Vienna

Get Expert Advice

Questions about Vienna?
Our community of experts can help you find what you’re looking for.

Vienna

Vienna, Austria, is the capital of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city and by far the largest in Austria. Vienna lies in the east of Austria and is close to Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, and at the easternmost extension of the Alps in the Vienna Basin. In 2001, the city center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Art and culture have a long tradition in Vienna, including theater, opera, classical music and fine arts. The Burgtheater is considered one of the best theaters in the German-speaking world alongside its branch, the Akademietheater. The Volkstheater Wien and the Theater in der Josefstadt also enjoy good reputations. Vienna is also home to a number of opera houses, including the Theater an der Wien, the Staatsoper and the Volksoper, the latter being devoted to the typical Viennese operetta. Classical concerts are performed at well known venues such as the Wiener Musikverein, home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Wiener Konzerthaus. The Hofburg is the location of the Schatzkammer (treasury), holding the imperial jewels of the Habsburg dynasty. The Sisi Museum (a museum devoted to Empress Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie of Austria) allows visitors to view the Imperial apartments as well as the silver cabinet. Directly opposite the Hofburg are the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum, which houses many paintings by old masters, ancient and classical artifacts. A number of museums are located in the Museumsquartier (museum quarter), the former Imperial Stalls which were converted into a museum complex in the 1990s. It houses the Museum of Modern Art, commonly known as the MUMOK (Ludwig Foundation), the Leopold Museum (focusing on works of - Egon Schiele (the largest collection of paintings in the world by Egon Schiele) - the Viennese Secession, Viennese Modernism and Austrian Expressionism), the AzW (museum of architecture), additional halls with feature exhibitions and the Tanzquartier. The Liechtenstein Palace contains one of the world's largest private art collections of the baroque. The Castle Belvedere, built under Prinz Eugen, contains paintings of Gustav Klimt (“The Kiss”), Egon Schiele, and other painters of the early 20th century, also sculptures of Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, and has changing exhibitions too.

Vienna has an extensive transportation network. Public transport is provided by buses, trams, and five subway lines (U-Bahn). Trains are operated by the ÖBB. Vienna has multiple road connections, including motorways. Vienna is served by Vienna International Airport.  Vienna has a humid continental climate. The city has warm summers while winters are relatively cold with average temperatures at about freezing point, and snowfall occurring mainly from December through March. Spring and autumn are cool to mild. Precipitation is generally moderate throughout the year.

Get Expert Advice

Have travel questions? Our community of experts can help.

The keystone of a great journey is the diversity of the experience. Too many days on even the nicest beach or exploring museums without end leaves travelers with a feeling of “ho hum.” Croatia is one of those destinations that is so diverse, you will find yourself engaged in...Read More

River cruise companies are responding to increased demand for new experiences by building newer ships and creating more itineraries, many with special focuses. AMA Waterways (800-626-0126, www.amawaterways.com): Fleet expansion plans at AMA, formerly Amadeus Waterways, call for two new ships...Read More

Where would you go if you wanted to visit a Central European destination with well-preserved landmarks, a prominent place in European history, cultural diversity, unhurried provincial charms and easy accessibility? A great choice is Krakow, Poland, which just happened to be one of the...Read More

For some, the Czech Republic is synonymous with a foaming mug of beer, since the country is home to three major beer-producing cities: Pilsen, in western Bohemia; Budejovice, in southern Bohemia; and Prague.   Pilsen is the home of Urquell Pilsner, whose ubiquitous green-and-yellow...Read More

Budapest, the charming Central European capital bisected by the Danube River, is a lovely cluster of culture, cuisine and plenty of historic sights. Many of these hearken back to the 19th century, when Budapest, as part of the mighty Austro-Hungarian Empire, was one of Old World Europe’s...Read More

feedback