Discover Vienna: Culture, Water and Green Paths

Vienna combines significant buildings, unusual museum experiences and diverse routes along the water or through historic gardens. For your trip planning, you can therefore set different priorities: a cultural stay centred around St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn and Belvedere, active hours along the Danube, or discoveries in museums and historic sites.

Water, Paths and Views in Vienna

Danube Island combines 42 kilometres of beach with a nature reserve. This creates a clear contrast alongside the densely built-up urban areas. The Danube Canal also characterises Vienna: it is around 17 kilometres long, approximately 50 metres wide and runs through seven Viennese districts. Those wishing to compare different walking and excursion routes can use the Vienna walking map as a guide. It shows Vienna’s network of paths and urban hiking trails.

The Danube Tower offers a special view. Its observation terrace is 150 metres high, partly open and partly glazed; visitors reach it in 35 seconds. For a stay with different daily rhythms, such a viewpoint can be combined with more peaceful nature experiences. Türkenschanzpark awaits you with numerous ponds and streams, waterfalls and fountains. The Paulinenwarte offers a magnificent view of Vienna and the Vienna Woods. Several running routes there also invite you to go running and Nordic walking.

Historic Gardens and Major Vienna Attractions

Belvedere is a Baroque ensemble comprising Upper and Lower Belvedere and the extensive garden, which is one of Europe’s significant historic garden-art works and is designed in the French style; the ensemble is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Those wishing to combine art and exercise can link a visit to the buildings with time spent viewing the gardens.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral also shows how clearly Vienna’s history can be read in individual buildings. The cathedral is 136 metres high and the tallest church in Austria. Its construction began in the 12th century; the interior changed over the centuries and eventually acquired its present Baroque appearance. Schönbrunn Palace was the former summer residence of the Habsburgs and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Prater is home to the Giant Ferris Wheel, built in 1897 and one of Vienna’s landmarks.

Museums for Curious Explorers

The Prater Museum brings the history of the amusement park to life through specific collection items. The permanent exhibition includes historic carousel and Punch-and-Judy figures, parts of a grotto railway, early arcade machines, plans, models, photographs, tickets and posters. At the House of Music, by contrast, you can explore sound directly: the interactive sound museum allows visitors to discover the world of music and experience and investigate sound phenomena. There, sounds and tones can be seen, felt and created by visitors themselves.

The MuseumsQuartier Vienna offers another high concentration of culture, housing more than 50 cultural institutions. This opens up various possibilities for trip planning, meaning that not every day has to follow the same pattern: a walk or an attraction can be followed by a museum visit offering a completely different approach to art, music or history.

The Right Base for Your Vienna Trip

When looking for a holiday apartment in Vienna, it is worth first deciding on your preferred mix of activities. If culture and historic buildings are the focus, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Belvedere, Schönbrunn, the Prater and the MuseumsQuartier can determine your choice of activities. Those who want to place greater emphasis on water, views and exercise can include Danube Island, the Danube Canal, Türkenschanzpark and the Danube Tower in their plans. The Vienna walking map helps you find your way around the network of paths and urban hiking trails without limiting your trip to just one type of experience.

For further orientation within Vienna, you can also view the pages on Alsergrund, Mariahilf, Meidling, Währing, Neubau, Innere Stadt, Josefstadt and Liesing.

For the overarching travel overview: Vienna.