Your Ultimate Vienna Guide: Part 2

Your ultimate Vienna guide: part 2

By Anna Purpurpurpur

Vienna, Austria, is a city you can explore for days, weeks, and months.

I felt pressured to choose only 15 spots for the first part of the guide, but I can make up for it by posting this second part!

Please scroll down to see it. (And no, there is still more to see in Vienna than in those 30 sights!)

1. Imperial crypt

This is the Imperial Crypt (also known as Capuchin Crypt), the family burial place of the Hapsburgs! As the Habsburg dynasty was one of the most influential families in the history of Austria and Europe, it’s a must-visit indeed!

It’s located close to Hofburg Palace under the Capuchin Church and was built in the 17th century. First of all, have look at the church itself, and then go to the entrance to crypt literally next door.

The remains of 149 family members are kept here in the interconnected vaults, including the bodies of 12 Emperors and 18 Empresses.

And yes, Franz Joseph, Princess Sisi and their son Rudolf are buried here as well, and Maria Theresa had probably the most impressive sarcophagus.

2. Peterskirche

St. Peter’s Catholic Church, or Peterskirche, is a beautiful baroque church a stone’s throw from the cathedral.

The first church on this site dates to at least the 12th century, but the current baroque building dates to the early 18th century. The design of the new church was clearly inspired by the Vatican—come inside to admire the dome, baroque high altar, and beautiful paintings! It’s also an important venue for concerts.

3. Albertina museum

The Albertina Museum is one of the world’s most visited museums – mainly because of its graphical collection and collections of impressionists, and avant-garde artists.

The temporary exhibition is currently on display is dedicated to Roy Lichtenstein’s 100th birthday.

You can also visit the state rooms well preserved inside the museum too – because actually Albertina Museum is a former palace close to Homburg.

In the past they occupied by the daughters of Empress Maria Theresia, Archduchess Marie-Christine, and Archduke Karl, who fought against Napoleon.

4. Papyrus museum

The Papyrus Museum’s collection is one of the most impressive in the world: there are over 180,000 items! It’s also known as the Reiner collection because Archduke Rainer of Austria gifted his private collection to the Emperor as a birthday present in 1899.

You can admire the Book of the Dead, amazing portraits, clay tablets, private and official letters on papyri, and even listen to reconstructed music from Orestes, a play by Euripides! Now, the collection is part of the Austrian National Library.

5. Spanish riding school and stables

The Spanish riding school is one of the most famous of its kind in the world! You can see their performance or training here in the Winter Riding Hall of Hofburg Palace.

The stallions from the Lipizzaners breed adored by Habsburg are black at birth and turn whitish-grey with age. The breed’s name comes from where the horses originally came from Lipica, Slovenia.

Alternatively, you can spot them in the stables nearby – guided tours are also available.

6. Demel

The K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäckerei Demel is a famous historical pastry shop in Vienna dating to 1786. Its name means ‘Purveyor to the Imperial and Royal Court’ – the imperial family got direct deliveries from it.

It’s said that even Princess Sisi (obsessed with her weight) couldn’t refuse candied violets from it! Visiting Demel is a must in Vienna, especially if you want to try the famous Sachertorte! There was a legal battle between the Demel and the Hotel Sacher over which recipe was original because a few versions of it belonged to Franz Sacher and his son Eduard.

7. Children’s museum (Schönbrunn Palace)

The Children’s Museum within the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace is entertaining: it’s located in the 12 rooms of the Palace itself (it’s a different entity from the Palace’s leading exhibition, and you need a ticket to enter).

There are lots of activities like dressing up, toys, puzzles, educational games – and moreover, you and your kids learnt about life in Austria in the 18th century, during Maria Theresa’s rule!

Think about the lifestyle, dresses, hygiene, daily routine, education, etc: it’s all pretty well covered there.

8. Mythos Mozart immersive experience

The house where Mozart died at the age of only 35 years on 5 December 1791 is located at Rauhensteingasse 8, where he lived with his family at that time. It’s clear that he wasn’t poisoned by Salieri, but the cause of death is unclear; it might be an infection, nephritic syndrome, or something else).

