Vienna attractions

Heldenplatz sits at the heart of Imperial Vienna, stretching out in front of the sweeping arcs of the Hofburg Palace. Commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph II as part of the city’s elegant Ringstrasse thoroughfare in the late 19th century, the square is completely surrounded by the baroque beauty of Vienna’s most important landmarks.

One of Vienna’s most beloved parks, the Prater is both an oasis full of greenery and a family-friendly amusement park. Enjoy views of the Danube from the towering Ferris wheel earns big views of the Danube, walk down leafy avenues, visit museums, and join the local crowds turns that out for Sunday races at the Prater race track.

The royal Habsburgs were collectors, and their holdings—from armor to artwork—make up the heart of the vast Kunsthistorisches Museum. In this palatial building topped by an octagonal dome on Vienna’s Ringstrasse, explore the thousands of artifacts, masterpieces, and treasures that make up one of Austria’s foremost museums.

A towering black spire stands above the Church of St. Michael, but the landmark’s biggest draw is below street level. Thousands of bodies have been laid to rest in the St. Michael’s Church crypt, whose cool conditions slow decomposition. In the main church, a magnificent 18th-century organ is used for baroque concerts.

If you’re looking to sample authentic Viennese cuisine or soak up local culture, head to the 16th-century Naschmarkt—the oldest of Vienna’s many markets. Located just south of Vienna’s historic center, Naschmarkt hosts a week-long food market and a Saturday flea market.

Housed in former residential apartments in the vast Hofburg Imperial Palace complex, Vienna’s Albertina museum is home to an incredible 1.5 million prints and over 50,000 drawings. The permanent collection of graphic art is considered the finest in the world, with works by Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt, and Schiele.

An elegant dome and slender columns hint at the rich interior of the Church of St. Charles (Karlskirche), with large windows illuminating its marble surfaces and gilded details. The baroque masterpiece was built to celebrate the end of a devastating plague, and its treasures include an elaborate pulpit, religious paintings, and sculptures.

Located along the famous Ringstrasse, Maria Theresa Square (Maria Theresien Platz) is surrounded by many of the capital’s prominent landmarks, with the Museum Quarter to the south and the Hofburg Palace to the north. Home to two of the city’s most notable museums, the square is a highlight of historic Vienna.

Standing in stark contrast to the baroque palaces and grand plazas of historic Vienna, the colorful facade of the Hundertwasserhaus is one of the city’s most unique works of contemporary architecture. This eccentric apartment complex, masterpiece of Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, is a highlight of many Vienna tours.

An outpost of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, Neue Burg is a Habsburg wunderkammer that holds three important Imperial collections: Arms and Armor, Ancient Musical Instruments, and the Ephesos Museum showcasing artifacts from the ancient Greek city of Ephesus—plus the Weltmuseum, National Library, and House of Austrian History.

Starting life in the Middle Ages as a civic garbage tip, Freyung Square has morphed through the centuries into one of Vienna’s prettiest public piazzas. The triangular cobbled space is dominated by the Austriabrunnen (Austria Fountain and lined by the medieval monastery of Schottenkirche plus a smattering of elegant Baroque palaces.

A highlight for classical music enthusiasts, this historic townhouse built into Vienna’s old city walls was Ludwig van Beethoven’s residence for eight years. Today it houses a museum dedicated to his life and work, with a collection of original symphony manuscripts, personal papers, portraits, and replicas of the composer’s instruments.

With a permanent collection of more than 30 million objects, the Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) is one of the most renowned museums of its kind. Wander the Wunderkammer-like halls, and marvel at treasures ranging from dinosaur skeletons to the 29,500-year-old Venus of Willendorf.

Four floors of interactive exhibits bring Vienna’s musical legacy to life, whether you’re exploring famous composers or leading a virtual orchestra. The House of Music (Haus der Musik) combines musical history, hands-on activities, and other melodic features into a single museum suitable for all ages.

Judenplatz sits at the heart of where Vienna’s Jewish community once thrived and where the city’s first synagogue was built—later torched during the 1420 antisemitic uprising. Today this historic square is known for the excellent Jüdisches Museum Judenplatz and the stark Holocaust Memorial at one end.

Filled with Austrian art from the early 20th century, the Leopold Museum has a bold contemporary design that contrasts neatly with the Baroque architecture of Imperial Vienna that dominates the MuseumsQuartier. A must for fans of modern art, the museum is known for its collection of works by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.

Perched on the banks of the Danube River in Lower Austria, this picturesque village is a maze of cobblestone lanes lined with pastel-hued houses and topped by a stately blue baroque tower. Full of traditional restaurants and shops selling local wines, it’s a popular stop on driving, cycling, and walking tours through the valley.

The tallest structure in Austria at more than 820 feet (250 meters) high, Vienna’s Danube Tower offers magnificent panoramic views around the old city, Danube Park, and the Vienna Woods from an observation deck. A bungee-jumping platform is built for thrill-seekers, while a rotating restaurant lets diners savor 360-degree views of the Austrian capital.

This pretty park was once a private royal garden but has been one of the most popular spots in Vienna for locals to gather for the past century. Lined on one side by the art nouveau Palmenhouse—today home to the Butterfly House and a buzzy cafe—the park offers grassy lawns and shady benches overseen by a monumental statue of Mozart.

Set against a backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Schönbrunn Palace, the Schönbrunn Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) is the world’s oldest zoo, dating back to 1752. Today, the park houses some 750 species, including rhinos, polar bears, and pandas, and focuses on the conservation and protection of endangered species.

More than a museum, Vienna’s Academy of Fine Arts is also an art school. Historic masterpieces here share a campus with budding artists from around the globe. With a magnificent collection of German, Dutch, and Flemish works, the paintings gallery is located in a Schillerplatz palace alongside lecture rooms and studios.

Mozart had multiple residences in Vienna, but only one survived to the present day; the Mozarthaus Vienna at Domgasse 5, which was the composer’s home during the height of his career from 1784 to 1787. Today, the residence is a fascinating museum to visit for music lovers and history buffs alike.

Set along the River Danube in the north of Vienna, the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) offer a respite from the bustle of Austria’s capital city, as well as dramatic views. Originally hunting grounds for Viennese royalty, the region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Today, its lush hills are a haven for wildlife and walkers.

The architectural headliner of Hoher Markt, Ankeruhr (Anchor Clock) is a fanciful bronze-and-copper clock dating from the early 20th century. It’s known for the 12 figures from Viennese history rendered in copper that emerge individually as each hour is struck. The biggest show is at noon, when all 12 figures appear in rotation.

All that glitters is indeed gold at the Imperial Treasury of Vienna (Kaiserliche Schatzkammer, one of the most significant treasuries in the world. Housed in the oldest part of the Imperial Palace, the collection shows off the decadence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire through its 1,000 years of treasures and precious religious relics.

With rolling vineyards of grapes and apricots, plus a collection of more than 5,000 historic monuments, it's no wonder that the Wachau Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Austria's most popular tourist attractions. Here, this stretch of the Danube River carves a picturesque path through the valley's historic towns of Melk and Krems, uniting a harmonious blend of wineries, Gothic churches, and medieval castles.

Home to the country’s lawmakers, the Austrian Parliament is the landmark with political clout on Vienna’s Ringstrasse. People visit it to see Austrian democracy in action, and to discover its 19th-century history and architecture. The striking Greek-revival façade and recently renovated interior chambers are among the highlights.

One of the world’s most important neo-Gothic buildings, the 19th-century Votive Church (Votivkirche was built to celebrate a failed assassination attempt on the Habsburg Emperor Franz Joseph I. Today, the soaring cathedral with rose windows, gabled portals, and delicate spires and buttresses is among the city’s architectural treasures.

Known for its gold-leaf dome from outside and its Gustav Klimt-created Beethoven Frieze inside, the Vienna Secession is a treat of intriguing architecture and art. While the big draw is the Beethoven Frieze—an interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9—the artist-run building hosts continually changing contemporary art exhibitions.

Set inside the former home of the Austrian neurologist at Berggasse 19 in Vienna, the Sigmund Freud Museum tells the story of Sigmund Freud via exhibitions of his possessions. Original furniture decorates the rooms that now serve as exhibits on Freud’s family life and his role as the founding father of psychoanalysis. It's a must-visit for travelers with an interest in psychology.