Capital of the Republic of Austria and one of Europe's most visited cities, Vienna (Wien) owes much of its charm and rich history to its splendid location on the banks of the beautiful Danube River. For centuries the gateway between West and East Europe, it was the natural nucleus of the once sprawling Habsburg Empire, and to this day remains Austria's most important commercial and cultural hub. Vienna continues to attract visitors with its many great historic sights, as well as for its busy program of events and entertainment. With an unmistakably cosmopolitan atmosphere, it retains a distinctive charm and flair, an effect accentuated by its fine old architecture, its famous horse-cabs (Fiaker), as well as its splendid street-side cafés with their Viennese coffees and treats.

Where to go ???

Ringstraße +Stephansdom - Vienna's Ringstrasse is 5.3 kilometers long. Long enough to provide space for numerous monumental buildings, which were built during the period of Historicism in the 1860s to 1890s. Today, the buildings that stand there – from the Vienna State Opera to the Museum of Fine Arts – are among the most important sights in the city of Vienna.

Wiener Rathaus - Vienna's City Hall (Rathaus) is an impressive Neo-Gothic building that serves as the city's administrative center. Remarkable for its size - it occupies nearly 14,000 square meters of the former Parade Ground - this attractive building was completed in 1883 and is notable for the famous Rathausmann on top of its 98-meter high tower, a banner-carrying iron figure presented to the city as a gift from its master locksmith. The arcaded courtyard in the center of the building is the largest of seven courtyards and is used for popular summer concerts. Highlights of a tour of the building include the Schmidt Halle, the large entrance into which carriages would once drive to deposit their passengers, and the two Grand Staircases leading to the Assembly Hall. Other sights included in the tour are the Heraldic Rooms, the City Senate Chamber (notable for its coffered ceiling decorated with gold-leaf and its huge Art Nouveau candelabra), and the Mayor's reception room.

Parliament - Home of Austria's National and Federal Parliament since 1918, the Parliament Building impresses with its vast dimensions. Completed in 1883 for use by the Imperial and Provincial delegations, it boasts many Greek influences, from its Corinthian columns to its rich decoration (of particular note are the exterior carvings depicting the granting of the Constitution by Franz Joseph I to the 17 peoples of Austria, along with numerous marble statues and reliefs). Another highlight is the splendid Pallas Athene Fountain with its four-meter-high statue adorned with a gilded helmet and lance, along with figures symbolizing the Rivers Danube, Inn, Elbe, and Moldau. English language guided tours are available from the Visitor Center where you can also enjoy displays and multimedia presentations about the history of the building and Parliament itself.

Schönbrunn - The spectacular 18th-century Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) is worth visiting not only for its magnificent architecture, but also for its beautiful park-like setting. One of Vienna's top attractions, this Baroque palace contains more than 1,441 rooms and apartments, including those once used by Empress Maria Theresa. Tour highlights include a chance to see the Imperial Apartments, including Emperor Franz Joseph's Walnut Room and his Bedroom, which still has the small soldier's bed in which he died. Of Empress Maria Theresa's rooms, highlights include her richly furnished and decorated garden apartments, along with her Breakfast Room with its floral artwork created by her daughters. Schönbrunn Park and Gardens is another must see here. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its sumptuous Baroque gardens and numerous attractive outbuildings are well worth exploring, in particular the Palm House from 1883. If traveling with kids, visit the Children's Museum for a chance to see them dressed up as a prince or princess.

Hofburg+ Sissi Museum Wien - Look at the legendary canvas of Gustav Klimt's "Kiss", discover the main works of Schiele and Kokoschka. And enjoy the splendor of the baroque palace ensemble and the spacious park adjacent to it. Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736), a famous military leader and art connoisseur, entrusted Johannes Lucas von Hildebrandt with the construction of his summer residence, the palace and Belvedere Park, which was then beyond the city limits.  A masterpiece of the Baroque period consists of two palaces (Upper and Lower Belvedere), where today is the meeting of Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. Upper Belvedere is the world's largest collection of Klimt's works. The lower Belvedere is the living rooms and grand halls of Prince Eugene. The parade stables are the treasures of the Middle Ages. Where the 12 best horses of the prince were once located, today the collection of medieval art, stored in Belvedere, is fully presented.

Museums Quartier + Galerie Belvedere + Museum of history of Culture - Among Vienna's most popular attractions, Belvedere Palace is really two splendid Baroque buildings: the Lower (Unteres) Belvedere and the Upper (Oberes) Belvedere. Highlights of the Upper Palace include the Ground Floor Hall with its statues and the Ceremonial Staircase with its rich stucco relief and frescoes. Also worth seeing is the Marble Hall, a stunning two-story hall with numerous period sculptures, paintings, and ceiling frescoes. The Lower Palace also boasts a Marble Hall, this one noted for its oval plaster medallions and rich ceiling fresco, as well as a Marble Gallery built to house a collection of historic statues. Other notable buildings include the Winter Palace, a Baroque building that once housed the Court Treasury, the Orangery, the Palace Stables (home to the Medieval Treasury) and the Belvedere Gardens and Fountains linking the two palaces. Also worth seeing are its extensive art collections, including a rich array of sculptures and panel paintings from the 12th to the 16th centuries.

