Vienna flaunts art on every corner, be it music, painting, or architecture. The city has an impressively rich background in the arts, and there are a number of spots across the map which hold historical significance. Out of these, the capital’s palaces, most of which were built during the Renaissance, stand out.

One of the most prominent dynasties of Europe, the Habsburgs, ruled Austria for nearly three centuries, from 1526 to 1804. During this period, the family adorned the city with magnificent palaces with lavish gardens, spacious rooms and intricate interior designs. The people of Austria take pride in their cultural heritage, and historical structures and artwork are still kept in perfect condition. There are a host of royal buildings all over the city featuring a variety of architectural styles.

Most people who visit Vienna do it exclusively to explore museums, monuments, classical music and coffeehouses. The city is always a treat for art buffs, forming a fairytale backdrop with its horse carriages, domed renaissance buildings, Gothic cathedrals, marble sculptures and cobblestone streets. The addition of royal palaces completes the picture.
Here are some of the best palaces to visit in Vienna to make the most of the capital’s history.

1. Hofburg Palace

Also known as the Imperial Palace, the Hofburg Palace was at the center of the House of Austria. It was not only the residence of the royal family, but also their place of governance up until the early twentieth century. Today, it is the official seat of governance of the President of Austria. The palace complex houses three museums which are open to the public – the Imperial Apartments designed in the Rococo and baroque styles, the Sisi Museum which features about 300 personal effects of Empress Elizabeth, and the Imperial Silver Collection giving a glimpse into the dining etiquette of the royals.
1010 Vienna
www.sisimuseum-hofburg.at

2. Schönbrunn Palace

Built in 1642, the Schönbrunn Palace is the biggest palace in Vienna. It was listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1996 and is a classic example of Austrian baroque architecture. Located atop a hill nearly 200-feet high, the Schönbrunn is famous for its vast gardens blooming with countless flower arrangements. There is a museum inside the complex while the main grounds consist of the Privy Garden, the Orangery Garden, the Maze and the Zoo, the Palm House and the Desert House. The entry to these grounds is free, so you can spend the day exploring the gardens if you’re travelling on a budget.
Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien
www.schoenbrunn.at/en

3. Belvedere Palace

Divided into two sections – the Upper and the Lower Belvedere – this Baroque structure is known for its well-curated French-style gardens and the permanent exhibition in the Upper Belvedere. The Palace was commissioned as a summer residence by Prince Eugene of Savoy, and today displays an impeccable art collection featuring Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. The Upper Belvedere is also home to one of Vienna’s most celebrated paintings – The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. The Lower Belvedere features other artists through temporary exhibitions, while the Belvedere 21 museum (built after World War II) hosts contemporary artworks and modern media including film and photography.
Prinz Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien
www.belvedere.at/en

4. Albertina Museum

Located in the Inner Stadt (First District), the Albertina is a palace now functioning as one of the primary art museums of Vienna. It houses distinguished European artwork ranging from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries. The collection includes paintings, sketches, and other pieces by Claude Monet, Pable Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri Matisse, Leonardo da Vinci, Egon Schiele, Michelangelo, Gustav Klimt, and more. It also displays popular photography exhibits, providing a glimpse into the medium’s rich background and its evolution through the ages. The palace-museum also includes twenty-one staterooms which are open to visitors, adorned with lavish wallpapers, marble sculptures, and opulent furniture.
Albertinapl. 1, 1010 Wien
www.albertina.at/en

5. Palais Lobkowitz

The home of the Theatre Museum of Vienna, Palais Lobkowitz is a celebration of the performing arts. This townhouse was built in the seventeenth century in the baroque style and is known for being one of Beethoven’s favourite venues to perform at. The palais has a grand concert hall named Eroica Hall, and displays a few permanent collections including Klimt’s infamous painting Nuda Veritas. It also has a myriad of temporary exhibitions displaying paintings, prints, costumes, props, photographs and theatre graphics.
Lobkowitzplatz 2, 1010 Vienna
www.theatermuseum.at

Looking for more tips on Vienna? Check out our weekend guide to the Austrian capital, or this photo report on the Viennese Christmas markets.

