Rathaus (City Hall), Vienna

Rathaus (City Hall), Vienna (must see)

Vienna City Hall鈥攁 place where both the municipal government and the legislative assembly get down to business. By no means a dull office block, this neo-Gothic showstopper was built between 1872 and 1883 by architect Friedrich von Schmidt, who, rather humbly, now stands in a statue form just behind the building, keeping an eye on things from his very own square.

Drawing inspiration from the medieval architecture of Flanders and Brabant, the City Hall flaunts five towers like a crown. The tallest of them pierces the skyline at 98 meters, topped with the "City Hall Man"鈥攏ot a superhero, but close... Clad in armor inspired by Emperor Maximilian I, this statue has been watching over Vienna since 1882 and has become something of a local mascot.

Inside, the building doesn鈥檛 just rest on its aesthetic laurels. There's the "City Hall Cellar"鈥攁 grand baroque dining hall where you can dig into proper Viennese culinary classics without a hint of modern guilt. 鈥淪chnitzel under chandeliers? Yes, please...鈥�

The fa莽ade is a sculptural buffet in its own right, brimming with emperors, virtues like Power and Justice, and even good ol鈥� Vindobona, the Roman forebear of Vienna, lounging surrounded by heraldic flair. Think of it as Vienna鈥檚 resume carved in stone.

And on the flanks is a lineup of statues dedicated to trades and professions鈥攂ecause in this city, bakers, builders, and bookbinders all get a standing ovation in stone!

Now, if you're feeling adventurous (and are in good shape), brave the 331 steps up to the central tower that鈥檚 worth every groan from your knees. Your reward will be the sweeping views of Vienna in all its baroque-meets-modern glory鈥攑lus bragging rights for conquering the city one stair at a time. Trust us鈥擵ienna looks even better from above.

Tip:
For the inside scoop, join the free German-language guided tour on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 1 pm. Not fluent in German? No problem鈥攁udio guides are available in multiple languages. Just be ready to temporarily part ways with your passport. The view鈥攁nd the tales鈥攁re absolutely worth it.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Rathaus (City Hall)
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Vienna Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Vienna Introduction Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles

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Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles

Mozart Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

Old Town Chocolate Stores

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Vienna's chocolate scene is deeply rooted in a rich culinary tradition. It has been sustained by several historic chocolate houses, located in the Old Town, that have been serving decadent treats for generations.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

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By far the most colorful of... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

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