It may come as a surprise, but the Innere Stadt is not directly reachable from Vienna International Airport.

The shortest way to get there from the airport is to take the City Airport Train or S-Bahn line S7 to Wien Mitte-Landstrasse and then transfer to U-Bahn line U3 directly to Stephansplatz, or alternatively the U4 along the Donaukanal - a convenient stop to alight and start walking into the Innere Stadt is Schwedenplatz, while you can also choose to go south and alight at Karlsplatz by the opera house. Or, you can walk as the Wien Mitte-Landstrasse station is only some 250 m from the Ring, separated by the nice Stadtpark.

Alternatively, you can travel on the S7 one station farther to Praterstern in Leopoldstadt, and from there the U1 will take you to the abovementioned Schwedenplatz, Stephansplatz or Karlsplatz. If you want to explore the Innere Stadt starting from the west, you can take the U2 from Praterstern, which stops along the western bend of the Ring, starting at Schottenring and terminates at Karlsplatz.

There are no trams that go directly to the Innere Stadt from either Praterstern or Wien Mitte-Landstrasse.

Other than the above-mentioned Wien-Mitte Landstrasse and Praterstern, the major railway stations of Vienna are the Hauptbahnhof, Westbahnhof and Wien-Meidling.

From the Hauptbahnhof, take U-Bahn line U1 (the station by the Hauptbahnhof is called Südtiroler Platz) to either Karlsplatz, Stephansplatz or Schwedenplatz. From the Westbahnhof, take U3 to Volkstheater, Herrengasse, Stephansplatz or Stubentor. If you end up at Wien-Meidling, which still serves as a terminus for some trains until the Hauptbahnhof is fully operational, your only option is a rather long ride on tram line 62 all the way to its terminus at Wien Oper (Kärntner Ring).

All of the religious buildings still function as a church, with Catholic Mass and Communion services on of course every Saturday night and Sunday, in addition to weekdays. Those that visit during Mass times, including those that do so other than for attending it, are expected to make as little noise as possible as a form of respect.

• 48.20853416.3732061 Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral), Stephansplatz 3 (U1/U3 Stephansplatz), ☏ +43 1 51552-3054, fax: +43 1 51552-3526, [email protected]. Daily M-Sa 06:00-22:00, Su and holidays 07:00-22:00; visits for tourists: M-Sa 09:00-11:30, 13:00-16:30, Su and holidays 13:00-16:300; tour of cathedral and treasury: M-Sa 10:30 (English), daily 15:00 (German). Yet another patchwork of architectural styles, but predominantly Gothic. None of the original construction remains, the oldest extant sections are the thirteenth century Giant Gate (Riesentor) and Towers of the Heathens (Heidentürme), both of which are Romanesque. In 1511, building in Gothic style ceased due to being out of fashion. The main altar has a Baroque panel showing St. Stephen, Christianity's first martyr. The organized tour is worth it, since some of the finest works of art in the cathedral can only be seen with a guide, such as Emperor Frederick III's red marble sepulcher and the immense Gothic carved Altar of Wiener Neustadt. Those interested in attending Mass may come Saturdays at 7PM for an English service. Cathedral/treasury tour: €5 (adults), €3 (students 14-18), €2 (children under 14).  
  • South Tower (Südturm) (access from the outside). Daily 09:00-17:30 (no registration required). The 137-m-high tower, often known by its Viennese diminutive Steffl (also a nickname for the entire cathedral), was finished in 1433. 347 steps lead to the Türmerstube and to a good view. €4.5 (adults), €2 (school parties 15-18 yr), €1.50 (children 6-14 yrs). 
  • North Tower (Nordturm), [email protected]. Daily Sep-June: 08:15-16:30, Jul-Aug: 08:15-18:00. Steffl's intended twin, this tower was never finished. Over 50 years later, in 1579, a Renaissance spire was added to the Nordturm to make it look less like the builders had stormed off the job. This is where the Pummerin, a huge bell cast from melted-down Turkish cannons, hangs. The aborted tower has an observation deck with an amazing view of downtown Vienna. Lift: €5 (adults), €2 (children 6-14), €0.50 (children under 6). 
  • Catacombs (Katakomben), ☏ +43 1 51552-3054 (for group registrations of 15+ people), [email protected]. M-Sa 10:00-11:30, 13:30-16:30; Su and holidays 13:30-16:30; tours depart every 15-30 min. Legions of bishops and Habsburg body parts are buried here (the intestines, specifically). €5 (adults), €3 (school parties 14-18 yrs), €2 (children under 14). 
  • Treasury (Domschatz) (in the west gallery). M-Sa 10:00-18:00, Su and holidays 13:00-18:00. Displays the most precious objects from the cathedral's treasury. €4 (adults), €1.50 (children under 14). 
  • Roof Walk (Dachrundgang) (meet at the South Tower). Jun-Sep: Sa 19:00. For an unusual perspective of the cathedral, consider taking a 90-minute guided tour of the roof. €10 (adults), €4 (children under 14). 
• 48.20558116.3698862 Kaisergruft (Imperial Crypt), Tegetthoffstraße 2, ☏ +43 1 512 68 53 88, fax: +43 1 512 68 53-19, [email protected]. Daily 10:00-18:00, Th 09:00-18:00; closed 1-2 Nov. Underneath the Kapuzinerkirche, this mausoleum houses the tombs of generations of Habsburg royalty. €7.50 (adults), €12 (families), €4.50 (seniors/students/groups), €2.50 (children under 14). (updated Feb 2017)
• 48.20875916.3776913 Jesuitenkirche (Jesuit Church), Dr-Ignaz-Seipel-Platz 1, ☏ +43 1 51252320. Daily 07:00-18:30. Has one of the most elaborate Baroque interiors in Europe.  
• 48.21204516.3743814 Ruprechtskirche (St. Rupert's Church), Ruprechtsplatz 1/2, ☏ +43 1 535 60 03. M-F 10:00-12:00, M W F 15:00-17:00. Believed to be the oldest church in Vienna, although excavations around the foundations of two other churches (Stephansdom and Peterskirche) have challenged this view. Earliest mention of the church in historical records is in 1200; the current structure dates from the Romanesque period, while the interior was renovated during the Baroque era.  
• 48.20946716.3699285 Peterskirche (St. Peter's Church), Petersplatz, ☏ +43 1 533 64 33. M-F 08:00-19:00, Sa Su 09:00-19:00. The church is believed to date back to the Middle Ages, and excavations suggest that the foundation may be far older than previously believed. The current structure was built during the Baroque period, and restored from 1998-2004 to return the paintings to their original colouring and brightness. There are regular organ concerts at 15:00 (free). (updated Nov 2022)
• 48.21297116.3701596 Maria am Gestade, Passauer Platz 1. This gothic church was used by sailors on the Danube river. Its name refers to the former location near the river. Communion celebrations are held in German, French, and Czech.  

