Riding School has been training and showcasing classical equitation in the Renaissance traditions of the Haute Ecole for over 450 years. Riders undergo eight to ten years of rigorous training to become a proficient rider, working as one with their partnered Lipizzaner stallion. The unique white Lipizzaner stallions are bred specifically for this purpose and are able to demonstrate the pinnacle of equestrian beauty, the Ballet of the White Stallions.
Performances are held regularly at the stunning baroque Winter Riding School at the Hofburg Palace in the heart of the city. Observe the stallions showcasing their full range of skills to the sounds of classical Viennese music. Performances are not cheap, starting at €53, however, watching the stallions perform in the spectacular palace surrounds is a unique, magical experience. Performances range from approximately 70 to 90 minutes in length.
Alternatively, you can watch the stallions while they train. This is also held in the baroque Winter Riding School and set to classical Viennese music. The stallions are put through a range of exercises and routines which can be fascinating to observe. Training sessions are approximately one hour in length and a ticket to watch costs €16.