About Stuti Verma

Based in New Delhi, Stuti is an art and history nerd and a traveler obsessed with documenting every part of her journeys in words and pictures. She never skips a museum visit and is fond of recording the culture and food of every city she visits. You can find her on Instagram.

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Few destinations gear up for Christmas quite as well as Vienna, where 25 or more Christmas markets spring up in picturesque squares, streets and parks around the city, kicking off in mid-November and carrying on in most cases until the 23-26 December (with just a few staying open until the New Year).

I was lucky enough to be able to visit the Austrian capital this year and enjoy a hot mug of Gluhwein (mulled wine) with several friends (- including on one occasion with two of my favourite fellow travel bloggers, Peter of Travel Unmasked and Sabina of Girl vs. Globe… see the final picture!). Each market is home to anywhere from a mere handful to well over a hundred stalls, vending a mixture of seasonal decorations and gifts, local arts, crafts and food products, and of course tasty snacks like iced pretzels and hot fruit punch. Many also throw on carousels, play areas, live music and theatre to keep kids and adults entertained alike.

Each market is home to anywhere from a mere handful to well over a hundred stalls, vending a mixture of seasonal decorations and gifts, local arts, crafts and food products…

The easiest market to stumble is the one in the centre of town in Stephansplatz, under the cathedral, and whilst I’m confident this will meet all your festive needs, for something extra special I’d strongly recommend seeking out the largest, the so-called Magic of Advent Market at Rathausplatz where you’ll find the best Christmas lights (such as the tree-strung snowmen and angel-winged guitars you’ll find featured in this post) glowing next to the impressive Neo-Gothic town hall. For nearly as much grandeur but far less tourists try the Art Advent market on Karlsplatz, where your children can run around in the straw, and, depending on the weather, snow. Hipsters should head to Spittelburg where stalls are set up along several narrow streets in the newly trendy Neubau district.

For more info on all the the festive bazaars and their opening dates, check out the official tourism website – whilst for tips on everything else, from essential attractions to hip hotels, bars and restaurants be sure to check out our own complete weekend guide to the capital. Finally for more ideas on where to head next December check our guide to Christmas breaks around Europe (coming very soon!).

Fancy another jingle of the bells? Check out our photos from Prague’s equally gorgeous Christmas fairs! And if you have any travel inspiration of your own for us then we highly encourage you to share tips on any of your favourite festive destinations in the comments section.

About Duncan Rhodes

Duncan is the Editor-in-Chief of Urban Travel Blog, a born and bred city slicker who loves urban adventure, street art, killer bars and late night hotspots. More about Duncan here.

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Main Attractions	Getting Here
Hipsters Guide	More Info
Events & More	Read This
Hotels & Beds	Watch This
Food & Restaurants	Listen To This
Bars & Clubs	City Map

On the surface Vienna is elegant, traditional and slow moving. However, dig a little deeper and you’ll find that it’s also bohemian, trendy, and a place to party into the small hours. Vienna’s elegance and tradition are centrally located in the Inner City, or more formally, the first district. In its 3km2 of space you’ll find stunning architecture made up of palaces, museums, theatres and churches. Many tourists stay in this small area of Vienna to see the major sights, then head out thinking that’s all there is to the Austrian capital.

Pity, those people missed out on seeing what Vienna is really about. To do that, you have to get out of the Inner City and head over to the districts that surround it. There’s the Naschmarkt (meaning ‘snack market’) that borders the 4th and 5th districts and is where to locals go to dine. There’s the 7th district with its huge shopping street and the bohemian flair of its funky coffeehouses and local designer stores. Even further out, the 19th district, displays a strong wine culture with vineyards growing within the city limits.