This immense palace complex grew into a large, unwieldy series of buildings over the years and was the imperial residence of the Habsburg emperors until 1918. What began as a medieval castle (whose chapel is the only original element of that building to survive) was expanded and redecorated as the Habsburgs' power increased correspondingly. The Palace Stables and Amalia's Wing were added in the 16th century; the Imperial Chancery Wing, Court Library, and Spanish Riding School were added in the 18th; most recently St Michael's Wing (Michaelertrakt) was tacked on and around 1900 the New Palace (Neue Hofburg) was completed. Each separate building contains so many treasures that the time spent moving from one to another is like opening box after box of fabulous jewels. The palace now houses the offices of the Austrian President, a convention center, and the Spanish Riding School with its Lipizzaner stallions, as well as several museums.

• 48.20774616.365867 Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments), Michaelerplatz (U3 Herrengasse; tram 1, 2, D, J, alight at Burgring; bus 2A or 3A, alight at Hofburg), ☏ +43-1-533 75 70, fax: +43-1-533 75 70-33, [email protected]. Sep-Jun: daily 09:00-17:30, Jul-Aug: daily 09:00-18:00. This trio of museums includes the Imperial Apartments (Kaiserappartements), Sisi Museum, and Imperial Silver Collection (Silberkammer). The Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum include 22 state rooms of the residential and state apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth (popularly known as Sisi) and show 19th-century imperial life. The Imperial Silver Collection displays unique items of the glittering world of imperial dining. Combined ticket: €11.50 (adults), €10.50 (students/disabled and Vienna Card), €7 (children 6-18). 
• 48.20656716.3654228 Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury; aka the Secular and Ecclesiastical Treasures), Hofburg Schweizerhof (Neue Hofburg), ☏ +43 1 52524-0, [email protected]. M W-Su 09:00–17:30. The best part of the Hofburg and an absolute must. It contains the Habsburgs' collection of jewels, crowns, and other valuables, perhaps the best on the Continent. Second only to a tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, of which the Schatzkammer is a part. There are 20 rooms of priceless treasures that give a fairly accurate representation of the ceremonial Habsburg court life over the centuries. €6 (as a combined ticket with the Museum of Fine Arts).  
• 48.205316.36479 New Palace (Neue Hofburg), Heldenplatz. The newest and largest section of the Imperial Palace. It contains the Welt Museum Wien, the Papyrus Museum, and three branches of the Museum of Fine Arts.  
  • 48.205516.365210 Ephesos Museum, ☏ +43 1 525 24-4902, [email protected]. W-Su 10:00-18:00, last admission 17:30. Contains classical art from Ephesus, in Asia Minor. Admission included with ticket for Museum of Fine Arts.  
  • Collection of Historic Musical Instruments (Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente), ☏ +43 1 525 24-4602, [email protected]. W-Su 10:00-18:00, last admission 17:30. Admission included with ticket for the Museum of Fine Arts. 
  • Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer (Imperial Armoury), ☏ +43 1 525 24-5202, [email protected]. W-Su 10:00-18:00, last admission 17:30. The jewel of the New Palace is the Collection of Arms. This collection, second largest in the world, houses an immense and exhaustive representation of weaponry from past centuries. Admission included with ticket for the Museum of Fine Arts. (updated Oct 2017)
  • 48.205216.36511 Papyrusmuseum (Papyrus Museum), Heldenplatz, ☏ +43 1 534 10-420, fax: +43 1 534 10-395, [email protected]. Tu W 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00, F Su 10:00-18:00. One of the largest collections of its kind in the world, it includes nearly 180,000 manuscripts spanning 3,000 years of Egyptian history. 200 items are on permanent display. €4 (adults), €3.60 (Ö1 Club and Vienna Card), €3.50 (seniors), €3 (students/military/disabled); includes admission to the Globe and Esperanto Museums (listed below with the Austrian National Library).  
  • 48.20516.36305612 Weltmuseum Wien (formerly the Ethnological Museum / Museum für Völkerkunde), ☏ +43 1 534 30-5052, [email protected]. W-M 10:00-18:00. This collection encompasses many thousands of artifacts from around the globe. The most famous piece in its collection however is a headdress believed to have belonged to the last Aztec emperor Moctezuma. €8 (adults), €7 (Vienna Card), €6 (concessions), free (under 19).  
• 48.20614216.36626713 Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek), Josefsplatz 1, ☏ +43 1 53410-348. Card catalogs may be an anachronism in today’s digitized world, but this library had the first one in existence, invented by the Habsburg court librarian. Unlike the printed library catalogs of the past, bound into book form, the card catalog could be rapidly updated and the library kept up-to-date. This well-ordered reader's paradise has a collection that outshines many museums, thanks to its long association with the Habsburg imperial family. It gained an impressive collection when Emperor Josef II dissolved all the empire's monasteries – 300 manuscripts, 3,000 printed books, and 5,000 diplomata. The library's collection is approximately six million items strong and is the largest in Austria. It is a pioneer in digitalizing and placing its collection online. The oldest book in the collection is a fifteenth century Holy Gospels manuscript with scenes representing the four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) containing the coats of arms of the House of Austria, Styria, Tirol, and Carinthia, then ruled by Albrecht III, the book's owner.  
  • 48.20616416.3667814 Prunksaal (State Hall), Josefsplatz 1, 1st Floor, ☏ +43 1 534 10-394, fax: +43 1 534 10-257, [email protected]. Tu W 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00, F Su 10:00-18:00. This magnificent historic library was designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and built in 1726. As well as the spectacular room itself, you can see temporary exhibitions on various historical subjects. €7 (adults), €6.30 (Ö1 Club and Vienna Card), €5.50 (seniors), €4.50 (students/military/disabled).  
