Vienna is new to you, and you are looking to get a nicely well-rounded overview of the old city center? This tour covers historical highlights, reveals fascinating stories, and takes you down a few cobblestone streets that most visitors never see.

Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Vienna  | Cultural Places

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Prepare your best Soprano singing voice! You’re standing in front of the famous Vienna State Opera. Built in the grand looking Neo-Renaissance style, it makes for one of the most imposing, and impressive buildings that sit on Vienna’s Ringstraße. As for what’s on the inside, imagine grand staircases and a main concert hall that is one of the most opulently decorated rooms you’ve ever seen. Outside of their summer season, the Opera fills with crowds almost every night of the week. It’s one of the most renowned homes to Opera in the world.

The Opera House

The name of this vast square translates to Heroes Square, so as you could imagine, you’ll find here statues etc. dedicated to war heroes, with interesting stories behind them. Also located in the square is a wing of the Hofburg, which is the Imperial Palace. The balcony of the Imperial Palace you can see from here was where the Habsburgs and Hitler made speeches to the masses crowded in the square below.

Heldenplatz

With all that’s happening today at Michaelerplatz, it’s hard to focus on the details that reveal the fascinating stories that are scattered around the square. The stunning gate to the Hofburg will probably first capture your attention, but be sure to take the whole square in. It houses one of the most controversial buildings ever built in Vienna, Roman ruins and an ancient church where you’ll find preserved ancient corpses inside.

Michaelerplatz

This picturesque square is dedicated to one of the ugliest periods in Austria’s history. More than 65,000 Austrian Jews were killed during the Nazi’s reign in the country and this square, with a poignant and powerful monument at its center, aims to pay tribute to every last one of them.  If you really try to take in what Judenplatz means, visiting the square will be one of the most powerful experiences you’ll have in Vienna.

Judenplatz

Walking into the St Peter’s Church is like unwrapping a really eye-popping present from some very plain wrapping paper. What we’re expressing here is – in all of its incredibly lavish Baroque beauty, the St Peter’s church is a must-see for all, whether you’re religious, or not. The church is said to be one of the two oldest in Vienna (with construction completed in around 1732), and the frescos on the roof are incredibly beautiful.

Peterskirche

You’ll need to dedicate some serious time to this fascinating church and be sure to explore not only what’s inside, but its exterior and what lies underneath in its crypt. Having accompanied Vienna throughout most of its history, there are so many stories to tell beyond the typical info you get when visiting a place of worship. For example, visiting its crypt offers a fascinating insight into when the Black Death hit Vienna. Then there’s its facade which harbors numerous symbolic features that reveal the stories this dramatic looking Gothic church has to tell.

Stephansdom

When you come across a street called Blutgasse (translation: blood alley) you know it's got an interesting history behind it. Blutgasse is located in the oldest area of Vienna known as the Blutgassen-Viertel. Here, you can explore the charming hidden inner courtyards of old apartment blocks and gain an insight into how people once lived in Vienna. This area is packed with the kind of fun facts you want to tell when you’re showing friends and family your holiday snaps back home.

Blutgassen-Viertel

By leading you to this well-loved little gem of a cafe, we’re letting you in on a local’s insider favorite, so try to blend in with the locals and do as the locals do - drink good coffee, good wine and snack away on Frankfurter sausages and Apfelstrudel. Located in a charming cobblestone square, you’ll find Kleines Cafe, which translates in English to, “Small Cafe.” It plays the part of your typical traditional Viennese Coffeehouse by day, and becomes a bar filled with creative and artsy types by night.

Kleines Cafe

If you walk past this clock at noon, you’ll see a crowd of tourists huddled in front of it on most days. They’re waiting for the historic figurines that live in the clock to come out and do a little parade to the sound of some ancient music. This Art Nouveau masterpiece of a clock was built between the years of 1911 and 1914.

Ankeruhr

Flowing just over 17 kilometers through the center of Vienna is the Donaukanal, or Danube canal. Back in the Middle Ages when it was a natural arm of the mighty Danube river, it played the role as an essential transport route. Today, as a regulated water channel, its one of the most loved parts of the city where nature mingles with urbanity. While its outer reaches are taken over by nature, the part of the canal closest to the center is lined with beach bars, and the like. Throughout Summer, its packed with locals lounging at one of the bars, or biking, running etc.

Donaukanal

It’s the oldest University in the German-speaking world and has earned a name for itself as one of the most prominent in central Europe, especially in the field of Humanities. The main campus of the University of Vienna is impressive, inside and out. And its halls have been graced with some of the greats, including Sigmund Freud and Gustav Mahler.

University of Vienna

No matter how many times you walk past the Rathaus or town hall, you can’t help but stare. Especially at dusk when the sun starts to set behind its towers. In its dramatic Gothic-style, it’s impressive to look at and it makes an impressive backdrop to the hundreds of events held in its front courtyard and gardens every year.

Rathaus

Upon first glance, you may think the Austrian parliament would look more at home in Greece. And you’d be right. The design is inspired by Classic Greek architecture, hence all the pillars and the Greek God of Wisdom, Athena, greeting all who enter its halls out the front.

Parliament

This square got its name from the Empress depicted in the statue at its center – Maria Theresa. This Habsburg Monarch made significant reforms during her reign, which led to her being in the collective conscious today a significant, mother-like figure of the Austro-Hungarian Empire era. The two rectangular and identical buildings facing each other on either end are the twin museums. One of them is the Art History Museum and the other is the Natural History Museum.

Maria-Theresien-Platz

One of the things that Vienna does best is blend old faces of the city with the new and contemporary. The MuseumsQuartier is a prime example of this. Here, you can get a quality dose of culture at one of the world-class museums it houses, or become part of the social happenings that seem to always be happening at the MuseumsQuartier. And can you believe it, this complex cultural space was once the Imperial stables for the Monarchy’s horses!

MuseumsQuartier

Did you have a great time exploring Vienna? This beginner’s tour was brought to you by the Cultural Places team in cooperation with the content production agencies pow. bang. Boom and Sounds &amp; Words. 

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Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Vienna

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