General Information

Vienna is Austria’s capital and its largest city. It has a population of about 1.8 million people and is the tenth largest city in terms of population in the European Union. In 2015 Vienna was selected for the seventh time by the "Mercer" Foundation as the best city in the world in terms of levels of quality of life. Vienna is a green city, where green space occupies more than half of the metropolitan area.

Vienna is famous for being the world’s center of education, literature, music and science. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I in 1918, Vienna lost much of its importance. After the end of World War II in 1945 it has become a global center for conferences and multi-center international agencies. Vienna is host to many major international organizations such as the United Nations and OPEC.

 

Main sights

• Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn)

  Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial palace and consists of the 1441 rooms. The Palace is one of the most important and beautiful architectural and cultural attractions in the country. Schönbrunn Palace consists of 8 sections, with a very big garden and the famous zoo of Schönbrunn. To reach the palace you should take the green line of the underground U4 in the direction “Hütteldorf” until the stations of “Schönbrunn” or “Hietzing”.

   

• Stephansplatz

  Stephansplatz is one of the most famous squares in Europe. It is named after its most prominent building, the Stephansdom, Vienna’s cathedral. To the west and south, respectively, you find the exclusive shopping streets of Vienna. To reach the square you have to take either the red U1 or the orange U3 to the station “Stephansplatz”.

   

• Hofburg Palace

  The Hofburg is the former imperial palace in the centre of Vienna. Part of the palace forms the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria. It was the principal imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence. From 1438 to 1583 and from 1612 to 1806, it was the seat of the kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, thereafter the seat of the Emperor of Austria until 1918.

   

• Belvedere

  The Belvedere is one of the most beautiful sights of Vienna. It is a historic building complex in Vienna consisting of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the third district of the city, on the south-eastern edge of its centre. It houses the Belvedere museum. The Baroque palace complex was built in the early eighteenth century as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy who chose Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt as the chief architect for this project.Unfortunately it’s not possible to reach the castle via metro, but you can go there by Tram D or 71.

   

• Vienna Woods (Wienerwald)

  The Vienna Woods are forested highlands that form the northeastern foothills of the Northern Limestone Alps in the states of Lower Austria and Vienna. The 45 kilometers long and 20–30 kilometres wide range of hills is heavily wooded and a popular recreation area with the Viennese.

  Beeches, oaks and pines grow throughout the north of the Wienerwald forest. There are also vineyards such as Neuwaldegg located on the edge seventeenth district.

   

• People’s garden (Volksgarten)

  Volksgarten is a public garden and a part of the Hofburg in the first district of Vienna. It was laid out by Ludwig Remy in 1821. The park was built over the city fortifications that were destroyed by Napoleon in 1809. The Volksgarten was opened to the public in 1823.

   

• Museumsquartier

  The Museumsquartier is one of the ten largest cultural areas in the world. It contains Baroque buildings as well as Modern architecture. The Museumsquartier is home to a range of installations from large art museums to contemporary exhibition spaces and festivals.

   

• Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper)

  The Vienna State Opera is an opera house located in the centre of Vienna. It is considered as one of the world’s most beautiful opera houses and was built in 1810.

   

• Townhall (Rathaus)

  The Rathaus is a building Vienna which serves as the seat of the mayor and city council of the city of Vienna. It contains a library, an archive and a unique collection of documents on the history of Vienna. Furthermore a lot of festivals and events are held on the outer space of the building. The construction of the Rathaus started in 1872 and was finished in 1883.

   

• Danube Tower (Donauturm)

  For 7.40 € two high-speed elevators transport passengers to the tower's viewing platform at 150 metres. Two revolving restaurants offer a varied view over the Austrian capital and the Danube River below. To reach the tower you have to take the underground U1 (red line) until the station “Alte Donau”.

   

• Vienna Giant Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad)

  The Wiener Riesenrad is a 64.75-metre tall Ferris wheel in the 2nd district of Vienna. It was constructed in 1896/1897 and is one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions. It is located in the Prater amusement park which features various rides, bumper cars, carousels, roller coasters, shooting galleries, ghost trains, a Madame Tussauds wax works cabinet and much more.