-
Stift Klosterneuburg
This large Augustinian abbey dominates the small town of Klosterneuburg. Founded in 1114, the abbey's baroque face-lift didn't begin until 1730 and wasn't completed until 1842. The plans actually called for something far grander but fortunately these were not realised, leaving large sections in their original medieval style. The abbey's museum is an eclectic mix of religious art from the Middle Ages to the present day.
-
Strandbad Gänsehäufel
Gänsehäufel occupies half an island in the Alte Donau. It does get crowded in summer, but there's normally enough space to escape the mob. There's a swimming pool and FKK (nude) area.
-
Strassenbahnmuseum
With around 80 trams, the Strassenbahnmuseum is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Avid train- and tram-spotters will love it; the extensive collection ranges from an 1871 horse-drawn trolley to the latest Porsche-designed tram seen on Vienna's streets today, and a couple of buses are thrown in for good measure. Many of the shiny examples can be explored from the inside.
-
Technisches Museum
The Technisches Museum (Technical Museum) has been around since 1918, but thankfully has enjoyed a well-deserved overhaul in the past few years. Covering four floors, it's a shrine to man's advances in the fields of science and technology. There are loads of hands-on displays and heavy industrial equipment, but even with all the modernizing the exhibits recently received, they still look and feel outdated.
-
Theatermuseum
The baroque Lobkowitz palace, which houses the Theatermuseum (Theatre Museum), is as much a delight to visit as the museum itself. Built between 1691 and 1694, it was the first of its kind in Vienna, and gained its name from the noble family who occupied its esteemed halls from 1753 onwards. The Eroicasaal, with its frescoed ceiling, is a sight to behold, and Beethoven conducted the first performance of his Third Symphony in the banquet hall.
-
Tiergarten
Founded in 1752 as a menagerie by Franz Stephan, Schönbrunn Tiergarten (Zoo) is the oldest zoo in the world. It houses some 750 animals of all shapes and sizes; the most recent arrivals to excite crowds were giant pandas in 2003 although lemurs, armadillos and baby Serbian tigers spurred plenty of interest in 2006. Thankfully most of the original cramped cages have been updated and improved, but the odd one still remains.
-
Uhren Museum
Loudly ticking away behind the Kirche Am Hof is the municipal Uhren Museum (Clock Museum). Opened in 1921 in the Harfenhaus, one of Vienna's oldest buildings, its three floors contain an astounding 21,200 clocks and watches from the 15th century up to a 1992 computer clock. The collection Biedermeier and belle époque models are a highlight. The silence is shattered at the striking of the hour, so those with sensitive ears should avoid these times.
-
Uno City
The UNO City, or Vienna International Centre as it is officially known, is home to a plethora of international organisations but mainly houses the UN's third-largest office. Guided tours take you through conference rooms and exhibitions on UN activities and add insight into the inner-workings. The City probably looked the picture of modernism way back in 1979 when it was built, but now looks quite out of date. You'll need your passport.
-
Wagenburg
The Wagenburg (Imperial Coach Collection) is Pimp My Ride imperial style. On display is a vast array of carriages, but nothing can compete with Emperor Franz Stephan's coronation carriage, with its ornate gold plating, Venetian glass panes and painted cherubs. The whole thing weighs an astonishing 4000kg. Also look for the dainty child's carriage built for Napoleon's son, with eagle-wing-shaped mudguards and bee motifs.
-
Wien Museum
The Wien Museum provides a snapshot of everything on offer in the city. It also gives a detailed rundown on the development of Vienna from prehistory to the present day and does a pretty good job of putting the city and its personalities in context, without needing words.
-
Advertisement
-
Wiener Kriminalmuseum
Adding to the Viennese obsession with death is the Wiener Kriminalmuseum (Vienna Crime Museum). It takes a prurient, tabloid-style look at crimes and criminals in Austria and dwells on murders in the last 100 years or so with particularly grisly relish though there are skulls of earlier criminals, and even an 18th-century head pickled in a jar. Displays include death masks of convicted murderers and the weapons they supposedly used.
-
Wüstenhaus
The small Wüstenhaus (Desert House) near the Palmenhaus makes good use of the once disused Sonnenuhrhaus (Sundial House) to re-create arid desert scenes. There are four sections - Northern Africa and the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Madagascar - with rare cacti and desert animals, such as the naked mole from East Africa, on display.
-
Zentralfriedhof
Opened in 1874, the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) has grown into one of Europe's biggest cemeteries - larger than the Innere Stadt and, with 2.5 million graves, far exceeding the population of Vienna itself. It has the majority of tombs of Vienna's greats, including Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Schönberg and the whole Strauss clan. There's even a monument to Mozart, although he was buried in an unmarked mass grave in the St Marxer Friedhof.
-
Zoom
Zoom is basically an arts and crafts session with a lot of playing thrown in. Children are guided through themed programs and get the chance to make, break, draw, explore - basically to be creative. Topics range from animation to zoology and change throughout the year. Programs begin every 1.5-2 hours from to ; there are normally four programs a day Mon-Fri and five on both Sat and Sun. Advance bookings recommended.
