Imperial Vienna: palaces, cafes and music
Photo by Leyre · unsplash.com
The imperial capital of the Habsburgs is a city of baroque grandeur: Schonbrunn Palace, the Belvedere, the State Opera and the historic cafes where Freud, Klimt and Mozart left their traces.
🌤️ Best time to visit
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). December for the Christmas markets. Hot summer but lively with festivals.
✈️ How to arrive
Schwechat airport (VIE) 18 km away with the City Airport Train (16 min, 11.90 euro) or S-Bahn (30 min, 4.30 euro).
🚇 How to get around
Metro (5 lines) plus historic trams. The Vienna City Card (24h/48h/72h) includes all transport and museum discounts.
🏛️ Main attractions
Schonbrunn Palace
The summer residence of the Habsburgs with 1,441 rooms and the wonderful baroque gardens.
The visit to the Gloriette (garden viewpoint) is free. Book for the interior.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
One of the largest art museums in the world: Vermeer, Caravaggio, Raphael, Bruegel.
Free entry on the first Sunday of the month. Allow at least 3 hours.
Klimt and the Belvedere
The Upper Belvedere houses The Kiss and other masterpieces by Gustav Klimt.
Book online. The Lower Belvedere with the Baroque museum is often overlooked.
🍝 Typical cuisine
Wiener Schnitzel (veal cutlet), Sacher Torte (chocolate cake with apricot), Gulasch, Apfelstrudel, Kaiserschmarrn.
🍽️ Recommended restaurants
Figlmuller: the most famous Schnitzel in Vienna. Cafe Sacher: the original Sacher Torte. Plachutta: the perfect gulasch. Naschmarkt: the covered market with cuisines from all over the world.
🏘️ Where to stay
Innere Stadt: the UNESCO centre with the imperial palaces. Neubau: hipster and creative. Prater: the large park with the historic Ferris wheel.
🗺️ Nearby day trips
Salzburg (2h30 by train): Mozart and the festival. Budapest (2h30 by train): the twin city on the other side of the Danube. Bratislava (1h by train): the surprising Slovak capital.
💡 Practical tips
The historic Viennese cafes (Cafe Central, Cafe Landtmann) are a UNESCO cultural heritage - sitting down to drink a Melange and read is a tradition. The Prater with the Riesenrad (Ferris wheel) is one of the iconic experiences.