  • 48.20946716.36572315 Globenmuseum (Globe Museum), Herrengasse 9, Palais Mollard-Clary, 1st Floor, ☏ +43 1 534 10-710, fax: +43 1 534 10-319, [email protected]. Tu W 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00, F-Su 10:00-18:00. The only museum of its type in the world, this museum contains a collection of 650 globes of all types, as well as a collection of nearly 300,000 historic maps. €4 (adults), €3.60 (Ö1 Club or Vienna Card), €3.50 (seniors), €3 (students/military/disabled); includes admission to the Esperanto and Papyrus Museums.  
  • 48.20963716.36556516 Esperantomuseum (Esperanto Museum), Herrengasse 9, Palais Mollard-Clary, Ground Floor, ☏ +43 1 534 10-730, fax: +43 1 534 10-733, [email protected]. Tu W 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-21:00, F-Su 10:00-18:00. Founded in 1927, this museum houses a library and museum with displays illustrating the development and grammar of the modern invented language Esperanto. €4 (adults), €3.60 (Ö1 Club or Vienna Card), €3.50 (seniors); €3 (students/military/disabled); includes admission to the Globe and Papyrus Museums.  
• 48.20469516.36823917 Albertina, Albertinaplatz 1, ☏ +43 1 534 83-0. Th-Tu 10:00-18:00, W 10:00-21:00. Once a palace, it is now the most popular exhibition space in Vienna, mainly for traditional modern art. The building itself is an experience as well. It is home to a valuable drawing collection, including many works of the German Renaissance painter, Dürer. €11.90 (adults), €9.90 (seniors 60+), €9.70 (Vienna Card), €8.50 (students), €7 (unemployed/military/disabled), free (children under 19).  
• 48.20573916.36769218 Herzgruft, Augustinerkirche (Loretokapelle / Hearts Crypt, Augustinian Church), Josefsplatz 1 (facing the sculpture in the center of the square, the entrance is small and easy to miss, on the left hand wall of the square), ☏ +43 1 533 09 47 0, fax: +43 1 533 09 47 150, [email protected]. Tours M-F 11:00, 15:00. Yet another example of the gruesome divide-and-conquer burial strategy of the Habsburg dynasty. It is said that other dynasties waged countless wars to acquire new lands, but "you, happy Austria, marry". Even in death, the Habsburgs placated three different churches with the honor of caring for their remains. The best known, the Kapuzinergruft, contains their actual bodies. St Stephens holds their innards (intestines and other parts taken out during the preservation process). But the Augustinerkirche holds, in the Herzgruft (Heart Crypt), all the Habsburgs' hearts. The tradition began in 1627 with Emperor Ferdinand IV, who wanted to "lay his heart at the feet of the Mother of God", literally. His heart, and those of his descendants, are preserved in silver jars which are carefully cared for by the Augustinian friars who run the church. When the renovation was underway it was found that the preservative in some of the caskets had evaporated over the years, leaving nothing but a dried-out, mummified heart.  
• 48.20677716.36558919 Hofburgkapelle (Chapel of the Imperial Palace), Hofburg - Schweizer Hof, ☏ +43 1 533 99 27, fax: +43 1 533 99 27-75, [email protected]. Visiting hours: M Tu 10:00-14:00, F 11:00-13:00, closed holidays; Sunday Mass: 09:15, seating no later than 09:00. The original chapel of the Palace, built in Gothic style 1447-1449, was made over in Baroque style. On Sundays and Catholic holidays (of which the Austrians celebrate many), the Court Musicians perform here. This group is made up of members from the Vienna Boys Choir, as well as performers from the orchestra and choir of the Vienna State Opera. Tickets can be purchased online here. Performances: seats €36/26/16, seats with no view €10; standing room only free (sold on Su at 08:30 before mass). (updated Oct 2017)
• 48.20759416.36673720 Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule), Michaelerplatz 1 (visitor center), ☏ +43 1 533 90 31. Visitor center: Tu-Su 09:00-16:00, F 09:00-19:00 during performance days; box office (Josefsplatz): Tu-F 09:00-12:00. First mentioned in a document dated 1572, it is the only equestrian institute in the world which follows a Renaissance model of classical schooling. Eleves, or students, begin their training immediately after completion of Austrian primary education (age 15 or 16), and are expected to be both sporty and clever. The school takes its name from a Spanish breed of horse first mentioned in Roman writings. In 1562, Emperor Maximilian II brought some of these Spanish horses to Austria to found a royal stud farm in Kladrub (Bohemia), housing them for a time in the "Stallburg" (oldest section of the Imperial Palace). The present school location was built in 1572. In 1580, Maximilian's brother, Archduke Karl, founded the stud farm in Lipizza near Trieste (now Slovenia). Interest in elegant riding had been growing for about 50 years at that point. During Renaissance times, powerful gentlemen who had already conquered the worlds of finance and politics looked to the writings of antiquity for new learning and an educated lifestyle to which they could aspire. Horsemanship which followed the ancient models described by Socrates and others became the fashion. Xenophon (430 – 354 BC) wrote "Men who understand the art of horsemanship, in truth, look magnificent." Who wouldn't want that? In the new Winter Riding School (built 1729-35), tournaments, masked balls, and other entertainment was held, but this would soon draw to a close – the royal stud farms at Lipizza were threatened by Napoleon several times and twice the precious stud horses were evacuated to Hungary. No photos or video taping allowed.  
• 48.2053616.36660821 Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly House), Burggarten Hofburg, Hanuschgasse, ☏ +43 1 533 857 0, fax: +43 1 532 287 2, [email protected]. Apr-Oct: M-F 10:00-16:45, Sa Su 10:00-18:15; Nov-Mar: 10:00-15:45. A tropical greenhouse with an amazing collection of live butterflies, will delight both children and adults. €6 (adults), €4.50 (concessions), €3 (children 3-16).  

