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Pathologisch-Anatomische Bundesmuseum
Housed in the round Narrenturm (Fool's Tower), which served as an insane asylum from 1784 to 1866, the Pathologisch-anatomische Bundesmuseum (Pathological Anatomy Museum) is not for the faint of heart. Filled with medical oddities and abnormalities preserved in jars of formaldehyde plus the odd wax model with one grisly disease or another, a visit to the museum can be a disturbing or fascinating experience depending on your view.
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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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Planetarium
The Planetarium, Vienna's extraterrestrial and interstellar viewfinder, is located on the edge of the Wurstelprater behind the Riesenrad. Shows, normally at , , and or , change on a regular basis, but normally focus on our closest neighbours or star constellations and how Earth fits in. Be aware that all shows are in German only.
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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.
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Pratermuseum
Sharing the same building as the Planetarium is this municipal museum tracing the history of the Wurstelprater and its woodland neighbour, the Grüner Prater. For all the life and splendour the Prater has seen, unfortunately its museum has only a rather dull mix of photos and stories mainly from the 19th century. The antique slot machines, some of which are still functioning, are the museum's saving grace.
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Puppen & Spielzeug Museum
The Doll and Toy Museum, next door to the Uhren Museum, may sound like it's something for the kids but in reality it's not. The collection is quite intriguing, with dolls from around the world, but there's no hands-on fun with the toys. Look for the Kasperl booth - the equivalent of Punch and Judy, a favourite with Viennese of all ages.
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Rapid Vienna Gerhard- Hanappi-Stadion
Hanappi stadium is the home ground for SK Rapid, Vienna's team of the working class. Of the city's two national league teams, Rapid has been the more successful internationally, fighting their way through to the European Cup finals on two occasions.
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Rathaus
For sheer grandness, the neogothic Rathaus (City Hall)steals the Ringstrasse show. Completed in 1883 by Friedrich von Schmidt, it was modelled on Flemish city halls. Its main spire soars to 102m if you include the pennant held by the knight at the top. You're free to wander through the seven inner courtyards but must join a guided tour to see the interior, with its red carpets, gigantic mirrors, and frescoes.
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Riesenrad
Dominating the Prater is the Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel), one of Vienna's eternal symbols. Built in 1897 by Englishman Walter B Basset, the 65m-high wheel takes about 20 minutes to rotate its 430-tonne weight full-circle, ample time to snap some fantastic shots of the city. It survived bombing in 1945 and recently received a make-over including dramatic lighting and a café at its base.
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Roman Ruins
Hiding under a nondescript Asian restaurant on Hoher Markt is a small expanse of Roman ruins dating from the 1st to the 5th century. The ruins are thought to be part of the officers' quarters of the Roman legion camp at Vindobona and consist of crumbled walls and tiled floors. There's a small exhibit on artefacts found during the excavations. The ruins are part of the municipal museum group of Vienna.
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Sammlung Essl
This fine gallery is the brainchild of Agnes and Karlheinz Essl, who built it in order to exhibit their collection of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Expect to see a plethora of big names: Gerhard Richter, Hermann Nitsch, Georg Baselitz and Elke Krystufek are but a few. The construction itself is the work of Austrian architect Heinz Tesar and incorporates clean white lines, an abundance of natural light and plenty of open space.
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Schatzkammer
The Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury) is among the best of its kind in Europe. Containing secular and ecclesiastical treasures of priceless value and splendour, the sheer wealth exhibited in the collection of crown jewels is staggering: Room 7 alone has a 2860-carat Colombian emerald, a 416-carat balas ruby and a 492-carat aquamarine, probably enough to wipe the debt of a third-world country.
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Schmetterlinghaus
Sharing the Habsburg's personal Jugendstil glasshouse (1901) with the Palmenhaus, the Schmetterlinghaus (butterfly house) is for the butterfly-mad only. There are hundreds of butterflies and the shop stocks a great range of butterfly paraphernalia, but the air is hot and unbearably humid, the species range fairly limited and it's quite a small display area. It's located in the Burggarten, directly behind the Neue Burg.
