It’s not unusual to go for a walk around the city and suddenly find yourself somewhere else entirely. Not because you’ve lost your way, but because architectural facsimiles of Venetian palaces, Russian cathedrals and even a Middle Eastern factory blend into the cityscape so seamlessly. Just like the imperial buildings that date back to the days of the monarchy. In Vienna, it only takes a few minutes to travel from Italy to Russia, from Africa to the Antarctic, or from the Netherlands to Egypt.

Bella Italia

Italy has been setting the architectural tone in Vienna’s second district since 1895, when a very special amusement park, called Venice in Vienna, opened its doors. Gondolas glided past Venetian palaces along man-made canals, while champagne pavilions and restaurants set the stage for the diversions on offer.
Today, there is still a touch of Venice in the air at Praterstrasse 70 – where Vienna’s answer to the Ca’ d’Oro palace on the Grand Canal awaits.

Greek, Doric, Picturesque

In the middle of the Volksgarten, right next to the formal rose gardens where 400 different varieties of roses flower each summer, is the dazzling white Theseus Temple. A replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, it features 28 Doric columns. From spring to summer, the flowering rose bushes with the white temple in the background create a chocolate box motif. Slightly tucked away at the back of the garden, there is a marble statue of Empress Elisabeth. An oasis of calm and quiet.

It’s no secret that Sisi loved Greece. So what could be more fitting than the statue in front of her palace in the Lainz Game Reserve depicting Hermes, protector of travelers and patron of gymnastic games – two of the Empress’ biggest passions in life. The Hermesvilla (the palace in question) is also named for him.

Show all pictures

1 /of 4

4 pictures

Greek, Doric, Picturesque

In the middle of the Volksgarten, right next to the formal rose gardens where 400 different varieties of roses flower each summer, is the dazzling white Theseus Temple. A replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, it features 28 Doric columns. From spring to summer, the flowering rose bushes with the white temple in the background create a chocolate box motif. Slightly tucked away at the back of the garden, there is a marble statue of Empress Elisabeth. An oasis of calm and quiet.

It’s no secret that Sisi loved Greece. So what could be more fitting than the statue in front of her palace in the Lainz Game Reserve depicting Hermes, protector of travelers and patron of gymnastic games – two of the Empress’ biggest passions in life. The Hermesvilla (the palace in question) is also named for him.

Show all pictures

1 /of 3

3 pictures

From Africa to Arcadia

A trip to see the six African elephants at Schönbrunn Zoo feels like a safari through the savanna. Lions, leopards, giraffes, and zebras are also on the itinerary. With penguins right next to the elephants, it takes a maximum of two minutes to travel from Africa to the Antarctic. The world’s oldest zoo, Schönbrunn is home to 700 different species from every continent.

Exotic landscape murals will spirit visitors to Schönbrunn Palace off to distant climes: the Bergl Rooms on the ground floor were designed in strict accordance with Empress Maria Theresa’s wishes. The tromp l’oeil painting was designed to make the room blend into the palace grounds. The dreamland depicted in the space has echoes of Arcadia, a mythical idyll synonymous with peace.

A Taste of the Exotic

Between Thaliastrasse and Ottakringer Strasse, the Brunnenmarkt exudes Mediterranean charm. With more than 170 stands, it is the largest street market in Vienna. Delicacies including fresh fish, pristine fruits and vegetables, and countless other treats from different countries are impossible to resist. Discover Vienna's other markets too.

Show all pictures

1 /of 4

4 pictures

Strolling in France

The ninth district is home to Little Paris: here, the Servitenviertel immerses visitors in Parisian charm. The only things that’s missing is the Eiffel Tower. “Mon dieu!” was probably what the Viennese thought to themselves when the French embassy was completed in 1912. Its architectural style is hard to pin down. To this day, you still hear people saying the same thing as you cross Schwarzenbergplatz: whether the plans were accidentally switched with those for Istanbul or Madrid is unconfirmed, but somehow the rumor refuses to go away. In the eyes of the locals, the style still seems much more Spanish than French.

Middle Eastern Masterpiece

In Nusswaldgasse, two small minarets add a touch of oriental charm to the skyline. The former Zacherl factory feels like something out of One Thousand and One Nights. It used to make “Persian powder” insecticide, which sold like hot cakes in 19th century Vienna. Today, the Zacherl building serves as an outstanding example of the Moorish Revival style and is a unique example of Austrian industrial architecture.

Gateway to Another World

Museums provide an insight into different times, and open up the door to new worlds – something the Netherlandish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder elevated to a different level in his art. Critical of society and exceptionally intricate, his works are known all over the world. There are two versions of his masterpiece the Tower of Babel, one of which is on permanent display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. As are sarcophaguses from the land of the Nile. All it takes to make a trip from the Netherlands to Egypt is leaving the first floor for the raised ground floor.

Text: Karoline Gasienica-Bryjak