• 48.2037916.36179622 Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts), Maria-Theresien-Platz (U2/U3 Volkstheater, tram D, 1, 2, 46, 49, bus 2A, 57A Burgring Maria-Theresien-Platz Stop), ☏ +43 1 52524-0, [email protected]. Tu W F-Su 10:00–18:00, Th 10:00–21:00. One of the world's greatest art museums and in a palace that is a work of art itself. Serious art fans may wish to devote more than a day to its treasures. There is no other word to describe the Kunst other than mind-boggling. It contains a world-class exhibit of the Habsburgs' art collection, including Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Bosch, and Brueghel. The museum has an excellent collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. The coin & medals collection is also exhaustive in its scope. The museum cafe is a bit pricey, but good, and in a beautiful setting. Hand-held photography is permitted. €14 (adults), €11 (concessions); admission includes entry to the Ephesos Museum, Collection of Historic Musical Instruments, and Collection of Arms and Armour (see listing below under New Palace).  
• 48.20519216.3599623 Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum), Burgring 7 (entrance at Maria-Theresien-Platz), ☏ +43 1 521 77-0, fax: +43 1 523 52 54, [email protected]. W 09:00-21:00, Th-M 09:00-18:30, closed Tu. This museum was erected as a mirror to its twin museum, the Museum of Fine Arts. It exhibits various minerals, meteorites, fossils, stuffed animals, and skeleton reconstructions of dinosaurs and other. It also includes an anthropological section, where you can see the beautiful Venus of Willendorf which is 25,000 years old. Most signs and explanations in the museum are only in German, and you will likely receive little sympathy for this from museum staff. Expect museum guards to rush you out at least 15 minutes before closing time. €10 (adults), €8 (seniors and Ö1 Club or Vienna Card), €5 (students/apprentices/military), free (disabled and children under 19).  
• 48.20571216.372324 Winterpalais des Prinzen Eugen (Winter Palace of Prince Eugene), Himmelpfortgasse 8, ☏ +43 1 795 57 134, [email protected]. Daily 10:00-18:00. This Baroque palace was built as a residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, and later used for the Court Treasury and Ministry of Finance. It now houses period furnishings and exhibits detailing the biography of the prince and the history of the palace. €9 (adults), €8 (Vienna Card), €7 (seniors/students), free (children and youth under 19).  
• 48.20763716.38156825 MAK (Museum für angewandte Kunst / Austrian Museum of Applied Arts), Stubenring 5 (Subway U3, tram 1, 2, bus 1A, 74A to Stubentor, and U4 to Landstrasser Hauptstrasse, City Airport Train from the airport to Bahnhof Wien Mitte), ☏ +43 1 711 36-0, fax: +43 1 713 10 26, [email protected]. Tu 10:00-22:00, W-Su 10:00-18:00. The museum has the MAK Design Shop and a study collection. The museum emphasizes design and decorative arts, and has a huge furniture collection. Early 20th century, especially Vienna Secession, and modern design are very well represented, as are contemporary decorative art and design. €12 (adults), €10 (concessions), free (children and youth under 19); 50% discount on Tu from 18:00-22:00. (updated May 2019)
• 48.2038716.37319626 Haus der Musik (House of Music), Seilerstätte 30 (U1/U2/U4, trams 1/2/62/65/J/D, stop Karlsplatz/Opernring), ☏ +43-1-513 48 50, fax: +43-1-512 03 15, [email protected]. Daily 10:00-22:00, last admission 21:30. This is a relatively new and special museum devoted to an interactive learning experience. It covers the history of the Vienne Philharmonic Orchestra, the history of Vienna as a centre of music making (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Mahler, Schubert and others are documented). In addition there are the more experimental sections of futuristic composition (the Brain Opera) and sound experiences. €12 (adults), €9 (seniors/students/disabled), €5.50 (children 3-12), free (children under 3).  
• 48.21206116.36491327 Museum am Schottenstift (Museum at the Scottish Monastery), Freyung 6A (U2, trams 1,2,37-38,40-44, D, stop Schottentor), ☏ +43 1 534 98-600, fax: +43 1 534 98-265, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 11:00-17:00. A nice, small picture gallery mainly of Baroque Austrian painting. €8 (adults), €6 (seniors/students), €4 (Vienna Card and NÖ Card), €2 (children 6-15). 
