Habsburg palaces, Mozart & cafés
Vienna
Wien · Imperial palaces & coffeehouse culture
Austria's capital was the seat of the Habsburg empire, and it still lives like royalty — grand boulevards, gilded palaces and concert halls where Mozart and Beethoven once played. Between the museums, linger in a coffeehouse over cake and a newspaper.
Top sightsSights
Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs’ baroque summer palace and vast gardens.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
A Gothic landmark with a patterned tiled roof at the city’s heart.
Hofburg
The sprawling imperial palace complex in the old center.
Belvedere
A baroque palace housing Klimt’s golden “The Kiss.”
Ringstrasse
A grand boulevard lined with opera house, museums and parliament.
What to eatFood
Wiener Schnitzel
A thin breaded veal cutlet, the city’s signature dish.
Sachertorte
The famous dense chocolate cake with apricot jam.
Tafelspitz
Boiled beef in broth, a favorite of Emperor Franz Joseph.
Good to know
- A single transit ticket covers U-Bahn, trams and buses citywide.
- Stand at the opera for a few euros with same-day standing tickets.
- Coffeehouses are for lingering — no one will rush you out.
Getting there
Vienna International Airport links the city by train in 15 minutes; rail connects Salzburg, Prague and Budapest.
Next city
Salzburg