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Death, art and anarchy - in Vienna, one is confronted with a vast and diverse cultural history. The following tours give insight into the most famous attractions of the Austrian capital:
Stephansdom & Peterskirche
Within the historic center of Vienna, the 1st District Innere Stadt, the foundation stone for one of the world’s most impressive Gothic cathedrals was laid in the 12th century: the Stephansdom. Enjoy the terrific architecture of this masterpiece, called Steffl by locals, before making your way to Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church). Located just around the corner, this enormous construction, resembling St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, is definitely an eyecatcher with its fascinating frescos. Just outside St. Peter's Church you will find yet another historic sight: the Graben. This famous street once defined Vienna’s city limits back in the 1300s. Today, gourmet temples, boutiques and cafes attract many visitors to the former edge of Vienna. For a traditional Viennese pastry treat head over to Café Diglas, before walking north to Shakespeare & Company Booksellers, an insider's tip for English book enthusiasts in the city.
Hofburg
The most important secular building in Vienna, the Hofburg (Court Palace), is also located in the 1st District. Once the center of the powerful Habsburg Empire, the Hofburg is now home to various museums. Walk through the Burgtor (palace gate) and enhance your knowledge on Austrian culture at the Völkerkundemuseum (Museum of Ethnology), the country’s literary roots at the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library), and find out about Vienna’s vast history of theater at the Theater Museum. After this cultural treat, walk south along the famous Ringstraße to the nearby palace garden, and enjoy traditional Viennese pastries and coffee at the famous Palmenhaus, next to the Mozart Memorial.
Burgtheater & Modern Art
Italian Renaissance of the 19th Century is also present in Vienna – start your tour at the University of Vienna, the oldest German-speaking university worldwide. Walk alongside Rathauspark (City Hall Park) towards Café Einstein, a hotspot among coffee-craving students. After feasting on Viennese specialties, walk east towards the infamous Burgtheater with its controversial plays, that have caused quite a stir among Vienna’s bourgeoisie. Walk south on Ringstraße, past the Austrian Parlament, and make a right turn at the MuseumsQuartier (museum quarter). End your tour by enjoying this vast collection of contemporary art and modern culture in various museums on location.
Prater
Take the subway to Praterstern Bahnhof to experience one of the most interesting fairs in Europe: the Prater. There you can take on one of the many joyrides available, including the legendary Ferris wheel. If you’re not particularly keen on one of the many traditional food options at one of the stalls on location, head towards the Schweizerhaus with its huge beergarden and the typically rustic Viennese cuisine, with an atmosphere to match. Discover the darker side of the city in the nearby Wiener Kriminalmuseum and learn about its criminal past before taking a closer look at the stars above Vienna at the Planetarium. If you fancy a stroll after the hustle and bustle of the Wurstelprater, walk towards the close by Flakturm in Augarten park with its open-air cinema during the summer months.
Anarchy & Hundertwasser
Start your tour at one of Vienna‘s famous architectural masterpieces, the Hundertwasserhaus. The misshapen and brightly colored walls and windows are certainly an inspiring treat. Make a stop at the cult cafe Schwarzes Café, a former anarchist hangout, where the occasional political statement is being served with your beverage and mostly vegetarian food. Walk past the beautifully situated Stadtpark on your way to enjoy the latest independent films from all over the world at the Stadtkino Wien. End your tour of this part of Vienna’s 3rd district by dining at the rustic restaurant Zum Posthorn serving Carinthian, Slovenian and Italian cuisine for a reasonable price.
Death in Vienna
This special tour of Vienna cannot be taken without public transportation. However, it is worthwhile in order to learn more about the Viennese and their peculiar fascination with death. Start your tour in the 1. District at Kapuzinergruft. There you can visit the glorious Imperial crypt of the Habsburg family. 12 emperors and 15 empresses are buried within. Walk on down Operngasse to Albertinaplatz, where you can enjoy a decent cup of coffee at Café Mozart, before heading to Vienna’s Undertaker Museum. Take the subway from nearby Karlsplatz to Südtiroler Platz and walk east to Goldeggasse. At the museum, you will get a fascinating insight into Vienna’s history of death and burial rituals. Take a streetcar from Südbahnhof, south of Goldeggasse, to Wildgansplatz and walk east to St. Marx Cemetery. Amongst many pompous, gothic and gloomy graves of Austrian celebrities, you will also find the burial plot of world-renowned composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. End your tour of death with a visit to the Zentralfriedhof – with 3 million graves Europe’s second-largest cemetery. Take streetcar 71 from Sankt Marx, north of St. Marx Cemetery, to Tor 2 (2nd gate) of the central cemetery. There you will find maps to locate the graves of world-renowned artists, such as Johann Strauss, Ludwig van Beethoven and Hans Moser.
Guided Tours
Wienführung (+43 676 9227773 / http://www.wienfuehrung.com/)
Stadtführung Wien (+43 0699 815 05 236 / http://www.stadtfuehrung-wien.at/)
Vienna Sightseeing Tours (+43 1 712 46 830 / http://www.viennasightseeingtours.com/)
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