Vienna

The religious and geographical centre of Vienna is St Stephen's Cathedral. The most prominent Gothic masterpiece of the city, with its stunning tiled roof and stone interiors, actually retains many artworks from different periods: the Romanic towers, the Baroque altar and the Renaissance decorations. Book a complete tour of the cathedral, visit the deep catacombs or make your way up the 136 m (448 ft) tall tower. When the Pummerin — the largest bell in Austria — rings on New Year’s Eve, it is even broadcast on TV.

The Vienna State Opera is one of the most distinguished opera houses in the world. The magnificent building on Ringstrasse was constructed between 1861 and 1869 by August Siccardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll as Hofoperntheater (Court Opera). You can catch a glimpse of what goes on backstage and admire the architectural magnificence of this neo-Renaissance masterpiece with one of the 40-minute guided tours.

Vienna’s classical concert offering is dominated by the Musikverein — the home of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra founded in 1842. Millions of music fans around the world consider the Musikverein to be one of the most traditional concert houses, paying host to artists of the very highest calibre. From its Golden Hall, the annual New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic is broadcast to the world on television. The Vienna Mozart Orchestra regularly performs Mozart’s famous works while dressed in period costumes.

Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna was established back in 1752 by the Habsburgs and now remains the oldest operating zoo in the world. The wide areas create a comfortable space for the animals and the staff of experts make sure they are very well attended. The administration of the zoo places significant focus on conservation and animal welfare. We recommend allocating around 4–5 hours to visit for your visit and check the feeding schedule.

The Imperial Palace was the residence of the Habsburg emperor until 1918. From the 13th century until just before the end of the monarchy, the area was fitted out in imperial splendour within its present-day size. The original Gothic building around today’s Schweizerhof was extended on a continuous basis, resulting in an extensive building complex formed of different sections, which contributes an essential character to the appearance of Vienna's Old City. Europe’s largest imperial cultural complex today houses more than two dozen collections of international standing, including the Austrian National Library, the Imperial Treasury, the Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum, as well as the Spanish Riding School.

Vienna Prater is a large public park, a place of nostalgic dreams for some and an oasis of greenery for almost everyone — it is the home of the popular amusement park and the location of the Giant Ferris Wheel, one of Vienna’s most famous symbols. The Prater is open from March to October, but the Giant Ferris Wheel and a few other attractions are open year-round.

One of the focal points of cultural life is the Wiener Konzerthaus in the atmospheric Art Nouveau style. Its musical bandwidth encompasses not only the classical repertoire, but also ranges from the Middle Age, Renaissance and Baroque music to Jazz, World and the progressive tones of the present day. Check the programme on their official website — there are multiple performances almost every day. Perfect plan for a date on a rainy day! If you are more interested in architecture than in music, take part in the guided tour of the Konzerthaus.

A visit to Vienna’s most famous palace is a must for art lovers. The Baroque building structures have been preserved with “Viennese Charm" and host the 1,441 rooms that were once inhabited by the imperial family. You can still admire 40 of them on the guided tours today. Explore the architectural treasures of the Palace Gardens, such as the Palm House and the oldest zoo in the world, built in 1752 by Emperor Franz I. Naturally, the gardens are best visited in the warmer months.

The church is a fine example of classic brutalist and cubist architecture, designed by the architect Fritz Wotruba. 152 concrete blocks have been assembled to form this unique-looking structure, with windows built into the remaining spaces. As strikingly different as the facade might look, the inside resembles a familiar church interior.

From mid-November until Christmas, a number of Markets in the city of Vienna spread Christmas cheer. Mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, music and handcrafted goods sold at the little stalls create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, despite the at times cold Austrian winters. Some of the most exciting Christmas Markets include the Viennese Dream Christmas Market in front of the City Hall, the Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace (Prinz-Eugene Straße) and the Christmas and New Year's Market at Schönbrunn Palace; there are many other smaller markets with similar charm.

The Danube Tower offers an unforgettable view of Vienna’s Danube landscape, the Old City and the Vienna Woods from a height of 170 metres. The two express elevators take visitors to the viewing terrace and the two revolving cafe/restaurants in just 35 seconds. The Danube Tower was built in 1964 for the Vienna International Garden Festival, which is remembered today in the Danube Park. Large meadows, extensive jogging paths, children’s play areas and flowerbeds offer a relaxing space for visitors.