Some travelers come to Vienna for just one day, for example via Budapest, Prague or Bratislava. It is very difficult, almost impossible, to explore the capital of Austria in one day, but if you have no other choice, the main thing is to plan the route correctly. One day is enough for the sights of Vienna to surprise and excite you, to create an overall impression. And this site will help you with this. I will offer you several options, and you must make the choice yourself according to your pocket, time, capabilities and taste.
No matter how long you stay in Vienna, you should definitely visit the central, historical part of the city, because this is where the main attractions are concentrated. Since you don't have much time, keep in mind that you won't be able to see everything inside. Read the information below and plan your itinerary based on how many hours you can devote to this process.
One of the best places to start exploring Vienna is Stephansplatz - the heart of the capital and the main square for over 500 years. Here stands St. Stephen's Cathedral, a Gothic building of extraordinary beauty that has become a symbol of Vienna.
The temple has two towers: the northern one is 68 meters high and the southern one is 137 meters high. You can go up and explore the city.
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Behind the cathedral is the Haas House, a building of avant-garde architecture whose mirror windows reflect St. Stephen's Cathedral. There is a cafe on the roof where you can drink Viennese coffee and admire the view of the square.
A couple of steps from the square, at number 5 on Domgasse, is Mozart's house. The famous Austrian composer lived here in 1784-1787. These are the only Mozart apartments that have survived to this day.
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Stock im Eisen square practically merges with Stephansplatz. Here you will see wood with nails nailed inside a glass cylinder. According to one legend, Viennese blacksmiths hammered nails into it to attract good luck.
From this square you can walk along the Graben street - this is one of the most beautiful and luxurious streets in Vienna. Although you will get the impression that this is a square.
There are two fountains named after St. Joseph and St. Leopold. On Graben Street there is a statue erected at the end of the 17th century to commemorate the victory over the Black Death epidemic. This disease claimed the lives of 100 thousand people. Emperor Leopold I prayed to God for help and vowed that if the epidemic ended, he would build a memorial on this site. At the top of the statue is the Holy Trinity.
You will pass the "plague" column, turn right onto a small street and find yourself in the narrow St. Peter's Square. In front of you rises the Church of St. Peter (Peterskirche). According to one version, it was founded by Charlemagne in the 8th century, although it took on its current form at the beginning of the 18th century.
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Turn from Graben onto Kohlmarkt. The name literally means "coal market". In XVI century there was indeed a coal and firewood market here, and now Kohlmarkt is one of the most famous and expensive shopping streets in Vienna. The legendary confectionery "Demel" is also located on this street.
It was here that all kinds of cakes and pastries were prepared for the imperial palace. Here you can try the famous Sacher, Eszterhas, apple strudel and other delicious pastries.
From Kohlmarkt you will reach Michaelerplatz, the square where the church of the same name stands. By the way, part of Mozart’s immortal “Requiem” was performed for the first time in it (as is known, others completed it after the composer’s death).
The most remarkable building on Michaelerplatz is undoubtedly the Hofburg Palace, the winter residence of the Austrian emperors. This is a large complex consisting of many palaces, squares, courtyards and museums in the Baroque and Renaissance style.
Let's go through the arch and find ourselves in a rectangular courtyard, in the center of which stands a monument to Franz I. Here is the Leopold wing, which is currently the residence of the President of Austria.
Here you will find the Austrian National Library, the Imperial Treasury and Chapel, a silverware collection and much more.
From the Swiss courtyard (Schweizerhof) you will find yourself on the baroque Josefplatz square, in the corner of which there is a three-story winter arena, where a Spanish riding school operates.< /p>
The Palfi Palace of the 14th century is located on the same square. In 1762, it was here, in the Figaro Hall, that the six-year-old genius Mozart and his sister performed one of his first concerts in front of an admiring audience.
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If you walk a few more meters forward, you will see the old Augustinian church.
The wedding and burial ceremonies of members of the emperor's family took place here.
The next stop on our route is the Albertina Gallery. Duke Albert bought the building in 1795 and set it up as an art museum. In total, about 1 million paintings are presented here, including works by Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Rubens, Picasso and other famous masters. From time to time, the gallery hosts thematic exhibitions of famous artists.
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Right across the road from Albertina there is a memorial against war and fascism. There used to be a large Philip-Hoff house here, which collapsed during the bombing of March 12, 1945, which killed up to three hundred people hiding in its basements. The memorial consists of several statues. Among them is a kneeling Jew - it is known that after the occupation of Vienna, the Nazis forced Jews to clear the streets of anti-fascist slogans.
We then head to Kärntnerstrasse, one of the oldest streets in Vienna. It has many shops, cafes and restaurants. The Hotel Sacher is located near the Vienna State Opera with its famous confectionery, where you can taste the “same” Sacher cake.
If you walk along Kärntnerstrasse, you will come to one of the main attractions of the capital - the Vienna Opera. The building was built between 1863 and 1869, and although it was initially criticized by Viennese residents, today it is a leading landmark in the city.
The largest opera house in Austria is famous not only for its opera and ballet performances, but also for its luxurious ball, where debutant couples traditionally perform. Another tradition is summer concerts in front of the building, which anyone can attend.
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Let's continue our walk along one of the most beautiful streets in Vienna - Ringstrasse, that is, the ring street. Along the "Ring", as the Viennese call it, there are beautiful buildings of different architectural styles.
Walking along the Ringstrasse, you can relax in the Burggarten park. There are statues of Mozart and Goethe. There is also a palm greenhouse with tropical plants and a butterfly house.
Next to the Burggarten is the grandiose Heroes' Square - Heldenplatz. We could have come here from the courtyard of the Hofburg Palace, but we first entered the Swiss Courtyard and visited other attractions of Old Vienna, and now we walked through the Ringstrasse and looked at the Hofburg from the other side. In the center of the square, Archduke Charles and Prince Eugene of Savoy are seated on bronze horses.
Right across the street from the Hofburg is Maria Theresa Square, decorated with a statue of the emperor's wife Maria Theresa. It was installed in 1888. Behind the square is the Museum Quarter, Vienna's largest museum space. On this square there are two twin museums: the history of art and natural history.
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The next point is the Volksgarten, that is, the people's park. He is 200 years old. Spending time here is especially pleasant on warm summer days.
We walk along the ring street and approach the Parliament building, the construction of which was completed in 1884. Looking at it, you will immediately feel the influence of Ancient Greece.
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The next attraction on the Ringstrasse is the Vienna City Hall - a beautiful building with a tower 105 meters high. This is not only the place where the mayor and the city council work. Hundreds of events are held here every year: balls, carnivals, festivals, holidays, Christmas trading. In front of the Town Hall there is the "Town Hall Park". In the center of the park, films are shown on a huge screen in summer, and in winter there is a huge ice skating rink.
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In front of the town hall stands the elegant Burgtheater building. The Austrian Federal Theater has existed since 1741, and next to the “people's park” since 1888. It was here that the premiere of Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro took place.
The mentioned route is about 5 kilometers. If you go to a cafe, pastry shop or store, stop at one or another attraction, spend several hours walking. You have visited the historical center and completed the “minimum program”. Now it all depends on how much time and energy you have left. After all, don’t run back and forth headlong, but enjoy what you see. If you still want to see other attractions, check out the “Vienna in 2 days” itinerary, “Sights of Vienna” and other sections on this site and add something.
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