Hotel Renngasse
Vienna's Attractions and Sights
Vienna is famous for its art, music, and culture. Experience classical music, historical architecture, art and museums, and all that Vienna has to offer.
Stephansplatz & Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral): Vienna's most famous landmark and sight was erected in the 13th century and expanded up to the 17th century. Guided tours through the building, the catacombs, and the towers are available.
Haas Haus: The Haas Haus is named after a 19th century building in the same location, specifically Philipp Haas & Sons' Carpet Store. The current modern building was constructed between 1985 and 1990 and caused controversy at the time because of the modern design, which is in stark contrast to St. Stephen's Cathedral.
Hofburg: The Hofburg Palace was the residence of the Hapsburgs between the 13th and 20th centuries. Today it houses the office of the President of Austria, as well as numerous museums and monuments.
Spanish Riding School: The Spanish Riding School was established in 1572. The famous Lipizzan horses can be seen in action at the Winter Riding School, which was designed by the architect Fischer von Erlach.
Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury): The Imperial Treasury museum houses the insignia and treasures of the Holy Roman Empire, the imperial regalia of Austria, family heirlooms, and a collection of ecclesiastical treasures and relics.
Volksgarten: This park is built on the site of the old city fortifications and was to be reserved for the Archdukes' personal use initially, but was opened to the public in the 19th century. Inside the park are the famous rose gardens, monuments, and fountains.
Burggarten (Imperial Castle Garden): This park was created in the 19th century and was a part of the Hofburg Palace. Emperor Franz Josef himself, who was a trained gardener, personally took a hand in designing it. Within or adjoining to the park are the Mozart memorial statue, the Palmenhaus greenhouse, and the Hercules fountain.
Palmenhaus: The greenhouse was originally erected in the 19th century. The current greenhouse was constructed in 1901 in Art Nouveau style. During the summer months, part of the site is used as a cafe. It also houses the Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly House).
Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly House): Admire around 400 free-flying butterflies belonging to 150 different species inside a „natural" environment.
Nationalbibliothek (National Library): The National Library is the largest scientific and research library in Austria. Tourist can visit the Prunksaal, the historical court library inside the Hofburg, the Papyrus Museum, Globe Museum and Esperanto Museum.
Michaelerplatz: This town square is notable for a number of remarkable buildings in Vienna's Inner City. the Michaelertor gate and the Michaeler Wing of the Hofburg Palace, the Loos Haus, Palais Herberstein and the Michaelerkirche. In the centre of the square an archaeological dig has uncovered old „layers" of Vienna, which allow a glimpse into more than 2,000 years of the city's history. Incidentally, Michaelerplatz was Vienna's first traffic roundabout of modern times.
Kapuzinergruft (Imperial Crypt): Cared for by Capuchin monks, numerous Hapsburgs including kings and emperors, have been interred inside the crypt. The crypt houses opulent sarcophagi and is open to the public.
Albertina: The Museum in the Archduke Albrecht Palace houses a collection of around 65,000 drawings, more than half a million art prints, a photographic collection, and architectural designs. The collections cover eras from the late Gothic to contemporary art.
Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera): The world renowned opera house attracts music lovers from all over the world. The first rate performances, as well as the 19th century architecture of the opera building, are well worth a visit.
Kärnter Straße: Kärnter Straße is one of the most famous shopping streets in Vienna and leads from Karlsplatz all the way up to the Graben and St Stephen's Cathedral. The street is restricted to pedestrian traffic only and offers a plethora of shops, sights, and attractions.
Burg Theater (Court Theatre): The Burgtheater has a long tradition. Originally located at the Michaelerplatz, its location was moved to the Ring during the 19th century. The building itself is of interest, too, since it contains murals designed by Gustav Klimt. The theatre stages first rate plays with well-known German-language actors.
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts): This museum houses one of the most famous and notable art collections worldwide. Including the art collections of various members of the Hapsburg family, the museum not only displays paintings and fine art, but also houses Egyptian and Antiquity collections.
Naturhistorisches Museum (Museum of Natural History): Housed in a building that is nearly identical to the Museum of Fine Arts, the museum exhibits a variety of collections encompassing zoological, botanical, geological, and paleontological collections. Established during the 19th century using older Imperial Collections, the museum is one of the largest Natural History museums worldwide.
Museumsquartier: The Museumsquartier is located within the former Royal Stables is one of the largest „cultural areas" worldwide. It incorporates the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art), the Leopold Museum, and the Kunsthalle Wien. Furthermore, the MQ is a venue for various events and exhibitions. The inner courtyard with its cafes and restaurants is a popular meeting place during summer months.
Mariahilferstraße: The Mariahilferstraße is one of Vienna's largest shopping streets. In addition to countless shops, it has a number of sights, such as the Mariahilferkirche, the Rahlstiege, the Hofmobiliendepot (Imperial Furniture Depot) Museum, and the Stiftskirche.
Schönbrunn Palace: The Palace, which was built in the 18th century, was the summer residence of the Hapsburg up to the end of World War I. In 1996 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today the Palace is used as a museum, which offers a number of exhibitions and tours on various subjects. The park is popular with the Viennese and has numerous sights and attractions in its own right. The adjoining Schönbrunn Zoo is also well worth a visit.
Schönbrunn Zoo: The zoo was established in 1752 and is the oldest zoo still in existence today. The enclosures have been modernised, but some of the original architecture has been integrated, especially within the star-shaped arrangement surrounding the pavilion near the entrance area. Some of the attractions include giant pandas, koalas, African elephants, as well as the Rain Forest House exhibit and the newly completed Orangutan Centre.
Rathaus (Town Hall): The 19th century Neogothic building is still the seat of Vienna's administration today. The large open square in front of the building stretches all the way to the Ring. Depending on the season the square is the venue of a variety of free admission attractions.
Naschmarkt: This market offers a wide variety of fresh produce, fruit, vegetables, fish, meat, and baked goods. A number of restaurants and street vendors are also located on the Naschmarkt. On Saturdays, the parking lot next to the Naschmarkt is the venue for a flea market.
Haus des Meeres (House of the Sea): This aquarium is of historical interest, as it is housed in a former anti-aircraft fortification that dates back to the Second World War. It accommodates a number of large fish tanks and a rain forest installation.
Prater: This large public park is famous for the Riesenrad, the Ferris wheel, which is one of Vienna's landmarks. The Prater's amusement park has attractions such as roller coasters and a miniature railway, as well as restaurants. The larger Prater is a publicly accessible park which is almost 6 km² large.
Technisches Museum (Technical Museum): The museum was established in 1908 and houses a wide variety of exhibits, which document industrial and technological history. Technical and engineering principles are explained using interactive exhibits. The collection covers old automobiles, trains, consumer products, and airplanes, as well as industrial facilities and models.
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