5 THINGS TO DO IN VIENNA IF YOU’RE AN ART LOVER
If you’re going to visit Vienna for the first time, you are in the right place. Here you’ll find a list of 5 things to do in Vienna if you love art, history and culture.
Here you’ll find the places I saw and the experiences I had when I visited the city, and my suggestions to better enjoy what Vienna has to offer.
5 things to do in Vienna
Vienna is not only the capital of Austria, but also the cultural centre of the nation.
From historic cafés to museums, from architecture to works of art in Vienna everything talks about a very long history.
For this reason it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List!
1. Visit the Hofburg Palace
Vienna’s museums are several, but in my opinion, the starting point must be the Hofburg.
Located in the heart of the city, it was the former imperial palace of the Habsburg family, and today is home to the Austrian Parliament and a museum, as well. Inside, you’ll discover the story of Austria and its protagonists, including Princess Elisabeth, nicknamed “Sissi.
2. Have a slice of Sachertorte
Sachertorte is a chocolate cake with apricot filling, one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties. It was invented by Franz Sacher, in 1832, for Prince Metternich, and since then it has always been one of the Viennese and tourists’ favourite cakes. The original Sacher Torte is sold at Café Sacher.
3. Visit Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn was the summer residence of the Habsburg family located few steps from Vienna.
All you have to do is take the subway, and in less than 30 minutes you’ll arrive at the outskirts of the city where this majestic palace, surrounded by an immense park, stands.
It is worth booking a guided tour to the Schönbrunn Castle, so you can find out details and anecdotes you can’t discover by yourself.
4. Enter St. Stephen’s Cathedral
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, St. Stephen’s Cathedral stands in the centre of Vienna with its wonderful roof made up of 250,000 multi-coloured tiles and the bell tower, affectionately referred to by the Viennese as Steffl (a diminutive form of Stephen). Inside the Church you can admire many artistic details and the funeral monument of Duke Rudolf IV, the founder of the cathedral.
5. Discover the Prater
The famous park located in the hearth of Vienna is beloved by the Viennese and is considered one of the 10 most beautiful city parks in the world.
In ancient times it was a hunting ground of the House of Habsburg, whereas today the Prater is a place where you can have a walk, ride a bike or can be explored aboard the small train Liliputbahn.
In addition, you can enjoy the amusement park offering more than 250 attractions, including the famous giant ferries wheel inaugurated in 1897.
