STEPHANSDOM (ST STEPHEN'S CATHEDRAL)
Address: Stephansplatz 1 Tel: (01) 5155 23767 Bus: 1A, 2A, or 3A. U-Bahn: Stephansplatz Opening Hours: Daily 0600–2000 Admission: €2 (south tower), €3 (north tower), €3 (catacombs), €3 (guided tour).

Originally built in the 12th century on the site of a Romanesque sanctuary, the cathedral has undergone major restorations following damage sustained during the Second World War, the Ottoman siege in the 17th century and the city fire in the 13th century. Consequently, the architecture reflects several different periods in Viennese history, in particular its Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance influences. Its 137m high Steffl tower, which dominates the city skyline, has an observation platform open to visitors. The breathtaking views stretch as far as the Czech Republic on a fine day.

HOFBURG COMPLEX
Address: Michaelerplatz 1 Tel: (01) 533 7570 U-Bahn: Herrngasse, Stephansplatz, Mariahilferstrasse Tram:1, 2, D, or J to Burgring. Open: Daily 0900–1700 (Imperial Apartments and Court Silver, Wednesday) Tel: (01) 533 7570 and Friday–Monday 1000–1800, Thursday 1000–2100 (Treasury) Tel: (01) 533 7931. Admission: €7.50 (Imperial Apartments and Court Silver), €8 (Treasury).

Home of the Habsburg imperial family until 1918, the enormous Hofburg palace houses the office of the Austrian president as well as numerous museums and exhibits. Visitors can wander through the elaborate staterooms of the Imperial Apartments and admire the Habsburg family treasure. The palace is also the resting place of the Imperial crown of the Holy Empire and the crown of the Austrian Empire. The Spanish Riding school and the chapel where the Vienna Boys’ Choir perform is located within the Hofburg complex.

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SPANISCHE HOFREITSCHULE (SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL)

Address: Michaelerplatz 1 (Riding School ticket office), Reitschulgasse 2 (Lipizzaner Museum Tel: (01) 533 9031 (Riding School) or 5252 4416 (Lipizzaner Museum).
Website: www.spanische-reitschule.com or www.lipizzaner.at
Transport: U-Bahn Stephansplatz, tram D, J, 1 or 2, bus 57A to Burgring.
Opening hours: Daily 0900–1800 (museum), Tuesday–Saturday 1000–1200.
Admission: €5 (museum), €11.50 (training sessions, or €14.50 for a combined ticket), actual performance from €24.

Located within the grounds of the Hofburg palace, the Spanish Riding School has been the home of the Lipizzaner horses for over 400 years. The Spanish bred horses got their name from the Lipica region in Slovenia where they were raised. You can watch the stunning horses perfom their magnificent manoeuvres in time to music at their morning training sessions from 10am to 12pm Thu-Sat (except July and August). Visitors can also catch a glimpse of the stables at the Lipizzaner Museum Wien which traces the history of the School. The actual performances for which the hoses are beautifully groomed and perform dance like manoeuvres to the music of polka and Viennese Waltz take place from March to June and September to December. The tickets should be booked well in advance.

SCHLOSS SCHÖNBRUNN (SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE)
Address: Schönbrunner Schloss Strasse 13, Tel: (222) 8111 3239 Website: www.schoenbrunn.at, U-Bahn: Schönbrunn or Hietzing (Zoo), tram: 10, 58 bus: 10A
Open: Daily 0830–1700 (April–October, until 1800 July and August), daily 0830–1630 (November–March). Admission: €7.50, €14 (VIP Pass, including the Grand Tour, the Bergl Rooms, the Maze, the Gloriette viewing terrace and the Court Bakery, April–October only).

The golden yellow Schönbrunn Palace was the Habsburg summer residence in the 18th century. The palace boasts some 1,440 rooms decorated in a classic Rococo style with red, white and gold details. Some of these state rooms are open for public viewing. The building is surrounded by beautiful Baroque style gardens, with elaborate arches, sculptures and fountains. The Gloriette arch, perched on a hilltop, dominates the gardens and offers spectacular views of Vienna. The world’s oldest zoo, established in 1752, is also located within the grounds.

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BELVEDERE
Address: Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Prinz Eugenstrasse 27 Tel: (01) 79557. Website: www.belvedere.at Transport: U-Bahn Südbahnhof, tram D. Open: Tuesday–Sunday 1000–1800. Admission: €7.50

The Belvedere palace was the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy. It was built in 1714-16 in a classic Baroque style with stunning Rococo decorated interiors. The palace is surrounded by enchanting gardens with tinkling fountains, waterfalls and sculptures. The Lower Belvedere houses the Osterreichisches Barockmuseum (Museum of Austrian Baroque Art) as well as the Museum Mittelalterlicher Osterreichischer Kunst (Museum of Medieval Austrian Art). The Oberes (Upper) Belvedere houses the gallery of Austrian art from the 19th and 20th centuries. In particular it includes the masterpieces such as The Kiss by Gustav Klimt and a small collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist art.

KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM (MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS)
Address: Maria-Theresien-Platz 1, Tel: (01) 525 240 Website: www.khm.at Transport: U-Bahn Babenbergerstrasse or Volkstheater. Tram: D, J, 1, 2 Open: Tuesday–Sunday 1000–1800 hrs (until 2100 hrs Thursday). Admission: €9.

The museum houses a magnificent collection of Western European art. The Gemäldegalerie on the first floor displays the works of the Old Masters from the 16th to 18th centuries including Caravaggio, Raphael, Titian and Vermeer. On the lower floor, you will find collections of Egyptian, Greek and Roman art as well as the Kunstkammer which houses sculptures and decorative arts.

NATURHISTORISCHES MUSEUM
(NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM)
Address: Maria-Theresien-Platz 1, Tel: (01) 521 770. Website: www.nhm-wien.ac.at Transport: U-Bahn Babenbergerstrasse or Volkstheater. Tram: D, J, 1, 2 Open: Wednesday–Monday 0900–1800 (until 2100 Wednesday). Admission: €6.50.

Located opposite the Kunsthistorisches Museum, in the same neo-Renaissance style building, the Naturhisorisches Museum contains impressive collections of the early Stone Age artefacts, insect and dinosaur exhibits as well as meteorites. The highlight of the museum, however, is the 25,000-year-old sculpture Venus of Willendorf.

PRATER PARK
Address: Prater 90, Tel: (01) 729 5430. Website: www.wienerriesenrad.com Transport: S-Bahn or U-Bahn Praterstern, Trams O, 5 or 21. Reisenrad Open: Daily 0900–2400 (May–September), daily 1000–2200 (March-April and October), daily 1000–2000 (November–February). Admission: €7.50.

This enormous wooded park has been enjoyed by the Viennese since 1766 when Prince Joseph II first opened it to the public. Its most famous attraction is the giant Ferris wheel, the Reisenrad, one of the oldest and largest Ferris wheels in the world. There is also a fairground and a Lilliputian railway with vintage steam locomotives operating on summer weekends.