Whether you’ve come here to retrace the footsteps of Mozart, or to saunter through the streets in search of sachertorte, Vienna is a relaxed city that you can discover at your own pace.
Pleasures of Prater
An iconic park in the Leopoldstadt district, Prater combines a public park, a narrow-gauge railway called the Liliputbahn, restaurants, a planetarium and, most legendary of all, the Wiener Riesenrad. This ferris wheel was built in 1897 (and rebuilt in 1945 after burning down) and is the one where Orson Welles delivered his famous ‘cuckoo clock’ speech in classic movie The Third Man. You can board it for around 10 euros, or splurge on a candlelit dinner in one of the carriages.
Markets and Mozart
Staying outdoors, the city’s Naschmarkt is a colorful and sprawling market that has been running since the 16th century. Covering 1.5km, it encompasses stalls selling bread and pastries, vegetables and fruit, and a weekend flea market. It’s the perfect way to sample local produce, as well as food from around the world – with vendors offering great Japanese, Vietnamese and Turkish delicacies.
Mozart lived at the apartment that is now part of Mozarthaus Vienna when he was writing The Marriage of Figaro, spending some 10 years in the city. You’ll hear his music all over town, but this is the place to explore his life and legacy. For an immersive musical vacation, you’re spoiled for choice, with a Schubert Museum, Beethoven House and Haus der Musik Museum all diverting attractions.
Home of the Habsburgs
The long Habsburg Dynasty shaped much of Vienna – culturally, socially and architecturally. You can spend weeks here just tracing their influence, whether it’s at the summer palace of Schloss Schonbrunn, built in the 17th century, or the baroque wonder of Schloss Belvedere. They gathered art from far and wide, and the Kunsthistoriches Museum is home to much of it. It specializes in Renaissance art, but also finds time and space for Roman and Egyptian curiosities. Sitting on Ringstrasse, you’ll find a brilliant Velazquez collection, plus pieces from Gainsborough, Durer, Hans Holbein, Rembrandt, Rubens, van Dyck, Raphael, Bruegel and Caravaggio.
Move on from there to Hofburg, where the Habsburgs lived for over six centuries until 1918. You can tour the lavish imperial apartments for another glimpse into Viennese history, before heading to St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its astonishing roof, crypt and tombs – the site of many Habsburg marriages, and the place where Vivaldi’s funeral was held.
A piece of cake
You can’t leave Vienna without sampling some café culture, whether that’s with a piece of the city’s famous sachertorte or perhaps some apple strudel. You can try these classics at the 19th century Café Central, as well as some more recent creations from their head patissiere. Seek out Demel Vienna too – they’ve been going for 230 years and used to supply cakes to the Imperial court. Their Demel cake is legendary, as are the Esterhazy and their candied violets.
This city is the stuff of legend, and a visit here and along the Danube will be one you’ll always treasure. Make the experience even better with car rental in Vienna so that you can explore the lakes, meadows and mountains of this fascinating country.