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Vienna, Austria

Highlights of Vienna

See the best the city has to offer in one day

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 (2 votes, 1 review)
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 8.8 miles / 14.2 km
Duration: Full day
Family Friendly
 
Overview: On this tour you will see royal residences, the world’s most famous fine arts, a Gothic cathedral, try Vienna’s best sandwiches and shop at Vienna’s most famous shopping street.

On this tour you will see: Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace Complex, Trzesniewski restauarant,Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere and Kärntnerstrasse.

Although you will walk between most of the stops you will have to take U-Bahn between Trzesniewski restaurant and Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere.

Take U3 (orange) from Trzesniewski restaurant and Schönbrunn Palace. (Stephansplatz stop to Johnstrasse)

Take U4 (green) from Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere
(Schönbrunn stop to Karlsplatz)


Tips: Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as this tour involves a bit of walking, and whatever you do; do not forget your camera.

Tickets are valid on all of the public transportation vehicles, pick up a free map at one of the stations and get on board. Buy a ticket at the station or at a newspaper/tobacco kiosk to avoid additional fees.

Points of Interest

Landmark
map

Stephansdom

A mandatory picture landmark in Vienna, St. Stephen’s Cathedral is Austria’s most eminent Gothic edifice. The oldest remaining parts go back to the 13th century. The Giant Gate and the Towers of the Heathens are both in the Romanesque style. The Gothic nave, the choir and the side chapels are the result of rebuilding in the 14th and 15th centuries, while some of the outbuildings (Lower Vestry), are Baroque additions.

The cathedral houses many art treasures: the red-marble tomb of Emperor Frederick III sculpted from 1467 to 1513 by Niclas Gerhaert van Layden, the pulpit from 1514-15 by Anton Pilgram, the Altarpiece of Wiener Neustadt, a Gothic winged altar from 1447 and a tomb of Prince Eugene of Savoy from 1754.

Climb the 343 steps to the Stephansdom tower-keeper’s room and enjoy the view of Vienna.
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Admission: Free

Hours
Mon-Sat: 6am-10pm
Guided tours at 10:30am and 3pm
Sun and holidays:7am-10pm
Guided tours at 3pm
June to September, guided evening tour with sightseeing visit to the roof, Saturdays at 9pm

Address
Stephansplatz, Vienna, Austria
Landmark
map

Hofburg Palace Complex

The winter palace of Habsburgs, the palace complex houses the Albertina Museum, Augustinerkirche (Augustinian Church), Imperial Apartments, Imperial Treasury and Spanish Riding School. The palace complex dates back to 1275 when Hofburg was a small fortress. The various buildings range from Gothic to late 19th century Neo-Renaissance style.

Must See:

Imperial Apartments: The Imperial apartments include rooms occupied by Franz Joseph from 1857 to 1916, Empress Elizabeth’s apartments from 1854 to 1898, and rooms where Czar Alexander I lived during the Congress of Vienna in 1815.

Imperial Treasury: 21 rooms of sacred and secular treasures: relics of the Holy Roman Empire, the crown jewels, liturgical objects of the imperial court and porcelain.
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Admission
With audio guide
Adults: 10.50Euro
Children ages 6-18: 6.50Euro
Students ages 19-25: 9.50Euro
Disabled persons: 9.50Euro

Hours
September-June: 9am-5:30pm
July-August: 9am-6pm

Address
Hofburg Michaelerkuppel
1010 Vienna, Austria
Food/Dining
map

Trzesniewski

More than 100 years old and famous for its sandwiches, Trzesniewski used to be frequented by Franz Kafka and is well known to all of Vienna residents.
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Hours
Mon-Fri 8:30am-7:30pm
Sat 9am-5pm

Address
Dorotheergasse 1
1010 Wien, Österreich
map

Stephansplatz U-Bahn stop

Take U-3 (orange) toward Ottakring and get off at Johnstrasse.
map

Johnstrasse U-Bahn stop

Get off at this stop and walk to Schönbrunn Palace.
Landmark
map

Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn, “a beautiful spring,” is a former summer residence of the imperial family. Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach designed the palace in 1695 under an eye of Leopold I however; Nikolaus Pacassi completed it in the mid-18th century under the Empress Maria Theresa. This 1,441-room Rococo palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in the country and is on yhe UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.

