Historic places in Vienna

Historic places in Vienna

1. SeeInnere Stadt

   Albertina

   Once a palace, it is now the most popular exhibition space in Vienna, mainly for traditional modern art. The building itself is an experience as well. It is home to a valuable drawing collection, including many works of the German Renaissance painter, Dürer.

   Thu-Tue 10:00-18:00, Wed 10:00-21:00·€11.90 (adults), €9.90 (seniors 60+), €9.70 (Vienna Card), €8.50 (students), €7 (unemployed/military/disabled), free (children under 19)

2. DrinkInnere Stadt

   Alt Wien

   This cafe/restaurant/bar is on a very medieval-looking lane in the central district and is a time warp of another kind: its folky-bohemian atmosphere could convince you that you're in North Beach or Greenwich Village, circa 1967. Liveliest late.

3. SeeInnere Stadt

   Ankeruhr

   A large 4-m-diameter musical clock on a pedestrian bridge connecting two neighboring buildings. The clock was designed between 1911 and 1914 by the Judgenstil painter Franz Matsch, and features prominent figures from Viennese history, each with a Roman character. At noon all figures parade across the clock face, accompanied by music. During the Advent season, Christmas songs are played daily at 17:00 and 18:00.

   Free

4. SeeInnere Stadt

   Ausgrabungen Michaelerplatz

   Michaelerplatz Excavations

   Archeological excavations carried out between 1989 and 1991 revealed not only the foundations of medieval buildings but also remains of the Roman canabae (civilian support settlement) of Vindobona, as Vienna was then known. The viewing area was designed by Viennese architect Hans Hollein.

   Daily 24 hr·Free

5. DoOuter South

   Bohemian Prater

   Böhmischer Prater / Familienprater

   A small historic amusement park dating back to the second half of the 19th century. Some of the rides are more than 100 years old. There is also a 21-m-high Ferris wheel. It is a lovely place to go for a longer walk. There is a BMX dirt circular track, plus a running checkpoint meet.

   Apr-Oct: Sat Sun and holidays 08:00-21:00; May-Sep: also on weekdays 09:00-12:00, 14:00-19:00

6. DrinkHietzing

   Cafe Gloriette

   Inside the Gloriette with good view over to the Schönbrunn palace serves early breakfast, café and cakes. One has to climb up the hill of the Schönbrunn park to reach it.

   Daily 09:00-18:00

7. DrinkNeubau

   Café Westend

   Café Westbahnhof

   Opened in 1900, the café has historic decor with old tables and mirrors. It is situated in front of the main railway station Westbahnhof, which makes it practical to wait here for upcoming trains.

   Daily 07:00-24:00

8. SeeInnere Stadt

   Dommuseum

   Cathedral and Diocesan Museum

   A collection of liturgical implements, illustrated manuscripts, altarpieces, and sculptures.

   Wed 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-20:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00; last admission 30min before closing·€8 (adults), €7 (concessions), €3 (children 6-18); free (children under 6 or Vienna Pass)

9. SeeOuter East

   Fatty George Jazz Museum

   Honouring the jazz musician Fatty George (1927-1985), a small museum about his life and jazz in general was opened in his native village Essling, now part of Vienna. It was installed inside a historic toilet building in a park. The park was renamed Jazzpark and a sculpture depicting jazz (the musical style) was erected in 2005 by Leopold Grausam. On the opposite side of the street one can find another park memorializing another jazz musician, Bill Grah (1928-1996).

10. SeeInner East

    Flaktürme VII

    Flak towers

    This is a pair of anti-aircraft defense towers/bunkers, built by the Luftwaffe during World War II. During construction multiple rail tracks were laid across the park, and it is believed that hundreds of war victims were buried in mass graves on the grounds, still undiscovered. At 55 m high, the round Gefechtsturm (G-Tower, or gun tower) is the highest flak tower built during the war. The pair have proven nearly impossible to remove, and are now protected because of their historic value.

    Daylight hours

11. SeeAlsergrund

    Freud Museum

    This small museum is in Freud's historic flat where he practiced psychoanalysis for almost his whole life. However, the collection is limited mostly to documents of various kinds relating to Freud's life. Almost all of the flat's contents, including the famous original couch, went along with Freud to London when he fled the Nazis in 1939 and are now in the Freud Museum there.

