Vienna between nature, culture and views

Water, paths and green spaces

Danube Island combines 42 kilometres of beach with a nature reserve. This places recreation and protected nature side by side. The Danube Canal offers a different way to get your bearings: It is around 17 kilometres long, about 50 metres wide and runs through seven of Vienna’s districts. These figures and the connection to the districts describe an extensive route through the city.

Ponds and streams, waterfalls and fountains shape the landscape of Türkenschanzpark. Several running paths invite you to run and go Nordic walking. If you would like to combine these activities with a viewpoint, you will also find the Paulinenwarte in the park: From there, the view extends across Vienna and the Vienna Woods. Within a single park, water features, exercise and views thus appeal to different interests.

For finding your way on foot, the Vienna Walking Map shows the network of paths and the city hiking trails. It complements the individual descriptions of parks and landscapes with an overview of the designated routes.

Architecture and history

The Upper and Lower Belvedere, together with their extensive garden, form a Baroque ensemble. The garden is laid out in the French style and is one of Europe’s significant historic works of garden art. Both palaces and the garden complex are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architecture, garden design and shared heritage status can be viewed here as an interconnected ensemble.

At St. Stephen’s Cathedral, its height and building history are two distinct features: At 136 metres, it is Austria’s tallest church. Construction began in the 12th century; its interior changed over the centuries and eventually acquired its present-day Baroque appearance. Schönbrunn Palace was the former summer residence of the Habsburgs and is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater also connects a specific moment in history with its present-day significance as a Vienna landmark: It was built in 1897. Travellers whose plans focus primarily on architectural history and historic sites will find a range of points of reference, from a medieval building project to a structure dating from the late 19th century.

Views and culture to experience

The Danube Tower’s observation terrace is 150 metres above the ground and is partly open and partly glazed. Visitors reach it in 35 seconds. As visitor information can change, we recommend checking the latest operating information before your visit.

The permanent exhibition at the Prater Museum includes historic carousel and Punch and Judy figures, parts of a grotto railway, early arcade machines, as well as plans, models, photos, tickets and posters. The collection thus ranges from fairground figures and rides to visual and paper documents. Exhibition contents may change, so check the latest information before your visit.

At the House of Music, you can directly experience and explore sound phenomena. You can see and feel tones and sounds, and create them yourself; the venue is an interactive sound museum in Vienna. The MuseumsQuartier Wien offers a different cultural setting and is home to more than 50 cultural institutions. The two offerings are clearly distinct: At the House of Music, the focus is on experiencing sound for yourself, while the MuseumsQuartier brings together a wide variety of cultural institutions.

This makes it possible to choose accommodation based on the interests that matter to you during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Alsergrund, Ottakring, Währing, Meidling, Liesing, Hietzing, Innere Stadt, Josefstadt.

For the higher-level travel overview: Federal State of Vienna.