Kohlmarkt – Graben – St Stephen’s Church: These three Viennese landmarks near one another appear in every guide book for good reason. The palace’s enormous garden is accessible for free and fun to explore, especially the Gloriette and the “ Roman ruin,” and there’s even a zoo there.Ĩ. The endless Baroque and Rococo halls are predictably grand and glamorous, and the living quarters can be notably revealing – such as the subdued study of the workaholic Emperor, Franz Joseph. Visit the Habsburg summer palace: If you haven’t tired of the Habsburgs yet, I recommend you take the half-hour journey by public transport to Schönbrunn, the ruling family’s summer residence on the outskirts of Vienna. Roaming the streets will give you a sense, but specific examples include the Karlskirche, the Court Library, Eugene Savoy’s summer palace (Belvedere), Palais Kinsky, and Palais Liechtenstein.ħ. Fueled by the counter-reformation movement of the 17th century and by a general sense of euphoria after the 1683 defeat of Ottoman Turkey, stunning churches and Baroque palaces sprung up in and around Vienna’s city center (District 1). Roam Vienna’s Baroque City Center: People usually think of Rome as the capital of Baroque, but Vienna isn’t far behind. Delicious offal dishes, such as roasted veal liver (kalbsleber), also prominently feature on menus, and of course no meal is complete without a Kaiserschmarrn or a palatschinken dessert with a side of fruit preserves.Ħ. There are many restaurants – so-called gasthaus or beisl – that serve up excellent versions of these hefty plates. Try a traditional Austrian restaurant: Viennese food is a collection of dishes from territories once under the Habsburg imperium: schnitzel from northern Italy, knödel from the Czech parts, goulash from Hungary, and so on. Since 1946, the Leopoldine Wing houses the office of the Austrian President.ĥ. Today, these spacious Baroque and neo-Baroque halls are home to nearly a dozen museums, such as the Imperial Treasury, the House of Austrian History, the Austrian National Library, the Sisi Museum, and the Spanish Riding School. Experience the Imperial Palace (Hofburg): The seat of the Habsburg family and Austria’s political center for centuries, the enormous Imperial Palace dominates the heart of Vienna. Note that there’s a restaurant on the top floor, Kelsen, with outdoor tables during the warmer months.Ĥ. The one-hour tour takes visitors through the Hall of Columns and both chambers of the parliament. The stunning Greek Revival building along the Ringstrasse, designed by Danish architect Theophil Hansen, offers free guided visits in English (with advance registration). Tour the Austrian Parliament: After a five-year renovation, the Austrian House of Parliament has recently opened to the public. Journalists, artists, politicians, businesspeople – everyone has their go-to cafes. Countless traditional coffeehouses still serve as important social hubs for local residents. This isn’t a portrayal of long-ago Vienna, but a scene from the present day. Experience Vienna’s traditional cafe culture: Ornate interiors fitted with high ceilings and oversized windows, suit-and-tie-wearing waiters, well-dressed customers lingering for hours on end with the physical paper over a cup of coffee and an apple strudel. Wall texts are informative and written in perfect English across all museums.Ģ. Not far behind is the Albertina, heavy on Renaissance drawings (Dürer’s Young Hare!) and post-impressionism, while the Leopold Museum is home to Austrian moderns, primarily Egon Schiele. Above all stands the Kunsthistorisches, showcasing Raphaels, Tintorettos, and an entire hall dedicated to the paintings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Thanks to the Habsburg legacy and to the Viennese modern art movement of 1900, the city is home to some of the world’s top collections. Visit the three great museums of Vienna: No doubt, a Vienna visit for the museums alone is worth it. The list below includes a mix of both options, and this map will help you find each specific location mentioned below. As a first time visitor to Vienna, it makes good sense to visit the main landmarks, but it doesn't mean you can't also venture a bit away from the historic city center (District 1).
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