After a long day of touring the city, a round of all-night partying awaits in multiple pubs, trendy bars / restaurants, and dance clubs. Vienna is a versatile town that has much more to offer than cakes and cathedrals…

Best of the Beaten Track

The Inner City contains almost all of the “must sees” of Vienna. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is in the middle of the city and the elevator ride to the top offers a nice view. The Hofburg – Imperial Palace has multiple tours, but take the Imperial Apartments Sisi Museum tour due to its refreshing honesty about the famous Austrian Empress. Vienna is the birthplace of the coffeehouse and The Sacher Café is the most prominent with its famous Sachertorte. Pair the sweet torte with a strong cup of Viennese coffee and the sugar and caffeine rush will keep you buzzing for hours. To see all the other sights ride the Vienna Ring Tram which is a good value.

There are two important sights outside of the Inner City. The first is the Schönbrunn Palace. It offers a 30 and 60 minute tour, but go for the shorter one and spend the rest of the time walking the beautiful gardens. A little secret about the palace is that it has the world’s oldest zoo on its premises and is a great treat for families. For hot summer afternoons when touring is done, find the public pool where the chic set of Vienna go to cool off.

The other sight is the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Prater. Lines can be long and to be honest, it isn’t worth the wait. Photo opportunities from the ground looking up at the wheel can be really nice though.

Tip: if you plan on seeing more than two or three of the main sights, then it’s well advised to buy a Vienna 2, 3 or 6 day pass that gives you free entry to the likes of the aforementioned Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palaces, plus the main venues in the Museum Quarter, like the MUMOK and the unmissable Leopold Museum, often with “skip the lines” entry. It will save you a fortune! (You can even hop on and off the tourist buses for free).

Hipster’s Guide

Get off the tourist track to start hanging out where the locals are. Right outside of the Inner City is the Naschmarkt. Put up with the crowds and walk at a slow pace to see all the exotic edibles on display. Buy only nibble-sized quantities as prices can be high. To satisfy your hunger go behind the stalls to the diverse restaurants and dine with the Viennese. Some of the places can be a good value like the vegetarian eaterie Tewa, which is stand 672. On Saturdays the Naschmarkt expands to include Europe’s largest flea market. It’s fun to poke through all the dusty knick-knacks but the items are overpriced. (Nb: the Naschmarkt is closed on Sundays and holidays).

From Naschmarkt walk to the bordering bohemian 7^th district which is called Neubau. Within a few blocks is Vienna’s biggest shopping street, Mariahilferstraße. The usual suspects like H&M and Zara are present, but the department store Peek & Cloppenburg has a flagship location which offers the best shopping opportunities. If you want something original, check out the young designers on Zollergasse street. Then head east to hit the MuseumsQuartier to grab some culture, coffee, and just hang out.

Experience & Events

Vienna is a great town to explore on foot. The Vienna SightRunning tour is a unique experience if you’re a jogger or just need to burn off the Austrian sausage, beer and tortes.

If the thought of jogging makes you woozy, dance away the night during Ball Season. Vienna hosts over 450 balls each year and is one of the most authentic experiences a tourist can participate in. They are a great way to get into sections of buildings that are normally closed to see dazzling displays of imperial interior design. Despite the formal setting and a very strict dress code (men must be in tuxedos and women must wear floor-length gowns) balls are anything but stuffy. Prepare for a long night of dancing, live music and fun.

Tip: Balls vary in expense and experience. The Emperor’s Ball is expensive and touristy so skip it. The Opera Ball might be the most famous but comes off as tacky due to the media circus around it. The Vienna Philharmonic Ball is the most elegant and despite a high ticket price, is absolutely worth it. Most Viennese tend to flock toward the Flower Ball, Coffeehouse Owners’ Ball, and the Bonbon Ball due to fantastic locations and respectable ticket prices. Most Balls take place in January and February and you can see a calendar of the main events here.

