The Ringstrasse

is probably Vienna's most famous boulevard. The 5.3 km long Ring was built in the 19th century at the will of Emperor Franz Joseph on the area of the old city masons, which enclosed the center of Vienna. On the green belt on the other side of the city wall, magnificent palaces and some of Austria's most important buildings, such as the parliament, the Vienna City Hall and the university, were built at the same time. Also located on the Ring are parks (Stadtpark and Burg- und Volksgarten), monuments of well-known personalities but above all some of the most important sights, such as the State Opera, the Art and Natural History Museums, the Hofburg with the Heldenplatz and the Burgtheater, one of most important stages in German-speaking countries.

 

 

Schönbrunn Palace

is not only the most visited attraction in Vienna, but also in Austria. The palace was first built around 1643. However, the palace was expanded and built to its present form as a summer residence for Empress Maria Theresa, then still Archduchess in the 18th century. The castle area with the approx. 160 ha has been part of the UNESCO world cultural heritage since 1996 and also includes the large and freely accessible gardens with the maze, the Gloriette, the Japanese garden, the Palmenhaus (=palm house) and further attractions, but also the approx. 16 hectare large and oldest zoo in the world.

Schönbrunn Zoo

The zoo at Schönbrunn Palace was founded in 1752 and is the oldest still existing zoo in the world. Every year the zoo has more than 2 million visitors looking at about 7,800 animals from 700 species. The British zoo expert Antony Sheridan named Schönbrunn Zoo five times in a row as the best European zoo from 2008 to 2018. The zoo has also received worldwide recognition for breeding animals. The world's first elephant birth and the first birth of a panda after natural fertilization in Europe took place here. The zoo offers daily animal lectures, feeding shows, guided tours during the day or at night and backstage access.

 

Haus des Meeres - Aqua Terra Zoo

In addition to the Schönbrunn zoo and the Lainzer zoo the “Haus des Meeres” is the third zoo in Vienna.  This Auqa Terra Zoo is located in an old flak tower from the 1930s in the center of Vienna. Around 10,000 animals (sharks, rays, turtles, crocodiles, lizards of all kinds, snakes and fresh and saltwater fish, as well as insects and many other creatures) can be admired on 11 floors on 5000 m2. On the top is a restaurant and bar with a nice view over Vienna

 

 

St. Stephans Cathedral

Is located in the center of Vienna on Stephansplatz and is considered to be a famous landmark of Vienna. The construction began as a church in the 12th century and was expanded over the following centuries. Today the "Steffl", as the Viennese call it, is 107 meters long, 34 meters wide and the south tower is 136.4 meters high. In the 16th century, the north tower was finally completed with a Renaissance-style roof and is only 68 meters high.

 

 

Hofburg Palace

The Hofburg Palace is in the middle of the city center of Vienna and was the residence and government center of the Habsburg emperors from the 13th century until 1918. Today it is the official residence of the Austrian President, but it is also home to numerous museums (the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, Silver Chamber, Imperial Treasury, World Museum), the Spanish Riding School and the National Library with the famous State Hall, and the Hofburg Congress Center. Originally it was built as a small castle, however it was continuously expanded over the centuries by the individual emperors. Today only the Gothic castle chapel reminds of the medieval castle. The best view of the Hofburg is from Heldenplatz with the equestrian statues of Prince Eugene and Archduke Karl.

 

Giant Ferries Wheel and the Prater

The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel, Vienna's landmark, was built in 1897. Its purpose was to celebrate the Godlen Jubille of Emporer Franz Josef I.  At that time it was one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world. Originally the Ferris wheel had 30 wagons, but today only 15 wagons are in use at once. It reaches a height of 64.75 meters.

The Ferris wheel is located in the Wurstelprater, an amusement park originally called Volksprater. It was opened to the public by Joseph II in 1766, as the popular stages and theaters were driven out of the inner city of Vienna. Today there are dozens of rides, dining options, theaters, museums and much more. Entry is free, but you have to pay to use each attraction.

The amusement park is located in the north-western part of the Prater, Vienna's green lung and recreation area. The Ernst Happel Stadium is also located there. The home of the Austrian national football team is also used for concerts by national and international music star.