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Schottenkirche
Freyung isn't particularly Scottish these days, but it was when Benedictine monks founded Schottenkirche (Church of the Scots) in the 1300s (though the monks were likely from Ireland, then known as Scotia Maior); the present façade dates from the 19th century. The interior has a heavily frescoed ceiling and terracotta-red touches. Outside of services the main nave is locked to visitors but it's possible to peek through the gates.
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Schubert Commemorative Rooms
Franz Schubert spent his dying days, from 1 September to 10 November 1828 in this, his brother's apartment. Even on his death bed (he either died of typhoid fever from drinking infected water, or syphilis) he still managed to compose a string of piano sonatas and his last work, Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (The Shepherd on the Rock). The apartment has few personal effects but somewhat documents his final days as well as his funeral.
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Schubert Geburtshaus
The house where Franz Schubert was born in 1797 was known at that time as Zum roten Krebsen (The Red Crab), but Schubert probably didn't remember much of it as he and his family moved on when he was five. Like many of the city's municipal museums devoted to Vienna's musical sons, there's not a lot to see, but at least you can hear some music and catch the occasional concert.
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Secession
In 1897, 19 progressive artists broke away from the Künstlerhaus and the conservative artistic establishment it represented and formed the Vienna Secession. They sought to present current trends in contemporary art and leave behind the historicism then in vogue in Vienna. Among them were Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffman, Kolo Moser and Joseph M Olbrich (a former student of Otto Wagner). Olbrich designed the new exhibition centre of the Secessionists.
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Sigmund Freud Museum
The apartment where Sigmund Freud lived and worked from 1891 until his forced departure from Vienna with the arrival of the Nazis in 1938 is now a museum devoted to the father of psychoanalysis. A number of his possessions are on display, and his obsessions - travelling, smoking and antique collecting - are well represented by Egyptian and Buddhist statues. Only a handful of his many portraits capture him without his trademark half-smoked cigar.
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Spanish Riding School
The world famous Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule) is a Viennese institution truly reminiscent of the imperial Habsburg era. This unequalled equestrian show is performed by Lipizzaner stallions, a crossbreeding of Spanish, Arab and Berber horses. The horses were first imported from Spain (hence 'Spanish') by Maximilian II in 1562, and in 1580 a stud was established at Lipizza (hence 'Lipizzaner'), now in Slovenia.
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St Marxer Friedhof
Also known as the Biedermeier cemetery, after the period when all 6000 graves were laid out, St Marxer Friedhof (Cemetery of St Mark) is a pilgrimage site for Mozart aficionados. In December 1791 Mozart was buried in an unmarked grave with none of his family present. A poignant memorial (Mozartgrab) made from a broken pillar and a discarded stone angel was erected in the area where he was most likely buried.
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Staatsopermuseum
This shrine to one of Vienna's greatest icons covers the last 50 years of the Staatsoper. Photos on the museum's façade show the damage the building suffered during the war, and its painstaking 10-year restoration. Inside, the museum runs through five decades of highlights such as Karajan's eight-year reign as director and the performance of Lulu . Photos and articles abound but unfortunately it's all quite static and will only impress opera fans.
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Stadtbahn Pavillons
Built in 1898 during the creation of Vienna's first public transport system (1893 to 1902), of which Wagner was the overall designer, the pavilions are gorgeous examples of Jugendstil , with floral motifs and gold trim on a structure of steel and marble. The west pavilion holds an exhibit on Wagner's most famous creations, the Kirche am Steinhof and Postsparkasse, while the eastern pavilion is home to Club U. The pavilion is a municipal museum.
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Stadttempel
By the end of WWII Stadttempel was the only synagogue spared from destruction by the Nazis. Since then it has been the main place of worship for Vienna's ever-expanding Jewish community. Built in 1824 by Josef Kornhäusel, the bland façade gives no hint of the exquisite Biedermeier interior. Entrance is by hour-long guided tour only; bring your passport as proof of identification.
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Stephansdom
The most beloved and recognisable structure in Vienna is the Gothic masterpiece Stephansdom (St Stephen's Cathedral), or Steffl (little Stephen), as it's known locally. It is the geographical and emotional heart of the city and an unmissable sight.
