Austria attractions

The Belvedere Palace is in fact two palaces: the Upper and Lower, both of which were built by Prince Eugene of Savoy. These Habsburg palaces are the centerpieces of gorgeously landscaped gardens, with tiered fountains and statues nestled in the greenery. Both palaces are filled with priceless art in the permanent collections (including Gustav Klimt's The Kiss), as well as changing exhibitions.

Located on the grounds of the imperial summer palace, Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Vienna Zoo) is the oldest zoo in the world - and yet still frequently voted one of the world's best. The zoo was founded as an imperial menagerie in 1752, by the then Holy Roman Emperor, Francis I. It was opened to the public in 1779. The Tiergarten has an amazing array of animals (more than 700 species in all).

The world-famous Spanish Riding School is the training ground for riders and their Lipizzan horses - Europe's oldest breed of horse. It's located between Michaelerplatz and Josefsplatz inside the Hofburg, in central Vienna. The 'Spanish' in the title refers to the Spanish heritage of the horses. This beautiful building has been an equestrian training center for more than 450 years. Guests can enter and watch these amazing horses learn the ropes and reins, in preparation for their performances in the Winter Riding School (Winterreitschule) in the Hofburg.

Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM) features an extensive art collection that belonged to the once-mighty Habsburg family. It houses pieces by Caravaggio and Titian - and many other Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. Viennese classical composers once made groundbreaking music with some of the instruments in the Historical Musical Instruments section. There are also impressive collections of coins, arms and armor, as well as Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek, and Roman antiquities.

The Wiener Riesenrad, or Riesenrad, or Vienna's Giant Wheel as it's often called, is a tall Ferris wheel at the entrance to Prater amusement park in Leopoldstadt, Vienna. It is one of Vienna's most popular tourist attractions, and not to be missed for the views it offers over the city.

With around 65,000 drawings and more than a million old master prints, the Albertina is a mightily impressive collection of art. Located in the largest Habsburg residential palace, the collection also includes more modern works - including two significant collections of Impressionist and early 20th-century art, and temporary exhibitions. Also on display are 21 exquisite Habsburg state rooms, spread over two floors of the palace.

Initially envisioned as a hunting lodge for the Habsburgs, Emperor Leopold I commissioned the construction of Schönbrunn Palace at the end of the 17th century. In the middle of the 18th century, it was converted into a residence for Maria Theresa, the only female Habsburg ruler. Since then, it has played host to the leading statespeople of Europe. 44 of its 1,441 rooms are on display to the public, and it's the most visited attraction in Vienna. Its gardens have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and have been open to the Viennese public since 1779.

The strange cuboid building in Vienna's fashionable Museumsquartier contains the most-visited museum in the city. The Leopold Museum has a remarkable collection of Viennese Art Nouveau, the Vienna Workshop, and of the Expressionist period. It also has the largest Egon Schiele collection in the world - plus masterpieces by Gustav Klimt. There are also revolving exhibitions and a great shop and cafe (with a great view overlooking the Museumsquartier).

Dom Museum Wien is a museum in the heart of Vienna, Austria. It houses some of the world's most important collections of antique artifacts, ranging from the Gothic period to the Art Deco movement. The collections include sculptures, precious altars, sacred objects adorned with gold and jewels, portraits, liturgical manuscripts, and books. It is also home to the Otto Mauer Collection, a vast contemporary and Avant-Garde art collection.

Swarovski Crystal Worlds is a space for art, architecture, and a special Swarovski shop for crystal fans everywhere. It's a sparkly family attraction created by André Heller for the crystal glass manufacturer Swarovski, and is located close to Innsbruck, Austria.

Schloss Ambras, in Innsbruck, Austria, is the oldest museum in the world. It's the perfect place to explore 16th-century imperial happenings and historic collections of art and armor.

Innsbruck's Alpenzoo is an alpine-themed zoo located 750 meters above the ground in Innsbruck. This unique zoo covers 4 hectares, and contains around 2,000 animals from around 150 different species. The zoo can be easily reached through the Hungerburgbahn, taking only a few minutes from Congress station to Alpenzoo station.

Flanked by glorious mountain scenery in the alpine city of Innsbruck, the Tyrolean Evening Show in the Alpensaal offers an authentic glimpse into local Tyrolean culture.