
Hundertwasser House, Vienna
A relatively recent addition to Vienna's architectural heritage, the Hundertwasser House is a great example of 20th-century urban experimentation. If the surrounding architecture whispers "classical elegance," this one belts out "psychedelic daydream" through a megaphone!!!
Sitting as an antithetical statement about what architecture can be—a sort of riotous rebuttal to boring buildings— this gloriously eclectic (if not, say, surreal) block of flats explodes with color and curve. From a distance, it looks almost like a lovechild of GaudÃ, a Lego set, and a fever dream combined. Consisting of a frenzy of oriel windows, loggias, gilded onion domes, ceramic columns, glass sparkles, roof gardens—and yes, even a salvaged slice of what stood here before 1983—it’s part sculpture, part protest, and part urban jungle. A rainbow having a rave, basically...
Designed in 1985 by the ever-unconventional, avant-garde artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this idiosyncratic building was his answer to what he perceived as the rather soulless modern concrete monotony sprouting across Vienna's suburbs. Further to his credit, and just to make sure his message landed, Hundertwasser refused payment for his work, declaring that the investment was worth it to "prevent something ugly from going up in its place". Mission absolutely accomplished...
So, whenever you're in Vienna, make sure to swing by this photogenic rebel—pure architectural exuberance, gleefully thumbing its nose at the capital’s polished palaces and baroque facades. Because your eyes deserve a holiday too...
Tip:
While the building itself is residential—so no snooping inside is possible—across the street you’ll find Hundertwasser Village. Open daily, from 9 am to 6 pm, this is a quirky marketplace-turned-art piece with shops, cafés, and enough eccentricity to keep your camera and curiosity well-fed.
Sitting as an antithetical statement about what architecture can be—a sort of riotous rebuttal to boring buildings— this gloriously eclectic (if not, say, surreal) block of flats explodes with color and curve. From a distance, it looks almost like a lovechild of GaudÃ, a Lego set, and a fever dream combined. Consisting of a frenzy of oriel windows, loggias, gilded onion domes, ceramic columns, glass sparkles, roof gardens—and yes, even a salvaged slice of what stood here before 1983—it’s part sculpture, part protest, and part urban jungle. A rainbow having a rave, basically...
Designed in 1985 by the ever-unconventional, avant-garde artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this idiosyncratic building was his answer to what he perceived as the rather soulless modern concrete monotony sprouting across Vienna's suburbs. Further to his credit, and just to make sure his message landed, Hundertwasser refused payment for his work, declaring that the investment was worth it to "prevent something ugly from going up in its place". Mission absolutely accomplished...
So, whenever you're in Vienna, make sure to swing by this photogenic rebel—pure architectural exuberance, gleefully thumbing its nose at the capital’s polished palaces and baroque facades. Because your eyes deserve a holiday too...
Tip:
While the building itself is residential—so no snooping inside is possible—across the street you’ll find Hundertwasser Village. Open daily, from 9 am to 6 pm, this is a quirky marketplace-turned-art piece with shops, cafés, and enough eccentricity to keep your camera and curiosity well-fed.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø: 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.
Hundertwasser House on Map
Sight Name: Hundertwasser House
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Vienna
Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Vienna's Historical Music Venues
Austria is synonymous with classical music almost to the point of obsession, and to call Vienna the "Musical Capital of the World" would be hardly an exaggeration. Indeed, over the past centuries, the city served as the home and workplace for many great musicians like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Strauss, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, and others.
Among the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Among the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Old Town Chocolate Stores
Vienna is famous for its love for sweet indulgence. And when it comes to chocolate, it stands tall among other locally-made mouth-watering confections.
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.
Landmark... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
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.
Landmark... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour I
Vienna’s flirtation with Art Nouveau—known locally as Jugendstil—unfolded in the late 19th, early 20th centuries. The so-called Vienna Secession movement, which emerged in 1897, was led by a group of rebellious artists and architects like Otto Wagner, Gustav Klimt, and Koloman Moser, who turned their backs on historicism in favor of bold, modern aesthetics. As the new language for buildings,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour II
If there are cities that flirt, Vienna is definitely the one. Here, even the buildings know how to do it.
Around the turn of the 20th century, the Austrian capital caught the Art Nouveau fever and decided that straight lines, drab walls, and historical imitation simply wouldn’t do anymore. Instead, it took to ornamental swirls, flowing curves, floral flourishes, and enough decorative detail... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Around the turn of the 20th century, the Austrian capital caught the Art Nouveau fever and decided that straight lines, drab walls, and historical imitation simply wouldn’t do anymore. Instead, it took to ornamental swirls, flowing curves, floral flourishes, and enough decorative detail... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Vienna Old Town Walking Tour
Vienna’s Old Town—the historic core of Austria’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is where cobblestones gossip, rooftops sparkle, and emperors still seem to whisper from the walls. Indeed, this is the kind of place where every alley seems to have a PhD in European history.
Once wrapped in medieval walls—before they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Once wrapped in medieval walls—before they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Johann Strauss Walking Tour
Throughout the entire 19th century, Vienna was a hub of cultural and musical activity, particularly in the realm of classical music, to which Johann Strauss and his father, Johann Strauss Sr., contributed greatly.
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
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