Encircling Vienna’s historic inner city is the magnificent Ringstrasse – a 5.3 km ring boulevard lined with grand architectural masterpieces from the 19th century. A stroll or ride along the Ringstrasse allows you to take in some of Vienna’s most famous buildings:
Imperial Museums The Ringstrasse is home to two of Vienna’s top museums – the Kunsthistorisches Museum housing priceless European art, and the Natural History Museum with its huge collection of specimens and exhibits. Both are housed in opulent, sumptuously decorated buildings.
Hofburg Palace Complex Parts of the sprawling imperial Hofburg Palace line the Ringstrasse, including St. Michael’s Church, the Imperial Library, and the famed Spanish Riding School where the Lipizzaner stallions perform dressage.
Parliament Building This Greek Revival building features a columned front and interior courtyard lined with statues and fountains. It’s an impressive home for Austria’s parliament.
City Hall (Rathaus) Vienna’s monumental Neo-Gothic city hall features an 98-meter tall tower and impressive decorative stonework. In warmer months, the adjacent park hosts food and beer gardens.
State Opera House One of the premier opera houses globally, the Renaissance Revival Vienna State Opera House features marble staircases, chandeliers, and lavish decor inside its performance hall.
Burgtheater This grand Renaissance Revival theater hosts plays and German-language theatrical performances year-round.
As you stroll the tree-lined Ringstrasse, you’ll also pass parks, monuments, residential buildings, and palaces like the imposing Neue Burg. The Ringstrasse was laid out in the mid-1800s when the city walls were demolished, and it offers an unparalleled architectural showcase.