That building existed until 1847, and now the Steffl Department Store occupies the same space. On the underground floor, our can find a fascinating immersive exhibition dedicated to Mozart’s life and death: Mythos Mozart (and come to the upper floor to see the terrace and the view from it too!)

It’s more entertaining than educational but fun, especially if you visit with kids and want to learn more about instruments and Mozart’s most famous pieces.

There is a series of rooms, starting from the Requiem and Mozart’s death and continuing into the life of Vienna of that period. Variations of musical instruments, interactive musical nets, and AI interpretations of Mozart’s legacy exist.

9. Augustinian Church

The Augustinian Church is literally next door from the Josefsplatz to the State Hall entrance. The church on this site was initially constructed in the 14th century but was rebuilt later.

In the 17th century, it became a site for many weddings of the Habsburg family, including the weddings of Napoleon and Marie Louise in 1810 and Emperor Franz Joseph and Princess Sisi in 1854.

10. Austrian National Library, State Hall

Prunksaal, or the State Hall, is the most precious part of the Imperial Library, which contains the Habsburg collection of books, manuscripts, rare books, maps, incunables, papyri, etc.

It’s located inside the Hofburg Palace and is now part of the Austrian National Library, the largest library in Austria! The collection includes over 200,000 historical pieces and four Venetian globes; the latest restoration occurred in 2023.

During our visit, they had an exhibition dedicated to Anton Bruckner, the famous composer.

11. Sisi museum

Duchess Elisabeth who was born in Bavaria and became the Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary after marrying Emperor Franz Joseph I, is a national icon of Austria. Everyone loves her!

She attracted more attention especially after her tragic death. Princess Sisi, as she was nicknamed, was famous for her beauty and her slender figure, but this is just one part of the story. And you can learn more about her at the Sisi Museum.

She felt trapped by court life, travelled a lot, and sadly lost her only son Rudolf (by double suicide with his mistress) and eventually was assassinated in 1898 in Geneva an Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni.

But that’s not all you can see in the Sisi museum: you also have access to the Imperial apartments!

In total, you can explore 24 rooms that belonged to the imperial family before 1918, including the audience room of Emperor Franz Joseph and Sisi’s private rooms.

12. St. Michael’s Church

St. Michael’s Church, located on St. Michael’s Square, or Michaelerplatz, is one of the oldest churches in Vienna. It dates to the 13th century (of course, it’s been reconstructed many times). You can easily spot its whitewashed facade and gorgeous bell tower.

It is located right in front of Hofburg Palace and used to be a parish church for the imperial family and the court. Pop inside to admire beautiful frescoes, an altar, and the baroque Sieber organ—the largest in the city! Those walls were also the first to hear Mozart’s finished Requiem. You can also join a guided tour of the crypt.

13. Graben

Graben, which has been in use since Roman times, is now a famous square in Vienna. It was used as a marketplace from the 13th to 14th century until the late 18th century.

Now, it’s one of the most fashionable sights for a stroll around the city, lined up with gorgeous palaces. The Plague Column and a couple of fountains are also located here. Come here to do some shopping, too!

14. Vienna state opera

Vienna State Opera, or Wiener Staatsoper, is one of Vienna’s most essential and famous venues. It was built in the 1860s under the Vienna Court Opera instead of an older opera house inside the Hofburg Palace. The design of this Neo-Renaissance building belongs to Josef Hlávka (the old building was burnt down during WWII but restored as it was).

You can visit it for an opera or ballet performance or join a guided tour to admire the auditorium, the marble staircase, and the staterooms, such as the Tea Salon, Marble Hall, Schwind Foyer, and Gustav Mahler Hall.

15. Nachmarket

The historical Nachmarket has been held since the 16th century and is still one of the most critical places for foodie goers!

For over a century, it has covered stalls; now, there are over 120 of them filled with food from all over the world: India, Japan, Israel, Korea, Italy, Greece, Turkiye, and many more. Lots of outdoor seating options are available.