Museums, palaces, churches, theaters, concerts. The Spanish Riding School, The Vienna Boys Choir. We can tell you which events are absolute must-sees and show you the sights you won´t find in ordinary tourist guide books. But Vienna is not only a huge museum. It is also a shopper´s paradise. Discover Vienna!
Did you know that Vienna boasts over 100 museums? Of course you don´t have to visit them all, but some are absolute musts: the Museum of Fine Arts featuring one of the world´s most impressive art collections, the Museum of Natural History, and the new MuseumsQuartier comprising three museums (Leopold Museum, Kunsthalle, Museum of Modern Art).
The latest highlight is the Liechtenstein Museum, which comprises one of the biggests collections of works by Rubens, van Dyck, Raffael, Rembrandt, van Ruysdael and Hamilton.
Musikverein at Karlsplatz square is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and venue of the annual New Year´s Eve concert, which is broadcast all over the world. Festivals including Resonanzen, OsterKlang, Festwochenkonzerte, Klangbogen or Wien Modern turned into major visitor magnets.
In recent years, Vienna´s musicals and clubbings have also attracted a growing number of youths.
Sumptuous Schoenbrunn palace, former summer residence of the imperial Habsburg family, is one of Vienna´s most popular attractions. In summer, the beautifully tended formal gardens, arranged in French style, are a symphony of colors. The extensive grounds contain Roman ruins, the Neptun Fountain, and the crowing glory on the hill, the Gloriette monument. The view from the monument towards the palace and Vienna is excellent! In winter the Habsburg family resided in the Hofburg (Imperial Palace), an impressive repository of culture and heritage. Those with a taste for the unusual should not miss the Kapuzinergruft (Imperial Burial Vault).
Café Central, Café Hawelka and Demel. A haunt for artists and writers and a welcome stopover on a sightseeing tour. Relax over a cup of "Melange" (served with milk), enjoy a famous Sacher cake with whipped cream, and take your time to browse through various international newspapers.
At the turn of the century Vienna was a prospering cultural center facing a boom in litrature (Schnitzler, Kraus), science (Freud), art (Klimt) and architecture (Loos, Wagner). Designed by Otto Wagner in 1899, the houses at Wienzeile 40 (aka Majolika house) and 38 with gold ornaments by Kolo Moser are outstanding examples of Art Nouveau architecture.
The Donaucity skyline and the Haas House on St. Stephen´s square, designed by world-famous architect Hans Hollein, are both symbols of the modern Vienna. The Viennese metropolis unites opposites like no other city does: old and new, tradition and modern times. Behind this marvellous facade you will find a prospering multitude of restaurants, exhibitions, galleries and events.
In summer the Viennese crowd the beaches of Old and New Danube. These are the perfect places to go swimming, skating, cycling, jogging or to indulge in long walks. Donauinsel island is one of the biggest leisure areas in Europe. The so-called "Copa Cagrana" with its various diners and discos near Reichsbrücke bridge is a popular place to dance the night and to enjoy international specialties such as sushi, souflaki or pizza.
When the summer heat comes to town it is high time for events such as "SummerStage" or the "Tribüne Krieau" at Prater Park. Enjoy culinary delights sitting next to the Danube Canal or relax under old trees in Vienna's famous open-air cinema.
Das Hundertwasser House with it´s onion towers and roof-top trees is the most prestigious object of Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and attracts almost as many visitors as Schönbrunn Palace.
