Like everything in Vienna, the Naturhistorisches Museum is done on a grand scale. Opened to the public in 1891, it is housed in a late-19th century building designed in the same Italian Renaissance style as the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum) across the street. But, it is filled with treasures of a different sort. There […]

After so many changes in the 20th century, it’s sometimes hard to remember that less than 100 years ago Austria was part of a large empire. A reminder of that period is embodied by the Vienna Parliament building. It will be of interest not just to students of politics, but anyone with a love for […]

The former summer residence of many a Hapsburg ruler, Schonbrunn Palace, remains one of Vienna’s top tourist attractions. It’s not hard to see why. First used as hunting grounds, the current palace was begun in 1697 and completed in 1749. It’s an enormous building with two giant wings and a prominent entrance done in a […]

To the ear of an English speaker, it might seem deeply ironic that the City Hall of Vienna is called the Rathaus. But accidental associations with the character of politicians aside, this neo-Gothic building and nearby park are among Vienna’s most delightful tourist offerings. Deepening the irony, the City Hall building (erected in 1883) is […]

Think of Venice and gondola rides immediately come to mind. Visit St. Petersburg and a cruise along the Volga becomes a must. But Vienna has its own unique waterway, the Danube River that will provide a journey that is equally unforgettable. Anyone who has enjoyed a larger cruise ship knows already what that means. But […]

Dating back to the 16th century, the Hofburg Palace was once the family residence of many of the Hapsburgs, successive rulers of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Built over a period of several centuries, the complex incorporates styles ranging from neo-Gothic to Classical Revival to Baroque to many that have no known name. The entire complex of […]

Set in a sweeping park filled with over 4,000 plants is one of Vienna’s premier attractions: the two Belvedere Palaces. The smaller of the two was erected in 1716 and the grand Upper Palace was completed in 1722. Both offer an outstanding look at the Rococo style popular during the early 18th century. Ownership passed […]

Known locally in Vienna as the Spanische Hofreitschule (Spanish Riding School), this home of world-famous Lipizzaner stallions is far more than just a group of fancy stables. It offers one of the finest exhibitions of classical horseback riding anywhere. That exhibition is enhanced by being offered in a Baroque hall that is part of the […]

The name Lainzer Tiergarten is mildly misleading. There are indeed deer to be found in this wooded nature preserve on the western edge of Vienna. But it’s not a garden as we traditionally think of it and there is so much more than deer here. Tucked in a small area at the foothills of the […]

Modern Vienna is divided into 23 Bezirke or districts. The first district, known locally as Innere Stadt and encircled by Ringstrasse, comprises what before 1850 was virtually all of Austria’s capital. Within this area are many of the finest attractions of one of Europe’s grandest cities. But there are others elsewhere that offer equally exciting […]