Vienna is the capital of Austria, the largest city in Austria, and the country’s center of commerce, government, and industry. Vienna is also the city with the highest quality of life in the world according to The Economist Intelligence Unit’s index. Being the capital means that you know it’s going to be beautiful. With its rich culture, delightful architecture and so much beauty, Vienna should be one of the first places on your list when traveling to Europe. Vienna has the perfect combination of old and new. It is both historic and modern all at once. You will find palaces next to office buildings; churches next to clubs; baroque gardens next to high-rises being built skyward. In this article, we will give you an overview of Vienna, what to do there, and what to visit while you are in town. Vienna is located in the center of Europe and has a warm climate all year round. The weather is fairly mild during the winter with average low temperatures of 12°C and average high temperatures of around 21°C. In summer it can reach over 35°C and there’s also rain mainly during the spring/autumn season. Vienna has an average annual rainfall of 519 mm and annual sunshine hours of 1,750 (cloud cover only).
Vienna is full of some of the most impressive architecture, cathedrals, and churches in Europe. When you arrive in Vienna, make sure you take a look at the skyline, it is breathtaking! There are more than 30 buildings in Vienna that rise more than 200 meters in height. Of the tallest 10 buildings, 6 of them were built after 1990! Vienna has one of the fastest-growing skylines in Europe. The city has a great variety of buildings, from post-modern to neo-classical and baroque. Vienna has the largest outdoor sculpture park in the world with more than 2,500 different works of art!
We will now discuss a few top ten best things to do while in Vienna.
Visit Schönbrunn Palace
Among the best things to do while in Vienna is visiting the Schönbrunn Palace. While you are there, you can walk through the majestic Wien Museum. It is known as one of the most beautiful museums in the world. The museum contains more than 70 galleries and collections. Some amazing gardens around it make this museum a truly enjoyable one for everyone who visits Austria! You can also visit another beautiful city, Schönbrunn Palace which is located near Vienna’s famous Belvedere Palace. This Palace is a historic landmark of Vienna and was built in the 17th century by Maria Theresa, which is why a lot of people call this palace the “Belvedere Palace” to avoid confusion. This palace is breathtakingly gorgeous and has been featured in many movies! You can take a tour of this palace and see many beautiful rooms that are decorated with amazing art pieces. There are also two beautiful fountains on either side of the main entrance to this palace which is simply stunning.
Take the children to Vienna Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn)
You can also visit Vienna Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) with the kids; they will love it there. It has lots of wild animals, including zebras, pygmy hippos, black and white storks, and many more. And if you are lucky enough to visit in summertime when the giraffes feed off leaves from the trees of their enclosure then you will enjoy a fantastic show with these big creatures getting back up on their feet again. This place offers a great atmosphere to anyone with children or grandchildren. In autumn and winter, the zoo is a wonderful place to visit because of the snowfall and the Christmas decorations. Indulge your child’s love of animals and take them to Vienna Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn). Vienna Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) has been a Vienna attraction for more than 130 years, having opened its doors to the public in 1868. You will pay a small entrance fee but it is worth it for you and your family.
Visit St Stephen’s Cathedral
Another best thing to do in Vienna is visiting St Stephen’s Cathedral near the Stephansplatz. It is one of the most interesting buildings in Vienna and was first built as a Roman Catholic church. The exterior of St Stephen’s has a very unusual shape and many people believe it resembles two tons of coal being pressed together by two hands. It is something you must see for yourself! This Gothic-style cathedral is not only the national sanctuary of Austria but also a point of interest for people from all over. It’s something that you should see at least once in your life- no matter what your faith. Since its construction, St Stephen’s is the most significant church in Vienna and Austria at large. It’s also the tallest church tower in the whole of Austria.
Visiting Hellbrunn Palace, Gardens, and Park
Visit Hellbrunn Palace, Gardens, and Park and enjoy the beauty of this Baroque-style palace and its gorgeous vistas. The palace was built by a wealthy aristocrat by the name of Maximilian I, who wanted his own summer home in Vienna. He and his wife, Maria Anna, put a lot of work into the palace gardens, which were created in the French style. The palace also has a grotto with famous fountains. Maximilian, I was king of Bavaria, which is where he wanted to create a replica of Versailles, but it turned out to be too expensive for him. He settled for creating the Hellbrunn Palace instead. The palace gardens are like an outdoor museum with statues and fountains. It can be seen that Queen Maria Anna had a great passion for art and architecture. The gardens were her creation; she was even responsible for the design of some of the buildings within them.
Visit The Rathaus
The construction of Rathaus was done in a Neo-Gothic style and was completed in 1871. The Rathaus is an interesting architectural structure because of the way it looks like a castle from one side and a city hall on the other, with two towers at each end. The building has been renovated multiple times over its history, all to maintain its Gothic style. Rathaus, meaning house/hall of government in German and Austrian language, is now a museum housing furniture that used to belong to Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Austria’s last reigning monarchs). The Rathaus’s latest renovation was started back in 2008; the project cost 48 million euros ($58 million) and took five years to complete. At the top, there is the iconic Rathausman statue, which is composed of several figures. The Rathaus’s two towers stand at 96m (315 ft) and 85m (279 ft). The building was built over 10 years starting in 1861 and the architects were Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Helmer. The building covers an area of approximately 25,000 square meters. The Rathaus is home to five museums: the Government Museum, the Ethnology Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Vienna History Museum, and the Decorative Arts Museum.
