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A great way of getting acquainted with Vienna when you first arrive is to take a ride around the Ringstrasse. The centre of Vienna is surrounded by a circular road from which you can see many of the prominent sights and buildings in the city.
A Tram Along the Ringstrasse. Photo: Bauke Karel
There is a dedicated ring tram that will take you around the whole way for 8€, but if you’re trying to keep expenses low like me, there is another option. Trams #1 and #2 each go partially around the ring. Switching from one to the other where they overlap (by the Opera house) will allow you to see the whole ring for a fraction of the prices. It’s especially handy if you have already purchased a pass for the U-Bahn. It’s pretty much free and free is good.
Here are a few of the sights you can expect to see on the Ringstrasse going counterclockwise. Many of these are fairly close together so you can even walk much of the route. Most of the buildings I’ve only been able to appreciate and marvel at from the outside. They’re certainly very grand and beautiful.
Vienna University
I had a couple friends who were studying here during one of my visits and they took us on a tour of the building. The Vienna University is the oldest university in the German-speaking world. Can you imagine going to class in this building?
And with this staircase? Crazy! 15 Nobel Prize Laureates have called these halls home including Schrödinger of the thought experiment Schrödinger’s cat (and many other achievements), fame. Maybe I can become an instant genius just from walking through the building. Learning by osmosis? Yes please!
The Grand Staircase (Feststiege) in the main building
Rathaus (City Hall)
The Rathaus doesn’t contain rats, unless that is your opinion of those who work there, but let’s not go there. The Rathaus is the town or city hall where the mayor and the city council of Vienna govern.
The building was built in the Gothic style between 1872 and 1883. Looking out from the building is a large park full of trees, benches and pathways. A great spot for an outdoor picnic. Often the square in front of the building holds special events. I especially like it in the evening hours when all the lights are on.
Burgtheater
The Burgtheater, or the Imperial Court Theatre, is the Austrian National Theatre. Mozart‘s famous The Marriage of Figaro, and Beethoven’s 1st Symphony both premiered here. The theatre was destroyed during the air raids of World War II, but has since been restored. Tickets for performances are as low as 2,50€ – if you’re okay with standing and can understand German.
Parlament
The Austrian Parlament building is home to Austria’s two houses of Parliament. It is built in the Greek revival style – doesn’t it look a bit like it belongs in Athens? The building is really big and takes up a whole city block. Outside the building is a statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of law and justice (among other things).
Maria Theresien Platz
Maria-Theresien-Platz connects the Ringstrasse with the Museumsquartier, home to a number of famous art museums. In the centre of the Platz stands a dominating statue of Empress Maria Theresa.
Museum of Natural History Vienna
On one side of the Maria Theresien Platz is the Museum of Natural History. You can find 30 million specimens and artifacts within its walls with everything from dinosaurs to minerals and stones to the evolution of man. Definitely my kind of museum. I wish I had went.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Almost a mirror image of the Museum of Natural History, the Kunsthistorisches Museum or the Museum of Art History, stands opposite. The only difference between the two buildings are the statues on their facades. Within its walls you can find the art collection belonging to the Habsburgs.
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is one of the few buildings I’ve actually be inside along the Ringstrasse. I went to see an opera here the first time I was in Vienna. For 4€ I stood at the back of the opera house, watching and listening to Verdi’s La Traviata frantically trying to remember what I learned about the opera in my music history classes. At each of the standing posts, English subtitles were provided to help you along. The inside of the theatre was gorgeous and lush.
Standing room tickets are available for purchase 80 minutes before the performance. For more information on how, check out this link. All I have to say is to get there early and be prepared to stand. A lot! That said, it is a great (and affordable) experience. If you’re not an opera lover but would like to try it out, this is the place to do it. You can always leave at intermission. Alternatively, if you’re going to Budapest, I would recommend going to the opera there. For same amount of money, you get a seat. However, you can run the risk of not being able to get a ticket at the last minute during tourist season.
So there you have it. The major buildings along the Ringstrasse. There are plenty of others to explore and see as well beyond the ones mentioned here.
Have you taken a walk along the Ringstrasse? What is your favorite building?
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Vienna has some seriously amazing architecture. I visited last fall, but after a few days it just became way too boring to me. The only things to do there seemed to be gazing at pretty buildings, eating schnitzel and petting horses in front of carriages. I had to escape to the slightly more eventful countryside again 🙂
Actually, in many ways I agree with you. The first time I visited Vienna I was so completely in love with it. Once I moved to Budapest, which looks very similar, but a little grittier, I felt Vienna was almost fake looking. Like a theme park put out there for people to gawk at. Nonetheless, I still completely adore the city for its musical history and arts.
Your posts make me fall in love with Vienna all over again! 🙂 I love the strassenbahn!!! 🙂
There is so much to love about Vienna. I want to go back already.
Ahhhh! I want to go! You’ve sold me, especially on the opera part. Until this past weekend, I’d never been to the opera, but was treated to a production of Carmen here in Richmond. It was very enjoyable, and I think it’d be even more spectacular to see one in such a gorgeous building as the one there in Vienna!
Carmen is a great one for an intro to opera. I’m not the biggest fan of opera, but when in Vienna 🙂 And how can you say no for only a couple of euros?
I had not visited Vienna but plan to visit some day. Thanks for the writeup. #sitsblogging.
Wow, gorgeous pictures Adelina! I especially love the 2nd picture of the Vienna University, and I seriously cannot believe that people get to go to classes in a building like that!! I’m going to be in Vienna this August, so I’ve been really enjoying your recent posts. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Anna! I’ve since been inside a couple other universities in Europe and most of them are pretty elaborate. Such a gorgeous place to learn. I hope you enjoy Vienna! It’s one of my favourite cities.
So much time wandering around the “Ring”: it really is the ONE that rules them all in Vienna. I’m missin’ her bad, “no” thanks to your posts. 😉 Thanks for writing, Adelina!
Thanks Henry! I was trying SO hard not to make a Lord of the Rings reference the whole post 🙂
I love all of the architecture of those buildings, they are spectacular! I could not imagine going to that university! It looks like the perfect place to learn. Great photos!
Definitely! It must be so strange to go to school in such an old building full of history. Nothing like the schools in Canada.
This is one of most wanted city in my bucket list for Europe, i like your photos serie that show exactly what i have in mind about this noble city
Thanks! I hope you get a chance to visit! I really love Vienna.
How much time does it take to complete this tour?
Hi Christine! If you ride the yellow tram that is specifically for the ring (€8), it will take about 30 minutes continuously. However, if you decide to go with Tram #1 and Tram #2 (€2.20 per trip), it can take slightly longer depending on your connecting time.
Hi Adelina, planning to just walk around Ringstrasse. Would you have an idea how long it will take to walk the entire route? Thank you so much for posting this!
Hi Karen, That’s a great question! I’m not really sure as I’ve never walked the full ring. It’s 5.3 km long so I guess it would depend on your walking speed. An hour or so I would guess non stop, but there are lots of buildings to stop and admire (snap photos of!) along the way so definitely prepare for more time.
Sounds manageable. Thank you so much! I can’t wait to explore Vienna soon!
My wife and I plan to visit Vienna early next year. Thank you for sharing your photos and comments about the city. We’re looking forward to our trip.
Thanks so much for reading Michael! I hope you and your wife have a wonderful time in Vienna. It’s one of my favourite cities.
VIenna looks so beautiful, I have to go there some day.