Visiting Vienna? Here Are the Sights You Don’t Want to Miss
The capital of Austria, Vienna is a charming, historic city. Visit some of its highlights and you’ll still be left wanting for more.
Vienna is a site where the East and West meet, being located along the banks of the Danube River. As a former capital of the Habsburg Empire, it’s unsurprisingly a city with a rich history of politics, commerce, and culture.
Today, Vienna is a modern cosmopolitan city that still has the charm of the old times that’s evident in its architecture, art houses, and even everyday life. Just a stroll down the city’s streets will bring those with a vivid imagination to a journey through history. Every visitor will surely be mesmerized by Vienna’s elegance.
The capital of modern-day Austria offers all these and more. With so many attractions to choose from, you’ll need to make a careful plan when visiting Vienna. Luckily, these must-see sights in the city will help you to do just that.
The Schonbrunn Palace
More than four centuries of history are housed between the walls of this stunning example of Baroque architecture. The Schonbrunn Palace was the Habsburg royal family’s summer residence since the mid-16th century, with the most prominent members of the family frequenting the property.
The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site today. Of its over 1,400 rooms, 45 are open for visitors and many have housed significant historical events. As a child prodigy, Mozart performed in the Mirrored Hall. Napoleon used the Vieux Laque Room for conferences, and the Grand Gallery was the site of the Congress of Vienna.
Schonbrunn Palace also features an impressive park with several gardens that’s open to visitors during the whole year with no entrance fees. The park is home to numerous statues, fountains, and monuments. You’ll also see the vast collection of flora in the Crown Prince Garden, Orangery Garden, Palm House, and Desert Experience House. But probably the most engaging features of the Schonbrunn Palace park are the zoo and the labyrinth.
The number of interesting sights and activities you can have here is amazing, so it’s a given that the palace is world-famous. That’s why it would be wise to plan the visit to this attraction in advance. A visit to the palace interior requires purchasing a ticket, so it’s best to do that online to avoid waiting in lines on the day of your visit.
The Musikverein
For the best feel of Vienna’s cultural scene, make sure to visit the famed concert halls of the Musikverein. The institution opened 150 years ago with only two halls and received an upgrade in the 21st century. The new subterranean halls were added during this period and consist of a style that incorporates the different materials that were extensively featured in the design.
All the greats of classical music have their place in the repertoire, and the Musikverein often houses world-class Austrian and international musicians and conductors. If you can book a ticket, you could get a chance to hear the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra or even catch a performance by such living legends of classical music as Daniel Barenboim.
The Spanish Riding School
If you want to experience Vienna’s class and elegance while enjoying wonderful equestrian exhibitions, the Spanish Riding School is the place for you.
Emperor Maximilian II established the school in the mid-16th century to house his Lipizzaner horses. Today, the school is among the leading institutions of its kind in the world, as well as one of the best city attractions. It’s housed in the gorgeous Baroque Imperial Palace.
As would be expected, tickets to the performances are impossible to get on-site due to the popularity of the Spanish Riding School. That’s why it’s best to book in advance, and ideally one that includes morning training sessions. There are fascinating equestrian shows and tours behind the scenes and around the stables.
The site features a cafe where you can enjoy the atmosphere and rest up before continuing the exploration.
The Prater Park and the Giant Ferris Wheel
Built in 1897, the over 200-feet tall Ferris wheel offers a stunning view of the city that’s unrivaled. It’s a widely-recognized landmark of Vienna and an unavoidable feature of Prater Park.
The European Film Academy even placed the Giant Ferris Wheel on its list of Treasures of European Film Culture in 2016. It’s because several cinematic masterpieces prominently featured the wheel. Today, this movie star of an attraction is open to visitors the whole year.
The Giant Ferris Wheel is the perfect way to start your Prater experience. The park is filled with entertainment that could easily keep you busy throughout the day. And once you get off the wheel, you can tour the other attractions that range from traditional to modern. You’ll find merry-go-rounds, autodromes, shooting booths, roller coasters, and more within Prater park.
If you need refreshments, there are plenty of cafes in the park. Those looking for a full meal will also find it in one of the many Prater restaurants. However, that’s not all you can find here. After all, you’re only on the entertainment side of the park, or the Wurstelprater as it’s known by the Viennese.
The Green Prater is the vast, serene part of the park located right beside the Wurstelprater. It’s ideal for leisure as it has forested areas and meadows where you can see people walking, jogging, cycling, and even riding horses.
Experience the Treasures of Vienna
There’s so much to see in the Austrian capital and one of the world’s cultural hotspots. There’s even more to say about the attractions, which is why no description of the city can paint such a vivid picture of the city as you can get from visiting it.
Vienna is a fascinating metropolis teeming with both modern and traditional amenities. You don’t even need to be a history lover to enjoy a visit to the city. There are many fun activities and incredible sights that everyone can appreciate.
The old-world charm gives Vienna that special flair and makes it one of the most attractive destinations in Europe and the whole world.