    Daily 10:00–18:00·€10 (adults), €9 (seniors), €8.50 (Vienna Card), €7.50 (Club Ö1/students), €4 (children 12-18)

12. SeeOuter South

    Gasometer

    To see the combination of new modern with old historic architecture, visit the gasometers that have been revitalized from gas-tanks to new multi-functional buildings. The gasometers are four former gas tanks, built as part of the Vienna municipal gas works Gaswerk Simmering in 1896-1899, and used from 1899 to 1984 as gas storage tanks. After the changeover from town gas to natural gas they were no longer used and were shut down. From 1984-1997 the structures were used as a film location (James Bond: The Living Daylights) and as the location for raves known as Gazometer-Raves. They were revitalized from 1999 to 2001 by the architects Jean Nouvel, Coop Himmelblau, Manfred Wehdorn, and Wilhelm Holzbauer. Each gasometer was divided into several zones for living, shopping and entertainment, while conserving the historic outside wall. Other facilities including a music hall, cinema, student accommodation, municipal archive, etc. are located inside the Gasometers. There are special guided tours with experts available for visitors.

13. SeeInnere Stadt

    Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste

    Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts

    A gallery owned by the Academy of Fine Arts, to which Hitler applied to before he decided to change to politics. It offers some paintings by Rubens and Bosch. Most interesting are the Renaissance and medieval exponents.

    Tue-Sun and holidays 10:00-18:00·€8 (adults) €7 (Vienna Card), €5 (seniors/students/disabled), free (children and youth under 19)

14. SeeInnere Stadt

    Globenmuseum

    Globe Museum

    The only museum of its type in the world, this museum contains a collection of 650 globes of all types, as well as a collection of nearly 300,000 historic maps.

    Tue Wed 10:00-18:00, Thu 10:00-21:00, Fri-Sun 10:00-18:00·€4 (adults), €3.60 (Ö1 Club or Vienna Card), €3.50 (seniors), €3 (students/military/disabled); includes admission to the Esperanto and Papyrus Museums

15. SeeInnere Stadt

    Haus der Musik

    House of Music

    This is a relatively new and special museum devoted to an interactive learning experience. It covers the history of the Vienne Philharmonic Orchestra, the history of Vienna as a centre of music making (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert and others are documented). In addition there are the more experimental sections of futuristic composition (the Brain Opera) and sound experiences.

    Daily 10:00-22:00, last admission 21:30·€12 (adults), €9 (seniors/students/disabled), €5.50 (children 3-12), free (children under 3)

16. SeeLandstraße

    Heeresgeschichtliches Museum

    Museum of Military History

    A huge museum featuring weapons and military maps from different periods. You can also see the open-top car in which Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the last Austrian prince, was shot in Sarajevo. His death triggered World War I and the eventual downfall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the same room as this is the visibly blood-stained jacket he was wearing at the time of his assassination.

    Daily 09:00-17:00·€6 (adults), €4 (seniors/students), free (under 19)

17. SeeInnere Stadt

    Heldenplatz

    Heroes' Square

    A public space in front of the Neue Hofburg, setting to a number of important historic events, most notably of Adolf Hitler's 1938 announcement of the Austrian Anschluß. Two 19th-century equestrian statues portray Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen and Prince Eugene of Savoy.

18. SeeHietzing

    Hermesvilla

    A late 19th-century palace in the Lainzer Tiergarten, a wooded area formerly used for hunting by the Habsburg family. The imperial apartments with their furnishings have been preserved, and feature murals by prominent Viennese artists of the day, including Franz Matsch, Hugo Charlemont, Georg und Gustav Klimt. The palace is now also used as a venue for special exhibits.

    Mar-Oct T-Sun and holidays 10:00-18:00·€7 (adults), €5 (seniors/students/Vienna Card), free (children and youth under 19), free the first Su of every month

19. SeeInnere Stadt

    Hofburgkapelle

    Chapel of the Imperial Palace

    The original chapel of the Palace, built in Gothic style 1447-1449, was made over in Baroque style. On Sundays and Catholic holidays (of which the Austrians celebrate many), the Court Musicians perform here. This group is made up of members from the Vienna Boys Choir, as well as performers from the orchestra and choir of the Vienna State Opera. Tickets can be purchased online here.

    Visiting hours: Mon Tue 10:00-14:00, Fri 11:00-13:00, closed holidays; Sun Mass: 09:15, seating no later than 09:00·Performances: seats €36/26/16, seats with no view €10; standing room only free (sold on Su at 08:30 before mass)

20. SeeInnere Stadt

    Jüdisches Museum Judenplatz

    Jewish Museum Judenplatz

    A second branch of the Jewish Museum on Dorotheergasse. Underneath the Judenplatz (the Jewish Square) is an underground medieval synagogue excavation. Amazingly, the synagogue was destroyed centuries ago, but its existence was remembered by the area's inhabitants up to the 20th century.