• 48.20164116.36526128 Gemäldegalerie der Akademie der bildenden Künste (Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts), Schillerplatz 3, 1st floor, ☏ +43 1 58816-2222, fax: +43 1 586 33 46, [email protected]. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-18:00. A gallery owned by the Academy of Fine Arts, to which Hitler applied to before he decided to change to politics. It offers some paintings by Rubens and Bosch. Most interesting are the Renaissance and medieval exponents. €8 (adults) €7 (Vienna Card), €5 (seniors/students/disabled), free (children and youth under 19).  
• 48.21003916.38109729 Museum Postsparkasse (Otto Wagner Museum), Georg Coch-Platz 2 (near the Schwedenplatz U1 stop, trams 1,2, 21, N), ☏ +43 599 05-33825, fax: +43 599 05-33087, [email protected]. M-F 10:00-17:00. SIGNA, the owner of the Post Office Savings Bank building, runs the WAGNER:WERK Museum Postsparkasse. Opened by BAWAG P.S.K. in 2005, it's in the small banking hall. The museum and the main banking hall are open to visitors. At the post office of his original design. At this museum you can see the more serious aspect of his artistic enterprise, that of public life. Also some of the original furniture and his plans. Free.  
• 48.20502516.36819330 ^{[dead link]} Österreichisches Filmmuseum (Austrian Film Museum), Augustinerstraße 1 (next to the Albertina), ☏ +43 1 533 70 54, fax: +43 1 533 70 54 x25, [email protected]. A cinema for showing specially curated films and retrospective.  
• 48.21090416.36884531 Uhrenmuseum (Clock Museum), Schulhof 2 (near Judenplatz), ☏ +43 1 533 22 65, fax: +43 1 533 22 65, [email protected]. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-18:00. A collection of 3000 clocks of all types, including a prized 18th-century astronomical clock. €6 (adults), €4 (seniors/students and Vienna Card), free (children and youth under 19); free the first Sunday of every month.  
• 48.21153516.3661532 Bank Austria Kunstforum, Freyung 8, ☏ +43 1 537 33 26, fax: +43 1 537 33 27, [email protected]. Sa-W 10:00-19:00, F 10:00-21:00. This venue hosts special exhibits of internationally-renowned artists; past exhibits have displayed work by Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka, Cézanne, Picasso, and Van Gogh. €10 (adults), €8.50 (seniors), €6 (youth 17-27), €4 (children 6-16).  
• 48.20631416.36773233 Phantastenmuseum (Fantastic Realism Museum), Palais Palffy, Josefplatz 6, ☏ +43 1 512 56 81-0, [email protected]. Daily 10:00-18:00. An unusual museum dedicated to the work of the Vienna School of Fantastic Realism (Wiener Schule des Phantastischen Realismus), highlighting works by artists Ernst Fuchs, Arik Brauer, Rudolf Hausner, Wolfgang Hutter and Fritz Janschka. An extra section of the museum displays paintings by international artists, and the first floor is devoted to rotating special exhibits. €9 (adults), €7 (concessions), free (children under 6).  
• 48.208716.37416734 ^{[formerly dead link]} Dommuseum (Cathedral and Diocesan Museum), Stephansplatz 6, ☏ +43 1 51552-3300, fax: +43 1 51552-2599, [email protected]. W 10:00-18:00, Th 10:00-20:00, F-Su 10:00-18:00; last admission 30min before closing. A collection of liturgical implements, illustrated manuscripts, altarpieces, and sculptures. €8 (adults), €7 (concessions), €3 (children 6-18); free (children under 6 or Vienna Pass). (updated Oct 2017)
• 48.20568816.36857235 Österreichisches Theatermuseum (Austrian Theater Museum), Lobkowitzplatz 2, ☏ +43 1 525 24 3460, [email protected]. W-M 10:00-18:00. Housed in the Baroque Lobkowitz Palace, this museum displays stage models, costumes, and props, with special temporary exhibits. €8 (adults), €7 (Vienna Card), €6 (concessions), free (children and youth under 19).  
• 48.21188616.35714336 MUSA Museum Startgalerie Artothek (Museum Start Gallery Artothek), Felderstraße 6-8, ☏ +43 1 4000-8400, fax: +43 1 4000-99-8400, [email protected]. Tu W F 11:00-18:00, Th 11:00-20:00, Sa 11:00-16:00; closed Su M and holidays. Hosts special exhibits of contemporary Austrian art. Free.  

