Vienna is one of the most visited European capitals each year; according to some data from Official Esta, there are more tourists than inhabitants in Vienna: more precisely, 329 tourists are calculated for every 100 inhabitants. This considerable influx is due to the many attractions that make Vienna a particularly welcoming and people-friendly city.
Let’s discover together the 5 things you should not miss if you decide to take a trip to Vienna.
Hofburg Palace
This is one of the most important palaces in Austria, the former home of the House of Habsburg and now the official residence of the Austrian Federal President. The Hofburg Palace encompasses a series of buildings totaling nearly 240,000 square meters; contained within it are several important historical artifacts, such as the Austrian National Library.
The beating heart of the palace is the Schatzkammer: this is the Imperial Treasury Chamber inside which is the treasury of the Habsburg family.
The most important treasures of the Austrian empire are kept in this room, such as the gold crown of the Holy Roman Empire and the imperial scepter.
Tourists have the opportunity to visit the 18 royal apartments, the Silver Museum, and the Museum dedicated to Princess Sissi, where all the personal possessions of one of the most important women in Austria’s history are housed.
Admission is chargeable.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
This is one of the most impressive Gothic cathedrals in Austria. Its majesty attracts about 3 million visitors each year; in order to capture every single aspect of it, it is necessary to photograph it from different perspectives.
The cathedral’s roof is composed of more than 250,000 tiles depicting the coat of arms of Austria. Enclosed within the dome is the Pummerein: this is a historical bell, made by casting cannons that belonged to the Turks who besieged Vienna during the late 1600s; it is a truly majestic bell that weighs more than 20 tons.
The pulpit present inside the nave was made of stone following a style characterized by excessive decoration, typical of the Gothic-Flemish expression; the four Fathers of the Church were represented here but the identity of the author is still unknown.
Inside the cathedral it is possible to admire statues, altars and the tomb of Frederick III, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Instead, in the cathedral’s basement are the Catacombs, which are divided into two sections: in one of them are the remains of the Habsburgs, while in the other section the archbishops of Vienna are still buried.
Admission is free but there is the possibility of participating in guided tours for a fee.
Museum of Viennese Art History
Franz Joseph I, emperor of the Austro-Hungarian kingdom, commissioned the creation of a museum within which he could store all the works belonging to his family, the Habsburgs. To this day, in fact, it is one of the most important museums in the world.
In fact, works of art belonging to the Egyptian and Oriental tradition are kept here, but also paintings by Raphael (“Madonna in the Green”), Velasquez (“Infants”), Caravaggio (“Madonna of the Rosary”), Rubens (“Helen Fourment”) but also Tintoretto, Titian and many others.
Admission to the museum is chargeable, except for children up to 19 years old.
Green Prater
This is one of the landmarks of the city of Vienna, where young and old go to spend pleasant days. Here, in fact, it is possible to take walks, run, ride a bike but also have fun thanks to the 250 attractions there.
This park is located in the center of Vienna and is surrounded by kiosks and restaurants where you can enjoy local dishes.
Inside the park there is also the famous Riesenrad (Ferris wheel); built in the late 1800s and restored a decade ago, it is one of the most popular attractions in Vienna thanks to which it is possible to admire the majesty and beauty of Vienna at a height of 65 meters.
Admission to the park is free; however, there is a charge for the attractions.
Schoenbrunn Palace
Belonging to the Habsburgs, the royal household used to spend their summer vacations here; today it is a UNESCO World Heritage monument.
The palace is surrounded by a very large park (about 120 hectares), which was opened to the public as early as the late 18th century,where there are statues, greenhouses, a labyrinth, numerous fountains (the most famous being Neptune’s) and the Tiergarten: this is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Europe.
Inside the castle, in addition to the Royal Rooms, there is also a theater: this is one of the oldest theaters in Vienna, which is opened to the public only in rare circumstances.
Here it is also possible to admire the Carriage Museum, where the means of transportation of the time in which the Court royals moved around are kept.
The rooms of the castle are mostly furnished following a Rococo style.
The castle has a rooftop terrace that can be reached by the public where panoramic views can be enjoyed.
There is an entrance fee to the castle.