    S-Thu 10:00-18:00, Fri 10:00-14:00; closed on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur·€10 (adults), €8 (concessions), €5 (students), free (children under 15); includes admission to the branch on Dorotheergasse

21. SeeInnere Stadt

    Jüdisches Museum Wien

    Jewish Museum Vienna

    A museum documenting the history of Vienna's substantial Jewish community which included Zweig, Freud, Herzl, Mahler, and Schoenberg. Three sites are available for one combined ticket: two museum sites and the main synagogue. Attached to the museum at Judenplatz are the archaeological remains of a medieval synagogue. The Stadttempel, the only historical synagogue in Vienna to have survived World War II, is accessible on through the guided tour.

    Sun-Fri 10:00-18:00; closed on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur·€10 (adults), €8 (concessions), €5 (students), free (children under 15); includes admission to the branch on Judenplatz

22. DoOuter West

    Kahlenberg

    The hill has a beautiful view over the Viennese vineyards and down the Danube. On clear days one clearly sees the Viennese historic center including the cathedral. Many bike or hike trails into the Wienerwald start from here.

23. SeeOuter West

    Karl Marx-Hof

    Built between 1927 and 1930 by the Otto Wagner's student Karl Ehn, the Karl Marx-Hof is a public housing complex (called "Gemeindebau" in Vienna), from the time of the social-democratic public housing programme during Austria's First Republic. With its 1382 Apartments and roughly 1,1 km in length, Marx-Hof is the world's longest contiguous public housing complex and probably Vienna's most famous "Gemeindebau". The permanent exhibit Red Vienna (in Wash House #2) is devoted to the history of Red Vienna, a period of one-party rule by the Social Democrats from 1919-1934. The non-exhibit parts of the building are still used as housing, so please respect the residents' privacy. Guided tours (German only) are offered on Sundays at 13:00, with no reservations required.

    Exhibit: Thu 13:00-18:00, Sun 12:00-16:00, and by appt·€5 (adults), €4 (seniors), €3 (students), free (youth/children under 19); €7 (guided tours)

24. DoMariahilf

    Kletterzentrum Flakturm

    On one side of the 2nd Worldwar bunker there are routes to climb high up until its roof with great views into the roofs of Vienna. The routes are usually hard and require some endurance. The alpine club organises courses for beginners and intermediate. On the other side there are boulder problems set. The outdoor climbing in middle of a historic city makes this a favorite choice for many climbers during the hot season.

    May-Sept: Mon Wed Fri-Sun 14:00-darkness; Tue Thu 12:00-darkness·€12

25. SeeInnere Stadt

    Kunsthistorisches Museum

    Museum of Fine Arts

    One of the world's greatest art museums and in a palace that is a work of art itself. Serious art fans may wish to devote more than a day to its treasures. There is no other word to describe the Kunst other than mind-boggling. It contains a world-class exhibit of the Habsburgs' art collection, including Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Bosch, and Brueghel. The museum has an excellent collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. The coin & medals collection is also exhaustive in its scope. The museum cafe is a bit pricey, but good, and in a beautiful setting. Hand-held photography is permitted.

    Tue Wed Fri-Sun 10:00–18:00, Thu 10:00–21:00·€14 (adults), €11 (concessions); admission includes entry to the Ephesos Museum, Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, and Collection of Arms and Armour (see listing below under New Palace)

26. SeeAlsergrund

    Liechtenstein Museum

    A private collection of the Prince of Liechtenstein is exhibited in his former Viennese residences, which include the Stadtpalais (City Palace) and Gartenpalais (Garden Palace). The richly decorated picture gallery mainly exhibits Baroque paintings, with a nice portion of Rubens. Guided tours on selected Fridays in German only, registration required.

    Gartenpalais: 15:00-16:00 (admission 14:45), Stadtpalais: 17:00-16:30 (admission 14:45)·€25 (Stadtpalais), €20 (Gartenpalais); €38 (single ticket for both palaces); no discounts

27. SeeInnere Stadt

    Looshaus

    Designed by Adolf Loos and completed in 1909, this is considered to be one of the most significant buildings of the Wiener Moderne era from 1890-1910, although initially it was fiercely criticised. Today the building is occupied by the Wiener Raiffeisenbank, but a permanent exhibit in the building has photographs and documents illustrating the building's history.

    Mon-Wed Fri 09:00-15:00; Thu 09:00-17:30 (exhibit)

28. SeeMargareten

    Margaretenbrunnen

    It was built to thank for the access to the fresh water pipeline going to the central imperial palace for Margareten in 1835/36. It features Saint Margarete killing a dragon.