Vienna is also very well known for its atmospheric Christmas markets where hot pretzels and gluhwein are the order of the day: something to bear in mind if you’re looking for a December city break suggestion!

Pillow Talk

Wombat’s City Hostel is an excellent hostel if you’re on a backpacker budget. Just make sure to book the Naschmarkt location as the other two are around the train station, which isn’t a desirable neighbourhood. For those with a few more euros to sprinkle liberally on their accommodation, nH Hotel on Mariahilferstraße has a fantastic location, great staff and a trendy vibe. At the top end, Hotel Imperial is an exquisite and spacious five star hotel. If you’d rather go down the more independent route, then try searching for apartments instead.

Fork Out

Traditional Austrian cuisine is rich, satisfying fare. Go to Café Central or Bettel Student, both of which are in the Inner City, reasonably priced, and consistently good. Eating at a würstelstand (sausage stand) is a must. The best is in front of the Albertina Museum. Order your sausage with a side of bread and an Austrian Ottakringer beer.

Vienna coffeehouses are an institution. Go in the morning and order a Viennese breakfast. In the afternoon go to Oberlaa for the best cakes in town. If you’re looking for a more formal dining experience, head over to Plachutta and order the house specialty – Tafelspitz.

Drop In

Nightlife in Vienna isn’t always easy to find even though the party week starts Wednesdays and on weekends goes all night long. Hotel bars are popular, and 25hours has a laid back bar with a DJ, good vibe, and rooftop views (although for the very best vistas check out the bar at Sofitel). To go dancing Volksgarten-Pavillon, with its winter garden, and Albertina Passage are the places to be. On Fridays and Saturdays don’t show up earlier than midnight. For a taste of artsy underground Vienna, try the cultural/nightlife hybrids of Fluc and Brut.

Getting There & Around

Vienna’s airport is small but efficient. Ryanair is a great, cheap carrier that flies to and from Vienna from other European cities. Once you’ve touched down at the airport, your best bet is to catch the CAT (City Airport Train) a direct service that takes just 16 mins to reach the centre of town. You can buy tickets in advance via GetYourGuide. If you’d rather not fly, intercity train travel is offered by the ÖBB but check out Eurolines first for great prices on clean, punctual buses with laptop plugs and sometimes WIFI.

More Juice

A good website that offers up-to-date information on the latest happenings in Vienna www.wien.info. A local perspective and some fresh ideas can be found at Vienna Insider. Foodies should check out the blog Sushiandstrudel.com.

Hard Copy

Lonely Planet Vienna City Guide is as good a guidebook as you’re going to get. For some serious fiction try Joseph Roth’s String of Pearls, is a nostalgic portrait of Vienna in the final days of the Austrian empire (Roth also wrote the acclaimed Radetzky March). Meanwhile Maria Fagyas’ novel, the Devil’s Lieutenant has a deserved cult following.

Silver Screen

The Third Man is ranked among the greatest films of all time and takes place in Vienna in 1949. Before Sunrise is one of Richard Linklater’s early films, featuring Ethan Hawke as a perfectly-pitched cliche of an artsy American backpacker (check out that goatee!) who falls in love with Julie Delphy on the overnight train from Budapest, before spending the day with her in Vienna. Amadeus won an Academy Award for best picture.

Soundtrack to the City

Falco – Rock Me Amadeus
Falco – Vienna Calling
Kruder & Dorfmeister – High Noon
Kath Bloom – Come Here
Ultravox – Vienna

City Map

Coming soon!

Vienna is featured on our list of fabulous romantic weekends in Europe. Check out the article for more amorous suggestions, or head to our City Breaks page for our complete list of city guides to top destinations around the world.

About Britta Pichler

Originally from Los Angeles, Britta now enjoys working in the corporate world in Austria, where amazingly she gets five weeks of vacation. That gives her time to pursue her love of travel and recently she has explored Europe, Argentina, Australia, Bali, China, Thailand and India.

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