Visitors can take a tour through the authentically furnished residential and representational rooms of the Imperial family, get lost in the labyrinth of gardens or visit a separate children’s museum.
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Hours:
April-June: Daily, 8:30am-5pm
July-August: Daily 8:30am-6pm
September-October: Daily 8:30am-5pm
November-March: Daily 8:30am-4:30pm

Guided tour for children
Sat-Sun: 2:30pm
Grand Tour
Adults: 13.50Euro
Children: 9.50Euro
Imperial Tour:
Adults: 10.50Euro
Children: 7.50Euro

Address
Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse 47
1130 Vienna, Austria


Other Resources
Schönbrunn Palace
map

Schonbrunn U-Bahn stop

Take U4 (green) towards Heiligenstadt and get off at Karlsplatz
map

Karlsplatz U-Bahn stop

Get off at this stop and walk to Belvedere.
Landmark
map

Belvedere

One of the most famous places in Vienna, Belvedere was built by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt as the summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. Belvedere consists of two palaces: Upper Belvedere and Lower Belvedere linked by the formal garden; Orangery and the Palace Stables.

Upper Belvedere:
The gallery houses a collection of 19th- and 20th-century paintings. Most visit for the works of Gustav Klimt ("The Kiss" and "Judith"), but you will also see masterpieces by Schiele and Kokoschka as well as the work of French Impressionists and highlights of the Vienna Biedermeier era (Waldmüller, Amerling, Fendi). Some of the other featured artists include Makart, Boeckl, Wotruba, Hausner, and Hundertwasser.

Lower Belvedere:
Used by Prince Eugene for day-to-day living, the building is mostly known for the Hall of Mirrors where a 6-year-old Mozart performed before Empress Maria Theresa and her court. Part of the palace houses the Museum of Austrian Baroque Art that features artists such as Rottmayr, Altomonte, Gran, Troger, Messerschmidt and Donner.
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Admission
Combi-Ticket for 3 attractions (Upper Belvedere, Lower Belvedere (including Orangery & Palace Stables) and 21er Haus:
Adults: 19€
Seniors (over 60): 15€
Students (under 27): 15€
Children (under 19): Free
Combi-Ticket for 2 attractions (Upper Belvedere, Lower Belvedere/Orangery or 21er Haus):
Adults: 16€
Seniors: 12€
Students: 12.50€
Children: Free
Upper Belvedere (Permanent collection):
Adults: 11€
Seniors: 8.50€
Students: 8.50€
Children: Free
Lower Belvedere (Special exhibitions, Orangery Palace, Stables):
Adults: 11€
Seniors: 8.50€
Students: 8.50€
Children: Free
21er Haus:
Adults: 7€
Seniors: 5.50€
Students: 5.50€
Children: Free

Hours
Daily 10am-6pm

Address
Prinz Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien
Other Resources
Belvedere
Landmark
map

Kärntnerstrasse

This is the most famous shopping street in central Vienna. It runs from Stephansplatz out to the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna’s Opera House) at Karlsplatz on the Ringstrasse. The first record of Kärntnerstrasse is from 1257. This is a great place to window shop and spend some Euros.

Walk from Karlsplatz to Stephansplatz; do not be afraid to peek into the side streets.
Pictures in this guide taken by: NTLISS, stefan222, oachkatzlschwoaf, geller10, JosephandKate, pvdm
Reviews
stefan222
Vienna is always worth a visit. My personal tip: visit the christmas market in front of the city hall, from mid Nov to Dec 23th.

BTW, the very first picture of this guide shows the parliament building in BUDAPEST, not Vienna!

Visited on Dec 09, 2011

by stefan222 on Jun 20, 2012

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