vienna

Hello, vienna

Art and culture are embedded in the soul of Vienna: imperial splendour, world-class museums, opera and classical music heritage. Modernist legacy and a cosmopolitan flair add delicious contrast to the old-world charm. Walk down the parks and grand palace-lined Ringstrasse, experience the centuries-old cafe tradition and admire the astonishing architecture of a buzzing modern capital filled with history.

Best things to do in vienna

Plenty of things to do and see

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Hofburg Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace was the residence of the Habsburg emperor until 1918. From the 13th century until just before the end of the monarchy, the area was fitted out in imperial splendour within its present-day size. The original Gothic building around today’s Schweizerhof was extended on a continuous basis, resulting in an extensive building complex formed of different sections, which contributes an essential character to the appearance of Vienna's Old City. Europe’s largest imperial cultural complex today houses more than two dozen collections of international standing, including the Austrian National Library, the Imperial Treasury, the Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum, as well as the Spanish Riding School.

Konzerthaus

One of the focal points of cultural life is the Wiener Konzerthaus in the atmospheric Art Nouveau style. Its musical bandwidth encompasses not only the classical repertoire, but also ranges from Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music to Jazz, World and the progressive tones of the present day. Check the programme on their official website — there are multiple performances almost every day. Perfect plan for a date on a rainy day! If you are more interested in architecture than in music, take part in the guided tour of the Konzerthaus.

Albertina

Albertina, Habsburg’s enormous collection of graphic arts, houses works by Dürer and Rubens along with masterpieces by Schiele, Cézanne, Klimt, Kokoschka, Picasso and Rauschenberg. The permanent Batliner Collection illustrates the progression from Monet and Picasso to Gerhard Richter and Georg Baselitz and presents highlights from the last 130 years of art history. Albertina also has a collection of architectural works and photos (including Helmut Newton and Lisette Model among others), which are on display in special exhibitions.

Imperial Treasury

The medieval part of the Imperial Palace, the Schweizerhof, contains the unique treasures of the Habsburgs, including the Austrian imperial crown and the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire. Further highlights include the treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the collections of the invaluable Burgundian treasures from the 15th century. Jewels belonging to the Habsburg empresses and pieces of the original jewellery belonging to Empress Elisabeth can also be seen here. You can also discover legendary treasures such as the Holy Lance of the 8th century, the largest cut emerald in the world and the horn of the fantastical unicorn.