Additional Sights In Vienna - Belvedere Palace Tours
Additional Sights In Vienna - Belvedere Palace Tours

Additional Sights In Vienna:

After visiting the core attractions in Vienna’s City Center, consider venturing further out to some of the hidden gems many tourists never see.

Prioritizing Your Time:

Most of the attractions on this list are awesome, but it is important to prioritize your time in Vienna.  Make sure to visit the main sights like Schonbrunn Palace, the Old Town Walking Tour, and the Ring Tram Tour before tackling this list.  As long as you have 3-4 days you can see everything plus fit in a day trip or two.  Please consult our Suggested Itineraries For Vienna for more tips.

Transportation Tip:

Unlimited Tram/Bus/Metro Pass is 5.70€ for 24 Hours, 10€ for 48 Hours, & 13.50€ for 72 hours.  More info can be found about transportation on the website here.  Tickets can be bought at any station from the multilingual ticket machines.

Other Top Sights Around Vienna:

1. Belvedere Palace:

About Belvedere Palace: Belvedere Palace (meaning beautiful views in German) was built by Prince Eugene Savoy in the 1600s after he helped defeat the Turks during the Sieges of Vienna.  The beautiful Palace is split into an Upper Palace (Eugene’s party house), and the Lower Palace (his garden villa).  The Upper Palace is where the Prince did all of his entertaining so it’s the place to focus most of your time definitely has the most to do.  Before you even go inside you’ll be drawn to the picturesque flower garden and reflecting pool.  Inside the Upper Palace is a surprisingly great art museum with some of the best paintings in Vienna.  Gustav Klimt’s Kiss (1908-09) is the uncontested highlight of the Belvedere collection.

If you wanted to check out the Lower Palace it is very walkable sitting halfway between the Upper Palace and the Ringstrasse Loop.  Part of the grounds the palace was built was once used as a botanical garden in Roman times and ruins of the garden have been found at Oberzellergasse.

Getting Here: From the Ringstrasse Loop you can catch Tram at either the State Opera House or Schwarzenbergplatz and get off at the Belvedere stop.  You can also walk it which will let you stroll through the Lower Palace all the way to the Upper Palace which is less than a mile from Schwarzenbergplatz.  Hours: Daily 10am-6pm; Lower Palace until 9pm on Wednesdays.  Admission Cost: Outside grounds are free; Upper Palace 14€; Lower Palace 12€, Winterpalais 9€.  Combo tickets with Upper and Lower 20€ or with Winterpalais for 24€.  Discounted Online Tickets: To skip the line and save money, get your smartphone friendly combo ticket for the Upper Palace, Lower Palace and stables HERE.  Palace Website: (here).







2. Beethoven’s Grave:

About Beethoven’s Grave: Many famous composers from Strauss to Brahm were transplanted to the huge Zentralfriedhof Cemetery, but the main attraction is Ludwig Von Beethoven.  This massive cemetery of 3 million people actually holds 50% more people than Vienna current population.  The location of Beethoven’s grave site is very easy to find next to the cemetery’s large church, and is very accessible to photos.

Getting Here: The easiest way is to take Tram #71 right to Cemetery from the Southside of the Ringstrasse Loop.  You can also take the Orange Metro line to the Simmering‎ station and hop on either Tram #71 or #6 which follow the same path from Simmering‎ station to the Cemetery.

3a. Hundertwasserhaus Apartment Building:

About Hundertwasserhaus Apartment Building: The architecture of this large apartment building by famous Viennese artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser is truly amazing.  The only way to describe it is as part Gaudi, part Dali.  The building is bold and the courtyard’s wavy paving make the fountain appear to melt into the ground.  Definitely worth a stop.

Getting Here: The Apartment complex sits off of Tram Line 1 right between the Hetzgasse & Rasumofskygasse (Löwengasse) tram stops.  It is 1 1/2 blocks from either tram stop.  If walking it is about a 10 block walk Northeast of Stadt Park or 5 blocks Southwest of Prater Amusement Park.  Address: Löwengasse 43.  Additional Photos: Here.

3b. KunstHaus Wien:

About KunstHaus Wien: If you really liked Hunderwasserhaus then you need to walk the 3 short blocks to Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s other work the Kunsthaus as well.  The Kunsthaus serves as a museum the Hundertwasser’s work and was designed with curved walls and floors to make you feel that you are flowing from area to area.  Our favorite area is actually not the museum part but instead the really funky cafe.  The building’s exterior is really cool and curvy too, with a black and white checkerboard inspired look.

