Vienna Introduction Walking Tour II (Self Guided), Vienna

With its intricately patterned tiled roof, the imposing Gothic cathedral of St. Stephen's (Stephansdom) is a prime landmark inside Vienna's old city center, having stood watch over the place for nearly 700 years. Its distinctive south tower rises to an impressive 445 feet and previously has served as the main observation and command post for the city's walled defense, for which purpose it even contained an apartment for watchmen who, until 1955, manned the tower at night and rang the bells if a fire was spotted. There was to be a twin north tower, but for several reasons, it ended up being just half the size and of a different design.

The views from the Watch Room, at the top, are surely worth climbing the 343 steps, otherwise you can take a lift up to a viewing platform on the shorter tower, home to the massive Pummerin ("Boomer") Bell – the largest in Austria, originally cast from melted-down cannons abandoned by the Turks while fleeing Vienna in 1683.

High points of the interior are the gorgeous vaulting of the Albertine Chapel, the stone pulpit (a masterwork of late Gothic sculpture), canopies or baldachins over many of the side altars, and a most spectacular Renaissance work – Friedrich III's tomb. You also won't want to miss the 14th century catacombs and the treasury where some of the cathedral's most valuable objects are displayed. Some of them can only be seen on a guided tour, such as a red marble sepulcher sculpted in 1467-1513, the 16th-century pulpit, a Gothic winged altar from the 1440s, and the tomb of Prince Eugene of Savoy dated 1754.

Visit St. Stephen's Cathedral and you'll be standing in the same church in which Joseph Haydn once sang as a choir boy until his voice broke, and where Johann Strauss married both of his wives, Henrietta Treffz and Angelika Dittrich. A memorial tablet gives a detailed account of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's relationship with the cathedral, including that of him being appointed an adjunct music director here shortly before his death. This was his parish church when he lived at the Figaro House and he was married here; two of his children were also baptized at St. Stephen's, and his funeral was held in the Chapel of the Cross inside.

Why You Should Visit:
While incredible architecture is rather commonplace in Vienna, this majestic Roman-Gothic masterpiece is absolutely unmistakable and not to be missed.

Tip:
Be sure to make a loop around the structure as there are many interesting details still visible on the outside walls.

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 6am-10pm; Sun: 7am-10pm

Stephansplatz is a square at the geographical center of Vienna. It is named after its most prominent building – the Stephansdom – Vienna's main cathedral and one of the tallest churches in the world. Before the 20th century, a row of houses separated Stephansplatz from Stock-im-Eisen-Platz, but since their destruction, the name Stephansplatz started to be used for the wider area covering both.

To the west and south, respectively, run the exclusive shopping streets der Graben (literally the "Ditch") and Kärntner Straße ("Kärnten" is the German for Carinthia). Opposite the Stephansdom is the Haas-Haus, a piece of striking modern architecture by Hans Hollein. Although public opinion was originally skeptical about the combination of medieval cathedral and a glass-and-steel building, it is now considered an example of how old and new architecture can mix harmoniously.

Why You Should Visit:
While this might not be the best location for a gourmet meal, sitting in one of the local cafes does provide for world-class people watching in a prime historic location. With the Stephansdom dominating the scene, you can't go wrong.

Tip:
While in Stephansplatz, walk around the side of the Stephansdom to see a miniature thereof. It's quite fun to see it tiny!

Kärntner Straße (Carinthian Street) is Vienna's main shopping thoroughfare, in place since the Roman era. Originally known as Strata Carinthianorum – the first record of it dates back to 1257 – this street used to link the downtown area to the city wall. Only a handful of historic buildings from that period still remain, having survived WWII.

Today Kärntner Straße extends from Stephansplatz to Karlsplatz, and is chockablock with old-time houses, traditional shops and stylish flagship stores of popular and luxury international retail brands, some of which are hidden in the side streets. En route, the street abounds in historical gems, such as the Winter Palace of Prince Eugene and Neuermarkt. The Maltese Church seemed like an anachronism in the face of modern retail shops surrounding it and, of course, at the end of Kärntner, the majestic Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera House). In 1974, the street was made fully pedestrian, much to the delight of local residents and tourists, who flock here regularly to shop, stroll, and generally enjoy themselves.

Why You Should Visit:
Great for shopping, people-watching, and admiring Vienna's baroque architecture.

Tip:
Can get pretty crowded, especially during peak tourist season.

Haus der Musik (The House of Music) is a modern, hands-on museum designed to enable visitors to interact with the displays at all levels. Spread over five floors, this is one of a kind museum fully dedicated to the fascinating world of music and sound.

