Spotlight on Vienna: what to see and do
Elegant Vienna is often a highlight of holidays to Austria or cruises along the Danube. Its streets are lined with baroque architecture and opulent palaces, its museums are filled with priceless works of art, and its café windows are chock-full of delicate patisserie, sugar-dusted apple strudel and slices of rich sachertorte. It’s incredibly green, too – woods, wetlands, vineyards, not to mention hundreds of leafy parks to stroll through.
See the Ringstrasse
This 5.3-kilometre boulevard circles the ‘old’ city and is edged with some of Vienna’s most beautiful buildings. Hop on a local tram through Ringstrasse and admire the neo-Gothic City Hall, the Museum of Art History (a spectacular neo-classical palace housing fine art by the likes of Rubens and Raphael), and the suitably grand State Opera House.
Explore the Imperial Palace complex
Explore the Imperial Palace complex
One of the biggest palace complexes in the world, the Hofburg Palace was home to the Habsburg emperors for more than 600 years. Step inside the Imperial Apartments to see how Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth lived in luxury; gawp at the treasures in the Imperial Silver Collection; or see the diverse collections displayed in the Museums Quartier, once the palace stables.
Visit Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburg’s summer residence, UNESCO-listed Schönbrunn Palace is well worth visiting on a free afternoon. It’s just outside the city centre, but easily reached by bus, tram or underground. Inside, you can glimpse the rococo splendour of the state apartments; out in the manicured gardens, wander among lawns and landscaped flower beds. Our Danube Christmas cruise offers you the chance to spend Christmas Day afternoon here – a wonderful way to enjoy the big day (fingers crossed for snow!).
Scale St Stephen’s Cathedral
This glorious Gothic building sits in the heart of the city, looming over coffee houses and cobbled streets (where opera ticket sellers roam, dressed in their finest Mozart costumes). As well as admiring the richly decorated interior, scale the 343 steps up to the top of the south tower. From here, you’ll have a close-up of the cathedral’s multi-coloured roof (the mosaic tiles depict a double-headed eagle and Vienna’s coat of arms), as well as sweeping views across the city.
Experience coffee house culture
The Viennese take coffee and cake to a whole new level. Forget an Americano-to-go and plastic-topped tables – here, historic coffee houses serve tall glasses of cream-capped coffee at marble tables beneath gilded mirrors, while suited-and-booted waiters carry slices of sachertorte (a fudgy chocolate cake) across parquet floors. Be sure to stop off somewhere for a sip and a slice of something indulgent. Study the menu before you order; Vienna prides itself on its speciality coffees.
Learn the Viennese waltz
The oldest form of ballroom dancing, Viennese waltzing emerged in the mid-18th century, adapted from local folk dances. Characterised by sweeping turns and graceful glides, it’s a beautiful dance to watch – but why not try learning it for yourself? Most of our Danube river cruises include a dance lesson with a local teacher while the ship’s docked in Vienna. It’s entirely optional, but what a wonderful place to practise your own Viennese whirl!
Immerse yourself in Vienna’s musical heritage
Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert – Vienna has long been a favourite for classical musicians. Experiencing a concert or recital live is a great way to immerse yourself in the city’s musical legacy. The icing on the cake? The concerts take place in the atmospheric surrounds of a Viennese palace.
Although she loves a lie-in at home, Laura is often up and about before dawn on holiday. She’s watched the sun rise over the Grand Canyon, Uluru and Angkor Wat, but her favourite was seeing the first light of the New Year sweeping across the yacht-dotted waters of Sydney Harbour.
Laura | About the author
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