About Vienna
The capital of Austria, Vienna is a thriving city with about 1.6 million inhabitants. It has a reputation of being old-fashioned and beautifully formal, rather like a many-tiered wedding cake — and it’s easy to see why. With its palaces and mansions of fairy-tale pinks and yellows, decked out with impossibly intricate carvings and statues, visitors are likely to have their expectations surpassed.

The history of Vienna is the history of the Hapsburg dynasty, which ruled the region beginning with its conquest of the area the late 13th century. After fending off several Turkish invasions over the centuries, the royal court made its permanent home in Vienna in the 16th century. With prosperity came an interest in the architecture, art and music that give Vienna much of its character today. The Ringstrasse encircles the oldest and most touristed part of the city, and visitors will find they can explore most of this inner area on foot. Even Schonbrunn Palace, once home of Empress Maria Theresa, and the Prater amusement park are within easy reach of the inner city.
The city remembers its role during the Nazi occupation with a Holocaust Memorial in Judenplatz, which also includes the ruins of a former synagogue. While Old World architecture rules in Vienna, visitors can see traces of the Vienna Art Nouveau movement in Karlsplatz, particularly in the Secession building in the square. Once home of some of Europe’s finest musicians — including Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert — the city also is the burial place for Mozart, in the Zentralfreidhof.

A key element both in the city’s development and its attraction for tourists is the Danube, which offers everything from waterfront hotels and restaurants to floating sightseeing excursions and river cruises to other river cities. Given its location in central Europe, Vienna also is a natural starting point for visitors who want to explore the cities of the former eastern Europe, such as Prague and Budapest.

back to top

• Embark on a pub crawl in the upwardly mobile district near the Josefstadter Strasse and Nussdorfer Strasse train stations.

• Venture over to the dark side at Vienna’s Crime Museum, Torture Museum and (by prior arrangement) the Undertaker’s Museum.

• Stretch your limbs hiking on nearby mountain trails, which range in difficulty from beginner to expert.

• Enjoy the nightlife at Strandbar Herrmann, which earned a nod from Conde Nast Traveller (U.K. version) for its atmosphere.

• Tap your toes to the mellow sound of jazz at Jazzland, the city’s oldest jazz club.

• Wander through the apartment of the father of psychoanalysis at the Sigmund-Freud-Museum.

• Learn German at one of many language schools around the city designed for foreign visitors.

• Swim at the Badeschiff, a retired barge on the Danube that offers a pool, sun deck and dining.

• Discover Vienna by bicycle on the city’s 699 miles of bike paths.

• Line up for free standing-room-only tickets to hear the angelic voices of the Vienna Boys Choir.

back to top

• Visit one of the country’s 18,500 ecofarms; they are the reason Austria has the nickname Europe’s deli shop.

• Indulge in a sinful slice of Sacher torte at the venerable Hotel Sacher, where you can even get a chocolate body treatment at the spa.

• Enjoy a spin on the giant Ferris wheel — aka the Riesenrad — at the Prater, site of a famous scene from the movie, “The Third Man.”

• Beware of ghouls on a tour of royal burial sites, including Capuchin’s Crypt, St. Augustine Church and the catacombs of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

• Get sand in your toes at Sand in the City, a summer recreation area near the Konzerthaus, complete with beach volleyball and soccer.

• Meditate while following the Pilgrimage Trail, which wends its way from Vienna to the town of Mariazell.

• Sample award-winning white wines, include those made from Riesling and Gruner Veltliner grapes.

• Celebrate the holidays at international choral festivals in Vienna and at Christmas markets throughout the region.

• Work off that apfelstreudel with a brisk walk at one of the many nature parks nearby, which take up 3% of the country’s land.

• Take a self-guided tour of the magnificent buildings and gardens along the Ringstrasse.

back to top

• Vote for your favorite scale model of top European attractions, such as the Acropolis and the Eiffel Tower, at the Sand Sculpture Park.

• Attend midnight mass on Christmas Eve at the Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or just drop in to sightsee.

• Spend an afternoon at Schonbrunn, the imperial summer palace inspired by the French palace of Versailles.

• Take in an equestrian show of Lipizzan horses at the famous Spanish Riding School.

• Study examples of the Austrian baroque architecture at Karlskirche in Vienna and Salzburg Cathedral nearby.

• Enjoy the best of international art and music at the annual Vienna Festival in May and June.

• Tour the former summer residence of Empress Elisabeth, now known as the Sisi Museum.

• Sit down for an afternoon treat of Viennese coffee — and don’t forget a generous dollop of schlag (whipped cream).

• Tour the Hofburg, a self-contained city that served as the winter home of the imperial family.

• Drop a few euros at Casino Vienna at the Palais Esterhazy on Karntnerstrasse.

For more information, consult the Vienna Tourist Board at www.vienna.info (click on English) and the Austrian Tourist Office at www.austria.info.

back to top