An imperial weekend in Vienna

Although beautiful Vienna is officially no longer an "imperial city", its imperial image has been preserved over the last 100 years. Especially thanks to the magnificent buildings of Emperor Franz Joseph I along the Vienna Ring, as well as the many palaces and castles, Vienna’s city centre is a true architectural gem. When I moved back to Vienna many years ago, it was my biggest wish to live in the downtown area so that I could benefit daily from this beauty. In addition there are the many imperial parks which are so inviting for a walk.

Now, especially in recent years, the city has become a very cosmopolitan, modern and international metropolis which has so much more to offer than the famous "Sisi-Image". In addition to well-known museums and their numerous imperial collections, there is the new Weltmuseum and nowadays people do not just shop for Vienna products "made in Vienna" at the former suppliers of the imperial court, but also in newly created, small manufactories, where Viennese craftsmanship has again become significant in the production of souvenirs and gifts.

Culinary pleasure should not be neglected, because what would visiting Vienna be without an imperial breakfast or a “Kaiserschmarren” (the Emperor’s favourite pancake dish)? Contemporary culture tips, royal shopping and culinary insider tips are just as important in modern times for a successful stay in Vienna as the weather on sunny days, “imperial weather” as it is affectionately referred to by the Viennese. So come for an imperial weekend including a mixture of tradition, Sisi image and modernity!

The Hofburg, or more precisely the former imperial apartments, are now home to the Sisi Museum. Numerous exhibits from her life - from her first milk tooth to the file with which she was killed - are displayed there. Also in the Hofburg area is the Augustinian Church, where Sisi married Emperor Franz Joseph on April 24, 1854. Just around the corner, in the Volksgarten, Sisi is present in a quiet but all the more beautiful corner in the form of a monument. The former imperial rose garden scores every year with a splendor of blossoms of 400 different rose varieties.

Vienna and art

When thinking about art and culture in Vienna, the most popular tourist attraction, Schönbrunn Palace, inevitably springs to mind, as do the Vienna Hofburg, the last imperial seat and today home to the Sisi Museum, and the beautiful museums on the Ring. The Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Museum of Natural History today still show comprehensive collections brought together by the Habsburgs. Therefore I have also put together some other tips for a museum visit for you!