Getting Here: It’s just a 3 block walk Northwest of Hundertwasserhaus.  Is also one block from the Radetzkyplatz‎ Tram Stop where Trams #1 & #0 both stop.  Hours:  Daily 10am-7pm, cafe open until 8pm.  Cost: Adults 10-12€, Kids Free.  Address: Untere Weißgerberstraße 13.  Website: Here.

4. Prater Amusement Park:

About Prater Amusement Park: Popular 200-year-old amusement park just north of the Old City is a great place for family fun.  While the park has many rides it is known for its 220-foot-tall Ferris wheel.  The best things about this park is that there is no admission fee, you only pay for what you ride.

Ride Cost: Rides range from 1-10€ however many are around 2€. If you are also planning on going to Schönbrunn Zoo you can get a free ride on the Prater Ferris wheel by pre-ordering your passe here Hours: You can walk through the park any time of the year, however, the rides are only open from March 15th-October 31st, daily from 9am-midnight.  Getting There: you can quickly walk here from Hundertwasserhaus, or take the U-1 metro line to stop “Pratersten” from anywhere else in town.  Website: Here.

5. Mexican Church (Franz von Assisi):

About The Mexican Church: Other travel guides don’t mention this church but that’s their loss, this church is an awesome photo op.  The Mexican Church is a Catholic made in the honor of Francis of Assisi who founded the Catholic Friars.  The church is nicknamed the Mexican Church from the street it is on, Mexikoplatz, and because people do not want to say its full name of Donaustadt Heiliger Franz von Assisi.  There is not much to see inside, however, your pics from outside and a short stroll along the Danube will make for a great hour or two.

Getting There: Take the U1 metro line to stop Vorgartenstraße, only one stop from Prater Park and three stops from the Vienna’s City Center.

6. Donauturm Tower:

About Donauturm Tower: Vienna’s version of the Seattle Space Needle is Austria’s tallest free-standing building at 252 meters high.  Erected in 1964, this innovative tower is complete with great views of Vienna and two revolving restaurants at a height of 160 and 170 meters respectfully.  While visiting is amazing any time of day and night, it is the best around a full moon when the tower has special full moon nights where you get a full meal, drinks, and an unmatched romantic view of the moon at 150 meters up.  If it’s your birthday the tower will let you ride to the top for free and gives you and your guests each a free glass of champagne.  You must make reservations for any special events or birthdays on the tower’s website.

Visiting Hours: 10am-Midnight, last entry at 1130pm.  Cost: 5.90€ for the elevator to the observation deck, can be combined with a ticket for a Danube River cruise on the Blue Danube for a total of 1650€.  Getting Here: The tower is also very close to UNO City Vienna, or the VIC, which is a beautiful complex of 6 y-shaped skyscrapers.  This area is a great new world compliment to your trip to Vienna and is just across the Danube from the Mexican Church.  Website: Here.



7. City Wastage Incinerator (Fernwärme):

About The City Wastage Incinerator: The City Incinerator is maybe the coolest building architecture-wise in the city.  There truly doesn’t seem to be a straight line anywhere in its construction.  Bright colors and odd shapes work together to make standard building a favorite among photographers.

8. Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo:

About Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo: Tiergarten was started by Empress Maria Theresa in 1752 and is now the oldest zoo in the World!  The zoo is located right next to the gardens at Schönbrunn Palace and is a great stop if you plan on visiting the Hapsburg Palace anyway.  For more on the Palace check out our Schönbrunn Palace Tour section.

Getting To The Zoo: U-4 subway route to the metro stop Schönbrunn and simply walk 400 yards, is right next to Schönbrunn Palace.  Cost: Admission at the gate is 14€ for adults, 6€ for children.  For a better deal buy your ticket ahead of time to not only save a couple dollar but also to get a free ride on Prater’ Giant Ferris Wheel.  To see detail and book ahead click here.  Hours: Typically mirrors Schönbrunn Palace.  Open Daily July-August 8:30am-6:30pm; November-March 830am-430pm; Rest of the Year 8:30am-5pm.  Sometimes stays open even later.  Website: Here.

