Europe Vacation and Travel Guide

You are here: EUROPE >> AUSTRIA >> VIENNA

AUSTRIA

Innsbruck
Kitzbühel
Salzburg
Vienna

 

Around Vienna

Stephansdom
Hofburg
Karlskirche
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Urban Transportation
Vienna Panoramas

 
Austria Tours
Salzburg Tours
Vienna Tours
 

Austria Bargains

Travel Guides
Vacation Rentals
Rental Cars
Tours and Activities

 

Austria Hotels

 
  Arrival Date
Calendar Click for calendar
# of Nights
# of Adults
# of Rooms
  City
  Country
Search Other Cities

 

 

IN A NUTSHELL
WHAT: Vienna
WHERE: Capital city of Austria on the Austrian/Slovakian border; on the Danube (Donau)
WHY: Capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; Old City, palaces, museums and boulevards
WHEN: Any time of year
HOW: International flights into Vienna International Airport; weekend trip from Southern Germany

Karlskirche and Reflecting PoolVienna (Wien) an old and imperial city, with the grandeur and style indicative of its many years as the capital city of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  The wide boulevards and majestic buildings display the might and elegance of Austria past: the show today's visitors Vienna's long history as a center of learning and power in Europe.

Today, Vienna is reemerging as a center of modern culture.  Sprouting up alongside the old imperial buildings of the 18th and 19th Centuries are new modern buildings, like the museums being built on the emperor's former stables.

Since Vienna is an old imperial city, you might expect to find a wall surrounding the old town.  However, in the 1850s Emperor Franz Josef I demolished these old battlements and replaced it with a boulevard known as the Ring.  Within this Ring lies Vienna's Old Town (Altstadt) and the city's most important sights.  This Old Town, like most old towns around Europe, is compact enough to explore on foot.  However the Viennese have provided a couple suitable alternatives, such as the "Hopper" buses, the U-Bahn subway trains, and horsedrawn carriages rented from Stephensplatz, Heldenplatz, or Albertinaplatz.

One thing to note, Vienna is a vast, expansive city.  If you are driving in, you should note that a beltway, the Gürtel runs around the city and likns it with major Autobahns.  Ensure you have a good map of the extensive city area, as it can be quite difficult navigating through the many one-way streets around the Altstadt.

Kärtner Strasse (Vienna Downtown Pedestrian Area)  

Around Vienna

Stephansdom in the Old TownSTEPHANSDOM (St. Stephens Cathedral) dominates the Old Town.  It towers above shoppers and sightseeings in Stephansplatz. 



Hofburg PalaceHOFBURG
The Imperial Palace of the Hapsburg Family is a grand complex of buildings, monuments, statues, and gardens.



Karlskirche (St. Charles Church)KARLSKIRCHE
St. Charles Church lies just south of the Ring.  This majestic church with is beautiful reflecting pool is the largest Baroque church north of the Alps.



Kunsthistorisches MuseumKUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM
Vienna's Museum of Art History exhibits the great works of art collected by the Hapsburg Emperors and Empresses.

 

Urban TransportationURBAN TRANSPORTATION
Tired of walking?  Find out the various modes of urban transportation Vienna has to offer its citizens and visitors alike.


VIENNA PANORAMAS
Check out our panorama shots from around Vienna!  We have Karlskirche, Stephansdom (inside and out) and the Kunsthistorisches Musuem.
 

Other Austrian and Alpine Destinations

Hitler's Eagle's NestEagle's Nest
Adolf Hitler's Eagle's Nest lies atop a mountain in the southeastern corner of Germany.  Visit this magnificent monument and marvel at the breathtaking views of the German and Austrian Alps.



Kitzbühel
This ritz and glamour destination in the Austrian Tyrolean Alps is also home to the worlds most famous ski-race, the Hahnenkamm.  Find out about this destination and the "world's greatest party."



Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein

Venture into the Bavarian Alps and visit the fairy tale landmark upon which the Walt Disney based his Disney Land Castle: Mad King Ludwig's Schloss Neuschwanstein.
 

Moving to Germany?  Look at out our tips!

Moving to Germany
Whether you are a member of the US Air Force, Army, or Navy, check out our guide to moving to Europe. 
 

Vacation Tips

Browse our options below to help plan your vacation activities.  Don't miss these sights and activities.  Preview our photos before you go.

Panoramas

Colosseum
Heidelberg
Innsbruck
Lichtenstein
Salzburg

Ulm Cathedral
Vatican City
Vienna
 

Highlights

Sights
Food
UNESCO World Heritage
 

Activities

Castles
Festivals
Hiking
 

Countries

Browse our Travelogues

Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
France

Germany
Ireland
Italy
Malta
Northern Ireland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland