Vienna
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Vienna
Vienna is the capital of Austria and its largest city. Art and culture are embedded in the soul of Vienna: imperial splendour, world-class museums, opera and classical music heritage but also a unique Modernist legacy and a cosmopolitan flair. Walk down the parks- and grand palace-lined Ringstrasse, experience the centuries-old cafe tradition and admire the astonishing architecture of a buzzing modern capital filled with history.Find your trip
The religious and geographical centre of Vienna is St Stephen's Cathedral. The most prominent Gothic masterpiece of the city, with its stunning tiled roof and stone interiors, actually retains many artworks from different periods: the Romanic towers, the Baroque altar and the Renaissance decorations. Book a complete tour of the cathedral, visit the deep catacombs or make your way up the 136-metre (448-foot) tower. When the Pummerin — the largest bell in Austria — rings on New Year’s Eve, it is even broadcast on TV.
The Vienna State Opera is one of the most distinguished opera houses in the world. The magnificent building on Ringstrasse was constructed between 1861 and 1869 by August Siccardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll as Hofoperntheater (Court Opera). You can catch a glimpse of what goes on backstage and admire the architectural magnificence of this neo-Renaissance masterpiece with one of the 40-minute guided tours.
Vienna’s classical concert offering is dominated by the Musikverein, the home of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra founded in 1842. Millions of music fans around the world consider the Musikverein to be one of the most traditional concert houses, paying host to artists of the very highest calibre. From its Golden Hall, the annual New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic is broadcast to the world on television. The Vienna Mozart Orchestra regularly performs Mozart’s famous works while dressed in period costumes.
Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna was established back in 1752 by the Habsburgs and now remains the oldest operating zoo in the world. The wide areas create a comfortable space for the animals and the staff of experts make sure they are very well attended. The administration of the zoo places significant focus on conservation and animal welfare. Plan around 4–5 hours for your visit and check the feeding schedule.
Madame Tussauds is a world famous wax museum and tourist attraction. The Viennese branch is located inside the Wiener Prater amusement park. Get up-close to the biggest celebrities of past and present. Take a selfie with film stars like Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig and Robert Pattinson; meet old-time Hollywood idols like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn; pose for the camera with royals, composers and politicians from Austria and the world over.
Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier (MQ) is one of the ten largest cultural districts in the world, combining exhibition spaces, cafes, restaurants and bars. At the edge of the Old City, in the former imperial stables, it unites facilities highlighting different fields of art with restaurants, coffeehouses and shops in an area of 90,000 square metres with a combination of Baroque buildings and modern architecture. This has created a colourful and diverse local scene against the backdrop of significant museums and collections. MuseumsQuartier houses MUMOK, Leopold Museum, Kunsthalle Wien, ZOOM Kindermuseum, Tanzquartier, Architekturzentrum Wien, Q21, monochrom and Modepalast.
With its magnificent gardens, this former residence of Prince Eugen von Savoyen is one of the most beautiful Baroque ensembles in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Upper Belvedere houses the world’s largest collection of paintings by Gustav Klimt, including the Art Nouveau icons The Kiss and Judith. It also contains masterpieces by Schiele, Kokoschka, Waldmüller, Renoir, Monet and Van Gogh as well as important collections of works from the 19th and 20th centuries, the Baroque and the Middle Ages. Top-quality special exhibitions are put on in the Lower Belvedere and Orangery. The exquisite Baroque garden between the two palaces offers an extraordinary view of Vienna.
The Imperial Palace was the residence of the Habsburg emperor until 1918. From the 13th century until just before the end of the monarchy, the area was fitted out in imperial splendour within its present-day size. The original Gothic building around today’s Schweizerhof was extended on a continuous basis, resulting in an extensive building complex formed of different sections, which contributes an essential character to the appearance of Vienna's Old City. Europe’s largest imperial cultural complex today houses more than two dozen collections of international standing, including the Austrian National Library, the Imperial Treasury, the Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum, as well as the Spanish Riding School.
The religious and geographical centre of Vienna is St Stephen's Cathedral. The most prominent Gothic masterpiece of the city, with its stunning tiled roof and stone interiors, actually retains many artworks from different periods: the Romanic towers, the Baroque altar and the Renaissance decorations. Book a complete tour of the cathedral, visit the deep catacombs or make your way up the 136-metre (448-foot) tower. When the Pummerin — the largest bell in Austria — rings on New Year’s Eve, it is even broadcast on TV.
The Vienna State Opera is one of the most distinguished opera houses in the world. The magnificent building on Ringstrasse was constructed between 1861 and 1869 by August Siccardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll as Hofoperntheater (Court Opera). You can catch a glimpse of what goes on backstage and admire the architectural magnificence of this neo-Renaissance masterpiece with one of the 40-minute guided tours.
The route along Kärntner Straße, running from the Vienna State Opera to Stephansplatz is the most popular shopping street in Vienna. This high-street mainly hosts big international brands, but on its side streets some shops of local specialities can still be found. Stop by at Steffl department store with its luxury designers and fabulous panoramic elevator. Peek & Cloppenburg is another architectural highlight, while the Swarovski store offers a very special shopping experience.
The longest shopping street in Vienna, Mariahilfer starts close to the Ringstraße and goes up until Westbahnhof railway station. In between, department stores, large branches of the European clothing chains, home decor stores and street cafes can be found. There are plenty of small boutiques in the side streets which offer some great, more traditional products.
