Vienna, Austria

What to do in Vienna, Austria

Stephansdom (St. Stephan's Cathedral)

Vienna's skyline is dominated by the richly tiled roof and soaring spire, nicknamed Steffl (Little Stephen), of the greatest Gothic cathedral in Europe. The South Tower, called Alter Steffl (old Stephen), has 343 steps that can be hiked up for a tremendous view of the city and the surrounding Wienerwald (Vienna Woods). Inside the cathedral is the carved, wooden Wiener Neustadt alterpiece from 1447, among many monuments, tombs, sculptures and paintings. There is also a chilling tour of the crypt, complete with Hapsburgs' copper jars..of the Hapsburgs.

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Walking the Ringstrasse

Follow the footsteps of Freud on a 2 + mile walk around the perimeter of the Inner Stadt, catching glimpses of the Rathaus, Burgtheater, Staatsoper, Staadtpark, the Parliament building, and of course the magnificent Hofburg Palace. Freud walked this route every day during his two-hour lunch break, from one end of Danube Canal to the other, inspired by all the grandeur that Vienna has to offer. This impressive boulevard surrounds the old borders of Vienna, and changes name as it moves around, from Opernring, to Kärntner Ring, with each ending in Ring.

Hofburg Palace

The city residence of the Hapsburgs until 1918, this complex has many buildings, courtyards, and museums, starting with the Michaelertor (St. Michael's Gate), a domed entry that leads into the green Heldenplatz (Hero's Square). Originally started in 1279, this "city-within-a-city" has been added to and tinkered with for hundreds of years, and contains the Spanisch Reitschule (Spanish Riding School), the Nationalbibliothek (Library), and the Hofburgkapelle, home of the Vienna Boys' Choir.

Spanische Reitschule (Spanish Riding School)

In this white, crystal-chandeliered ballroom, sleek, stark-white Lippizaner stallions and their skillful riders perform a routine that hasn't changed in 400 years. The stallions are a crossbreed of Spanish thoroughbreds and Karst horses, that dates from 1580, and are a treat to watch, but reservations should be made 6 to 8 weeks in advance.

Wiener Sängerknaben (Vienna Boys' Choir)

In the Hofburg there is the Hofburgkapelle, a Gothic chapel from 1447 that hosts the Hofmusikkapelle, an ensemble of Vienna Boys' Choir and Vienna State Opera chorus that performs pieces by classical and modern composers, including holiday masses by Mozart and Haydn. Written applications for tickets must be sent 8 weeks in advance for the 9:15 am performance at Sunday Mass.

The Museums in Maria-Therezen-Platz

This beautiful garden sits in between 2 incredible museums that face each other in matching grandeur:.

On the left is the Kunsthistorisches (Museum of Fine Arts), which has a fabulous collection including Roger van der Weyden's Crucifixion Triptych, Brueghel's Children's Games and Hunters in the Snow. There is also work by Flemish masters Van Dyck and Rubens, and two Rembrandt Self-Portraits. However, a highlight of this museum is the Albrecht Dürer collection, including Blue Madonna and Martyrdom of 10,000 Christians.

Directly across from this museum and identical in architecture is the Naturhistorisches (Natural History Museum), which boasts a few gems from history, but hasn't changed much in the past hundred since it was opened by Franz-Josef.

Schloss Schönbrunn

This magnificent Baroque palace in the outskirt of the city was built as a summer residence for the Hapsburgs in 1713. Kaiser Franz Josef I was born and died here, with his office on display to the public exactly as he left it in 1916. Opulent Rococo interiors shine throughout the rest of the building, including the Hall of Mirrors in which six-year-old Mozart played his first concert for Maria Theresa, and then ran up and kissed her when he finished.

Musical Landmarks

In the Zentralfriedhof, the central Cemetary, which is larger than the Innere Stadt, music lovers can find the graves of Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Strauss, and Arnold Schönberg, including a monument to Mozart, even though his true grave is unmarked, hidden elsewhere in the city. There is also a Schubert Museum, Haydn Wohnhaus, and Strauss Memorial Rooms in Vienna that are interesting to see.