Karlskirche - St. Charles Church

Located on Karlsplatz, the church is one of the most important baroque buildings in Vienna. The huge dome, which is frescoed inside, is unmistakable. Visitors can see the famous frescoes not only from the ground floor, but also from up close by using a panorama lift. The church is also often used for concerts. The Karlsplatz, Charles Square, in front of it is used for various events (Christmas market, music festival, etc.) and is a popular meeting point for young and old.

 

Kunsthistorisches Museum - Museum of Fine Arts

The KHM (Museum of Fine Arts) is located on the Ringstraße and was built for the art collection of the Habsburgs. It was opened in 1891 and is one of the largest and most important museums in the world. It houses paintings by Alfred Dürrer, Peter Paul Rubens, Jan Vermeer, Pieter Breugel the Elder, Raffaello and many other well-known artists. There are also special exhibitions that change every year.

 

Natural History Museum

This museum is located opposite the KHM also on Ringstraße. It has a collection of up to 30 million objects, consequently it is one of the most important nature museums in the world. Probably the most famous exhibition piece is the statute of the “Venus von Villendorf”, that is just under 11 cm in size and is around 30,000 years old. Other interesting exhibits include skeletons and replicas of dinosaurs and other extinct and still existing animals, as well as a meteorite and a mineral collection and much more.

 

Belvedere Palace

At Belvedere Palace art works from the Middle Ages to the present can be found in 3 locations. The highlight is probably the world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings with the most famous painting “The Kiss”. However, there are also well-known exhibits from the Biedermeier period, the Austrian Baroque, the Vienna era around 1900 and French Impressionism. The palace garden between the Upper and Lower Belvedere is also very popular

 

Albertina

Located in the center of Vienna behind the opera, visitors will find one of the largest and most valuable graphic collections in the world with works by Albrecht Dürrer and changing exhibitions from Monet to Picasso, Degas and Renoir.

Highly recommended are also the state rooms of the Habsburg residential palace. Visitor will get a unique insight into royal life during the times of the Habsburg monarchy.

 

Museums Quarter

The MQ is not far from the Ringstraße and close to the KHM and the NHM. The former court stables are now home of several cultural companies with a range from visual and performing arts, architecture, music, fashion, theater, dance, literature and children's culture.

The most famous parts of the MQ are the Leopold Museum, MUMOK, the Kunsthalle Wien and Zoom the Children's Museum. In the courtyard there are also restaurants and bars. From time to time different events (readings, free live concerts) take place there as well.

Leopold Museum

The Leopold Museum is an art museum in Vienna that opened in 2001 and is known for its extraordinary Schiele and Klimt collection. The inventory was collected by the art collector Rudolf Leopold and his wife Elisabeth Leopold and since 1994 it is the property of the "Leopold Museum private foundation"

 

mumok

The Museum of Moderner Art Ludwig Foundation focuses on art of the 20th and 21st centuries. Works by Andy Wahrhol, Picasso, Yoko Ono, Gunter Brus and many other modern artists can be admired here.

 

Kunsthalle Vienna

At the Kunsthalle Wien the focus is on international contemporary art. The exhibition is a must for every Vienna visitor interested in art. In addition to the MQ, Die Kunsthalle Wien also has a branch on Karlsplatz. The Kunsthalle Wien does not have its own collection, but instead the changing exhibitions are dedicated to the presentation of art and the reflection of art and culture.

 

ZOOM Museum for children

The ZOOM Children's Museum is the first Austrian children's museum to offer year-round exhibitions, workshops, a multimedia laboratory and much more for children up to 14 years of age. Further there is an extensive science education program.

 

Other interesting museums:

  • Secession

  • Technische Museum Wien - Vienna Museum of Sience and Technology

  • Schokoladenmuseum Wien - Chololate Museum

  • Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien

  • MAK – Museum für angewandte Kunst - Museum of applied Arts

  • Foltermuseum - Torture Museum

  • Dritte Mann Museum - The Third Man Museum

  • Weltmuseum Wien - World Museum

  • Sigmund Freud Museum 

  • Jüdische Museum Wien - Jewisch Museum Vienna

  • Schneekugel Museum - Snow Globe Museum

Vienna for the Little Explorers