• 48.212316.36237 Beethoven Pasqualatihaus, Mölker Bastei 8, ☏ +43 1 535 89 05, fax: +43 1 505 87 47 7201, [email protected]. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00. This 18th-century building is atop the Mölker Bastei, one of the only remaining sections of the old city wall. For 8 years Beethoven lived in a 4th-floor apartment in this building, where he composed his 4th-8th symphonies as well as his opera Fidelio. The museum preserves many of the composer's personal effects, and displays documents illustrating his life and work. €4 (children and youth under 19), €3 (seniors/students and Vienna Card), free (children and youth under 19); free the first Sunday of every month.  
• 48.20721116.36930638 Jüdisches Museum Wien (Jewish Museum Vienna), Dorotheergasse 11. Su-F 10:00-18:00; closed on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. A museum documenting the history of Vienna's substantial Jewish community which included Zweig, Freud, Herzl, Mahler, and Schoenberg. Three sites are available for one combined ticket: two museum sites and the main synagogue. Attached to the museum at Judenplatz are the archaeological remains of a medieval synagogue. The Stadttempel, the only historical synagogue in Vienna to have survived World War II, is accessible on through the guided tour. €10 (adults), €8 (concessions), €5 (students), free (children under 15); includes admission to the branch on Judenplatz.  
  • 48.21170516.36946739 Jüdisches Museum Judenplatz (Jewish Museum Judenplatz), Judenplatz 8. S-Th 10:00-18:00, F 10:00-14:00; closed on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. A second branch of the Jewish Museum on Dorotheergasse. Underneath the Judenplatz (the Jewish Square) is an underground medieval synagogue excavation. Amazingly, the synagogue was destroyed centuries ago, but its existence was remembered by the area's inhabitants up to the 20th century. €10 (adults), €8 (concessions), €5 (students), free (children under 15); includes admission to the branch on Dorotheergasse. 
  • 48.21163916.37478440 Stadttempel, Seitenstettengasse 4, ☏ +43 1 535 04-31 311. Guided tours M-Th 11:30, 14:00; photo ID required. A well preserved 19th-century synagogue, which is being used as the main city's synagogue by the current growing Viennese Jewish community. Visitation with guided tour only, arranged through the Jewish Museum.  
• 48.20791616.3666441 Ausgrabungen Michaelerplatz (Michaelerplatz Excavations), Michaelerplatz, ☏ +43 1 505 87 47 0, fax: +43 1 505 87 47 7201, [email protected]. Daily 24 hr. Archeological excavations carried out between 1989 and 1991 revealed not only the foundations of medieval buildings but also remains of the Roman canabae (civilian support settlement) of Vindobona, as Vienna was then known. The viewing area was designed by Viennese architect Hans Hollein. Free. 
• 48.20817116.37488842 Mozarthaus Vienna (Mozart House), Domgasse 5 (U1/U3 Stephansplatz, east of the cathedral), ☏ +43 1 512 17 91, fax: +43 1 512 17 91 91, [email protected]. Daily 10:00-19:00, last admission 18:30. This is the Viennese residence of Austria's most famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and a branch of the Vienna Museum. €10 (adults), €8 (concessions), €3 (children under 14).  
• 48.21081116.37120643 Neidhart Fresken (Neidhart Frescoes), Tuchlauben 19, ☏ +43 1 535 90 65, fax: +43 1 505 87 47 7201, [email protected]. Tu-Su and holidays 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00. The oldest secular wall paintings known in Vienna, in a 14th-century building. The frescoes were commissioned in 1398 and illustrate scenes from the life and poetry of the Viennese minnesinger Neidhart von Reuental. €4 (adults), €3 (seniors/students and Vienna Card), free (children and youth under 19); free the first Sunday of every month. 
• 48.21079216.37270544 Römermuseum (Roman Museum), Hoher Markt 3, ☏ +43 1 535 56 06, fax: +43 1 505 87 47 7201, [email protected]. Tu-Su and holidays 09:00-18:00. This museum houses a collection of artifacts from the Roman settlement of Vindobona, as Vienna was then known. There are Roman ruins in the cellar of the museum, first discovered during construction work in 1948, and for many years only accessible to the public via a narrow staircase, before the building was transformed into a full-fledged museum 2008. €6 (adults), €4 (seniors/students and Vienna Card), free (children and youth under 19); free the first Sunday of every month.  
• 48.21141216.36808245 Römische Baureste Am Hof (Roman Ruins Am Hof), Am Hof, ☏ +43 1 505 87 47 0, fax: +43 1 505 87 47 7201, [email protected]. Closed for restoration. Early Roman ruins from Vienna's earliest days as a Roman fort in the basement of the Fire Brigade Building. 
• 48.20836316.37240146 Virgilkapelle (Vergilius Chapel), Stephansplatz (access in the subway station Stephansplatz (U1/U3), directly by the cathedral), ☏ +43 1 513 58 42, fax: +43 1 505 87 47 7201, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. A 13th-century subterranean chapel beneath the former Chapel of St Mary Magdalene (no longer standing, but outlines have been traced on the pavement directly south of Stephansdom). This chapel served as the tomb for a wealthy Viennese family and was completely forgotten until construction of the underground in 1975. A portion of it can be viewed for free from a window in the U-Bahn station. €5 (adults), €4 (seniors/students and Vienna Card), free (children and youth under 19); free the first Sunday of every month.  
• 48.20628616.36376547 Heldenplatz (Heroes' Square). A public space in front of the Neue Hofburg, setting to a number of important historic events, most notably of Adolf Hitler's 1938 announcement of the Austrian Anschluß. Two 19th-century equestrian statues portray Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen and Prince Eugene of Savoy.  
• 48.2079516.37166448 Stock im Eisen (literally: staff in iron), Stock-im-Eisen-Platz (corner of Palais Equitable). The remaining midsection of a medieval nail tree (Nagelbaum). Over the centuries hundreds of nails have been hammered in both in thanksgiving and for good luck. The tree figures in a number of local legends.  