Vienna Naschmarkt, on the plateau above the Wien River, is an absolute must for any visitor to Vienna. Shoppers can find a huge selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, spices and exotic specialties from many countries, such as Italy, Greece and Turkey in the 123 fixed stands along a 1.5 km walk. Stop by for some of the best kebab and falafel wraps to be found in town.
Around 50 types of the finest pralines have been on offer here since 1928, making ideal souvenirs for any visitor to Vienna. The Viennese confectioner’s handmade specialty is known as Liliput confectionery and it is still made according to an original recipe.
The luxury shopping area Kohlmarkt offers flagship stores for major brands. Having once housed the Royal Court's appointed jewellers, Kohlmarkt still sticks to the legacy with shimmering windows by famous brands and traditional Viennese jewellers. The neighbouring Goldenes Quartier is a modern shopping area located at the core of Vienna Old Town and packed with stores of international luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada and Miu Miu.
There is a flea market taking place every Saturday between 6:30 am and 2 pm at Vienna’s Naschmarkt. This is the largest market of this type in Vienna and one of the best in Europe; framed by the stunning Art Nouveau buildings surrounding the square one can expect to browse for hours among the stalls selling everything from valuable antiques, furniture and china to second-hand clothing, books and records.
Founded in 1718, the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory is the second oldest in Europe. Now, as then, porcelain is made and painted by hand. This makes each piece unique. You can buy one of the artworks that are on display or ask for luxury, personalised porcelain items. The Porcelain Museum is located in a wing of Schloss Augarten, amidst the former imperial gardens. Permanent and temporary exhibitions walk visitors through the history of porcelain making in Vienna since 1718.
Mühlbauer is a world-famous family run factory creating prime-quality design hats since 1903. All pieces are unique and hand made: new collections come out every season and they ship customised hats worldwide. Their trendy headgear includes gems such as feather pillbox hats made of satin and extraordinary palm fibre creations.
The route along Kärntner Straße, running from the Vienna State Opera to Stephansplatz is the most popular shopping street in Vienna. This high-street mainly hosts big international brands, but on its side streets some shops of local specialities can still be found. Stop by at Steffl department store with its luxury designers and fabulous panoramic elevator. Peek & Cloppenburg is another architectural highlight, while the Swarovski store offers a very special shopping experience.
The longest shopping street in Vienna, Mariahilfer starts close to the Ringstraße and goes up until Westbahnhof railway station. In between, department stores, large branches of the European clothing chains, home decor stores and street cafes can be found. There are plenty of small boutiques in the side streets which offer some great, more traditional products.
Vienna’s International Airport is at Schwechat, 20 km from the centre of Vienna. There different options to reach the city: – The city airport train, CAT, takes 16 minutes to the centre and departures from the airport every half an hour. – The journey with the busses of Vienna AirportLines links the airport with the main transport hubs in the city. It takes 20 minutes to the centre and departures are every half an hour. – The fast train (S-Bahn) is the cheapest option and takes 25 minutes to the centre. Trains leaves every 30 minutes, with additional services at peak-time. – The taxi stand is located just outside of the arrival building. For information about the different taxi companies ask at the City Transfer counter in the arrival hall.
Austria can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
The best time to visit Vienna in around April–May in the spring and September to mid-October in the autumn. The weather is mild and the low-peak tourist season means that visitors can expect lower prices on average. The warmer summer months are very popular with tourists but expect prices to be higher. Many travellers will make their way to Vienna in the winter to visit Christmas markets, wander the streets and spend time with loved ones in the famous Viennese cafes.
The public transport company Wiener Linien provides a broad network of tram, underground (U-Bahn) and bus lines, which make getting anywhere in and around Vienna very easy. There are single, 24- and 48-hour tickets, beside passes for longer periods. The same ticket is valid everywhere and can be bought at tobacconists (Vienna’s 850 Tabaktrafik), at the vending machines available in any underground station, via the online shop or ticket app of Wiener Linien or at one of their ticket office. Tickets must be validated before boarding. To validate your ticket stamp the ticket at the blue machines located at the entrance of underground stations as well as on buses and trams.
Taxis are easy to find at the taxi stands and train stations and are relatively cheap compared to other European destinations. Some reliable companies are: Taxi 401 00 +43 1 401 00 www.taxi40100.at Taxi 313 00 +43 1 313 00 www.taxi31300.at/en You can download and use the Mytaxi app to get a taxi without having to make a phone call.
There are many branches of the Austria's Postal Service in Vienna, as well as many of the bright-yellow postboxes. Post offices tend to have long opening hours.
Pharmacies in Vienna usually have the same opening hours as most shops. However, there are always 24/7 pharmacies operating at night and weekends located throughout the city: a list of the nearest ones is posted outside of each pharmacy.
The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Power plugs and sockets are of type F common in Continental Europe.
Vienna’s International Airport is at Schwechat, 20 km from the centre of Vienna. There different options to reach the city: – The city airport train, CAT, takes 16 minutes to the centre and departures from the airport every half an hour. – The journey with the busses of Vienna AirportLines links the airport with the main transport hubs in the city. It takes 20 minutes to the centre and departures are every half an hour. – The fast train (S-Bahn) is the cheapest option and takes 25 minutes to the centre. Trains leaves every 30 minutes, with additional services at peak-time. – The taxi stand is located just outside of the arrival building. For information about the different taxi companies ask at the City Transfer counter in the arrival hall.
Austria can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.
