Vienna. Attractions and monuments. Things to see in the Austrian capital

Name: Vienna
Rating: 5

Viennais the capital of Austria. It belongs to the European Union and the currency is the euro
The city impresses with its architecture, magnificent palaces, interesting temples and powerful buildings
The perfect time of year to explore Vienna is in the spring, when flowers bloom in the palace gardens
Vienna is very well connected, there are metro, buses and trams, you can buy one-off or term tickets
In Vienna, from about 10 November to January, Christmas markets are held throughout the week in about 20 points of the city. In April, there are Easter fairs. Prices are affordable

Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a city with a rich history, culture and architecture that attracts tourists from all over the world. From majestic palaces, lively squares to charming cafes and intimate alleyways. It's a city of great people. Mozart raged here, and the Pole opened the first fastfood. It is also said to be the first cafe. One empress introduced the obligation of a 6-year school, another cared about her appearance like a modern influencer. There is also Beethoven's autograph next to Snoop Dog. We visited Vienna in November, when the city also delights with colorful Christmas fairs. See them through our eyes!

Accommodation in Vienna

When visiting Vienna, we stayed at the Boutique Hotel Das Tigra, which is very conveniently located. It is located in the building where 6-year-old Amadeus Mozart once lived. The elegant hotel offers comfortable rooms and a delicious and varied breakfast with regional accents. It is worth mentioning that the hotel has the Austrian Eco-label, which means that it meets strict ecological criteria and operates in a sustainable manner.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Experiences in Vienna that are worth seeing in the capital of Austria

Vienna offers many attractions to suit a variety of tastes. We were enchanted by this city above all by its magnificent, historic architecture. There is little modernity here, but a lot of respectable tenement houses and buildings referring to world styles. Here is an overview of the most interesting places to discover when visiting this beautiful city.

Schönbrunn Palace - the summer residence of the Habsburgs

Schönbrunn Palace is one of Vienna's must-see attractions. The palace, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is the largest building in Austria. It is 175 meters long. The former summer imperial residence impresses with its Baroque architecture and extensive gardens. Distant from the city center, it reminds us a bit of Wilanów.

Although it does not look like it, the history of the palace dates back to the 13th century. The current shape of the palace dates from the 17th century. It is worth visiting its interiors, where you can admire the richly decorated rooms and learn about the history of the Habsburgs. Interestingly, the complex has as many as 1,441 rooms, 45 of which are open to the public.

And did you know that the name Schönbrunn is simply "Beautiful spring"? The gardens around the palace offer beautiful views and the opportunity to walk among fountains, sculptures and a rich flower. A beautiful observation hill rises opposite the palace. It is called Glorieta, a monument to the just war. Stroll there, because there is a popular café with a great view of beautiful Vienna. An interesting fact is that in 1809, the borders of the Duchy of Warsaw were formed in the Schönbrunn Palace, when the peace between France and Austria was signed.
Address: Schonbrunner Schlossstrase 47

St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, the most famous monument

It is a must to see St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) in Vienna. It is a symbol of Vienna and one of the most important sacred places in Austria. It is located in the heart of the city, on St. Stephen's Square, the oldest part of the city, which is the heart of Vienna. It is an impressive Gothic building with a characteristic tower with a height of 136 meters. Thanks to it, the cathedral was the city's tallest building for many years. It is worth climbing it, from where there is a breathtaking view of the city.

The main temple of Vienna is open every day. Tourists can see its interior free of charge, albeit with restrictions. After purchasing a ticket, you can enter the presbytery and the tower. The interior is very impressive. You are filled with a breeze of hundreds of years filled with art, culture and faith. The pulpit, which is a gem of late Gothic sculpture, is unusual. This is where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart got married and where his funeral took place.

In the lower tower hangs one of the largest bells in Europe, called Pummerin. It weighs 20 tons, and the heart itself weighs over 600 kg. The original bell, destroyed during World War II, was cast in bronze from Turkish cannons captured during the Siege of Vienna. Needless to say, its protagonist was our king Jan III Sobieski.
Address: Stephansplatz

Mythos Mozart - the cool Museum about Mozart

Returning to Mozart, he is one of the most distinguished inhabitants of Vienna. As a 6-year-old boy, he gave concerts here, which caused considerable surprise and bewilderment to the imperial family. Since 2022, a museum entirely dedicated to him has been operating in the city. This is Mythos Mozart, housed in the building where the composer died in 1791 as a 35-year-old man.

