Home to nearly one-third of the country’s population, Vienna is the country’s primary city. The magnificent capital of Austria, Vienna is the center for economy and politics. There are many historical attractions in Vienna through which one can learn about the glorious past of Vienna. This place has also been home to some of the greatest musicians in the world.
Often called the “City of Music,” and the “City of Dreams,” it is ranked one of the most livable cities in the world. The inhabitants of this place enjoys a high quality of life. Vienna city is a beautiful spot in central Europe and remains a popular tourist destination. A visit to these historical sites and museums will take you on a walk through Vienna‘s rich history and culture. Plan a trip and you are sure to be delighted at the end of it. Here are some historical attractions in Vienna you have to see during your visit.
Admire The Celestial Schönbrunn Palace
The most important architectural, cultural, and historical monument – the Schönbrunn Palace has been standing since the 1600s. The Palace and gardens of Schönbrunn is one of the well preserved Baroque ensembles of its kind in Europe. It holds a major role in cultural importance in Austria. The palace has 1441 magnificent rooms and is one of the main tourist attractions in Vienna. The palace itself is an immense building designed in the Baroque style with a symmetrical main building that has hundreds of windows and statues on the rooftop. Many emperors and rulers have resided in this marvelous palace. This palace has a huge number of tourists coming in throughout the year. Many of the Hollywood movies have chosen the Palace and gardens of Schönbrunn as a location for their shoots. The Schonbrunn Palace is also popularly known as Schloss Schonbrunn.
Artistic Patterns Of St Stephen’s Cathedral
Don’t miss the most iconic building of Vienna, St Stephen’s Cathedral which stands on the ruins of two earlier churches. St Stephen’s Cathedral attracts more than 3 million visitors every year. This monolithic building stands proudly in the Stephansplatz and is the most important church in Vienna since its construction. The massive structure dominates the Vienna skyline, like Austria’s own colossus! The place oozes opulence from the Romanesque and Gothic design of the exterior to the dominating pointed tower. Its intricately decorated main roof has hundreds of colored tiles that form an intriguing pattern. It also houses a wealth of art treasures, such as a red-marble sepulcher from 1467 – 1513, the pulpit from 1514 – 15, Gothic winged altar from 1447 and the tomb of Prince Eugene from 1754. The most prominent feature of the Cathedral is the Gothic South and North Tower.
Catch Sight Of The Hofburg Palace
Vienna Hofburg palace was built by the Habsburg dynasty. This is another huge palatial complex that pays tribute to the power and influence of kings. It served as the main winter palace for the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire for hundreds of years. Today, things have changed with the palace serving partly as the presidential base. The complex is home to offices of the President of Austria and has undergone many additions since its creation in the 13th century. The Hofburg has been expanded over the years to include various residences like, the Imperial Chapel, the Naturhistorisches and Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Austrian National Library, the Imperial Treasury, the Burg theater, the Spanish Riding School, the Imperial Horse Stables, and the Hofburg Congress Center. The most impressive part of the palace is the fabulous semi-circular Neue Burg.
Austrian Parliament Building An Architectural Marvel
Spread over 13,500 square meters, the Austrian parliament building is a must visit for photographer professionals as well as amateurs. The Greek Roman style designs by architect Theophil Hansen makes this building look absolutely stunning and awe inspiring. A walk around this building will take you back to the world of ancient Greece. This building contains over one hundred rooms that are decorated with self-designed furniture, chandeliers and pictures. There are a few historical rooms like the Chambers of the National Council, the Federal Council, and the former Imperial House of Representatives. One of the building’s most famous features is the 5.5 m high statue of Pallas Athena in the middle of a big fountain in front of the main entrance. Other Viennese tourist attractions in this building include committee rooms, libraries, lobbies, dining rooms, bars and gymnasiums.
Rest Your Legs At The Schönbrunn Gardens
From the center of Vienna, comes another exceptional piece of magic. The garden of the Schonbrunn Palace is filled with pleasant sights where you can spend hours walking through the various sections and displays. Whether you choose to walk through the Parterre and admire the uniform flower beds, or to get lost in the beautiful hedge maze and labyrinth, the gardens have it all set for your visit. Don’t miss Neptune’s fountain, a stunning piece of artwork, an artificial Roman Ruin complete with stone statues. You will never fall short of glorious sights and reasons while enjoying all the attractions in Vienna.
