Don't use the Fiaker (those carriages with two pulling horses) if you don't have money burning a hole in your pocket. They're expensive - I think you'll pay € 100 for an hour and about € 50 for a small tour through the Altstadt.
The Fiaker will let off some jibba jabba about the buildings, but you could probably find all of that in any city guide. After all, they're not so much the historians they seem to be with their funny coats and hats. They want your money no less than those fraudsters in Rome who sell "dancing" Mickey Mouses and flour-filled balloons with faces on it.
For much better results in seeing things and acquiring knowledge, walk by foot (strengthens your legs) and read about the things you see (improves your reading skills).
Or ask some of the people erring around aimlessly. They will be happy to show off their knowledge and English skills to a foreigner.
You may think that it is romantic to see the city from a carriage, and you may even feel like a king doing it. But you're wrong, you're not a king then and people will think about you as a pathetic tourist who has way too much money (and who thinks that what he does is romantic, which it isn't).
BTW, the people driving the Fiaker carriages are called Fiaker as well. Thus, a Fiaker drives a Fiaker. I guess you always wanted to know that.
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Alternative: Walk by foot! Ask somebody about the building! Look it up in a city guide! Read the signs the municipality has kindly and providently installed on the buildings!
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on Feb 19, 2003
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