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

Show more

MAK — Austrian Museum of Applied Arts

The MAK Austrian Museum of Applied Arts is unique in its ability to represent the history and significance of the Wiener Werkstätte — a productive association that pioneered modern design, and whose influence can be seen in later styles such as Bauhaus and Art Deco. The archive comprises, among others, about 16,000 design drawings and about 20,000 fabric samples. One of the highlights of the MAK’s collection is Gustav Klimt’s nine-part working drawings for the mosaic frieze in the dining room of the Palais Stoclet in Brussels. After a restoration process that took several years, this has again been on permanent display in the MAK since 2012.

Secession

Featuring a golden dome decorated with laurel leaves, this Art Nouveau exhibition building was constructed in 1897/98 by Joseph Maria Olbriach, a student of Otto Wagner, and is one of the most famous structures in Vienna. The Beethoven Frieze created by Gustav Klimt in 1902 is on permanent display on the lower level. Changing exhibitions featuring contemporary art are held on the entrance level.

Kunsthalle

Kunsthalle displays international contemporary art. Located in the MuseumsQuartier, it presents exhibitions focused primarily on photography, video, film, installations and new media. Kunsthalle Wien calls itself the flexible and experimental outdoor exhibition site. There is also a cafe with a huge terrace, inviting visitors to stay awhile after enjoying the art on display.

Spanish Riding School

Founded in 1572, the Spanish Riding School has put on performances in the Baroque Winter Riding School since 1735. These shows represent the highest form of equestrian art: the Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the only institution in the world in which the classic equestrian art has been preserved and practised unchanged since the Renaissance. At the gala shows, visitors can enjoy unique presentations by the Lipizzaner horses in the most beautiful riding hall in the world. The morning session offers an insight into the years of training that the riders and their Lipizzaners go through.