The museum travels through other rooms, listening to his amazing compositions. Multimedia is not only here, it surrounds you, even hits you and absorbs you. It is an immersion exhibition, of which you become a part. From a thrilling room with candles, through one in which you choose sounding instruments, to even a psychedelic room. There is a lot going on everywhere, but the main axis is his outstanding works. Undoubtedly, Mozart was a genius. You can only imagine how his career would have turned out if he hadn't died so quickly.

You can imagine how rich he was when he died and was buried in a very poor way, in the cemeteryof St. Mark (Biedermeierfriedhof St.Marx. Today, it is not even known exactly where his original grave is located. He led a very reckless lifestyle and squandered all his possessions. The funeral was very modest, and the artist himself was forgotten for some time. A symbolic grave of Mozart was created near the probable burial place.
Address: ul. Karntner 19

The Hofburg complex - the imperial palace in Vienna

The Hofburg is the ancestral seat of the Habsburgs, which was their nest for 600 years. For centuries, this palace complex hosted many noble figures who played an important role, but Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria (1837-1898) was unique. This is the famous Sisi, who is as beloved in Vienna as Daisy in Pszczyna. She cared very much about beauty and a nice figure. She was 172 centimeters tall and weighed only 48 kg. She took care not to gain weight. Here she lived and here she rebelled against court conventions and restrictions. After the tragic death of her son Rudolf, she traveled a lot, avoiding Vienna. She was murdered by an anarchist with a nail file, which only increased her love and sympathy for her person.

Here you will feel the atmosphere of Vienna. Currently, the powerful Hofburg complex on Heldenplatz houses several museums, including the Sisi Museum. It is also worth visiting the Imperial Treasury (Schatzkammer), where valuable insignia of power are stored, the Austrian National Library or the Imperial Apartments. An in-depth tour of these places can take up an entire day.
Address: Heldenplatz

Maria Theresa Square in Vienna

In the heart of Maria Theresa Square stands a powerful monument to this empress. Adored by Austrians, called the "Mother of the Nation". Poles did not necessarily love her, because it was during her life that the first partition of Poland took place. Pupils also do not like her, because she invented the 6-year compulsory schooling in 1774. Powerful buildings rise around the square, creating an amazing picture.

Vienna Opera

The Vienna Opera (Staatsoper) is a very impressive building, attracting attention. Normally available after purchasing a ticket, but if you are lucky, you will be able to visit the interiors for free during artist rehearsals. It was opened in 1869 with the premiere of Mozart's "Don Giovanni". Once, Sisi or Elżbieta Bawarska, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I, often sat here. Inside, it is worth paying attention to the crystal ceiling with a diameter of 7 meters, with 1,100 light bulbs.
Address: Opernring 2

Vienna City Hall

The Vienna City Hall is an incredibly beautiful architectural gem. It was built in 1883 as a powerful neo-Gothic building. Numerous arcades, sculptures and figures captivate here, with the most important figure of a knight at the top of the central tower. According to the then law, the secular building could not be higher than the tower of the neighboring church. In this case, it was the Votive Church. That is why the tower of the town hall is one meter lower, but with the knight it already leads the way.
Address: Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1

Parliament building in Vienna

The parliament building, standing near the Town Hall, is unusual. The designer, modelled on Greek architecture, wanted to emphasize the meaning of the words "democracy" or "politics". The Balkan Peninsula is their cradle. The Parliament can be visited on selected days and times.
Address: Dr. Karl Renner-Ring 3

Belvedere in Vienna

Belvedere is a Baroque palace complex consisting of the Upper and Lower Belvedere. They are connected by a multi-storey garden. The whole comes from the 18th century. In Górny there is an art gallery with works by Monet, van Gogh and Klimt. The world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt's works is presented here, including the famous painting "Kiss". The gardens surrounding the palace are a great place to relax and walk. We would love to see how these gardens are decorated with a blooming spring flower. Did you know that Archduke Franz Ferdinand once served here? He was murdered in Sarajevo, which initiated World War I.
Address: Prinz-Eugen-Strase 27 (Upper)
Rennweg 6 (Lower)

Prater - amusement park in Vienna

Prater is an amusement park known primarily from the huge diabolical carousel - Wiener Riesenrad. It was opened in 1897 and still offers unforgettable views of the city from a height of just over 60 meters. We were driving in a private carriage and it was an amazing experience, all the more so because we admired Vienna from here in the glow of the setting sun.

