JON’S THINGS TO DO IN VIENNA!
Aaah, Vienna…home of Mozart, Strauss, and one of the most powerful families in Europe – the Habsburgs. It’s also home to the historic Ringstraße, schnitzel, coffee, and a
little cake called Sacher Torte. With amazing architecture to boot, Vienna truly earns its title as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Vibrant, and oozing a passion for
classical music, theatre and art, this isn’t a city you want to rush through – take your time and soak up the atmosphere!
Hofburg Imperial Palace
Dating back to the 13th century, Hofburg Palace was the winter residence of the
Habsburgs right up until the 20th century. Nowadays it serves as the official
residence of the President of Austria. You can visit the Imperial Apartments, the
Imperial Silver Collection, and the Sisi Museum (named after Franz Josef’s
beloved wife, Empress Elizabeth) and see what life was like for the Habsburgs!
Metro: Rathaus (U2)
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm
Cost: €9.90, includes audioguide
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom)
Founded in 113, the imposing Stephansdom is Vienna’s answer to Notre Dame.
Head inside and you’re greeted with spectacular stained glass showering you with
light, majestic high ceilings and ornate carvings in every direction. You can also
climb up the 343 steps of the South Tower – or head into the Ducal Crypt and
Catacombs, and check out 78 containers of Habsburg internals organs!
Metro: Stephansplatz (U1 or 3)
Opening Hours: 6am – 7pm, opens 7am on Sunday and public holidays
Cost: Free to go in, €3.50 to climb the Tower, €4.50 for a tour of the Catacombs
Kaisergruft (Imperial Crypt)
One of the sleeper hits of Vienna, the Kaisergruft contains the bodies of 142
Habsburgs, held within flamboyant Rococo-style metal sarcophagi. Franz Josef
and Sisi are here, as well as Maria Theresa – her massive tomb fills up the entire
room! You’ll find it a quick walk from Kartnerstraße, on Tegetthoffstraße.
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm
Cost: €5
Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn)
While we do visit the summer residence of the Habsburgs, we don’t get to stay
very long! This huge 17th century palace is Austria’s Versailles: with 1,441 rooms,
500 acres of gardens, the world’s oldest zoo and a maze there’s plenty to see and
do here. Tickets let you visit 22 rooms in the State Apartments of Franz Josef and
Sisi, or 40 including the sumptuous Rococo-style rooms of Maria Theresa.
Metro: Schonbrunn (U4)
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 5pm (closed Sunday)
Cost: Gardens are free, €9.50 for the Imperial Tour, €12.90 for the Grand Tour
Vienna State Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper)
For those with one or more musical bones in their body (or just those interested),
the elaborate Wiener Staatsoper is host to daily opera performances, and one of
the most prestigious social events on the European calendar, the Vienna Opera
Ball. You can take a guided tour of the opera house, and visit the museum – but
the English language tour times change daily. Check the notice on the door to the
left of the building for the day’s tour times.
Opening Hours: Varies, closed Monday
Cost: €6.50 for the guided tour and entry to the museum
Natural History and Art History Museums Vienna (Naturhistoriche und
Kunsthistoriche Museums Wien)
Built in mirror-imaged buildings, both these museums are huge and contain some
of Vienna’s finest historical contents. The Natural History museum contains all
things earthly, including the skeleton of a Diplodicus dinosaur! The Art History
museum is one of the premier museums for fine arts in the world – it contains the
Habsburgs’ collection of portraits and armour, as well as various sculpture and
Egyptian, Greek and Roman artefacts.
Metro: Rathaus (U2)
Opening Hours: Natural History - 9am – 6.30pm, closed Tuesday; Art History
10am – 6pm, closed Monday
Cost: Natural History - €8; Art History - €10
Prater (Wurstelprater)
What good city doesn’t have its own amusement park? Located within a large
park known as Wiener Prater, this boasts loads of rollercoasters, bumper cars,
shooting galleries, restaurants, a vertical bungee and one of the world’s oldest
Ferris wheels, the Reisenrad. There’s no entry fee for the park – you pay for each
ride individually. Enjoy!!
Metro: Praterstern (U1 or 2)
Opening Hours: 10am – 1am
Cost: €8.50 for the Reisenrad, other rides €1 - €10 depending on the attraction
Café Sacher Jon’s Must-Do for Vienna! 
This is a true Austrian experience: the original Sacher-Torte, invented in 1832 by
Franz Sacher. Layers of dense chocolate cake, a strip of apricot jam and topped
with dark chocolate icing, this is one of the world’s most famous cakes and sure
as heck tastes like one of the best! Pop in and enjoy a slice with whipped cream,
complemented with another of Vienna’s gastronomic wonders – Viennese coffee.
You can get both and still expect change from a €10 note!
PLACES OFF THE BEATEN TRACK (for those who are interested…)
Hundertwasserhaus
Designed by a mad Austrian painter/”eco-architect”, this multi-coloured apartment
block is world-renowned for its startling different architecture – and no straight
lines. There’s a little village beneath with – of all things – a toilet that is worth
checking out! If you need to pee, why not do it in an architectural masterpiece…?
Metro: Schwedenplatz (U1 or 4), then Tram N (4th stop – Hetzgasse)
Opening Hours: It’ll be open when you get there 
Cost: 50c to use the facilities
Danube Tower (Donauturm)
Ever been up the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand? Well Vienna has it’s
very own! At 252m high, this pointy structure located just over the Danube River
gives amazing views of Vienna and its surrounds. Additionally, the two revolving
restaurants give you the opportunity to treat yourself to a lunch you’ll never forget!
Metro: Kaisermühlen – VIC (U1)
Opening Hours: Tower and Café - 10am – 12pm; Restaurants - 11am – 3pm
Cost: €5.90 for the lift to the observation deck
TIPS FOR SURVIVING VIENNA

Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and chill out for a bit?
The gardens of Burggarten, Volksgarten and Stadtpark give well-earned relief
for those keen to relax in some foliage. The statues of Mozart and Strauss
also serve as a pleasing reminder of the classical music heritage of the city.
ESSENTIALS
Shopping
The main pedestrian street is Kartnerstraße, and this (along with its side streets)
is where you’ll find the majority of the big-name shops. A short walk outside the
Ringstraße to Mariahilferstraße you’ll find more well-known shops with a much
gentler price tag.
There aren’t too many markets in Vienna – Naschmarkt is the most famous, and
while during the week it is more a food market, on Saturdays a flea market is also
held. You’ll find it south of the Ringstraße past Karlsplatz, between Rechte
Wienzeile and Linke Wienzeile.
Internet
Surfland Internet Café is located just off the top of Kartnerstraße near the Opera
House, down Krugerstraße. They charge a flat €1.50 access fee, then 9c/minute.
Open 9am – 11pm daily.
Post Office
Also down Krugerstraße, the post office is open 7am – 7pm, Monday – Friday.
Closed weekends.
Currency Exchange
There are a number of currency exchanges down Katnerstraße.
Language
Hello – Gruss Gott (good day)
Hello – Hallo (hi)
Goodbye – Aufwiedersehen
Yes – Ja
No – Nein
Thank you (very much) – Danke (schön)
You’re welcome – Bitte (schön)
Please – Bitte
Excuse me - Entschuldigung
Do you speak English? – Sprechen Sie Englisch?
Cheers! – Prost!