29. DoInner East

    Messe Wien

    Run by Reed Exhibitions, who operate fairgrounds throughout Austria, Vienna's fairgrounds are not as known for major events as the ones in Frankfurt, Munich or Hannover, but still play host to many events important to the Austrian, Central European and German-speaking markets. The fairgrounds were completely reconstructed at the turn of the millennium and a new rotunda with a part of the historic Messeturm lattice tower placed on top was built at the main entrance, providing a beacon visible from afar.The fairgrounds are quite large, with four main halls, a congress centre and three entrances, close to U-Bahn stations Messe/Prater and Krieau on the U2. If there is an interesting event there, this may serve as a rainy-day alternative for the Prater amusement park. Most events happen January through May and October/November. Check the calendar if the event is of interest and open to the public.

30. SeeInnere Stadt

    Museum am Schottenstift

    Museum at the Scottish Monastery

    A nice, small picture gallery mainly of Baroque Austrian painting.

    Tue-Sat 11:00-17:00·€8 (adults), €6 (seniors/students), €4 (Vienna Card and NÖ Card), €2 (children 6-15)

31. SeeNeubau

    Möbel Museum Wien

    Imperial Furniture Collection / Vienna Furniture Museum

    Houses the largest furniture collection in the world. The exhibit displays furniture for all the Austrian emperors since Charles VI (the father of Maria Theresa), furniture by the Thonet Brothers, Jugendstil, and the Viennese Modernist movement. In addition, they show other contemporary Austrian architects and designers, such as E.A. Plischke, Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, Luigi Blau, and Franz West. Besides the permanent furniture collection, the museum also hosts two to three temporary exhibitions on furniture design and photography each year. You can purchase a single ticket or a Sisi Ticket, which allows you entrance to the Schönbrunn Palace, the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection in the Hofburg. Wheelchair-accessible.

    Tue–Sun 10:00-18:00·€8.50 (adults), €7.50 (seniors/students/disabled/Vienna Card), €6 (children 6-18)

32. SeeInnere Stadt

    Naturhistorisches Museum

    Natural History Museum

    This museum was erected as a mirror to its twin museum, the Museum of Fine Arts. It exhibits various minerals, meteorites, fossils, stuffed animals, and skeleton reconstructions of dinosaurs and other. It also includes an anthropological section, where you can see the beautiful Venus of Willendorf which is 25,000 years old. Most signs and explanations in the museum are only in German, and you will likely receive little sympathy for this from museum staff. Expect museum guards to rush you out at least 15 minutes before closing time.

    Wed 09:00-21:00, Thu-Mon 09:00-18:30, closed Tue·€10 (adults), €8 (seniors and Ö1 Club or Vienna Card), €5 (students/apprentices/military), free (disabled and children under 19)

33. SeeOuter South

    Neugebäude Palace

    Schloss Neugebäude

    This 16th-century palace is said to have been built on the spot where Sultan Süleyman camped during the first Turkish siege of Vienna in 1529. After the 17th century the complex fell into disrepair, with parts reused for other building projects, and after 1945 it was converted to a storage facility and factory. Since the 1970s it has been protected, and some portions of the remaining structures have been restored. Visitors can gain access to the palace during one of the events and festivals frequently hosted here, or alternatively can participate in a regularly-scheduled tour. The palace gardens have been newly redesigned on the original garden beds, and are freely open to the public.

34. SeeInnere Stadt

    New Palace

    Neue Hofburg

    The newest and largest section of the Imperial Palace. It contains the Welt Museum Wien, the Papyrus Museum, and three branches of the Museum of Fine Arts.

35. SeeJosefstadt

    Palais Auersperg

    The palace was built in the early 18th century, and expanded in the late 18th century under the ownership of Prince Adam von Auersperg. Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach drew up the first plans; later designs are attributed to Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. In 1945 the Austrian resistance group O5 (meaning OE = Oesterreich) met here. Historically it has always been a center for music, hosting many celebrations and balls. Today various events are organised here.

36. SeeJosefstadt

    Palais Damian

    Zum Stroblkopf

    The palace changed hands frequently, with each owner making their own adaptations to the building. The central sections date from the early 18th century, while the second floor was a later addition.

37. SeeJosefstadt

    Palais Schönborn

    This impressive Baroque palace was built in 1706-1711 following the designs of Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. It houses the Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art (Museum für Volkskunde) (see listing below).

38. SeeWieden

    Palais Schönburg

    ehem. Gartenpalais Starhemberg

    The small Baroque garden palace is one of the earlier works of Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. It was modified in the 19th century, and these days used as an event location.

39. SeeJosefstadt

    Palais Strozzi

    The palace was built in 1702, and once had a garden that extended to Pfeilgasse. Renovations in 1996 led to the rediscovery of old paintings dating to the period of the building's construction.

40. SeeInner East

    Pratermuseum

    A small museum devoted to the history of popular entertainment.

    Fri-Sun and holidays 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00·Adult €5; senior, student, or Vienna Card €4, child or youth under 19 free; free the first Sunday of every month

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Vienna (CC BY-SA 4.0).