About Vienna

Austria 's capital offers a unique blend of imperial traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is famous for its cultural events, imperial sights, coffee houses, cosy wine taverns, and the very special Viennese charm.

The city's history dates back to the first post-Christian century when the Romans established the military camp Vindobona . Today's cityscape is characterised by the abundance of baroque buildings created mostly under the rule of Empress Maria Theresia and Emperor Franz Joseph I who was largely responsible for the monumental architecture round the Ringstraße.

© WienTourismus  /  Robert Alexander Herbst

Vienna 's prime landmarks are the gothic Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral), the Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater, Vienna 's old recreational park, and the Spanish Riding School with their world-famous Lipizzan horses. Schloss Schönbrunn, the former imperial summer residence, belongs to one of the most popular sights as well. The large Hofburg complex ( Imperial Palace ) was the base of the Habsburgs for over six centuries, and is an impressive repository of culture and heritage. The splendid baroque Belvedere palace today houses the Österreichische Galerie (Austrian Gallery) displaying the largest collection of works by Klimt and Kokoschka as well as famous paintings by Schiele.

Vienna has more museums and galleries of international reputation than one can imagine: Kunsthistorischen Museum with the world's largest collection of Bruegel paintings, MuseumsQuartier with Leopold Museum (Schiele), Museum Moderner Kunst ( Museum of Modern Art ), Architekturzentrum ( Architectural Center ) and Kunsthalle rank among the cities most important cultural venues. Albertina is home to the world's largest collection of graphic arts and prints, and Liechtenstein Museum presents selected masterpieces from the Princely Collections in Vaduz .

© WienTourismus  /  Willfried Gredler-Oxenbauer

Vienna owes much of its international fame to the many celebrated composer who lived and worked here including Strauß, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, and Haydn. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's best, the Staatsoper one of the world's leading opera houses, the Vienna Boys' Choir one the world's most famous. In the last years Vienna has also established itself as a great musical metropolis.

Enjoy visiting the old coffee houses and rustic wine taverns stand alongside with awarded modern restaurants and shops, time-honoured events alternate with internationally acclaimed extravaganzas (Life Ball) to create a unique and very special ambiance. Take a break and relax in one of Vienna 's many recreational areas and parks such as the Wienerwald, the Prater, and the Donauinsel or cruise the river Danube from Vienna up to the wine country.