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What to see in Vienna was not the question I asked myself when I last visited the Austrian capital. In fact, in April 2019 I visited Vienna for the third time with a very specific purpose: to run the marathon. Vienna, then, in my memory, besides being a beautiful city, is the city where I ran my fastest marathon, just under the three-and-a-half-hour mark. The Vienna Marathon was one of the most beautiful I have ever participated in: it allows you to run through the city center and, in the final part, in the city’s most famous park, the Prater.
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What to see in Vienna: Schonbrunn
Among the things to see in Vienna the Schonbrunn Palace in my opinion ranks first! It is not exactly in the historic center, but it is easily reached by the U4 subway, getting off at the Schonbrunn stop. In the 18th century, when it was built, Schonbrunn was in the open countryside, but now it is part of the metropolitan center. Schonbrunn Palace is a true country residence, and was occupied by Napoleon between 1805 and 1809. Emperor Franz Joseph was born and died at Schonbrunn, which was intended to represent Austro-Hungarian opulence.
The tour of Schonbrunn is divided into two parts, the interior and the exterior. In the interior part, it is possible to admire the private imperial apartments, most notably the Grand Gallery, which was used for social receptions. The park, which can be visited free of charge, is immense in size. In fact, it takes at least twenty minutes to reach the highest part of the park: from here the view is wonderful, as you can admire the whole park and, in the distance, the city. At the end of the park, at the most scenic point, is the Gloriette, a small temple strongly desired by Maria Theresa.
At the base of Gloriette Hill is the Neptune Fountain, also commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa.
What to see in Vienna: Stephansdom
St. Stephen’s Church is definitely one of the jewels of Vienna. It was built in 1147, with a Romanesque plan: from the 14th century Stephansdom took on a Gothic form. The north tower houses the Pummerin, built in 1711 using cannonballs fired by the Turks during the siege of Vienna in 1683: the bell was destroyed by bombing in 1945, and was rebuilt using the same pieces. The tower itself was never completed: legend has it that its architect did not fulfill a pact with the devil, who in response killed the architect, pushing him into the abyss.
The tiled roof, covered with more than 250,000 tiles, depicts the double-headed eagle of the Habsburgs: it was renovated after World War II and is one of the symbols of the city.
To visit the interior of the church one must first pass through the majestic Giant’s Portal, named after a mammoth found near the site. Inside St. Stephen’s Church, the Gothic pulpit, Baroque high altar and organ are worth a visit. It is possible to visit both towers: the south tower is the taller one, and the view from its top is magnificent! The cost to climb the tower is 4.50 euros.
What to see in Vienna: Hofburg and museums
Only fifteen minutes away from Stephansdom is the Hofburg complex, the center of Austrian power for more than six centuries. The Hofburg complex is marked by various structures, and is currently the residence of the president.
Inside you can admire the halls of the royal apartments and the museum dedicated to Sissi, one of Austria’s most famous empresses. In the Hofburg area, there are several parks, among which the Volksgarten, literally the people’s garden, stands out for its beauty.
Next to the Hofburg are also two of Vienna’s major museums. The Kunsthistorisches Museum boasts an almost endless collection of works of art: in my opinion, the Vienna Discus by Myron, the San Cassiano altarpiece by Antonello da Messina, and Caravaggio’s Crowning with Thorns and David with the Head of Goliath stand out for their beauty. I visited the Kunsthistorisches Museum on a school field trip and I still remember that the visit was beautiful and very long-you have to spend at least three hours there!
The Albertina Museum, on the other hand, is a palace with a museum inside: it is especially famous for its collection of prints and drawings, particularly those by Albrecht Durer. Surely a visit to the Albertina is less demanding than a visit to the Kunsthistorisches!
What to see in Vienna: Rathaus
The Rathaus, or City Hall, is definitely one of the things to see in Vienna. It was built between 1872 and 1882 and is one of the finest examples of neo-Gothic architecture. Prominent in the facade is the central tower, which is an impressive 105 meters high. The park in front of the Rathaus is very beautiful and well-kept.For me, moreover, the Rathaus has a special value because it represents the finish line of the Vienna Marathon!