Museums of Freud, Beethoven and Mozart - You can visit museums of famous musicians and world-famous psychoanalyst. Feel the spirit of classical music.Opened in 1971, the Sigmund Freud Museum is set in the apartment where Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, lived and worked from 1898 until 1938, when he was forced into exile by the Nazis.

The Spanish Riding School - Dating back to the time of Emperor Maximilian II, the superb Spanish Riding School was established after the ruler had the famous Lipizzaner horses introduced to his courtesans in 1562. Today, it's one of Vienna's leading attractions, thrilling audiences with fabulous displays of equestrian skills in the Baroque Winter Riding School in the grounds of the Hofburg Palace, where it has been located since 1735. Tickets to performances sell quickly, so be sure to book as far in advance as possible.

The National Theater - Vienna's superb National Theater (Burgtheater) has long been famous for its productions of German-language plays and performances. Many famous names have acted on its four stages since its founding by Emperor Joseph II in 1776 as the Court Theater. After a devastating fire in 1945, the theater eventually reopened in 1955 and has since grown in stature as the country's most important theater. In addition to its size and the caliber of its performances, the building's exterior is impressive on account of its numerous decorative figures, scenes, and busts. Equally as impressive is its interior consisting of rich decoration in the French Baroque style, and a staircase with frescoes by Gustav and Ernst Klimt. (Behind the scenes guided tours are available in English.)

Prater Park and the Giant Ferris Wheel - Visiting the Prater, a large natural park between the Danube and the Danube Canal, is a little like stepping into another world. Covering an area of 3,200 acres, this vast park - once a royal hunting ground - has long been one of Vienna's most popular recreation areas. There's something here for everyone, from thrills and spills in the Wurstel area with its old-fashioned theme park rides to dining and dancing (there's even a dinosaur park for the kids). A highlight is taking a ride on the famous Giant Wheel, a Viennese landmark that has provided fine views over the city since 1896 (if you can afford it, go for the super luxurious cabin, suitable for parties of up to 12). Other park highlights include the Prater Ziehrer Monument, a larger-than-life statue of composer CM Ziehrer built in 1960; the Prater Museum with its displays documenting the park's history; a Planetarium; and the Liliputbahn miniature steam railroad traversing a four-kilometer line near the main avenue. Elsewhere in this vast park there's room enough for horseback riding, swimming in the stadium pool, football, cycling, tennis, and bowls. Also worth visiting is nearby Danube Park (Donaupark), a 250-acre open space that's home to a fun miniature railroad, an artificial lake (Lake Iris), and a theater.

Hundertwasserhaus - Famous as Vienna's "nature and human-friendly" house, the decidedly odd (yet fascinating) Hundertwasserhaus is well worth a visit. Designed by painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this brightly colored landmark on the corner of Löwengasse and Kegelstrasse was completed in 1985 and its main occupants - perhaps unsurprisingly - are artists, intellectuals, and creative types (much like the architect himself). Although the brightly colored building can only be enjoyed from the outside, you can explore the nearby Kunsthaus Wien, a complex of apartments containing a terrace café where you can rest while soaking up the ambience (afterwards, pop over to the similarly styled shopping arcade).

 Karlskirche - Dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, a saint invoked during times of plague, Karlskirche was built in 1737 and remains Vienna's most important Baroque religious building. This vast building is crowned by a magnificent 72-meter dome and is famous for its twin 33-meter Triumphal Pillars, based on Trajan's Column in Rome, with their spiraling bands depicting scenes from the life of St. Charles. Interior highlights include the fabulous frescoes of St. Cecilia. Also worth visiting is the Gardekirche, built in 1763 in the city's southern outer district as the church of the Imperial Hospital and later serving Polish congregations (of particular interest is the painting above the High Altar).

St. Stephen's Cathedral  - St. Stephen's Cathedral is 107.2 meters long and 34.2 meters wide. It has four towers. The tallest of these is the south tower at 136.44 meters. The tower room, from which there is a gigantic view across Vienna, is reached via 343 steps. A total of 13 bells hang here. However, the best-known bell of St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Pummerin, is located in the 68.3 meter-tall north tower. It is the second-biggest free-swinging chimed church bell in Europe. On the roof of St. Stephen's Cathedral, colorful roof tiles were laid to create the Royal and Imperial double-headed eagle and the coat of arms of the city of Vienna. The interior of St. Stephen's Cathedral was changed again and again over the centuries, right through to the Baroque period.

