Museums

• Albertina Museum

This museum was one of my favorite stops in the city. Masterpieces such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, and so many other big names. Another fun fact I thought was very interesting was that the museums actually used to be Habsburg palace. The rooms are very modern and curated a good sense of the evolution of European art. Personally, I am a massive fan of Monet which I was extremely satisfied with how his work was presented. I would recommend Vienna to anyone interested in art, architecture, history, or simply looking for a beautiful place to explore.

Overview

I was immediately in awe of Vienna because of the elegant architecture, modern museums, and contemporary art galleries. I was also impressed with the luxury shopping and vintage shops. Vienna also features many gardens and grand palaces that I think are definitely worth the visit.

• Papyrus Museum

Honestly, the Papyrus Museum wasn’t even on our agenda, but we ended up accidentally exploring it. We stumbled into the Austrian National Library to go to the cafe inside but ended up getting tickets to the papyrus museum. Typically, I like to see painting and architecture but I thought switching it up and going to learn about paper was a unique and captivating experience. Fortunately, it did not disappoint and I found it very interesting. The exhibit features Greco-Roman and ancient Egyptian papyri. It contained remarkably well-preserved letters, legal contracts, religious texts, and personal documents over 2,000 years old! Although this museum is quite small, the detailed explanations and stories behind each letter really brought the experience to life. This museum is perfect for anyone into archaeology, ancient civilizations, history, and I even consider it art in a way.

• Belvedere

Built in the early 18th century as a summer residence for military commander Prince Eugene of Savoy, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is much more than a historical landmark. The estate is split into two massive Baroque structures: the Upper Belvedere (built for grand receptions) and the Lower Belvedere (Prince Eugene’s actual residential quarters). We spent majority of our time in the Upper Belvedere because of Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” and some of the Monet art work (one of my favorite artist). Connecting the two is an absolute masterpiece of landscaping. It consists of a French-style symmetric garden filled with fountains, gravel paths, and mythic sphinx statues.

Architecture

• Votivkirche

The Votivkirche is an absolute triumph of Neo-Gothic architecture. Because it mimics the grand French cathedrals perfectly. The exterior is crafted from a bright white sandstone that makes it pop spectacularly against a blue sky. Inside, the soaring cross vaults, massive rose window, and the way the sunlight filters through the immense stained-glass windows create an atmosphere that feels majestic. I was highly impressed with the immense detail on the exterior of the building. This is easily one of the most breath-taking works of architecture Ive seen and I would highly recommend stopping by.

• Rathaus

The Rathaus or Vienna City Hall consists of a massive 5-tower neo-Gothic centralized tower system. If you look up at the top of the central tower, 100 meters in the air, you will spot the Rathausmann (a iron knight guarding the city) which I though was a little fun fact! I found that it is a dense canvas of pointed arches, intricate stone tracery, deep loggias, and gargoyles that create dramatic, shifting shadow plays depending on the angle of the sun.

• Holfburg Palace

The Hofburg is utterly massive, consisting of 18 wings, 19 courtyards, and over 2,600 rooms. Because it was expanded by almost every emperor who took the throne, walking the perimeter is a fascinating architectural journey. You will pass from the striking, curved Baroque facade of the Michaelertor (the Michael Gate) to the colossal, neoclassical crescent of the Neue Burg facing Heldenplatz. I was very impressed with how big this complex was, but it did get a little confusing with the navigation around the buildings. The Hofburg is non-negotiable when visiting Vienna. However, because it is so huge, trying to do everything (the museums, the Treasury, the Spanish Riding School, and the National Library) is way too much. We ended up visiting the Austrian National Library. My advice would be to pick 1-2 of the attractions and stick to it if you are limited on time like us.

• Parliament

The “Greek Temple of Austria” is often referred to as the Parliament because of the implements of Greek architecture in this building. Guarded by a colossal, gold-accented statue of Pallas Athena (the Greek goddess of wisdom), this building is a spectacular riot of marble columns, dramatic pediments, and classical symmetry. If you go inside, you are welcomed with 24 massive marble columns topped with 23-carat gold leaf, lit from above by an enormous skylight. While the tours are free, you cannot just walk in. You have to log onto their official website and book an English time slot in advance. Unfortunately, we were unable to go inside but just seeing the exterior was a treat.

• Street Architecture and Buildings