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Augustinerkirche
The Augustinerkirche (Augustinian Church) is one of the older parts of the Hofburg, dating from the early 14th century. Although Gothic in style, the interior was converted to baroque in the 17th century, and then restored to its original appearance in 1784. It is here that the hearts of the Habsburgs rulers are kept in the Herzgrüftel (Little Heart Crypt); viewings are by appointment only. The church hosts regular classical music concerts.
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Burgkapelle
The Burgkapelle (Royal Chapel) dates from the 13th century and received a Gothic make-over from 1447 to 1449, but much of this disappeared during the baroque fad. The vaulted wooden statutory survived and is a testament to those Gothic days. This is where the Vienna Boys' Choir sings at Mass each Sunday at between September and June. Unfortunately, you can only visit the chapel with a tour guide or during choir performances.
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Cityrama
Cityrama offers tours lasting anything from an hour to a day, taking in not only Vienna (bus times are the same as on the Hop on Hop off Vienna Line) but attractions within a day's striking distance of the city, including Salzburg, Budapest and Prague. Some tours require an extra fee for admission into sights, such as training at the Spanish Riding School. All details are on the website.
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Ddsg Blue Danube
The DDSG Blue Danube circumnavigates Leopoldstadt and Brigittenau districts using the Danube Canal and the Danube as its thoroughfare. It's more of a relaxing break than a huge sightseeing tour. The half tour (two hours) ends at Reichsbrücke, the full tour (3.25 hours) back at Schwedenbrücke.
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Dominikanerkirche
Dominikanerkirche (Dominican Church) was built on the site of an earlier church and completed in 1634. The expansive interior is incredibly baroque, with white stucco, frescoes and even the imperial double-headed eagle on the ceiling. A visit to the Dominikanerkirche offers the chance to appreciate a sumptuous baroque church without the crowds. The Dominicans first came to Vienna in 1226 under the invitation of Leopold VI of Babenberg.
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Donau Schiffahrt Pyringer- Zopper
Pyringer-Zopper offers almost identical Danube circuits to DDSG Blue Danube and departs from either Schwedenplatz or Reichsbrücke.
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Donauturm
This is the tallest structure in Vienna. You can bungy-jump from it at heights of 150m, 170m and 160m. Two (expensive) revolving restaurants allow the more sedentary to enjoy a fine panorama; consider ascending (by lift) to watch the sunset behind the Wienerwald. The tower stands in the Donaupark.
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Franziskanerkirche
It's quite a surprise to walk through the front doors of this early 17th-century Franciscan church after eyeing up the plain Renaissance façade to find a baroque interior strewn with gold and marble and heavy, glittering chandeliers. The high altar is a particularly impressive piece in the form of a triumphal arch. The archaeological findings of a recent dig at the church can be viewed by appointment. Choir recitals are a regular feature here.
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Gardens
The beautiful French-style formal gardens of the palace, opened to the public by Joseph II in 1779, hide a number of attractions in their tree-lined avenues: fake Roman ruins in 1778, the Neptunbrunnen (Neptune Fountain), a riotous ensemble from Greek mythology, in 1781, and the crowning Gloriette, which offers a breathtaking view. There's also a 630m-long hedge Maze and a playground.
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Greek Orthodox Church
For some, the beauty of the Greek Orthodox Church on Fleischmarkt outshines many of its baroque counterparts. Built in 1861 by Vienna's Greek community, its interior is a glittering blaze of Byzantine design that has left no wall space untouched. The ceiling fresco depicting the prophets surrounded by swirls of gold is topped by a high alter of 13 panels and a doorway to the inner sanctum, each of which features elaborate gilding.
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Hermesvilla
The Hermesvilla was commissioned by Franz Josef I and presented to his wife in an attempt to repair their failing marriage. Built by Karl von Hasenauer between 1882 and 1886, with Klimt and Makart on board as interior decorators, the villa is suitably plush and has all the hallmarks of a mansion. Empress Elisabeth's bedroom is particularly over the top, with the walls and ceiling covered in motifs of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream .
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Hofpavillon Hietzing
Built between 1898 and 1899 by Otto Wagner as part of the public transport system, the Hofpavillon Hietzing was originally designed as a private station for the imperial court. The elaborate wood-panelled interior is suitably regal and was designed by Wagner in conjunction with Josef Olbrich. Its white façade with wrought ironwork is easily spotted just east of the U4 Hietzing stop. It is currently closed for renovation until further notice.
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Hop On Hop Off Vienna Line
Like Cityrama, Vienna Line buses stop at 14 sights in Vienna. Tickets range from one hour to all day, and you can hop on and off the buses as many times as you wish.