The 5,000 sq. meter facility has won numerous awards for the innovative way of presenting the exhibits. Among them are numerous musical inventions vividly illustrating the diversity of our perception of what exactly constitutes music. The variety is astounding. Here you can conduct the Vienna Philharmonic yourself, compose your own music, have your name written in music in Mozart's hand, and see the Vienna Philharmonic in action in videos of the New Year's and summer concerts.

Another interesting tidbit about this place is that it is located in the former Palace of Archduke Charles where in the mid 19th century lived Otto Nicolai, founder of the Vienna Philharmonic and author of the now famous musical piece “The Merry Wives of Windsor”. This classic comedic opera is also subject of a display here. In modern times, the museum has become an official repository of the history of the Vienna Philharmonic. Whenever you're in Vienna, do make plans to visit this extraordinary place.

Why You Should Visit:
To get a feel for the magnificence of the composers who once blessed Vienna with their presence.
To test your own musical talent on the Virtual Conductor, enjoy a short version of the famous New Year's Concert, compose your own waltz with the interactive Waltz Dice Game, learn more about Mozart, Strauss or Beethoven and experiment with pitch, sounds and musical instruments.
A good mix of information on the science of sound, the composition of music and famous composers.
Well worth a visit, particularly with kids.

Operation hours: Daily 10 am - 10 pm.

Vienna's Karlskirche (St. Charles' Church) is located in the eponymous Karlsplatz (St. Charles' Square), about 200 meters away from Ringstrasse, and is one of the finest examples of Baroque religious architecture in the city. Among its prominent features are the impressive oval high ceiling dome topping the structure, the elongated form of the building, and the exterior columns modeled on the famous analogues in Rome dedicated to the Emperor Trajan. The Viennese columns celebrate the life of St Charles Borromeo (to whom the church is dedicated) and the vast power of the Hapsburgs, symbolizing the Pillars of Hercules. Another interesting feature are the two spheres with metallic reflective sides allowing viewers to observe more details of the interior.

In recent times, the location has become a very popular tourist attraction, in large part due to its peculiar style, starkly contrasting that of other buildings nearby. St. Charles' is run by a local Catholic order and remains a parish church. It is also seat of the Catholic student ministry of the Vienna University of Technology and thus, apart from being an architectural marvel, is a functional institution.

Erected to celebrate the emergence from black plague that struck Vienna hard in the early 18th century, the Karlskirche is virtually a monument to St Charles Borromeo who was renowned for ministering to the needs of plague victims. History tells that Emperor Charles VI made a vow to God that he would build a church and name it after St. Charles Borromeo, if God relieved the city of the disease. God did, and so did the Emperor.

*****Johann Strauss Walk*****

On May 28, 1878 Strauss married his second wife, a young singer named Angelika Dittrich, at St. Charles' Church. Unfortunately, Dittrich was not a supporter of his music and their marriage ended in divorce in 1882.

Tip:
You have to pay to get in (students get a discount), but it's well worth it for the lovely interior.
There is a lift inside that can take you close to the murals on the dome ceiling. From up there, you can also enjoy a spectacular view of the city from the dome window.

The Belvedere palaces were the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663–1736). The ensemble was built in the early 18th century by the famous Baroque architect, Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, and comprises the Upper and Lower Belvedere, with the Orangery and Palace Stables, as well as extensive gardens. As one of Europe's most stunning Baroque landmarks, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today, the Belvedere houses the greatest collection of Austrian art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day, complemented by the works of international artists. At the Upper Belvedere, visitors can not only encounter artworks drawn from over 500 years of art history but also explore the magnificent staterooms.

The Belvedere's art collection presents an almost complete overview of the development of art in Austria and, thus, offers insight into the country's history. The world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt's paintings lies at the heart of the presentation of art around 1900 on show at the Upper Belvedere. Among the highlights are Klimt's “The Kiss” (1908/09) and “Judith” (1901), as well as works by Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. Key pieces of French Impressionism and the greatest collection of Viennese Biedermeier art are also among the main attractions of this museum.

Why You Should Visit:
As well as being home to some of Klimt's most famous creations, the collection, in general, is vast and the building itself is remarkable.
Not only is the building a sight to behold but the grounds are magnificently maintained too, just as you would expect them to be.

Tip:
To wait in a shorter line, purchase your tickets online in advance.
Make sure to leave the time to stroll through the gardens either on the way to or from this wonderful palace.

Opening Hours:
Sat-Thu: 9am-6pm; Fri: 9am-9pm