You really need patience when you include a visit to Ankeruhr for the 12pm daily "show" where all…read moretwelve of the historical figures (assigned to each hour) parade by to organ music. The clock has been running for over 100 years, except while being repaired after WWII damage, and the lasted a bit over 10 minutes. However if you don't have the patience then visiting any time around the top of the hour should be ok to see a single change from one figure to another (maybe an emperor, music composer or someone else famous). It did get pretty crowded and people were even lined up along the buildings across the street just to watch. We arrived around 15 minutes ahead of the schedule and had a good viewing spot. We stood the whole time but some sat down on the sidewalk curb in front of us. A Billa Corso grocery store was right next door if one wanted a drink or snack before or after.

Above the street by Hoher Markt between two buildings a gilded clock hangs decorating the…read moreconnecting elevated walkway linking the two blocks. Worth dropping by to take a look for a few moments if you're in the area! Built in an area that has history going back to Roman times, the Ankeruhr (anchor clock) was thus named since it connected the Ankerhof (anchor yard) which was owned since 1861 by an insurance company "Der Anker" (now called Helvetia). The clock itself was built btwn 1911-14 in the Art Nouveau decorative style designed by artist Franz Matsch (a contemporary of Gustav Klimt), with internal clockwork designed by court and chamber clockmaker Franz Morawetz. Clock dimensions are 10 meters across by 7.5 meters high, and its details depict the inevitable cycle of life and death. Most speculate this was shown with intention to encourage passerby to purchase insurance; I guess that's how marketing worked earlier in the 20th century. The sun above the clock is flanked on the left by a child with a butterfly, signifying birth and life, and with an hourglass and skull on the right, symbolizing (you guessed it) passing time and death. They really got straight to the point back then didn't they? Below the clock face are the heads of Adam, Eve, an angel and the devil. A basilisk lays beneath, and the mosaic on the dial shows the coat of arms of the old Viennese civic flag as well as twelve decorated plates with symbols from Viennese professional and private life. Twelve famous figurines from Austrian history make appearances linearly across the clock face, one as the clock strikes each hour, and all twelve at 12pm noon daily. A plaque on a nearby wall gives insight into each identity, and on the hour organ music plays corresponding to each figure. These are: - Marcus Aurelius - Charlemagne - Leopold VI the Glorious with Theodora - Walter von der Vogelweide, traveling minstrel - Rudolf of Habsburg - Hans Puchsbaum, cathedral master builder - Emperor Maximilian - Mayor Johann Andreas von Liebenberg - Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg - Prince Eugene of Savoy - Maria Theresa and husband Franz Stephan of Lorraine - Joseph Haydn, composer and musician Last restored in 2005, the clock is now a listed national monument. If visiting around Christmas, you can hear carols played between 5pm and 6pm. For public transit, by subway take U3 or U1 to Stephansplatz and walk; by bus take 2A to Rotenturmstraße or 1A or 3A to Hoher Markt. For more info: https://www.visitingvienna.com/sights/ankeruhr-anchor-clock/ https://www.helvetia.com/at/web/de/ueber-helvetia/helvetia-oesterreich/ankeruhr.html

The Virgilkapelle is a very small museum -- there is not that much more to it than what you can see…read morefrom the entrance. But, it's very cool that they have this underground chapel right in the Stephansplatz subway station. You get a very good views of the vaulted ceiling and space since you can view it from the top/entrance level, as well as going down the stairs to the level of the chapel floor. Behind the chapel, there is a small room with some artifacts. I'd estimate that it takes about 10 minutes to see the museum.

It's a beautiful building on the grounds of a beautiful palace, with a beautiful view of a…read morebeautiful city. We didn't eat there, and we didn't go on the roof (closed), but the views from the ground are just as stunning. It is a hike from the palace, but well worth it in my opinion. You pass by beautiful gardens, a lovely fountain, manicured lawns and a reflecting pool to get there and when you turn around? All of Schonbrunn and a good portion of Vienna lay before you. I highly recommend you take a tour and then finish with this lovely view...you will not regret it. 54/2025

Get ready for the climb. It's uphill to get here from the palace. Housed in this building is a…read morerestaurant and the overlook. You will get a beautiful view of the entire property from this location. It costs 5.50 euro for adults to access the overlook. There are a lot of steps to get there. I lost count as I walked the winding narrow staircase trying to catch my breath. lol! There are only some benches when you get to the top. Honestly it is over priced because it only provides a view of the palace and garden which is beautiful but should cost less. Don't go if you're afraid of heights.

Hofburg Palace is a MUST-visit in Vienna. Chances are, if you're going to visit a museum as a…read moretourist, at least one of them will likely be at Hofburg Palace or within its vicinity. The Sisi Museum was one that I visited, and all day long, the palace grounds are teeming with tourists. Even if you don't enter the palace, you can walk through the grounds, enjoy the garden, people watch, and enjoy watching the horse-drawn carriages. Baroque architecture heaven!

The Hofburg is a giant complex of museums, government buildings, the Austrian president's home, and…read moreso much more. Much of it is open to the public and the grounds are free to walk around on. Everything else is either closed to the public or requires an entrance fee. There is something for everyone here: the Sisi Museum, the national Library, the Spanish Riding school (home to the famous Lipizzaner horses), a Butterfly house.....you couldn't possibly see everything in a day! It's quite possibly THE most visited spot in all of Vienna, and you will more than likely find yourself here at some point during your visit. Good luck choosing what to see first! 68/2025

Last minute, we walked in and found the staff so friendly and welcoming. What an absolute treat,…read morethe service was spot on and the food was phenomenal. I had the goulash and my wife has a beef special. We sat outside in the courtyard which set up a perfect evening as we said goodbye to Vienna. I should have taken pictures but wanted to stay off my phone and enjoy the company of my beautiful wife and the final hours in Austria. If we ever come back, this will be our first stop.

Delicious food. Wonderful atmosphere. Delightful service. This restaurant was recommended by our…read morehotel and we enjoyed it so much that we will return.

The Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment building in Vienna built in the 80s by artist Friedensreich…read moreHundertwasser. It's a crazy design - windows of different sizes and shapes, uneven floors, no straight lines. We randomly saw his toilet block in New Zealand, and it had the same unmistakable style and columns! Other than just entering the shops around it and having a walk around the facade, you can't really interact with it. But worth seeing once. Go for a stroll past on a sunny day. There are shops/a market and a couple places to grab drinks/pastries opposite.

A very quirky/funky building full of color and greenery…read more Since this is an actual apartment building, you can't go in unless you live there, but it is definitely a tourist attraction! Go down the alley/walkway beside it and hit the equally funky shops. Don't forget to check out the bathroom! 53/2025

What have Austria and Mexico in common - a part of history…read more Here in the 13th district it is obvious by some monuments, code of arms and memorial tablets. Maximilian I was born in the castle of Schoenbrunn, Vienna, Austria as son of the Archduke Franz Karl and thus a member of the House of Habsburg. He was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire. He was backed up by Napoleon III of France and some Mexican aristocrats, but was captured and executed by the Republican Benito Juárez. Maximilian and his wife Carlota are known by Mexicans as Maximilian and Carlota and very much respected by most of them because of helping the poor people of Mexico very much. Maximilan was famous for his reforms, his refusal to desert his loyal followers and his personal brevery during the siege of Querétaro. Here in Hietzing, am Platz, just in front of one of the main entrances of the Castle of Schoenbrunn you can see his monument surrounded by a nice fresh green area and shadowed by a huge tree. There are also some benches to rest a bit. There is also a very nice newly renovated little catholic church. On the other side of the place on one of the old houses there is Maximilian's code of arms. The best place for a little rest after a long and tiresome visit to the Castle of Schoenbrunn!!!