Sitting beautifully on eastern banks of the Danube River, Vienna has a treasure of culture and architecture marvels. The capital city of Austria houses the legacy of eminent architects, artists, poets, and musicians like Mozart that make this piece of land even more exquisite. Backpacking across Vienna would be like traveling to history in Medieval and Baroque periods. However, architecture styles do not limit here. Along with Romanesque, classist buildings to modern structures, one can also witness the traces of Art Nouveau at the places to visit in Vienna assuredly.
Let’s get into this scenic central European city by looking at this list that will certainly awestruck you on your trip to Austria.
1. Church of Holy Spirit, Herbststraße 78, 1160 Wien, Austria | Places to visit in Vienna
Designed by Otto Wagner’s student, Jože Plečnik it shows the reinterpretation of church designs by introducing shared religious experience. It has proved to be radical with its poured-in-place concrete technique used both in the exterior and the structure. Church’s crypt is the most revolutionary of all displaying angular and cubist capitals, and slender columns also made in concrete. An example of Art Nouveau style denotes a milestone by clearing the way for reinforced concrete being used in monumental buildings.
2. Wotrubakirche, Ottillingerpl. 1, 1230 Wien, Austria
Built-in the mid-1970s, Wotruba church stands on the outskirts of Vienna. Designed by architect Fritz Mayr this structure is famously known as a project on the sculptor Fritz Wotruba’s life. The building is a real-life adaptation of one of the clay models sculpted by Wotruba. Mayr fashioned the clay model to construct a walk-in concrete sculpture that was functional in use. The design floats in between art and architecture resulting in the creation of a jumbled brutal ensemble in the middle of a hill.
3. Gasometer, Guglgasse 12, Vienna 1110 Austria | Places to visit in Vienna
A group of four 90,000 cu.m. of gas containers provided the gas to street lamps of Vienna. In 1984 the city retired from the usage of gas and decided to shut it down. However, the brick façade and beautiful metallic dome roof seemed difficult to destroy, and hence, a new interior project was started in 1990 with renowned architects to restore these gasometers.
4. The Imperial Palace of Hofburg, Michaelerkuppel, 1010 Wien, Austria
Hofburg Imperial Palace runs over 59 acres of land with a group of 18 wings having 2600 rooms accompanied by 19 courtyards. The palace dates back to the 13th-century and comprises luxury restaurants, lively cafes, lush green gardens, and the well-known Spanish riding school. Hofburg features a wealth of architectural styles, including Baroque, Rococo, Gothic, and Renaissance situated in the middle of Vienna. Reflecting 700 long years of architecture history this colossal structure is a total must to visit in Vienna.
5. The Imperial Palace of Schonbrunn, Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien, Austria | Places to visit in Vienna
The magnificent palace consists of 1441 rooms and the 18th-century decorations in the interior. Schonbrunn wears gracefully the elements of Baroque architectural style. However, the grandeur of this palace does not edge to this, the complex also includes Privy Garden, the world’s oldest zoo, labyrinth, and the stunning Gloriette.
6. Hundertwasserhaus, Kegelgasse 36-38, 1030 Wien, Austria
A rooftop with shrubs and more than 200 trees houses 52 apartments underneath all being of different colors from the exterior. Hundertwasserhaus was a concept by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser that came in the 20th century, also known as nature and human-friendly block. An odd-looking structure does not feel that odd when the colorful exterior gets mixed with luscious green spread all over making it an important part of the cultural heritage of Vienna and a point that attracts thousands.
7. The Postal Savings Bank, Georg-Coch-Platz 2, 1010 Wien, Austria
The Postal Savings Bank broke the tradition by introducing material, structure, and function as the main principles of architecture design. With little to no decoration, it stands out majorly for its central hall that has a curved glass roof. This project is counted amongst other notable works in Art Nouveau style by architect Otto Wagner.
8. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Wien, Austria | Places to visit in Vienna
Climbing 343 steps would not sound too much when you end up atop the 500 ft. tower to observe the outstanding views the Vienna city offers. This 12th-century Gothic cathedral consists of large columns, an impressive 2,30,000 glazed tile roof, and the massive chimed bell making it a treasure of the city.
9. Looshaus, Herrengasse 2 1010 Vienna, Austria
‘House without eyebrows’ that is what locals called this building by. Looshaus was the total opposite of all the other buildings that followed historicism and ornaments that were used commonly. One can see the rebellious nature it possesses in rejecting the orientation towards the historic principles of design along with the contrast drawn by the marble-lined exterior on the ground floor and simple plaster façade on the residences above.
10. Vienna State Opera, Opernring 2, 1010 Wien, Austria | Places to visit in Vienna
The gloriousness of the Vienna State Opera is well known for its capacity to accommodate 2,211 spectators and 110 musicians at the same time. French Early Renaissance style opera was constructed in 1869 and got destroyed in World War-II but in 1955 it was rebuilt in the elegant high renaissance style. Grand marble staircase, luxurious foyer, extravagant auditorium and wonderful tea-room having priceless tapestries call for a visit leaving you with an unforgettable experience.
11. Rathaus, Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria | Places to visit in Vienna
The fact that around 30 million bricks and 40,000 cu.m. of natural stones came together to form this structure, no one can doubt why it is one of the most interesting monuments of the city. Also known as Vienna’s City Hall is a Neo-Gothic building used as an administrative center. But a banner made of iron figures sits on top of the 98-meters tall tower that steals the most attention that reads ‘Rathausmann’.
12. The National Theatre, Universitätsring 2, 1010 Wien, Austria
Considered as one of the most important theatres of the country, it witnesses a footfall of no less than 13,000 people in a year. The exterior matches the grandeur of the theatre by showcasing decorative scenes and figures. The interior is equally impressive with its French Baroque style decorations, and a staircase full of murals.
13. Austrian National Library, Josefsplatz 1, 1015 Wien, Austria
Even if you are not a bookworm this brilliant library attracts people because of its Baroque architecture and the fact this is the biggest library in the whole of Europe. The ceremonial room measuring about 80-meter long and 20-meter in height cannot be missed. Moreover, the wealth of knowledge could easily be felt as you get surrounded by more than 20,000 books under the gorgeous dome covered with incredible frescoes.
14. Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
You must have heard of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael amongst other famous artists. Albertina serves them all together under one roof. This museum standing since the 17th century in the heart of the City center was once a part of Vienna’s old fortification.
15. Karlskirche, Kreuzherrengasse 1, 1040 Wien, Austria | Places to visit in Vienna
Karlskirche is a platter full of rich architecture styles ranging from Renaissance, Roman, and ancient Greek along with Baroque and Byzantine. A glimpse of Peter’s Basilica can be seen in the 72-meter vast dome of the church. It becomes a must-visit place of Vienna with all the ornamentation in the altar, the stunning canopy, and the lift inside which drives you up to the top where you can have a blissful view of the city. The most interesting of all is the renowned 33-meter high twin pillars based on the column of Trajan in Rome flaunting the spiral bands that depict the scenes from St. Charles’s life pretty well.