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Hundertwasser Haus
This residential block of flats was designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Vienna's radical architect and lover of uneven surfaces. It is now one of Vienna's most prestigious addresses despite only offering rented accommodation and being city-owned. It's not possible to see inside, but you can visit the overpriced cafes and shops of Kalke Village, also the handiwork of Hundertwasser, created from an old Michelin factory.
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Kaiserappartements
The Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments) were once the official living quarters of Franz Josef I and Empress Elisabeth (or Sisi as she was affectionately named). The rooms are as opulent as you might expect, with fine furniture, hanging tapestries and bulbous crystal chandeliers.
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Karlskirche
At the southeast corner of Resselpark is Karlskirche (Church of St Charles Borromeo), the finest baroque church in Vienna. This imposing creation was built between 1716 and 1739, after a vow by Karl VI at the end of the 1713 plague. It was designed and commenced by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and completed by his son Joseph. Although predominantly baroque, it combines several architectural styles.
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Kirche am Steinhof
This distinctive Art Nouveau creation was the work of Otto Wagner from 1904 to 1907; Kolo Moser chipped in with the mosaic windows. The copper-covered dome earned the nickname Limoniberg (lemon mountain) for its original golden colour. The design illustrates the victory of function over ornamentation prevalent in much of Wagner's work. The church is currently closed for renovation - phone ahead to check opening times.
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Kirche Zur Heiligsten Dreifaltigkeit
The stack of concrete blocks forming the Kirche zur Heiligsten Dreifaltigkeit (Holy Trinity Church) is an unusual work of art. An industrial piece with little warmth, some will find it exceptionally ugly while others will see it as a triumph of contemporary over conformity; however, there's no doubting its powerful presence. It's more commonly known as 'Wotrubakirche' after its architect Fritz Wotruba, who completed it in 1976.
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Minoritenkirche
The Minoritenkirche (Minorite Church) is a 14th-century church that, like many in Austria, later received a baroque face-lift. If you think the tower looks a little short, you're right on the button: the top was 'shortened' by the Turks in 1529. The most noteworthy piece inside is a mosaic copy of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper , commissioned by Napoleon.
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Nationalbibliothek
The Nationalbibliothek (National Library), once the imperial library, is now the largest library in Vienna. The main attraction is the Prunksaal (Grand Hall). Commissioned by Charles VI, this baroque hall was the brainchild of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, who died the year the first brick was laid, and finished by his son Joseph in 1735. It holds some 200,000 volumes - its sheer size is breathtaking. Leather-bound tomes line the walls.
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Palmenhaus
If you think you're experiencing déjà vu on sighting the Palmenhaus (Palm House), you are: it was built in 1882 by Franz Segenschmid as a replica of the one in London's Kew Gardens. The glorious glass-and-iron construction still houses palms and hothouse plants and is particularly photogenic after a heavy fall of snow. The inside is a veritable jungle of tropical plants from around the world.
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Parliament
With its recent renovation complete, the squat Parliament building opposite the Volksgarten once again strikes a governing pose over the Ringstrasse. Its neoclassical façade and Greek pillars, designed by Theophil Hansen in 1883, are quite striking, but the beautiful Athena Fountain, sculpted by Karl Kundmann, that guards the building steals the show with its gold-tipped spear and regal helm.
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Peterskirche
Peterskirche (St Peter's Church; 1733), on Petersplatz, is one of the finest baroque churches in Vienna, outshone only by Karlskirche. It is said that Charlemagne founded the first church that stood on this site, an event depicted in the exterior relief on the southeast side. The majority of the church was completed by the celebrated baroque architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, and the dome's fresco was painted by JM Rottmayr.
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Piaristenkirche
The Piaristenkirche (Church of the Piarist Order), or Maria Treu Church, is notable for two interior pieces: the ceiling frescoes and the organ. The stunning frescoes, completed by Franz Anton Maulbertsch in 1753, depict various biblical stories, while the organ holds the distinction of being used by Anton Bruckner for his entry examination into the Music Academy. At the end of his exam one judge was heard to say 'he should be examining us!'
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Postsparkasse
Otto Wagner oversaw construction of the celebrated Post Office Savings Bank building between 1904 and 1906, and 1910 and 1912. The design and choice of materials were both innovative for the time; compare its appearance with that of the austere and powerful former Kriegsministerium on the Ring opposite, built around the same period. The inside is filled with sci-fi alumninum heating ducts and 17,000 metal nails hold together its marble facade.