St. Peter's Church - Modeled on St. Peter's in Rome, the Collegial and Parish Church of St. Peter (Peterskirche) is built on a site originally occupied by a Roman church and later by one founded by Charlemagne in 792 AD. The present edifice was built in the 18th century and boasts a massive dome with a superb fresco and many artistic treasures. Other highlights include the Barbara Chapel with its magnificent portal, and in which Franz Karl Remp's Decollation of St. Barbara is found, and the choir with its High Altar and painting of the Immaculate Conception. Also of note is the nearby Plague Pillar, a 21-meter-tall Baroque pillar built to commemorate the end of the devastating plague of 1679 that cost at least 75,000 Viennese their lives. Also of interest is the nearby Abbey of the Scots (Schottenstift), built in the 12th century and extensively renovated and enlarged since. Its school included Johann Strauss and Austria's last emperor, Charles I, among its pupils, while its fine collection of artwork includes pieces from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Where to eat ???

The Famous Demel: Vienna's Ultimate Café - Founded in 1786 , the famous Demel is not only the oldest café and bakery in Vienna, it's perhaps the most memorable food experience you'll have in this wonderful city. Officially known as Hofzuckerbäckerei Demel - shortened to Demel by those in the know - this exquisite café serves dishes and cakes carefully prepared by hand to traditional centuries-old recipes, some of them once used to satisfy the cravings of Emperor Franz Joseph who secretly had Demel cakes and pralines served during his tête-à-têtes with his lover (apparently his unhappy wife Sisi was addicted to their legendary violet sorbet). A highlight of a visit is the Demelinerinnen, the modestly dressed waitresses wearing black dresses with lace collars who still address customers with the formal, "Haben schon gewählt ?" ("Has Madam/Sir already made her/his choice?"). The other highlight, of course, is drooling over the mouthwatering displays of cakes and pastries, including special creations resembling characters or creatures from history and mythology, each a work of art.

Griechenbeisl - Griechenbeisl is the oldest restaurant in Vienna, Austria founded in 1447. It is located on Fleischmarkt 11 near the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
Restaurant derives its name from the Levante merchants, who lived in the vicinity of the building, and the intensive trade relations between Vienna and the Orient since the time of the Babenberger period.
The first documentary mention of the Griechenbeisl dates back to 1447. Around 1500, the present Greek settlement was called "Zum gelbe Adler" ("To the Yellow Eagle"). Later the building appears to be a "guest house" - this house name is related to a tower dating back to around 1200 from the former town fortification, possibly already incorporated into the Late Gothic building in the residential tower in the 14th century. Also today the Griechenbeisl appeared with the name "Zum Goldenen Engel" (1762) or "Reichenberger Beisl". When Greek and Levantine merchants settled around the middle of the seventeenth century, the area they inhabited was called the Greek quarter. Thus, the guest house received its present name of Greece. But there was always the Viennese cuisine.

Figlmüller - Figlmüller is celebrated for its fabulous schnitzel and has symbolised Vienna’s incomparable lifestyle for over 110 years. Young and old alike enjoy meeting at this restaurant to savor its Viennese cuisine and quality wines.

Good to Know

Transport in Vienna - Vienna has a well-developed public transport network. Buses, trains, trams and underground lines will take you almost anywhere in the city in no time at all. Vienna public transport Wiener Linien operates five underground lines, 29 tram and 90 bus lines, of which 24 are night lines. Night lines only operate between 0.30 am and 5 am. On weekends and public holidays the Vienna underground remains at the service of its passengers all night. The Wiener Linien vehicle fleet currently consists of over 500 tramcars and almost 500 buses.

Language - Vienna is in Austria, not Germany. So why do Austrians speak German? In the 13th century, Austria became part of the German-speaking Habsburg Empire and remained under their rule for 640 years. As part of the empire, the Austrians had to speak German. German did not develop naturally but was standardized from a series of dialects spoken in central Europe. In the 16th century it was the language of Martin Luther’s bible and the leading language of Europe. The difference between Austrian German and the mother tongue is similar to the disparity between American and British English today.

Currency – currency exchange - The euro is the currency of Austria. You can also pay for your purchases without problem by card.The most popular credits are usually accepted in Vienna, although sometimes their use is subject to a minimum purchase amount. You can use your Maestro card (bank ATM card) almost everywhere - especially in shops - even for small amounts.You can withdraw cash with Maestro and credit cards at cash dispensers, which can be found everywhere in the city.If you need to exchange money, you are best doing this at a bank. Foreign exchange booths sometimes charge high fees, so please check, before you change your money.Most banks in Vienna are open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 12.30 pm and from 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm, and until 5.30 pm on Thursdays. In the city centre (1st district), almost all banks are open over lunchtime.