- Vienna is the only major city in the world to grow a significant amount of wine within its city limits, with over 700 hectares of vineyards.
- The city's coffee house culture was officially recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, specifically noting the 'unhurried' atmosphere where guests pay for one cup and can sit for hours.
- Vienna operates a unique social housing model where approximately 60 percent of the city's population resides in subsidized rental apartments, many of which date back to the 'Red Vienna' era of the 1920s.
- The city has consistently ranked as having the highest quality of life globally in major annual surveys for over a decade.
- Central Cemetery (Zentralfriedhof) contains more 'guests'—roughly three million graves—than the living population of the city.
About Vienna
Vienna serves as the historic center of the Habsburg Empire, defined by its dense concentration of Baroque architecture and classical music heritage. The city maintains a unique urban structure where imperial estates like the Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace dominate the landscape. Visitors can explore world-class art collections at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien or attend high-profile performances at the Vienna State Opera. St. Stephen's Cathedral remains the city's geographical and spiritual heart, featuring a recognizable patterned roof visible from across the central districts.
Highlights of Vienna
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Historical places
Explore the lavish imperial apartments that served as the primary summer residence of the Habsburg monarchs.
Temples
Climb the South Tower for panoramic views of the city's historic core and admire the intricate Gothic architecture.
Museums
View Gustav Klimt’s iconic 'The Kiss' within the opulent setting of the Upper Belvedere.
Venues
Experience world-class opera and ballet performances in one of the most prestigious venues on the globe.
Historical places
Walk through the sprawling complex that served as the winter residence and political power center for centuries.
Amusement parks
Ride the historic 19th-century Ferris wheel for a unique perspective of the Prater park and skyline.
Museums
Marvel at the extensive collection of Hapsburg imperial art housed in a grand building designed specifically for the archives.
Museums
Browse one of the world's most significant graphic art collections, featuring everything from Dürer to modern masters.
Top things to do in Vienna
The 725 highest-rated places in Vienna, ranked by travellers.
1
Historical places
Schönbrunn Palace is a former Habsburg summer residence featuring 1,441 rooms, of which 45 are open to the public. The s...
2
Temples
St. Stephen's Cathedral serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna and stands as the city's most significant Romanes...
3
Museums
The Belvedere is a historic complex in Vienna consisting of two Baroque palaces, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, linked b...
4
Parks
Schönbrunn Palace Park is a 160-hectare UNESCO World Heritage site featuring Baroque garden design and formal star-shape...
5
Venues
The Vienna State Opera is one of the world's busiest opera houses, staging over 300 performances across 60 different ope...
6
Zoos
Schönbrunn Zoo, located within the grounds of the Schönbrunn Palace park in Vienna, is the world's oldest continuously o...
7
Historical places
The Hofburg is the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty and currently serves as the official residen...
8
Museums
The Museum of Natural History Vienna houses over 30 million objects spanning the history of Earth, life, and the univers...
9
Amusement parks
The Wiener Riesenrad is a 64.75-meter-tall Ferris wheel constructed in 1897 to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Emperor...
10
Parks
The Belvedere-Schlossgarten is a Baroque garden complex designed by Dominique Girard in 1717, connecting the Upper and L...
11
Museums
The Kunsthistorisches Museum, commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I, houses the extensive art collections of the Habsbu...
12
Museums
The Albertina is a renowned art museum situated in the largest residential Habsburg palace in Vienna. It houses one of t...
13
Zoos
Haus des Meeres is a public aquarium housed within a massive, former anti-aircraft flak tower built during World War II....
14
Parks
Stadtpark is Vienna's first public park, opened in 1862 and designed in the English landscape style. It is bisected by t...
15
Temples
St. Charles's Church (Karlskirche) is a prominent Baroque structure in Vienna, commissioned by Emperor Charles VI follow...
16
Museums
The Austrian Gallery Belvedere houses the world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, including his iconic gol...
17
Places of interest
The Danube Tower (Donauturm) is Austria's tallest structure, standing at 252 meters in the heart of Donaupark. It featur...
18
Places of interest
Heldenplatz, or Heroes' Square, serves as a grand forecourt to the Hofburg Palace complex in central Vienna. The site is...
19
Parks
Volksgarten is a historic park situated on the site of former city fortifications, designed in the French formal garden...
20
Museums
The Technisches Museum Wien (Vienna Museum of Science & Technology) is housed in a historic building originally commissi...
21
Museums
The Museum of Military History (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum) is the world's oldest purpose-built military museum, locat...
22
Historical places
The Column of Pest, officially the Pestsäule or Dreifaltigkeitssäule, is a Baroque memorial located on the Graben, one o...
23
Parks
The Burggarten is a formal English-style landscape garden located on the grounds of the former Imperial Palace, the Hofb...
24
Temples
The Votive Church is a prominent Neo-Gothic cathedral commissioned by Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian following a failed a...
25
Historical places
The Imperial Crypt, or Kaisergruft, serves as the final resting place for 150 members of the House of Habsburg, includin...
26
Museums
The Leopold Museum, situated in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, houses the world's largest collection of Egon Schiele works. I...
27
Historical places
The Ankeruhr is a Jugendstil-style Art Nouveau clock constructed between 1911 and 1917 by painter Franz von Matsch. It c...
28
Museums
Time Travel Vienna is an immersive history museum located in an original 17th-century monastery cellar in the heart of V...
29
Parks
Donaupark is an expansive 80-hectare recreational area situated on the site of a former landfill between the Danube Rive...
30
Parks
Augarten is the oldest Baroque garden in Vienna, spanning 52 hectares in the Leopoldstadt district. The park is characte...
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Vienna on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Vienna
May to June or September to October, as these months offer mild weather suitable for exploring outdoor gardens and walking the city center without peak summer heat.
3-4 days, which allows sufficient time to cover the primary imperial sites and museums without rushing.
The city features an extensive and highly efficient public transit network consisting of U-Bahn (metro), trams, and buses, complemented by a very walkable historic center.
Staying in the Innere Stadt (District 1) puts you within walking distance of major sights, while the Neubau (District 7) area offers a more contemporary, local atmosphere with independent boutiques.
Vienna is an expensive city, particularly regarding fine dining and accommodation, though cultural access remains accessible through various regional passes.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 725 curated attractions in and around Vienna, ranked by traveller ratings.
Schönbrunn Palace is the highest-rated place to visit in Vienna right now.
The largest category is museums, with 186 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Innsbruck, Ebbs, Salzburg.
Explore more of Austria
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