The park is an ideal place for relaxation and active leisure. Admission is free, you can walk or ride a bike here. You only pay for specific experiences. A ride through the Ferris wheel costs 14 euros or about 60 zlotys.
Address: Waldsteingartenstrasse

St. Peter's Church and Graben Promenade in Vienna

Graben is one of the most beautiful and lavish pedestrian streets in the capital. We highly recommend walking through it also after dark, when the ornaments and lighting add a magical touch. During the day, sunlight reflects off the glass panes, creating playful flashes. It is a beautiful fragment of the historical center.

Between the buildings, the church of St. Peter emerges spectacularly. Long ago, in the 4th century, when the Roman settlement of Vindobona existed, there was an early Christian church here. Today it is a baroque gem, the interior of which can be visited free of charge.
Address: Graben, Petersplatz 1

Votive Church of Vienna

The Votive Church is a beautiful, "lace" work, reminiscent of Notre Dame in Paris. This neo-Gothic temple was built in the 19th century, more precisely in the years 1855-79. As a vote of gratitude for saving Emperor Franz Joseph I, later Sisi's husband, from the coup. Interestingly, 300,000 people contributed to the construction of the church. Viennese. The 99-meter-high church is open to visitors every day, except Mondays. Unfortunately, we were here on Monday. I am very sorry.
Address: Rooseveltplatz

Maria am Gestade Church in Vienna

The Maria am Gestade church is unique for Poles due to a curiosity. In the temple there are relics of Clement Maria Hofbauer. This is another Polish accent, as he is the patron saint of both Vienna and Warsaw. At the end of the 18th century, the saint came to Warsaw to spread the faith, run schools and care for an orphan. These were hard times of partitions, so when there was not enough money, he begged for houses himself. Eventually, he was expelled by the new authorities from our capital and went to Vienna, but he always considered Poland a second homeland.
Address: Salvatorgasse 12

Ruprecht's Church - the oldest church in Vienna

St. Ruprecht's Church is the oldest temple in Vienna. It dates back to the 12th century, and maybe even the earlier century. The first confirmed mentions appeared in 1161. It is Romanesque and quite inconspicuous, squeezed in among other buildings. We wanted to look inside its austere and modest interior, but on Monday this temple is closed. On the remaining days of the week, you can enter at selected times.
Address: Ruprechtsplatz 1

Church of St. Charles Borromeo

The church of St. Charles Borromeo on Karlsplatz is a baroque gem from the 18th century, or more precisely from 1716-39. The church was built as a thank you for reversing the plague of 1713. An interesting facade is additionally decorated with 2 columns reminiscent of Trajan's columns in Rome. The interior of the temple is available for a fee.
Address: Karlsplatz

Schlumberger cellar with sparkling wines

The Schlumberger Sekt cellar is the oldest cellar in Vienna with fantastic sparkling wines. The tradition of creating this drink dates back to the 19th century, when Robert Alwin Schlumberger used his knowledge gained in Champagne and produced the first Austrian sparkling wine. If it were not for the reservation of the name, you could easily call it champagne. The cellar is visited with an audio guide, learning the history and secrets of this soda. At the end, a tasting of the golden drink takes place. The price of the tour is 12 euros.
Address: Heiligenstädter 39

Other Vienna experiences

The passage of the Ferstel Palace (Strauchgasse 4) is a place of great beauty. This historic shopping arcade looks more like an Italian one than an Austrian one. Magnificent Venetian-style decorations enchant
Café Central (Herrengasse 14) - a famous cafe whose queue never ends. Its interior is captivating, and it is located in the same building as Ferstel, only on the other side
The Museum of Art History (Maria-Theresien-Platz) - is one of the largest museums in the world, which has an extremely valuable collection of European painting and ancient art. There are works by such masters as Pieter Bruegel, Titian or Caravaggio
Museum of Natural History (Maria-Theresien-Platz) - a wonderful museum in Maria Theresa Square
St. Michael's Church (Heldenplatz)
House of Music (Seilerstätte 30) - an interactive museum dedicated to music and sounds. This fascinating place allows visitors to discover the secrets of music through a variety of exhibitions and interactive stations. You can also listen to the works of great composers related to Vienna
Christ Winery (Amtsstraße 12) - Christ wines have won the title of the best in Austria. Wine traditions have been passed down here for many generations, because Reiner Christ's family has been doing it for 400 years, there is a restaurant waiting on the spot
Anchor Clock (Hoher Markt)- Ankeruhr Art Nouveau clock on the connector of two parts of the Anker-Hof tenement house, which interestingly works and presents the hour in an unusual way
Naschmarkt (Schleifmuhlgasse)- a lively food market that offers a wide selection of fresh products, local specialties and dishes from different parts of the world. It is the perfect place to shop and try regional delicacies. There are many restaurants with world cuisine, which are considered the best in Vienna. On Saturdays, there is also a flea market, where you can find unique items.

Map of Vienna attractions and Christmas markets

Below on the map, we have marked the attractions that we visited in the capital. They will allow you to easily arrange your route during your trip to Vienna.

Our video

We invite you to our film about the capital of Austria.

Vienna Fairgrounds

The markets in Vienna are unique. These Christmas ones open around November 10 and light up the sky for over a month and improve the mood of residents and tourists during the autumn gray. There are about 20 of them, all available for free! They are open all week, usually from around 12.00 (some stalls are already open earlier) to the evening. The colorful fairs are an integral part of urban life, offering residents and tourists a unique culinary experience and the opportunity to buy local souvenirs and handicrafts.

The most beautiful fairs

The most famous is the fair at the Town Hall, which in 2024 was recognized by CNN as the most beautiful fair in the world! It is fabulous and colourful. In addition to stalls, it offers an ice rink, carousel and even a garden of light. For us, a little too many people there. Much more intimate and colorful is the fair at the Campus of the University of Vienna. I also liked the ones on Maria Theresa Square and Art Advent at Karlsplatz, due to the nice surroundings.

Market mugs and drinks

Significantly, almost every market is distinguished by its cups, from which you can drink hot chocolate, warming tea or alcoholic mulled wine. Here you can choose between glühwein or punsch. Glühwein is a mulled wine with Christmas spices that cannot contain water. Punsch is a punch that, in addition to water, also contains rum or whiskey, although there are more and more variations. The punch is stronger, with an alcohol content of about 14%. You will find ponchos in various flavors, I liked orange the most, but they are also with cherry, plum, apple and even amaretto. They cost about 4-6 euros, which is not expensive considering the prices at Polish fairs. You pay a deposit of 5 euros for the cups, which is paid after they are returned, unless you want to take them as a souvenir. We have a red shoe and a mint mug with Santa. Red shoes can be found at the fair at Maria Theresa Square and at the campus, while the mint one is a symbol of the Am Hof fair.

History of fairs

The history of fairs in Vienna dates back to the Middle Ages, when the first fairs began to be organized in the 12th century. Initially, they sold mainly food products, and over time the fair became a place of trade and social gatherings. Over the years, fairs have evolved, attracting diverse ethnic and cultural groups, which has enriched the offer and the atmosphere.

Viennese fairs we visited:

Christkindlmarkt under the Town Hall (Rathausplatz) - crowded, but with attractions, there is an ice rink, carousel and interesting lighting like in a garden of lights
Fair at the UW Campus (Alserstraße, Spitalgasse) - intimate, fairy-tale and beautiful
Jarmark next to Schoenbrunn Palace (Haupttor, Hietzinger Tor, Meidlinger Tor) - ideal for families with children: with ice rink and carousels and smaller food portions
Art Advent at Karlsplatz - with a carousel and children's hay in place of a fountain
Altwiener Christkindlmarkt on Freyung Square - intimate with medieval traditions, because it is located next to the former Benedictine monastery. It is cozy
Weihnachtsmarkt Am Hof on Am Hof Square - also intimate and climatic
Maria Theresien-Platz Square Fair
Prater Fair (Waldsteingartenstrasse) - a fair combined with fun, because it is an amusement park with many attractions, admission is free, you only pay for attractions if you want to use them
Belvedere Fair (Prinz Eugen-Straße 27)

What and where to eat - cafes, restaurants and wine bars in Vienna

While in Vienna for 4 days, we tasted some Austrian delicacies: dishes, desserts and wines. We ate goose meat and other regional specialties, such as Viennese schnitzel, i.e. veal with potato salad or Viennese boiled beef Tafelspitz in the desired Gastwirtschaft Stopfer Restaurant. It was delicious in this traditional restaurant, run by the Stopfer family since 1951.