Explore UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage Site
The historic center of Vienna is rich with many monuments, parks, gardens and beautiful architectural structures. All the architectural attractions in Vienna and urban qualities have earned the historic center a place in the UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list. This place is regarded as one of the most beautiful landmarks of Europe. More than millions of people visit the historic center of Vienna every year. Do visit this place to view the late-19th-century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, churches, monuments and parks. The outstanding attractions in Vienna and rich art collections gathered by wealthy rulers are sure to bewitch you.
The Marvelous Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere palace was built by Prince Eugene of Savoy as his summer residence. Today this is one of the most important baroque buildings in Austria and a place worth seeing in the city of Vienna. There are two Baroque palaces that face each other: the Upper and Lower Belvedere, which are connected by a stunning baroque garden. The stunning Upper Palace includes the Ground Floor Hall with mesmerizing statues, and the rich stucco relief and frescoes Ceremonial Staircase. Many of the palace rooms are now open for visitors like the mirror hall, dining room and even the bedrooms. Don’t forget to visit the museum of modern art while you are here. This museum is a historical site and one of the main attractions in Vienna that has many displays of various Baroque sculptures and paintings.
Catch A Play At The Vienna State Opera House
The Vienna State Opera House was planned by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg. Interior was designed by Eduard van der Null. The grand staircase, the Schwind and the exquisite Tea Room with valuable tapestries are the main highlights of the interiors. This architectural marvel was opened on 25th May 1869 in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth! One of the world’s largest theaters, the Vienna State Opera House has hosted many of the world’s most prominent composers, conductors, soloists, and dancers. It can accommodate an audience of 2,211 along with 110 musicians. Take a tour guide to get more captivating information about the Vienna State Opera Houses. If you are a music lover, you can also pay a visit to Wiener Musikverein (a concert hall) and the House of Music.
The Vienna Central Cemetery
The Vienna Central Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in the world. This cemetery was large from the beginning since 1863 and not the one that has evolved slowly with the passing of time. Opened in 1874, this cemetery this cemetery is a quaint place that houses the remains of some of the most well-known artists in the history such as Ludwig Van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Salieri, Franz Schubert and Johann Strauss to name a few. The Vienna Central Cemetery opened in 1874 and since then this cemetery has become one of the main attractions of the city due to history associated with it. Take a walk inside this calm and quiet place till you reach a beautiful Art Nouveau-style church (Charles Borromeo Church) in the center. This church was built in 1908–1910 by Max Hegele.
Pay Homage At The Soviet War Memorial
The Soviet War Memorial also known as the Heldendenkmal der Roten Armee (Heroes’ Monument of the Red Army) is located at Schwarzenbergplatz. Located between Palais Schwarzenberg and the Hochstrahlbrunnen fountain, this is one of the most obvious landmarks on Schwarzenbergplatz. One must visit this place to have a look at this astounding monument that speaks of history and martyrdom. This memorial is dedicated to 17,000 Soviet soldiers who were killed in the Battle for Vienna of World War II. The monument consists primarily of a semi-circular white marble colonnade partially enclosing 12 meter figure of a Red Army Soldier. The soldier atop this column bears a flag, a machine gun, and a golden shield in his hands. A large beautiful fountain occupies the space in front of the curved colonnade making it one of the great attractions in Vienna.
This city has a charm to it that you might not see elsewhere. We recommend that you take a guided tour to cover all the major historical places. Make sure that you go to all the places in this list for a great trip! Open your heart to Austria’s sensation and fly down here to experience all the attractions in Vienna that’s sure to capture your heart and soul. You will surely take a piece of Vienna with you when you fly back home, so pack your bags today to set out for another visual treat. Bon Voyage!
The best time to visit Vienna is between April to May or from September to October.
Vienna was ranked the world’s most livable city a couple of years back and it plays host to 5.8 million tourists every year.
Three days is the perfect amount of time to visit Vienna without being too rushed.
The four main forms of transport within Vienna are subway, local train, tram and buses.
Viennese German is the city dialect spoken in Vienna, the capital of Austria.
