"Stately and imperial Vienna" Vienna by dinhyen

Vienna Travel Guide: 8,579 reviews and 16,518 photos

Vienna was the seat of the Habsburg dynasty that ruled much of Europe for hundreds of years. Fittingly, the predominant architectural style in Vienna is imposing and grandiose, and perhaps a little on the austere side.

Vienna is very popular with tourists. In Heldenplatz, there are literally hundreds of horse-drawn carriages awaiting the loads of tourists that tour buses disgorge in front of the Hofburg palace. As you can imagine, the stench from so many horses can be a bit overwhelming. By contrast, Prague has perhaps half a dozen carriages at most.

The tour of the Imperial apartments in Hofburg Palace is disappointingly short, unless you're really curious about the personal lives of Kaiser Franz Jozef and Kaiserin Sissi. Furthermore you cannot take any photos! The Imperial Museum in Innsbruck is much more satisfying, and you can take all the photos that you want.

Schoenbrunn

Schoenbrunn is perhaps the only other European palace that can claim (almost) equal footing with Versailles. I prefer the vast tracts of luxuriant green space surrounding this palace to Versailles'.

Parliament building

Example of heroic architecture found in the government district of Vienna.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Splendid architecture, easily navigable, attractions all located close to one another
Cons:Too many horse-drawn carriages
In a nutshell:A little aloof for my taste

Last visit to Vienna: Jun 2003
Intro Updated Jul 14, 2003
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (25)

Schoenbrunn Things to Do (23)

more travel advice

Parliamentary statuary Things to Do (23)

Phil_uk_net has a better version of this perspective, IMHO. more travel advice

Stephansdom interior Things to Do (23)

Another superb Gothic interior. more travel advice

Votivkirche at night Things to Do (23)

When we were there, twilight was around 10pm. Now would have been a good time to get some night-time photos.... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
Sachertorte unhappiness

Hotels (1)
Pension snafus

Comments (14)

Penelope4 Aug 1, 2009 at 2:33 AM Report Abuse

You have an eye for beauty (and a good camera)! Thanks for posting those beautiful photos, VT Member of the day! Kind regards from Kabul
wanderlust23 Feb 24, 2005 at 2:12 PM Report Abuse

Making a Prague-Vienna-Budapest trip this fall. Can't wait to see Votivkirche - Gothic architecture is my favorite! Love all the pics.
andreavienna Jan 9, 2005 at 9:26 AM Report Abuse

again: wow, what great pictures ! i hope you still liked vienna, although it seems you have not been really luck when you came here ... sorry ! hope you have nice memories anyways ! i love your photos ! :-)
pipsqueak Oct 21, 2003 at 9:25 AM Report Abuse

Vienna does seem a little aloof, but maybe, like me, you were spoiled by the attitudes in Prague.
syllybabe Sep 10, 2003 at 2:29 PM Report Abuse

no one takes pictures like you do. :-)
ayesh Aug 12, 2003 at 4:48 AM Report Abuse

No gold and green, old station house??
daddygila Jul 20, 2003 at 2:32 PM Report Abuse

Marvelous photos of a very beautiful city. Great job !!! Love those Gothic Churches too !!!
yen_2 Jul 18, 2003 at 10:29 AM Report Abuse

I was inlove with this City! And still is..Thanks for bringing back happy moments...Yen-always a pretty pictures =)
truus_s Jul 16, 2003 at 10:24 AM Report Abuse

Great page from Vienna!!It is so great there!!ihave visit Vienna in sept 2002..beautifull..
MEdelmann Jul 16, 2003 at 4:10 AM Report Abuse

Great pictures, which inspired me to do as same as you ... :-)) You were lucky that you had a free sight to the Rathaus ... there are always so much events in the front ....