Top 7 Things to do in Vienna

As soon as the sweater weather was gone, this place within the University of Vienna became one of my favorite spots in the warm May afternoons. Green and cozy, equipped with comfy deckchairs, the main university’s inner courtyard is always swarming with students, who either take a break in the sun between lectures, or are not in the mood to study indoors and choose to take their assignments outside.

Easy to reach by bus, this 484 meter-high hill is a good place from which to view the city from above. Kahlenberg Hill lies in the Vienna Woods and is a popular destination for day trips for anyone who wants to get away from the city center.

The Central Cemetery, or Zentralfriedhof, is another essential item on any itinerary of things to do in Vienna. If cemeteries usually give you the creeps, let me tell you that there is much more to this one. The number of interred is almost twice that of the current living population of Vienna, making it Europe’s biggest graveyard. It is almost like a city in itself, and there is even a bus service provided. Many graves are real architectural masterpieces and Zentralfriedhof also offers the chance to visit the graves of famous composers such as Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Strauss the Son and Salieri.

Tip: Don’t miss the Jewish part of the Zentralfriedhof. Although eerie, it’s one of those places that definitely makes a lasting impression on you.

If you like quirky and alternative architecture, then the Hundertwasser House is the place for you! This jazzy apartment house is definitely one of Vienna’s outstanding buildings due to its unique look. Based on the vision Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and executed along with architect Joseph Krawina, this expressionist creation really steps out of the line of the usual Baroque/ Jugendstil constructions.

The Vienna International Centre, home to the UN headquarters in Vienna, provides a good perspective on the more modern side of the city, definitely worth a visit after spending some time in the picturesque old-style center. Located on the bank of the Danube, this complex of newfangled buildings is the workplace of more than 5,000 employees working for various international organizations. The center is undoubtedly a major change of landscape for the average tourist, providing a fitting reminder that Vienna is not just a city of the past.

Of course, I could have gone on for several more thousand words, but let’s say that these are the cream of the crop from my point of view. Feel free to add your own favorite things to do in Vienna by leaving a comment below.