Location: Inner City
Top Things to do in Inner City
10 Sights & Landmarks in Inner City That You Shouldn't Miss
In Vienna, the coffee house isn’t just a hangout: it’s an institution. Lingering over a newspaper with a pastry and a strong espresso drink is, according to UNESCO, officially a Viennese cultural pastime. Walk off your slice of Sachertorte with a self-guided tour of the city’s stunning traditional, Secessionist, and modern architecture, such as the Imperial Palace, the State Opera House, the Kirche am Steinhof, or the Kunsthistorisches Museum, an exercise in ornate geometry.
Restaurants in Vienna
1. St. Stephen's Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23,708 reviews
Austria's most prominent national symbol, this magnificent cathedral is known for its intricately tiled roof and its nearly 500-foot-tall South Tower, which provides amazing views of the entire city.
Reviewed By Gangers_and_ash
The cathedral is beautiful - very grand and ornate with beautiful mouldings and gothic architecture. The detail in the carvings was extraordinary and the paintings were very beautiful. There are certain parts of the cathedral which are blocked off (the entire mid and front section) which does make the back part quite cramped with lots of people taking photographs. Be patient and you will get your turn! I’d recommend the catacombs tour (6 Euros each) - it was very interesting and the tour guide was extremely knowledgable, offering the tour in both German and English.
2. MAK - Austrian Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 561 reviews
Discover the fascinating era of “VIENNA 1900” in the grand museum building on Vienna’s Ringstraße with art nouveau masterpieces of the Wiener Werkstätte by Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffmann, or Koloman Moser. Inaugurated in 1871, the building by Heinrich von Ferstel is one of the grandest works of architecture on Vienna’s Ringstraße. Today the MAK, originally founded as the “Imperial Royal Austrian Museum of Art and Industry”, accommodates a unique collection of precious art and craftwork from the fields of furniture, glass, porcelain, silver, and textiles from the middle ages to today. With more than 1 million objects and printed works it is one of the most important museums of its kind in the world. The spacious exhibition rooms were designed by contemporary artists and show selected highlights of the MAK Collection as well as temporary exhibitions in the field of design, art and architecture.
Reviewed By SusanWms - Santa Fe, United States
This museum has a magnificent collection of objects from the mid-19th century forward (when the school was founded). The collections are mainly organized typologically/chronologically, e.g. chairs, tables, glass table wares, porcelain, silver, textiles, etc., but there was a major interpretive exhibit running while we were there—“Vienna 1900.” Vienna was a hotbed of reformist ideas about decorative and applied eta—resulting in the Wiener Werkstadt and the Vienna Secessionist movement. Labels are clear and each gallery has a booklet with English translations of object labels. We spent three hour happily perusing the collections and then retreated to the excellent gift shop featuring a well-curated assortment of well-designed goods.
3. Augustinerkirche
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 564 reviews
Reviewed By KLE2013 - Centreville, United States
Located in a quiet corner of the Hofburg complex, the Augstinerkirche has a non impressive exterior but do go in and discover a visually stunning interior. While the building was built during the 14th century, the interior dates from the late 18 th century and has the most elaborate Baroque decor with soaring columns, ribbed vaults, floating chandeliers, monumental sculptures and a massive organ. The amazing pyramidal Tomb of Archduchess Maria-Christina on the right was sculpted by the great Antonio Canova. As this was the Imperial Church of the Hapsburg Dynasty, in the small Loreto Capel to the right of the main altar, the hearts of 50+ Hapsburg Emperors are preserved in silver urns.
4. Graben and Kohlmarkt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,155 reviews
Reviewed By ParvizM2013 - San Diego, United States
As part of our Vienna city center walk, we spent some time on beautiful Graben Street. It is a must see in Vienna. You see very nice and old buildings with amazing architecture. There are lots of very nice cafes, restaurants, and high end designer shops on Graben street. As expected, the Graben street was very busy and crowded with tourists. There is a lot to see when you are there. You are within few minutes of walking distance to attractions such as Hofburg Palace, Sisi Museum and Kaiser apartments, Stephan Platz, St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom), Albertina Platz, Vienna State Opera, and the amazing golden Plague Column (Pestsaule). It was a very peasant walk and spent a few hours over there. Go to Graben street and have fun!
5. State Hall of the Austrian National Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,776 reviews
What comes to mind when you think of a library hall? Enter the State Hall of the Austrian National Library and your expectations are guaranteed to be exceeded. The State Hall – built in the 18th century as part of the former Court Library – is a breathtaking 80 metres long and 20 metres high. An intricately decorated dome and numerous frescos provide an imperial flair. This baroque jewel is home to over 200,000 tomes. Four magnificent Venetian globes, each with a diameter of over one metre, provide the finishing touch to the heart of the Austrian National Library.
Reviewed By Whiskydram - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Well worth a visit, a bit different from the few book shelves I have at home. Some fascinating early books on display, some hundreds of years old among the first to be printed, incredible condition and amazing how only a few years earlier all books were handwritten. Also fantastic early maps. If you have the slightest interest in history this is a must.
6. Michaelerplatz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 573 reviews
Reviewed By sergo_il - Haifa, Israel
Michaelerplatz is the main entrance to the historical city center of Vienna, it is a beautiful square with amazing architecture, you may catch a popular carriage ride from here, find the entrance to the Hofburg and the Spanish Riding school or just enjoy a cup of coffee.
7. Rathausplatz
8. Ringstrasse
9. Stephansplatz
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,069 reviews
Reviewed By AudreyFotheringham - Aberdeen, United Kingdom
lots of shops , restaurants and cafes situated near the cathedral - really buzzing area of Vienna with lots of things to do , see , eat and drink .
10. Peterskirche
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,089 reviews
Reviewed By TwoWiseTravellers - Deeping St James, United Kingdom
This beautiful little church is just a few minutes walk from St Stephens Cathedral and well worth a visit. A note to anyone visiting, please respect that this is a place of worship. When we visited, there was a mass in progress and we were appalled that people (other tourists) were just walking in and talking loudly and taking photos and videos whilst the mass was in progress, even though there were plenty of signs asking you not to do this. The mass is not that long and if you are generally interested in the history and beauty of this church, it is worth waiting until the mass is finished, then you are able to explore and take photos to your hearts content.
