The back story 1
In-depth stories behind the list.
-
The back story
Imperial Vienna: the back story
Six centuries of the Habsburg court, from the Hofburg to Schönbrunn, and the Ringstrasse that replaced the city walls.
14 of the best · Vienna, Austria
The Best Things to See and Do in Vienna
Schönbrunn and the Hofburg, the Spanish Riding School and the Kaisergruft, St Stephen’s and the Karlskirche, the Rathaus, the Riesenrad and the Danube Tower.
Our 14 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in Vienna
Browse by type
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Vienna.
-
UNESCO, 1996
Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs’ summer palace, its gardens and the Gloriette, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse 47, 1130 WienExplore View on map
-
The heart of the city
St Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom)
The Gothic cathedral at the centre of the old town, with its patterned tile roof and south tower.
Stephansplatz 3, 1010 WienExplore View on map
-
The Winter Riding School
Spanish Riding School
The white Lipizzaner horses in the baroque Winter Riding School of the Hofburg.
Michaelerplatz 1, 1010 WienExplore View on map
The full list: Sights, A–Z
Show all 14 places on a map
Neighbourhood
Imperial Vienna 4
The Habsburg palaces.
-
Under the Capuchin church
Kaisergruft (Imperial Crypt)
The burial place of the Habsburgs, under the Capuchin church on the Neuer Markt.
-
UNESCO, 1996
Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs’ summer palace, its gardens and the Gloriette, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.
Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse 47, 1130 WienExplore View on map
-
The Winter Riding School
Spanish Riding School
The white Lipizzaner horses in the baroque Winter Riding School of the Hofburg.
Michaelerplatz 1, 1010 WienExplore View on map
-
The winter palace
The Hofburg: Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum
The state rooms of the Hofburg, the Sisi Museum and the imperial silver.
Churches and landmarks 6
The skyline of the old town.
-
Colourful apartments
Hundertwasserhaus
Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s colourful, uneven apartment house in Landstrasse.
-
Karlsplatz
Karlskirche
The baroque church on Karlsplatz, with its green dome and two columns, reflected in the pool.
Karlsplatz 10, 1040 WienExplore View on map
-
The heart of the city
St Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom)
The Gothic cathedral at the centre of the old town, with its patterned tile roof and south tower.
Stephansplatz 3, 1010 WienExplore View on map
-
Christmas market in winter
Vienna City Hall (Rathaus)
The neo-Gothic city hall on the Ring, its square the scene of the Christmas market and the winter ice rink.
-
Concrete sculpture
Wotruba Church
A church of stacked concrete blocks on the edge of the Vienna Woods, designed by the sculptor Fritz Wotruba.
-
Composers’ graves
Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery)
Vienna’s great cemetery, with the graves of Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms and the Strauss family, and the domed Karl Borromäus church.
The Prater and the Danube 3
Wheels, towers and the zoo.
-
Observation deck
Danube Tower (Donauturm)
The tower in the Donaupark, with an observation deck and a restaurant.
Donauturmplatz 1, 1220 WienExplore View on map
-
Since 1897
Wiener Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel)
The red cabins of the Giant Ferris Wheel at the entrance to the Prater.
Riesenradplatz 1, 1020 WienExplore View on map