• 48.20807316.35901649 Parlamentsgebäude (Parliament Building), Doktor-Karl-Renner-Ring 3, ☏ +43 1 401 10-2400, fax: +43 1 401 10-2664, [email protected]. Visitor Center: M-Sa 09:30-16:30; tours only when not in use by Parliament. The home of the two houses of Austrian Parliament. The building was designed by Theophil von Hansen in the Neoclassical style, and constructed between 1873 and 1883. Guided tours are offered in German or English. Tours: €5 (adults), €2.50 (seniors/students/disabled), free (children and youth under 19); Visitor Center free.  
• 48.20054416.36579250 Wiener Secession (Secession Building), Friedrichstraße 12 (U-Bahn U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz), ☏ +43-1-587 53 07, fax: +43-1-587 53 07-34, [email protected]. Tu-Su 10:00-18:00; guided tours Sa 15:00, Su 11:00 and by appt. Architect Josef Maria Olbrich built this Jugendstil (German-style Art Nouveau) building 1897-98 as a display space for artists working in the new Secession artistic movement. It is topped by a giant, frothy golden ball, lovingly called Krauthappel by the Viennese, but the building was definitely not loved when it first opened. Notice a reactionary Viennese pattern here? The opera building too was hated at first, but at least it was not called a "temple for bullfrogs" or "a bastard begot of temple and warehouse" as this building was. The entryway features the motto of the Secessionist movement: Der Zeit ihre Kunst, der Kunst ihre Freiheit (to the time, its art, to the art, its freedom). Olbrich's mentor Otto Wagner, and also Gustav Klimt, whose astounding Beethoven Frieze is partially preserved in the basement, inspired the building's design. The ceremonial front entrance is separate from the functional glass and steel exhibit hall in back. Beethoven Frieze + special exhibits: €8.50 (adults), €5 (seniors/students); special exhibits: €5 (adults), €4 (seniors/students); guided tours: €3.  
• 48.2109916.35657651 Wiener Rathaus (Vienna City Hall), Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, ☏ +43 1 525 50, [email protected]. Tours (in German) M W F 13:00, no registration required. Designed by Friedrich von Schmidt (the architect of the Cologne Cathedral) and completed in 1883, this is the most significant neo-Gothic building in Vienna, with a 103m-high clock tower. There is a very pleasant park with two fountains in front of the building facing the Ring. Free; audioguides in English/French/Italian/Spanish available with ID.  
• 48.21077616.37365752 Ankeruhr, Hoher Markt 10-12. A large 4-m-diameter musical clock on a pedestrian bridge connecting two neighboring buildings. The clock was designed between 1911 and 1914 by the Judgenstil painter Franz Matsch, and features prominent figures from Viennese history, each with a Roman character. At noon all figures parade across the clock face, accompanied by music. During the Advent season, Christmas songs are played daily at 17:00 and 18:00. Free.  
• 48.20836616.36672453 Looshaus, Michaelerplatz 3, ☏ +43 1 21136-5000, [email protected]. M-W F 09:00-15:00; Th 09:00-17:30 (exhibit). Designed by Adolf Loos and completed in 1909, this is considered to be one of the most significant buildings of the Wiener Moderne era from 1890-1910, although initially it was fiercely criticised. Today the building is occupied by the Wiener Raiffeisenbank, but a permanent exhibit in the building has photographs and documents illustrating the building's history. (updated Oct 2017)
• 48.21312116.36032554 Universität Wien (University of Vienna), Universitätsring 1, ☏ +43 1 4277-176 76, fax: +43 1 4277-176 99. Sa 11:30 (English). The university was founded in 1365, and is the oldest university in the German-speaking area, as well as one of the largest in Europe with more than 90,000 students. It consists of 15 faculties amongst them are Law, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology and Translational Studies. The main building (Hauptgebaeude) on the Ringstraße was designed by Heinrich von Ferstel, and formally inaugurated in 1884 by the Emperor Franz Joseph I. Guided tours are offered in German and English, featuring such highlights as the Main Ceremonial Chamber with copies of the ceiling paintings by Gustav Klimt, and the library's Great Reading Room. Tours: €5 (adults), free (children under 6). (updated Oct 2017)

