Vienna Things to Do Tips by ayesh

The Giant Ferris Wheel Giant Ferris Wheel Review

Although a complete and very modern fun fair has been build around it, the old and partially original ferris wheel is still the highest attraction in the Praterpark. It has duplicates of the gondolas from the old days, in which you can ´do a round´ to the top and down again. The view is wonderful and the wood interior of the cabins makes the trip back into time complete. (you can even rent one for a private dinner! (very pricy))

Address: Prater 90

Directions: In the Praterpark

Website: http://www.wienerriesenrad.com

Twin Museums

Both the Museum for Fine Arts and the Museum of Natural History are very impressive by their appearance but mostly because of their contents. There is too much to tell you about (eg beautiful paintings, sarcophagus, Venus of Willendorf, mammothbones etc.).
With an audiotour you can have the background story of most of the objects that are on display.
The museums are build in exactly the same style and are devided by a well trimmed garden.

Address: Burgring 7

Directions: Next to the Hofburg

Website: http://www.nhm-wien.ac.at and www.khm.at

Schönbrunn Palace Schonbrunn Review

The Versailles of Vienna, as they call it. This was the summer residence of the royal Habsburg family and it contains 2500 rooms! A part of this can be visited, but do not do this when large groups of tourists are trying to get into the palace. The walking spaces in the rooms are limited and ´traffic jams´ are easily created!
Schönbrunn has the same interiorstyle as the Hofburg, but personally I felt the first to be more impressive.
When you´ve had it with all those slow tourists in front of you, be sure to save the gardens for last, to soak up the ambiance and space you have there.
From the high ground of the gardens you have a wide view with the palace in front.

Address: Schönbrunner Schloßstraße

Directions: West of the centre

Website: http://www.schoenbrunn.at

The Imperial Palace Hofburg Review

Yes, this is also where Sissi lived. The Hofburg has been the imperial residence for over 600 years! The entrance was quite hard to find, but made us realize how big the complex really is. The gardens are worth walking through which will also bring you to the butterflygarden.

In the palace you can visit the Silverchambers and the Imperial chambers. It gives a good idea of how life would have been for the wealthy class. I have never seen so much silverware and candles in my life!

(There is also: the burial vault and the Lipizzaner horses that can be visited. We didn´t because we had to prioritise and the horses can not be seen in summer due to their season stop.)

Website: http://www.hofburg.at

Karlskirche Karlskirche - St Charles Church Review

In the morning this is a very quiet site. The reflection of the church makes the round pond in front of the majestical building twice as interesting.
It was build in honor of Borromeus because of his help in ending The Plague.

Inside you can gawk at the golden altar and colourful fresco´s while listening to the stories of the audioguide.
When we were there restaurations were being made to the dome. Because of this we could go to the top of it with a temporary elevator (30 m) and walk all the way up until we were surrounded by the fresco´s! The restaurations will go on for some years.

Address: Karlsplatz 4

Directions: next to the Ring

The checked church Stephansdom Review

Yes, the first church you should see is the Stephansdom. It is the most prominent sight of Vienna with its remarkable roof and incredibly extensive stonework inside. Specially take notice all the delicate figures in the stone pillars.
The trip to the top of the South Tower (entrance outside) is quite nice, but a bit dissapointing after having seen the Notre Dame in Paris, because the stairs end in a closed room (343 steps).

A must-do-activity is the tour through the catacombs. Millions of bones can be seen, as well as some iron pots with the intestines of some very important bishops!!

Address: Stephansdomplatz 1

Directions: city centre

Website: http://www.stephansdom.at