Vienna Attractions

One city I fell in love with during my first visit albeit short one in the year 2006 is Vienna the capital city of Austria. I consider myself lucky, for 2009 gave me one more opportunity to visit and see Vienna up close and that too leisurely. So what is it that attracts one to Vienna? Plush green gardens, larger than life architectural buildings, markets, music and culture? The answer is each one of these things, yes everything! Unlike some of the capital cities in Europe like Monaco, Copenhagen, Andorra,… etc., which I visited, Vienna is fairly big enough and you will have to hop and hop off bus and trains every now and then. Do check for the group travel discounts before you purchase the tickets. The very first thing I did after landing in Vienna was visit the tourist information centre where I collected city information available in printed flyers. I also checked on the availability of a Vienna Card.  At Innsbruke I enjoyed so many benefits out of the Innsbruke card that I became used to the offers! Luckily it was available in Vienna as well; however the benefits were varied and less in number. All said it’s still worth to get the Vienna Card since it entitles you to free train and bus rides and discounts at listed touristy locations. You can pay upfront for 24 hrs / 48 or 72 hrs depending on the duration of your stay. Let me cover for you some details about things to do, places to see and food to eat while in Vienna! And food comes first 🙂 Vienna – Food:

When in Vienna one must try the Wiener Schnitzel which is basically a cutlet made from pounded meat coated with flour, dipped in egg and recoated in breadcrumbs before frying in butter. Any Viennese joint will serve you the traditional Schnitzel.

Vienna is famous for its cafes and cakes. So please do not think of leaving Vienna without having a hot apple strudel and the delicious Sacher Torte. The Sacher Hotel had introduced this chocolate cake with apricot jam, hence the name Sacher Torte. This cake is such a hit that you will find this torte available as Sacher Torte across Vienna without having any connection whatsoever with the Sacher Hotel!

Vienna has many beer gardens where you can walk in and enjoy your mug of beer. However, I must warn you that the best seats at most of these beer gardens are booked weeks in advance. How do people decide when they want to have beer and that too weeks in advance?! Beats me totally! So yes, my friend and I had to make do with a seat inside the restaurant.

There is another drink which was news to my ears called Sturm. A cloudy drink, it’s made from grapes and is more like the toddy that we can get in south of India. It cannot be stored for a long time and has to be consumed within a couple of days of making. A fizzy drink, it turned out to be a huge hit with my friend is actually very popular amongst the locals. (Though it’s only available in the fag end of the grape harvest season) There are lots of street vendors who sell snacks like sausages and pizzas. A strong Turkish influence can be felt as you roam around Vienna with countless Kebab joints spread across the city. Vienna Sightseeing:

Belvedere Palace: Belvedere Palace was constructed for Prince Eugene of Savoy by J.L. von Hildebrandt, a famous Baroque architect. Belvedere Palace with its lush green sprawling gardens was meant to serve as a summer residence. The Upper Belvedere still offers a spectacular vie of the city of Vienna. The art lovers depending on their interest level can spend from few hours to a whole day at the Belvedere Palace for it houses works of various Austrian artists You will find works of artist of the Secession movement such as Gustav Klimt (1867-1918), Egon Schiele (1890-1918) or Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1980). I noted that ‘The Kiss’ from Gustav Klimt attracts a lot of attention. The visit will cost you 8 Euros per person. The audio guide comes at an additional cost.

Schonbrunn Palace: A part of the UNESCO’s world heritage list, Schonbrunn Palace is the most significant monument in Austria. As you enter the main gate an expansive pale yellow colored palace stands welcoming you. A tour of the Palace can be taken which is split into three parts A, B and C. Depending upon how much time you have you can choose your option. I went for all three plus the stunning gardens. The interiors of the Palace are rococo styled with its crystal chandeliers, huge mirrors, frescoed ceilings and gilded ornaments. You will see during the tour rooms of Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of Habsburg dominion, her sitting rooms, meeting rooms, bed room and the room where the 6 year old Mozart played for the empress. There are rooms of Imperial couple Franz Joseph and Sisi. A complete dekho of the gardens itself will require considerable amount of your time. For fun a labyrinth has been set up along side a play area. Making it to the final point in the labyrinth was quite fun, however getting lost in it was not! 🙂 The visit will cost you around 20 Euros per person. State Opera: For music lovers, a performance at the Vienna State Opera house could be more than what they can bargain. The massive Opera House at Vienna has a world-wide reputation for its first-class opera performances and is also known because of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Austrian Parliament: Yes I visited the Austrian Parliament! A guided tour which lasted for approximately an hour takes you around the various rooms where the National council and Federal council members sit and work from. The architecture of the building is highly ornamental with frescoes and gilded pillars etc. The visit will cost you 4 Euros per person.

St. Stephan’s Cathedral: Throughout my trip around Europe one thing that was common to all cities is the presence of magnificent cathedrals. St. Stephan’s Cathedral is “the” cathedral at Vienna standing tall at 137 m. Built in Gothic style the cathedral has gigantic roofs with tall and lean towers. The cathedral is located in the heart of the city centre with many shops and market around. The entry to the cathedral is free however if you plan to visit the tower, you need to pay a nominal fee.

Mozarthaus Vienna: Mozart house is located within walking distance from the St. Stephan’s Cathedral and stages an exhibition rendering details about Mozart, his life in Vienna, his famous pieces of work, his family, friends,…etc. The Mozarthaus is open everyday between 10 am and 7 pm.

Spanish Riding School: I was told that the Spanish riding school was the oldest and the last riding school in Europe where the classes are conducted in the most authentic classical fashion. The name Spanish was derived from the fact that the horses were of Spanish origin!! I couldn’t go in since you need to book your tickets not days, not months but a year in advance!

Naschmarkt: I was told that my visit to Vienna is not complete till I visit Naschmarkt. And I wasn’t disappointed. Naschmarkt is not just any market but a very organized confluence of Austrian and oriental influence. From flowers, to cheese to wine to Sturm this market has varied assorted tidbits to offer. Do take a while to walk around and have a leisurely lunch from any of the food stalls lined up for you. From cuisines ranging from Chinese to Indian to Turkish and French, there is something for everyone and to suit all pockets as well.

Anchor Clock: Located at the oldest square of Vienna ‘Hoher Markt’, the Anchor Clock is a piece of art in itself. It was built between 1911 and 1977 after the plans of the painter Franz von Matsch. The clock forms a bridge between two parts of the Anker Insurance Company’s building. The clock comprises of 12 historical figures from different eras that start parading with music, across the bridge in the course of 12 hours.

Café Central: Though Vienna boasts of a cozy café culture but in my opinion Café Central is a must visit. Not only are the cakes and pastries delectable; the ambience with its grand traditional set up takes you into an age old era. High ceilings, baroque style architecture with huge chandeliers sets a different mood for the visitor. Café Central is located at Herrengasse 14.

Prater Herrrreinspazier – The much publicized Giant Ferris wheel at Vienna offers to give a nice view of the city, just like the London Eye. However, what I didn’t know was that Giant Ferris Wheel didn’t stand in solitude; it was actually a part of a fairly large amusement park with many more attractions. A must visit with kids. The Vienna Card does offer a discount on the Ferris wheel ride.

Danube Tower: This 352 meters high Danube tower gives you a panoramic view of the city of Vienna. You also have the option to relax with a cup of coffee as you enjoy the view at the rotating café. That was a synopsis of what I did when I was in Vienna. Hopefully it gives you fair amount of information that will help you plan your trip to the beautiful Wien or Vienna!