Popularly referred to as “the City of Dreams”, Austria’s capital is one place with a lot of magical allure. It has stunning palaces, charming gardens, and excellent coffeehouses and there is something for everyone to enjoy in Vienna.
Let’s see 10 things to do if you are ever in the City of Dreams.
At number 10, we are paying a visit to the Volksgarten Garden located in the centre of the city of Vienna, this garden is a part of the Hofburg Imperial Palace. It is a peaceful garden where you can run for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city streets.
It is a very tourist-friendly place where you can meet up with friends, have a picnic, or just relax after an exhausting day.
This green space also boasts of nice green benches which are graffiti-free and an outdoor café located just behind the garden where you can grab a beverage or two.
I absolutely recommend putting this place on your Vienna itinerary.
Coming in at number 9 is taking a ride on the Riesenrad Ferris Wheel. There are not many activities that Trump hoping for on the World’s Oldest Ferris Wheel and trust me, it is well worth it. Located in the Prater Amusement Park, this wheel gives you the opportunity to catch the best views of Vienna from on high. The overall vibe of the whole activity is exciting and you can snap some pictures for the gram too.
That’s not all. You can also book a drink or dinner in the cabins although that would translate to staying for multiple rotations of the wheel as opposed to a single ride.
Overall, this is a fantastic thing for a fun lover or a first-timer to the city to start off with.
Occupying the 8th spot on this list is discovering the city’s rich history at the Imperial Treasury.
Visitors can admire the royal jewels of the House of Habsburg and discover Austria’s rich royal history with a visit to the Imperial Treasury of Vienna at Hofburg Palace.
There is a stunning collection of Habsburg Imperial regalia, crowns and sceptres.
That isn’t where it ends. There are portraits too, a great number of precious crosses, candle holders, and other liturgical objects but what trumps all of these is the large emerald ranked among the largest in the world and a strange object that was once thought to be a horn of a unicorn which is however a canine tooth of a narwhal.
I cannot recommend this superb museum enough!
Number 7 is visiting St Stephen’s Cathedral.
It is perhaps Austria’s most prominent national symbol and is best known for its intricately designed roof. It also has an astonishing 500-foot-tall South Tower from where guests can enjoy panoramic views of the entire city.
The cathedral is also a very beautiful structure, inside and out and leaves a very impression on you after just one visit. You should try to go see the imposing cathedral for yourself sometime.
At number 6, we have the Belvedere Museum or Palace. They are actually two in number and both were built as far back as the early 18th century. It was originally for the purpose of being the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Today, however, it houses the greatest collection of Austrian art you can find anywhere. Art that dates back to the Middle Ages! Within it, you will find works from a roll call of the best artists there are – Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and Max Beckmann. It contains the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt’s paintings (including the famous golden Art Nouveau icon the Kiss.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is worth an hour or two of your time.
Coming in at number 5 is visiting an aquarium! Not many activities can beat visiting an aquarium. I mean, marine life is always a wonderful sight and not many aquariums in the world can beat the Haus des Meeres or Aqua Terra Zoo. It is a public aquarium in Esterhazy Park, Vienna and it houses roughly 10,000 creatures ranging from Komodo Dragons and Ants to Sharks. It has concrete towers built during World War which stretch several stories up.
There is also a restaurant but that is if you manage to make it up to the roof terrace. If you can, then you can eat some good food while enjoying spectacular views of Vienna.
At number 4, we have the Cultural World Heritage Site of Schönbrunn Palace, Austria’s most frequently visited tourist attraction. It is one palace with plenty of residential and state rooms which retain their original furnishings and decorations.
Schönbrunn Palace is a magnificent Baroque palace that has impressive architecture and is also a popular recreational area for the people of Vienna. It is a truly breathtaking place with plenty of activities to keep visitors entertained for hours. A botanical house, a zoo filled with lively creatures, cafes and restaurants too.
You have to make out a day to visit.
Number 3 is exploring the Vienna Hofburg Palace. It is a living testament to the history and grandeur of the Habsburg Empire. For centuries, this imposing palace was the centre of power for the Habsburgs, and today it houses three museums that give visitors an authentic insight into the traditions and everyday life of the imperial court.
The three museums are as follows;
The Imperial Apartments with their original furnishings and decoration, the Sisi Museum with its sensitive staging of the empress’ life, and the Imperial Silver Collection which contains a comprehensive range of tableware and other utensils used at the imperial court.
All these would contribute to giving you insight into the lifestyle and living conditions of the era.
Occupying the number 2 spot is having a day out at the Tiergarten Schoenbrunn – Zoo Vienna.
It was founded in 1752 and is the oldest existing zoo in the world. Between 2010 and 2012, it was voted Europe’s best zoo twice.
It is the perfect place for animal lovers and is open all year round to visitors. It is part of Schonbrunn as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listed site and houses more than 700 species of animals. Giant pandas, tigers, orangutans, koalas and elephants, you name them. It also has very improved facilities and if you have kids, you should make sure to go along with them!
At number 1, we have the Vienna Opera House
It is the largest opera house in the world which brings about the tiles of the “World Opera Center”.
It was built way back in 1869 and boasts magnificent Renaissance architecture, the greatest artistic works ever.
That is not all. The opera house is also renowned for its impressive performances of both classical and contemporary works.
You can visit for a taste of beautiful performances by composers, conductors, soloists and dancers or for the amazing ambience and architecture of the place. If you’ve done any of the things on this list, do let me know what the experience was like in the comments section. If you haven’t, you can also let me know which of them tickles your fancy the most.