What to see in Vienna: the Belvedere
Vienna is a very green city, thanks in part to its princely residences. One of these is located a stone’s throw from the historic center, and it is Belvedere Castle. It was built in the early 23rd century, and consists of two palaces connected by a splendid three-level garden. The two palaces are named the Lower Belvedere, used as a summer residence by the prince, and the Upper Belvedere, used for guests and receptions. Inside the Belvedere you can admire the Gallery of Austrian Art, whose works include Klimt’s world-famous Kiss.
What to see in Vienna: Karlskirche
A short distance from the Belvedere is one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Austria, the Church of St. Charles Borromeo. Karlskirche was built by Emperor Charles VI, who wanted to thank St. Charles Borromeo, protector of plague sufferers, following the epidemic of the same disease.
Kalskirche’s facade is reminiscent of the church of Sant’Agnese in Agone in Rome, and is embellished with a fountain in which it is perfectly mirrored. The two columns, on the other hand, are inspired by Trajan’s Column: the facade recalls the suffering of the Viennese during the plague.
What to see in Vienna: Hundertwasserhaus
Two kilometers from the historic center of Vienna, in the Landstrasse district, there is a housing development named after their builder, the artist Hundertwasser.
This complex was built with the aim of giving vitality to these houses, using soft lines and no sharp edges. A visit to Hundertwasserhaus is not to be missed, as the facades are full of bright colors and decorated with colorful ceramics. According to Hundertwasser, everything that expands horizontally is part of nature, while man applies himself in everything that rises to the sky: this is why there is no shortage of roof gardens, which bring greenery into the dwellings.
This neighborhood has become very popular with tourists, and there is no shortage of bars and cafes themed with houses!
What to see in Vienna: the Anker clock
Not even a five-minute walk from Stephansdom the Anker clock is worth a visit! This clock, in fact, decorates a bridge that connects two historic buildings belonging to the Anker insurers. The design of this clock follows the art nouveau style: replete with figures of the imperial household, it was inaugurated in 1915. It was decided to discontinue its function until the end of the war, but it was lost to Austria. At the end of the war, therefore, some figures were removed and especially the imperial anthem was removed.
Even today, however, it is still possible to admire the beauty of this clock. At noon sharp, it is possible to watch the classic carillon: during the advent period, there are two additional shows, at 5 and 6 p.m.!
What to see around Vienna: Melk
Among the various things to see around Vienna, Melk stands out! This small town of 5,000 inhabitants can be reached comfortably from the Westbahnhof station, a journey of about an hour.
Melk is most famous for its abbey, dating back to 1089 but rebuilt in the 18th century. Inside the abbey you can see a splendid church, decorated with fine frescoes, and especially a majestic library. Melk Abbey also boasts a fantastic location on the Danube. It is definitely worth a visit-I recommend devoting a half day to Melk!
Finally, Melk also became famous thanks to Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose: the book’s co-protagonist, in fact, is Adso of Melk!
IN ADDITION TO VIENNA YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN…
The works of Rome from which Karlskirch took its cue.
Val Pusteria, the Italian valley before Austria
Free tour of Vienna with Civitatis!
Guided tour of Schonbrunn with Civitatis!
INFO ON WHAT TO SEE IN VIENNA
- Vienna is huge and deserves a visit of at least four days. Vienna’s population is around two million, disproportionate to Austria’s population of only ten million. One must always remember that Vienna was the capital of a large empire!
- In Vienna a tour of the pastry shops is not to be missed! The Sacher is the quintessential dessert, and you can find it in various, and beautiful, pastry shops. Among the most famous pastry shops are Cafรฉ Sacher, Demel and Cafรฉ Central, all three of which are excellent!
- In Vienna I have eaten very well at Centimeter, 7sterb Brau, Purstner and the Georgian restaurant Alaverdi: the first three are also excellent breweries! Vienna is also famous for its schnitzels: the most famous, though touristy, are Figlmuller’s.
- Vienna is connected to its airport by subway or train. The second is slightly more expensive but allows you to leave your luggage conveniently at the station: Wien Mitte is a very convenient station.
- Vienna is at its best from April onward, when the palace gardens are green and gorgeous to look at!