• 48.204616.362755 Ringstraße, The Ring / Ring Street. The Ringstraße circles the very heart of Vienna. Built on the location of the original city walls, its size is a good indication of how much the city has expanded since medieval times, but more importantly it is the most posh area of downtown. Elegant individuals stroll down the street (there really is no other way to move when walking along the Ring) and play the fashion-do/fashion don’t game under their breath before pausing at one of the innumerable cafes lining the way. A traditional Jause (morning coffee break, around 10:00) and then back to the business at hand, seeing and being seen: Vienna’s favorite pastime. (updated Oct 2016)

The Innere Stadt has next to the Ring four bigger parks:

• 48.20664316.38196356 Stadtpark (U4 Stadtpark), ☏ +43 1 4000-8042. Court painter Joseph Selleny and garden director Rudolf Siebeck designed this kind of artificial park with several small landscapes. It opened on the 21 August 1862. It houses the golden statue of Johann Strauss, which is most frequently photographed monuments in Vienna. You can also find the monuments of Franz Schubert, Franz Lehár, Robert Stolz and Hans Makart. The park is very frequently visited by locals and tourists.  
• 48.21054716.35949757 Rathauspark, ☏ +43 1 4000-8042. The park is symmectric with a big square in the middle in front of the city hall. The park has on each grassy side a varied selection of woody plants a Japanese pagoda tree or umbrella tree and an old ginkgo.  
• 48.20744416.36095658 Volksgarten. The park is famous for the big variation of beautiful roses and features old platanes. There is a monument for Empress Elizabeth and in the middle a neoclassical Theseus temple.  
• 48.20405516.36539859 Burggarten, Josefsplatz 1. It has the form of an English garden, and is directly adjacent to the Hofburg. It has a statue of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the summertime students like to hang out in middle of the trees.  

Vienna is of course famous for its classical music. The Musikverein or the Konzerthaus feature excellent concerts at their famous halls. The Opera plays classical masterpieces. Students can get reduced tickets, where they stand with other aficionados.

• 48.20322916.3690591 Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), Opernring 2, ☏ +43 1 514 44-2250, 7880, [email protected]. Probably the most-beloved symbol of Viennese arts, and one of the first buildings to be rebuilt in the postwar era. It was built from 1861-1869 under the direction of architects Eduard van der Nüll and August von Siccardsburg for then-emperor Franz Josef I. The first performance was Don Giovanni, an opera by Austrian native Mozart, on 25 May 1869. The architecture of the opera was barely tolerated by the picky Viennese when it opened. Van der Nüll did not take these criticisms of his work lightly and committed suicide. A few weeks later, von Siccardsburg died of a heart attack. Doubly cursed, the opera building succumbed to bombs less than 100 years later, during World War II. After ten years of Allied control after the end of the war, many cultural institutions reopened to celebrate the birth of the new Austrian state. This time the opera opened with an adopted son of Vienna's work: Beethoven's Fidelio. The lush curtains and overall elegance contribute to the atmosphere (even the nosebleed seats, so steeply pitched and close to the ceiling a nosebleed becomes a distinct possibility). Inexpensive standing room tickets are made available for every performance and sold the day of the performance. The line forms about two hours prior to the performance. Guided tours in a number of languages are offered. The line at the front side door forms about 1/2 hour before the tour.  
• 48.20153916.372042 Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic), Kärntner Ring 12 (ticket office), ☏ +43 1 505 65 25, fax: +43 1 505 65 25-270, [email protected]. Considered one of the world's best orchestras, subscription tickets are notoriously difficult to get with a waiting list lasting up to 13 years. Individual tickets however are available in limited numbers online from the Musikverein (where performances take place) and at the ticket office.  
• 48.20068716.3728253 Musikverein (Viennese Music Association), Musikvereinplatz 1, [email protected]. Home to the Vienna Philharmonic, and venue for a wide range of other classical music performances. Its largest hall, the Großer Musikvereinssaal (Goldener Saal) is considered to be one of the world's finest concert halls. For visitors wanting a closer look, daily 45-min guided tours are offered (entrance at Bösendorferstraße 12, adults €6, youth 12-16 €4.  
• 48.2103416.3613454 Burgtheater, Universitätsring 2, ☏ +43 1 514 44-4140, fax: +43 1 514 44-4143, [email protected]. Guided tour Burgtheater – Behind the Scenes: Sep-Jun M-Th 15:00 (German w/English summary), F-Su 15:00 (German and English); guided tour Gustav Klimt – Main Staircases and Angelika Prokopp Foyer: Sep-Jun F-Su 14:00 (German w/English summary). The building was completed in 1888 and is home to one of the most respected German-language theaters, as well as the second-oldest theater in Europe. Non-German speaking visitors will find the building itself worth visiting, as the foyer contains paintings by Viennese artists Gustav and Ernst Klimt, and Franz Matsch, which can be viewed with a tour. Tours: €5.50 (adults), €4.50 (seniors), €2 (students and children); performances: €5-51 (seats), €2.50 (standing room).  
• Wiener Hofburg Orchester (Vienna Hofburg Orchestra) (at the Hofburg's historic halls, Redoutensaal and Festsaal), ☏ +43 1 587 25 52, fax: +43 1 587 43 97, [email protected]. Three times a week May - mid Oct. Performs live. The program features the most famous waltz and operetta melodies by "the King of the Waltz", Johann Strauss, Franz Léhar and opera aries by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is led by conductor Gert Hofbauer, is composed of 36 musicians and six international vocal soloists from Vienna’s largest orchestral societies. On 31 Dec and 1 Jan the orchestra also performs the traditional New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Concerts in the flower decorated halls at the Vienna Hofburg.  
• 48.21065416.3587275 Opera Film Festival (Sommerkino Rathausplatz), Rathausplatz, ☏ +43 1 4000-8100, [email protected]. Jul-Aug. Each day, weather permitting, you can watch an opera on a huge open-air screen. On another part of the square, there are plenty of food stalls (maybe a little overpriced) which offer Viennese, as well as international food. On pleasant summer evenings, the atmosphere can be quite relaxing. Free. 
• 48.20683316.3765866 Porgy & Bess (Porgy), Riemergasse 11, ☏ +43 1 512 88 11, [email protected]. The Jazzclub features international Jazz artists. One can reserve seats in advance, which is recommended for special events. The bar offers good wine and some food too. €15-30.  
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