5 must-visit places in Vienna

Vienna is a city of classical beauty. Wandering aimlessly in the city is enough to be mesmerized by its majestic buildings, colourful façades, enchanting squares, Gothic and Rococo churches, imperial palaces and paved streets where horse-drawn carriages bring back the elegance of a long-lost past.

Austria’s capital city was once a major powerhouse in Europe and the shadow of the Habsburg family that ruled over a vast empire still lingers, living on through iconic names such as Empress Maria Theresa and Empress Sisi. Vienna was also a cradle of the arts, welcoming some of the best artists the world has ever seen. Musicians created masterpieces there, painters and architects broke out of their time’s standards to set up new trends that redefined their arts. Nowadays, the city bolsters this brilliant history as one of Europe’s leading cultural hubs, boasting countless world-class museums, theatres and concert halls.

Yet, Vienna isn’t just a city that relies on its history to still be relevant and it certainly isn’t old-fashioned, being regularly recognized as one of the world’s most liveable cities thanks to its dynamic cultural life, street food scene and above all to its pleasant way of life, from historic cafés to lively Danube riverbanks.

Here’s our top pick to enjoy the city’s finest landmarks on a first visit. We’ll only focus on notable sights in this post and will share our favourite museums on a separate post.

1. Stephansplatz and Karlsplatz

Let’s start with a tie and a bit of cheating. Stephansplatz and Karlsplatz are a good 15 minute apart on foot but they both embody what makes the city so captivating. Stephansplatz is Vienna’s central square, where the whole city seems to converge.

The mosaics on the ornately coloured roof of the St-Stephen’s Cathedral are instantly recognizable, as this Gothic masterpiece stands tall above all the surrounding buildings. Stephansdom, as it is known in German, is the biggest religious building in Vienna, its construction dating back to the mid-12th century. At night, the church gets illuminated and the scenery turns to magic.

Further away, Karlsplatz is also home to one of Vienna’s finest churches, the Karlskirche or St-Charles Church. Its grand architecture is a Baroque gem and so is the richly decorated, slightly pompous but so intricate interior. Karlsplatz also boasts beautiful Art Nouveau architecture and is a beloved place for locals to hang out, thanks to the nearby Naschmarkt.

2. Hofburg

Vienna wouldn’t be what it is now without the Habsburgs. The imperial family which ruled over vast European territories for centuries built some of their main residences in the city, including the Hofburg Palace.

Exploring the Hofburg is a must-visit for all history lovers willing to follow in the footsteps of the former Habsburg rulers in the Imperial apartments, which can now be seen as they were during the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph.

A separate part of the palace is entirely dedicated to Empress Elisabeth, better known under her nickname Sisi. The Sisi Museum strives to delve deeper into Sisi’s life and dig beyond the myth. Through personal items and a very informative audio guide, it offers an insight into the true personality of the misunderstood empress whose life’s biggest tragedy was in renouncing her freedom.

The Hofburg also exhibits a well-preserved silver collection, showcasing sophisticated cutlery, porcelains and tableware that highlight the etiquette and way of life that prevailed during imperial times. Opposite the entrance of the Hofburg lies the Spanish Riding School, another Viennese landmark which can be visited during practices or during performances.

3. Museumsquartier

Vienna never lacked top-notch museums. The Albertina Museum exhibited art collection as early as the 18th century and so did the Belvedere Museum. The 20th century had to do its bit and the Museumsquartier therefore opened in 2001.

Located near the Museum of Natural History and the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the MQ boasts major art museums. Among them, the Leopold Museum and the MUMOK stand out. The first one focuses on prominent Austrian artists of the 19th century, displaying works from prominent names like Egon Schiele and modern architecture pioneer Otto Wagner. The MUMOK, on the other hand, is dedicated to modern arts.

The Museumsquartier is a cultural complex that aims at shedding light on arts of all shapes and sizes, comprising of 60 cultural institutions that range from street art to dance, music and visual arts. The district blends classical architecture with forward design and it holds a special place in the city for being an endearing spot where people congregate and come over to have a good time. Festivals, music gigs and pop-up exhibitions regularly take place in the district too, making the perfect place in the city to relax after a long day of visit.

4. Schloss Schönbrunn

The Hofburg Palace isn’t the only remnant of Imperial Vienna. Located in the outskirts of the city, the Schönbrunn Palace is another striking example of the affluence and the splendour of the city under imperial rule. The palace was first erected as a hunting lodge commissioned by Emperor Leopold 1st during the 17th century. It then expanded into a Baroque palatial imperial residence over the course of the 18th century.

Only parts of the castle can nowadays be visited and photographs are forbidden within the premises but that shouldn’t stop any history buff worth its salt. The Grand Tour is the most comprehensive of all tours as it allows visiting 40 rooms, spanning over three centuries. All rooms have a different personality and you will learn that some have even been decorated by members of the Imperial family, since it was mandatory for any Habsburg offspring to specialize in a special set of manual skills.

After completing a visit of the inner palace, the gardens shouldn’t be missed and there is even a zoological garden in the back of the palace. Further away from the building sits the Gloriette, atop a hill, offering a great vantage point on the city.

5. Musicians’ Flats

Haydn, Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven, Schubert have something in common. They all lived in the city at some point during their careers. All of them created some of the world’s best musical masterpieces in Vienna, a city that cared for music like no other.

It is no surprise that Vienna is still considered as the capital of classical music. Concert halls are everywhere and work from all the above musicians are played every night, for tourists and locals to enjoy. Another way to delve into the history of classical music is through a visit to the flats where the aforementioned musicians lived.

To be fair, most of these flats are now rather empty, such as Mozart’s flat near Stephansplatz which is said to have been one of the musicians’ thirteen apartments during his time in Vienna. An audio guide is therefore almost compulsory to enjoy the visit, be it that of Mozartshaus, Haydnhaus or Schubertsgeburthaus, where the musician was born.

Yet, these flats exhibit unique items belonging to the artists, from original instruments and musical scores to outfits. Plus, listening to the Requiem or the Blue Danube waltz in the city where they were composed is some kind of magic.

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