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Sightseeing
Sightseeing Overview
The heart of Vienna is the Innerestadt – the area that lay within the city walls, until they were demolished in the mid-19th century. It is here that some of Vienna’s most popular tourist attractions can be found, along with pedestrianised streets lined with countless shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. The centre point is the Graben (literally ‘moat’), which is a wide square lined with shops and pavement cafés under large umbrellas. Following the demolition of the city walls in 1857, the Ringstrasse was laid out and some of Vienna’s most beautiful buildings were built along it, between 1858 and 1865. Among the most important are the Staatsoper (State Opera House), Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum), Parlament (Parliament), Rathaus (City Hall) and Burgtheater.
Although most major attractions are in the First District, the other inner districts have much to offer. Leopoldstadt (Second District) lies on the eastern side of the Danube Canal, it is here that the massive Prater can be found. Landstrasse (Third District) includes the Schwarzenberg Palace and the Konzerthaus, although the main attraction is the Belvedere Palace. Wieden (Fourth District) is a small neighbourhood that is just as fashionable as the First District. Most of the city’s activity centres are around Karlsplatz, with its domed namesake, Karlskirsch. Margareten (Fifth District) is more residential and the historic homes of Schubert and Gluck still stand here. Mariahelf (Sixth District) includes Vienna’s busiest shopping street, Mariahilferstrass. The Naschmarkt (Produce Market) and the Flohmarkt (Flea Market), on Saturday morning, add to the excitement, while the surrounding streets are packed with Beisls (small restaurants), theatres, cafés and pubs. Neubau (Seventh District) includes the Spittleburg Quarter, where the old houses have been renovated into boutiques, restaurants, theatres and galleries. Josefstadt (Eighth District) was once the area favoured by civil servants – the Josefstadt Theatre, the city’s oldest (1788), is still in operation. Alsergrund (Ninth District) is often called the academic quarter – Freud’s home, now a museum, is located here, as is the Lichtenstein Palace, which now houses the Museum of Modern Art.
Tourist Information
Wien Tourismus
Albertinaplatz/Ecke Maysedergasse
Tel: (01) 2111 4222. Fax: (01) 216 8492.
E-mail: info@info.wien.at
Website: www.info.wien.at
Opening hours: Daily 0900–1900.
Other tourist information offices are located in the airport arrivals area, at Westbahnhof train station, on the Danube Island near Florisdorfer bridge (May to September), Triester Strasse 149 (at the end of the A2 motorway, in the south of the city) and at service centre Auhof on the A1 motorway (to the west of the city). These provide information, make reservations and supply brochures, maps and the Vienna Card (see below). A number of annually printed guides are available, including Kunst & Genuus (Arts & Delights), Architecture, Konzert-Cafés, monthly events and even a Gay Vienna guide.
Passes
The Vienna Card offers discounts of up to 50% at dozens of attractions, 5–10% discount at a number of shops, as well as special offers at a variety of cafés, restaurants and Heurigen (wine taverns). It also includes unlimited travel on the U-Bahn, bus and tram networks (except for night buses) for 72 hours. Passes are available from tourist information offices, hotels and Wiener Linien sales and information counters for €16.90. Vienna Cards are also available for purchase in advance with a credit card (tel: (01) 7984 40028). The Wien Tourismus website (see above) shows all the attractions covered by the Vienna Pass.
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