In an intimate alley, we visited one of the oldest restaurants in Vienna - Restaurant Griechenbeisl, where celebrities such as Mozart, Beethoven, Luciano Pavarotti, Phil Collins and Johnny Cash dined. They left their signatures on the wall of one of the rooms. Among them you will find the signature of Mozart himself. And while eating traditional Austrian cuisine, we were accompanied by live music. The inn is inconspicuous from the outside, but I highly recommend visiting it. On the gate there is a sign with the date 1447.

We were delighted by one of the most beautiful traditional Viennese cafes - Gerstner Culinary. It is located opposite the Opera House and captivates with its amazing interior, as if in a baroque church. I tasted the Sisi cake with marzipan, we also ate strudel with apples (Apfelstrudel) and the traditional Sacher cake, a chocolate cake created by Franz Sacher in the 19th century.

At fairs, as well as every day in the city, you will quickly get a sausage that can be eaten in a bun or with sauce and bread on a tray. Our favorite sauce is curry, we really liked this quick snack. In the city, you can eat one of the best sausages in a booth behind the opera house. Sweet at the fair, you could taste interesting noodles with poppy seeds or trdelnik. Everywhere edible chestnuts were also available. Punches with fancy flavours and names are popular among beverages. We also cost Hot Kiss, which is hot Prosecco, cream and raspberry. There are also non-alcoholic options and a wide selection of hot chocolates. The prices are very decent.

We visited the oldest cellar with sparkling wines of Austria, Schlumberger Sekt, and tasted Viennese wines at the Weingut Christ winemaker of the year 2025. We also visited the typical Heuriger Wieninger restaurant in the "Viennese countryside", where we ordered dishes from the buffet, getting to know the Heurige culture. In this way, you can taste many dishes in one sitting.

We also could not miss the Trześniewski Buffet. In 1902, a Pole from Krakow, a man named Trześniewski, invented a quick buffet in Vienna. These are quick sandwiches that were unthinkable in elegant Vienna at the time. His slogan was "Unspeakably tasty sandwiches". This had a double meaning. First of all, the sandwiches were delicious, and secondly, no one could say the name Trześniewski. This is how our Polish name evokes the Viennese not only on the main road, but also in other places of the capital, because there are several points with sandwiches. To this day, they are delicious and colorful.

And a curiosity. Apparently, the first cafe in Vienna was opened by a Pole, a certain Kulczycki, a soldier of Sobieski after the famous Battle of Vienna. He added honey and milk to the coffee, which was a great novelty at that time. In fact, it is supposedly just a legend, and the first cafe was opened by an Armenian, but it is nice to know that Poles are talked about here.
Nevertheless, even if he was not the first, he still deserved his monument in the capital of Austria.

Guides to Vienna, what to visit off the beaten track

We visited the capital of Austria at the invitation of Monika and Klaudia from the FromLoveToTravel blog
The girls know almost everything about Vienna. They prepared several guides, both on more and less known routes. These ebooks will make it easy for you to plan and explore this unique capital, full of beautiful sights. Guides can be found here:
https://fromlovetotravel.com/przewodniki-po-wiedniu/

How to get to Vienna from the south of Poland?

Vienna is so conveniently located and well connected that you can easily get here by any means of transport. From southern Poland you can get here in a few hours, whether by car, train or bus. The journey by plane will take even less time, especially from Warsaw, with which the journey would be extended by a few more hours.

By car: leaving Katowice, one crosses the Polish-Czech border quite quickly. Then you have to head towards Olomouc and Brno in the Czech Republic, and then to Vienna in Austria. The journey from Katowice takes about 4 hours. We drove this route on our way to Croatia, remember to follow the speed limits, because there are checks on the roads
By train: this is how we went to Vienna, by train from Katowice, belonging to the largest carrier in the Czech Republic - České dráhy. The journey lasted 5 hours, it was comfortable, by luxury train. Although we chose the 2nd class, we had all the comforts, including the possibility of charging the phone while sitting. We paid over PLN 80 per person for a one-way ticket in the promotion.
By bus: you can also travel to the Austrian capital by bus, e.g. Flixbus. Then the journey from the south of Poland also takes about 5 hours and is slightly cheaper than by train.
By plane: this option is worth choosing when you travel from Warsaw, it is quick and convenient

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.