9. Marchfelderhof Restaurant:

About Marchfelderhof Restaurant: Since it opened in 1843, the Marchfelderhof has hosted countless famous guest including many visits by Napoleon.  The walls, ceiling and everywhere else in this historic restaurant are covered in memorabilia and antiques.  Each room has a slightly different theme from traditional royal uniforms to old musical instruments.  Think of it an American TGI Fridays on steroids.

The feel of the restaurant is unmatched as are the traditional Austrians foods like Schnapps and Schnitzel.  This is the coolest place to eat anywhere around Vienna even though it is a little touristy.  If you choose to go in a tour group instead of just taking the metro they unroll a red carpet and cut a ribbon to welcome each large group.

Getting Here: It is located just outside of town in the suburb of Deutsch-Wagram and can be quickly reached on the S1 Commuter Train.  More PhotosClick Here.  Website: Here.

10. Augarten Flak Towers:

About Augarten Flak Towers: In 1944, during the middle of WW2, German forces had 6 anti-aircraft towers built around Vienna to protect against Allied bombings.  With over 10 foot thick walls, the towers were like mini fortresses resistant to almost all bombs of their day and were capped off by huge 22mm guns.

Of the remaining flak towers, the 2 huge ones in the middle of Augarten park are the most impressive. The largest of the 2 is a 180-foot tall giant circle tower with large platforms coming off of it which gives the park a great backdrop.  The North side of the park has a slightly smaller one in a rectangle shape.

Getting Here: There are a few trams that go by the park including #31, but we prefer Red Tram #2 which completely circles it and is featured on our Vienna Ring Tram Tour.

11. Saint Anthony’s Church (Antonskirche):

About Saint Anthony’s Church: Named after Saint Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of Nanny’s, this large church with an impressive facade was built in 1896.  It is a little bland inside but we love the outside.  The very broad face of the church almost hides large dome of the church as the 170-foot-tall bell towers get all of the attention.  For the average tourist is not worth going out of your way for, but photographers and church lovers may want to add it to the end of their to see list.

Website: Here.

12. Hermesvilla Palace:

About  Hermesvilla Palace: The Hapsburg’s extravagant hunting lodge and the mansion was built on the edge of the Hapsburg family’s ancestral hunting grounds.  Emperor Francis Joseph had the lodge upgraded and gave it to future Empress Elisabeth in hopes to get her to marry him.  Elisabeth was a huge World traveler and the Emperor figured he would have to really impress her to get her to want to spend more time in Vienna.  The idea worked as not only did they marry, but Elisabeth referred to the beautiful Palace as the Palace of Dreams.  While many visitors really enjoy the over the top royal beds, our favorite attraction at the Palaces are the large murals depicting Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

Getting to Hermesvilla: It is easy to get here but takes 3 lines plus a short walk at the end.  1st take the U4 Subway Line from Karlsplatz to Hietzing. 2nd take either Tram NR60 or Bus 156B to Maurer Hauptplatz. 3rd from to Maurer Hauptplatz you take the bus NR60B to Lainzer Tor which is at the entrance to Hermesvilla.  It takes about a 20-minute walk from the entrance to the actual hunting lodge which is well marked.  HoursMid-March through October it is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm, Closed Mondays.  November through Mid-March it is closed.  Admission Cost: 6€ for Adults, 4€ for Seniors, Free for kids 18 and under.  Add 3€ to admission for a guided tour from the staff.  Website: Here.

Other Noteworthy Activities:

1. Vienna Boys Choir: Enjoy the heavenly voices of the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Together with the Viennese Chamber Orchestra (17 musicians), this famous ensemble will delight their audience with the unforgettable melodies of W.A. Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss.  This world renown choir travels all over the world but make a few stops in Vienna a month.  Tickets: The Vienna Boys Choir almost always sells out, so check their schedule and purchase tickets for their show here.


2. Viennese Ball:
A very unique formal dance experience.  These balls take place in huge halls and the traditional dances performed include the waltz, fox trot, and polonaise.  Typically the men wear black tuxedos and the women wear white dresses.  Authentic Vienna balls usually start after 9pm, and we have included a great website for you to find out more including schedules, locations, and prices.  Location: Various sites  Schedule: please check www.vienneseball.org.


3: Christmas Markets:
http://www.wien.gv.at/stadtplan/en/grafik.aspx?lang=en&bookmark=HZkeRaHPvEQ3SP9GHQuMRu5RphlRnLluL7AeAQ-b-b

Ancient Wine Celler: http://www.zwoelf-apostelkeller.at/
Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity