Unveiling Vienna’s Soul: A Vibrant Pulse of Art, History, Music & Timeless Elegance

Belvedere Palace is a majestic complex with two museums, the Lower and Upper Belvedere. The latter is a Baroque palace with gilded salons showcasing Austria’s collection of 19th- and 20th-century art. This is where Gustav Klimt’s iconic painting, The Kiss, is on display. I marveled at how it gleamed from the focal point of the salon in which it’s on display.

Leopold Museum in the MuseumsQuartier is essential for lovers of Vienna’s modernist art. My favorite was the sweeping Vienna 1900 collection that spans three floors, including Egon Schiele’s raw portraits and Gustav Klimt’s lesser-known works. I could have spent the whole day here.

House of Music, a fun music museum for all ages, is a must-visit. Learn about Vienna’s musical greats, all about sound in the science center, and so much more. One of my best memories was “The Virtual Conductor” experience, where I received recorded pointers from Maestro Zubin Mehta on conducting, chose a piece of music, and “conducted” the Vienna Philharmonic as the musicians reacted on video to the movements of my interactive baton. It was so much fun!

Opera House tour: Peek behind the curtain of the Vienna State Opera on a guided tour through the theater, its grand foyers, and VIP box, and learn about its legendary history. We enjoyed an impassioned presentation from the tour guide. Be sure to purchase tickets ahead of time, as the tours sell out weeks in advance. I reserved mine about a month before my visit and availability was already extremely limited.

Hofburg Palace is a sprawling complex that blends political history with lavish design. You’ll have a deeper look at Habsburg life with the following landmarks:

• Imperial Apartments: Walk through the everyday opulence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi). I loved learning about their life together and Sisi’s mystique—from her elaborate beauty and workout regimens to her studies and travels. She truly was a woman ahead of her time.

• Imperial Treasury: This spectacular treasure trove contains over one thousand years of history, including crowns from the Holy Roman Empire, priceless gems, and jewels from the House of Habsburg. The amount of history is incredible—you can easily spend a couple of hours here.

• Austrian National Library: This Baroque monument built for Emperor Charles VI impresses with soaring frescoed ceilings, marble columns, and over 200,000 historical books. Pay attention to the books on display—some are dated as early as the 1500s.

Schönbrunn Palace was the Habsburgs’ lavish summer residence and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With 1,441 rooms (40 of which are open to visitors), the palace gives an intimate view into imperial life—from Maria Theresa’s gilded Rococo staterooms to Emperor Franz Joseph’s more modest study. History says that a 6-year-old Mozart performed for the Empress Maria Theresa in the Hall of Mirrors room. After his performance, legend has it that he jumped on her lap and kissed her. When you’re in that room, you can almost see it happening.

Outside, the stately gardens lead up to the Gloriette, a hilltop pavilion with panoramic views over Vienna. Don’t miss the Imperial Carriage Museum, which showcases the Habsburg’s ornate royal coaches through the centuries. The carriages are majestic and toward the end of the exhibit, there’s a cool display of antique and race cars.

St. Charles Church (Karlskirche) is a gorgeous Baroque church. Soak up its beauty as you explore the frescoes and stay for a classical music concert. I was last in Vienna during the holiday season and explored the beautiful Advent market set up in front—it’s filled with delicious food stands and local arts and crafts.

Mozarthaus is Mozart’s only preserved Viennese apartment. Here, you’ll learn about his childhood with his sister, his adult life, and his compositions through immersive, multimedia exhibits.

Vienna is home to the Wiener Schnitzel, cozy Viennese classics, and indulgent cakes. The city’s café culture is a vibe: slow, stylish, and made for lingering. And don’t skip the Würstelstände (sausage stands)! These streetside spots are perfect for a quick, delicious bite between museums and palaces.

Tip: Make reservations in advance at the popular cafés and restaurants to avoid waiting in long lines. Most accept them.

Figlmüller is home to legendary schnitzels that are larger than your plate. I spent one Thanksgiving in Vienna and ordered the chicken schnitzel with potato salad and lingonberry jam and asked the server to recommend a crisp white wine to pair it with. It was delicious—the perfect Thanksgiving feast!

Bitzinger Sausage Stand features a variety of tasty sausages, served with mustard. It’s a perfect quick bite and/or late-night snack. While the Käsekrainer, a sausage with melted cheese inside, is one of the most popular sausages, my favorite was the Seppreziner sausage, a flavorful bratwurst.

Café Sacher in the Hotel Sacher is home to the original (and delectable) Sacher-Torte. Luckily, I had reservations and bypassed the long line of people waiting in the rain. Cozily relaxing on the cafe’s plush velvet seating, I took one bite of the Sacher-Torte and closed my eyes, imprinting the sweet memory. Don’t miss the gift shop next door.

Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäckeris: Empress Sisi was a fan of the confectioner’s candied violets. To this day, it remains the official confectioner for the Vienna State Opera. Make a reservation for the café bar and enjoy its delicacies. I had a slice of the Sisi Torte and loved it so much that I took home a small cake, beautifully packaged in a wooden box.

At Demel, watch the pastry chefs work through the front display window. Browse the beautiful shop inside and shop a variety of sweets. If the line is too long for the cafe (Demel is one of the few that doesn’t take reservations), then order Kaiserschmarrn from the streetside stand to enjoy.

Café Imperial Wien’s gilded interiors, chandeliers, and piano music make this café a luxurious treat. Indulge in the Imperial Torte or Kaiserschmarrn. We indulged in both. When our order arrived, the couple next to us raised their eyebrows in delight and promptly ordered the same.

Imperial Bar at the Imperial Hotel evokes golden-age glamor with plush interiors, music, and signature cocktails. Book a table on one of the jazz evenings and make an evening of it—it’ll be a magical night.

Santos Wieden I ¡Siente México! is an authentic Mexican restaurant near Karlskirche with delicious and plentiful portions and cocktails. The host was kind enough to squeeze me in for a table on a crowded night, even though I didn’t have a reservation.

Elissar is a top Lebanese restaurant, specializing in flavorful and vibrant, tasty dishes. My favorites are the fattoush, muhammara, hummus, lentil soup, and shish taouk. Adding to the appeal is the beautiful decor.