"What to see in Vienna, Austria?" Topic

I have a few days in Vienna, Austria. Anything to see from a military history point of view? Grateful for any advice!

The military history museum is superb. A must not miss.

Second that.

As the folks above mentioned, the HGM is a fantastic musuem: hgm.at

Also put the KHM on the list if you like medieval and renaissance armor link

Great! Many thanks!

I have found that while museums are interesting, of course, be sure to enjoy the scenery along the way. Just walk around a bit and gaze at the architecture and the countryside.

Rustymusket, thanks!

The cathedral is impressive and the catacombs tour should inspire some nightmares!

If you are a fan of the film The third man then head out to Prater park – or take the sewer tour!

Cathedral and Prater Park added, thanks 20thmaine!

Another vote for the military museum – off the beaten track but amazing

The Schönbrunn Palace is also worth a visit! To my mind equally a rival to Versailles

I agree that the HGM is a great museum, but be aware that the armour hall is only open on the first Sunday of the month (I just checked- it used to be weekends but changed last year). There's a reasonable selection of books in the cafe (or there were when I was there) as well.

I also recommend the Spanish Riding School ( srs.at/en ), the archaeological museum in the Hofburg and, as rustymusket says, time just to wander around and admire some of the old buildings. Or you can splash out and do a tour in a horse-drawn coach or an early car replica.

Lastly, there's a few used book shops in Vienna ("antiquariat") and they are worth a browse.

I agree about the military museum and the Schonbrunn is a must. Simply a great city to wander about.

Thanks all!

There is also a flak tower or two to look at.
link

Here's a taste, Travellera. The top two are from the HGM, the next is the front of the Schonbrunn and the last is Belvedere- the palace Eugene of Savoy built as a town house. That's within walking distance of the HGM.

This cut-away scale model of a WWI ship in in the WWI section. It's an amazing bit of work.

As you walk around town be sure and try the pastry cafes. I remember how excited my Napoleonic history prof got when she talked about the pastries she enjoyed between rounds of research in Vienna.

Wow! Many thanks!

One of the flak towers has a torture museum if you like such stuff.

Not a wargamey thing per se, but see if you can get to the Cafe Landtmann, which is one of the more famous Vienna coffee houses. In around 1910 Lenin, Hitler, Trotsky, Sigmund Freud and the future Marshal Tito all lived within about 500m of it, and all are known to have been regulars. So you could conceivably have gone there for a coffee and, all on the same visit, passed Tito coming out as you were going in; queued behind Lenin for a coffee; tried to bum a light for your cigarette off Trotsky; asked Hitler if you could share his table, to be told no he needed all the space; and been invited to share Freud's table instead, who'd have lit you up from his chain-smoked stogie, and then asked you about your childhood. How crazy would that have been?

It hasn't changed a lot since 1910:

Food wise the Hotel Sacher has a shop selling the original Sacher Torte. The Black Camel always had a great reputation, but there is no really fine or really crummy dining in Austria so you tend to get much the same menu everywhere.

Thanks!

Just came back from the trip. Vienna is a great city and the HGM is awesome!

It is a great city, mate, and I'm glad you enjoyed the trip.