Vienna Things to Do Tips by desert_princess

Schönbrunn palace - the Neptune fountain Schonbrunn Review

the Neptune fountain is situated right in front of you ,at the end if the flower carpets under the Gloriette. It seems to be operated by a computer that is in charge of the water jets - when I first saw it , it was working , the next moment - no water coming out of it. Go figure.....
It was conceived as part of the overall design of the gardens and park commissioned by Maria Theresa in the 1770s.

Arsenal Belvedere Review

It reminds me alot of the massive castello in Milan ,even tho the Buildings of the Arsenal cover a much bigger Area. You have here an exhibition of Cannons , A museum , The military headquarters , in the back tanks and a military camp....I walked all around and it took me over half an hour. I even arrived at some sign that was saying "end of Vienna"
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Directions: Located At the back of Sudbahnhof, there is no chance you miss such a massive structure.

A visit to Votiv church Votivkirche - Votive Church Review

pics for now - text another time...
in construction

Square Maria Theresia

in construction

Address: various museums

Gala Dinner in the city hall

During our business trip "summer 007" in october 2006, I was lucky to see the inside of this gorgeous building aswell .Our Gala dinner was there.

to be continued

The City Hall

The city hall is the first building that I remember seeing on a picture from Vienna. So no wonder it remained in my mind as the symbol of the city.

Built from Friedrich von Schmidt between 1872 and 1883. Originally the City hall was planed to be built elsewhere - on the parking place between the Weihburg and Johannesgasse. It's present emplacement is due to the release in 1870 of the Parade square for construction.

Karntner strasse Karntner Strasse Review

Kartner strasse starts from the Stepherndom and takes you to the Opera. It's a "pedestrians only" street where are located all the famous boutiques,Swarowski shop, the Malteser church.
You can just take a walk in the evening and go window-shopping as the shops are already closed / what I did / or use your ears and lisen to the music of spanish , italian , hebrew,arabic and all the languages people are using for communication around you. Ahh ...wonderful!!! What a cosmopolitan feeling!!!
Somewhere in the middle there is a very famous bar at the top of a building , offering you a great panorama over the city. Just look for the glass elevator on your left side.
Look at your feet when you're walking - the stars with the names of famous composers are laying there....

Schonbrunn palace - Gloriette Schonbrunn Review

The Gloriette is situated in a hill above the fountain , facing the Schonbrunn gardens, and offers a magnificent view over the castle , its gardens and Vienna.
Fischer von Erlach designed it as the crowning touch of the castle ensemble, but it wasn't until 1775 that it was constructed,when Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg remodelled the park and built the Gloriette.
Built in Early Classicistic style ,you will enter the glazed central section walking up the steps, where is the Gloriette cafe. The flat roof of the cafe has been used as a viewing platform since the beginning of the 19th century.There is an entrance fee of 1,99 euro for adults and 1 euro for children. I did not have the time to go up there ,as the Zoo consummed all of my time but I left it for the next time I return:)))

working hours : 9 - 18h

Directions: In the Schonbrunn gardens , facing the castle

Website: http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/site/publicdir/

Schönbrunn zoo - The Aquarium and Terrarium Schonbrunn Review

2000 - After two and a half years of construction, the newly equipped aquaria-terraria house and the newly constructed crocodile pavillion were opened. For the first time you can observe the crocodiles under water .Here you will find the largest living coral reef in Austria in an aquarium with a volume of 80,000 liters, a glass tunnel under water where you can see the "amazon habitat". And one of the largest breeding spaces in the world of the highly endangered corned iguana ( a real miniature dinosaur )
On this place from 1752 until the end of the monarchy in 1918 was located the chicken yard equipped with an artificial stream and bordering the alley of the administrative building.

In the aqarium house you will see tropical reefs in huge salt water aquariums with fish in all the colors of the rainbow, as you pass through a tunnel where other big fishesss swim above your head and at your sides...
on one of the photos you can see this fascinating butterfly fish and a black ball of needles, spying on everything with its orange eyes - spooky thing!!!

Website: http://www.zoovienna.at/e/index.html

The Palace of Justice Ringstrasse Review

The Palace of justice was the first building of the Ringstrasse / Ringstreet that I saw upon arrival in Downtown Vienna. Ringstrasse is the name that combines several streets , forming a circle that includes most of the Palaces , churches and things to see in cental Vienna.
As I spent my whole day in Schonbrunn, I first experienced the beauty of Vienna center at dusk, while the sky was indigo blue and the buildings had their facades beautifully lit , to reveal their breathtaking architecture.

Address: Schmerlinplatz 11

Directions: located at the right of the Parliament building