Visit The Belvedere Museum
You should also plan to visit the Belvedere Museum, which houses the finest collection of American art in the world. This museum is housed in a Queen Anne-style mansion and is closed to vehicles. There is ample parking nearby and easy accessibility to the building. The most well-known works on display are Frederic Remington’s “A Cheyenne at Rest,” George Bellows’ “William Gerhardi,” and Edward Hopper’s “Room in New York.” They are worth seeing as they were noted by many artists as good examples of their work before they became well-known for their style of painting. In addition, the museum has many paintings by famous artists for you to admire.
The Belvedere Museum is a great place to visit if you have never been to St. Louis before or want to visit art museums on your trip there. You can access the museum by walking across the street from the St. Louis Art Museum, where you can borrow an Art Pass and get free admission at both places! It is also close to Forest Park, which hosts beautiful parks and gardens and is a great way to spend an afternoon with family and friends seeing some of nature’s creations up close.
Visit The Vienna State Opera
If you plan on visiting Austria, you should make sure to visit the Vienna State Opera—it is one of the most well-known opera houses in the world. But if you can’t make it to Vienna, don’t worry! We’ve got all the information you’ll need right here. The opera house is located in the Austrian capital of Vienna. It has been open since 1869 and is one of the largest theaters in Europe. Completed in 1869, it was built to house the K.K. Hof-Open (Imperial and Royal Court Opera) of Vienna. It offers a variety of productions from opulent drama to lighthearted comedy with a repertoire from operas such as “The Magic Flute” and “Don Giovanni”. You can go there at any time, but if you want the full experience you’ll need to buy tickets beforehand. The exterior of the Opera is dominated by the Neo-Renaissance style. It also has several sculptures that adorn the building, such as the four marble statues in front of the building.
Visiting the Prater Amusement Park
Prater Amusement Park is comprised of hair-raising rollercoasters, a carousel, bumper cars, a huge Ferris wheel, a 1200-seat movie theater, and more than 100 restaurants, cafes, and kiosks. It is the biggest park of its kind in Vienna and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Austria. The Prater Stadium also hosts top soccer matches regularly as well as competitions for giant slalom skiing. One very coveted event is the Wiener Bank Holiday Open tennis tournament which attracts tennis stars like Roger Federer and Ana Ivanovic. Main Street hosts an annual Christmas market that features Austrian crafts such as toys or hand-knitted socks while waltzing around the famous illuminated Christmas tree in front of Vienna’s historic Hofburg Palace. Visiting this park is also among the best things to do in Vienna.
Visit The Spanish Riding School
The Spanish Riding School is known for training horses and horsemanship for classical dressage. They were founded in 1572, by Charles I of Spain. The school is located in Vienna, Austria, on the grounds of the Spanish Courtyard. The school is still operating today, one of the oldest schools in the world that are still active. The school has many different events throughout the year such as riding demonstrations where they show their talents at dressage. The Spanish Riding School was founded in Vienna back in the year 1572 during the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, also known as Charles I of Spain. Horse training is an ancient art and has been practiced by civilizations including Ancient Greece, Rome, and Byzantium while Western Europe became acquainted with it under the Ottomans in the 16th century. It was not until Emperor Charles V that Riding Schools began to be established on a large scale due to his interest in and involvement with them around this period. The premises are open to anyone. If you love riding, this is a must-visit.
Visit The Naschmarkt
A marketplace gives a clear representation of a city’s heritage and culture. It defines the city. Naschmarkt in Vienna is a large outdoor market in the center of Vienna. It provides fresh ingredients, and local food and has different styles of souvenirs. The market is well-known for its exotic fruits and vegetables, handicrafts, flowers, art, and architecture. There are nearly 130 stalls selling something unique to you every day. It’s a great place to experience the unique traditions that make Viennese culture so special and fun! The Naschmarkt in Vienna is one of Vienna’s top attractions for visitors and locals alike because it offers an authentic representation of Viennese culture. The sounds, smells, sights, and atmosphere make this market famous for its delicious food and tasty treats.
With the grand Naschmarkt, you will have the opportunity to sample the best local food, travel, and meet many of Vienna’s wonderful people. In addition to that, Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and with the backdrop of modern architecture, you’ll be glad you made it to Austria’s capital! There are so many things to do on this market that it can take days to do it all! It’s also a great place with so many different shops and restaurants that visitors can spend hours looking at, tasting, smelling, wandering around, and generally enjoying themselves. Vienna is a great city for shopping, sightseeing, or leisure.
Conclusion
In summation, The capital of Austria, Vienna, is known throughout the world for its stunning gardens, its shocking architecture, its delicious cuisine, and its beautiful ornamental bridges. Along with these, Vienna has a plethora of museums that are all worth the visit. This breathtaking city also hosts a diverse climate all year round which means you can visit at any time and enjoy either the outdoors or indoor activities in this welcoming city. So go ahead pack your bags and head to Vienna today with friends, family, or even just yourself for an unforgettable trip! Though it may be best known through its musical performances, Vienna also has a rich history, is home to the second largest opera house in the world, and was named one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. In short, Vienna deserves at least two or three days (or more) of your time and attention. Why not plan a trip to Austria today? Vienna is easily accessible from anywhere in Western Europe by train or plane. Hence, there are a lot of places you can visit while in Vienna, Austria. As such, this article has only covered some of the places people visit most often. You can find all the places mentioned in this article by going to this City. The point is, Vienna is a city that has so much to offer and many people come here on vacation every year. With all those travelers and tourists around, you’ll never be bored while walking around in the city’s many different districts. With these tips and suggestions, you should have no trouble exploring more of Vienna’s wondrous treasures!