Stephansplatz (St. Stephen's Square), Vienna
St. Stephen's Square鈥擵ienna鈥檚 beating heart鈥攊s the kind of square that doesn鈥檛 just mark the center of the city, but commands it with flair.
Named after the towering St. Stephen鈥檚 Cathedral, a Gothic powerhouse of stone and spire, this cathedral is not merely Vienna鈥檚 main church鈥攊t鈥檚 one of the tallest in the world. Basically, if you're anywhere nearby and don鈥檛 see it, check your glasses...
Back in the day鈥攂efore the 20th century, that is鈥攖his square and the nearby Stock-im-Eisen-Platz were awkward neighbors separated by a row of buildings. Those were eventually knocked down, and voil脿, a grand unification. Now, St. Stephen's Square graciously includes the whole area, like a generous host absorbing the entire block party.
To the west and south, the scene gets posh with Graben Street (which literally translates as "the Ditch," though it鈥檚 far more champagne than shovel these days) and Carinthian Street, named so after the Carinthia region of Austria, but now better known for shopping that could make your wallet nervous.
And then there鈥檚 Haas Haus, lounging across from St. Stephen鈥檚 Cathedral like the cool, modern cousin at a family reunion. Designed by Hans Hollein and made of glass, steel, and unapologetic modernism, it was once the source of much civic side-eye. Now it鈥檚 celebrated as the poster child for architectural harmony: medieval meets mirror-polished millennium.
While this square may not be the best location for fine dining鈥攗nless your idea of haute cuisine is a schnitzel sandwich鈥攕itting in one of the local caf茅s provides you with the front row for the city鈥檚 greatest spectacle: the people of Vienna. Locals, tourists, street performers, and the occasional opera enthusiast all sweep through under the cathedral鈥檚 watchful gaze.
So pull up a chair, order something strong, and take it all in鈥攂ecause this is more than just a square. It鈥檚 Vienna condensed...
Tip:
Stroll around the cathedral鈥檚 side and you鈥檒l find its miniature version. It鈥檚 like someone said, 鈥淟et鈥檚 make it travel-sized,鈥� and it鈥檚 oddly satisfying. Great for photos, or just for pretending you鈥檙e a giant for a moment.
Named after the towering St. Stephen鈥檚 Cathedral, a Gothic powerhouse of stone and spire, this cathedral is not merely Vienna鈥檚 main church鈥攊t鈥檚 one of the tallest in the world. Basically, if you're anywhere nearby and don鈥檛 see it, check your glasses...
Back in the day鈥攂efore the 20th century, that is鈥攖his square and the nearby Stock-im-Eisen-Platz were awkward neighbors separated by a row of buildings. Those were eventually knocked down, and voil脿, a grand unification. Now, St. Stephen's Square graciously includes the whole area, like a generous host absorbing the entire block party.
To the west and south, the scene gets posh with Graben Street (which literally translates as "the Ditch," though it鈥檚 far more champagne than shovel these days) and Carinthian Street, named so after the Carinthia region of Austria, but now better known for shopping that could make your wallet nervous.
And then there鈥檚 Haas Haus, lounging across from St. Stephen鈥檚 Cathedral like the cool, modern cousin at a family reunion. Designed by Hans Hollein and made of glass, steel, and unapologetic modernism, it was once the source of much civic side-eye. Now it鈥檚 celebrated as the poster child for architectural harmony: medieval meets mirror-polished millennium.
While this square may not be the best location for fine dining鈥攗nless your idea of haute cuisine is a schnitzel sandwich鈥攕itting in one of the local caf茅s provides you with the front row for the city鈥檚 greatest spectacle: the people of Vienna. Locals, tourists, street performers, and the occasional opera enthusiast all sweep through under the cathedral鈥檚 watchful gaze.
So pull up a chair, order something strong, and take it all in鈥攂ecause this is more than just a square. It鈥檚 Vienna condensed...
Tip:
Stroll around the cathedral鈥檚 side and you鈥檒l find its miniature version. It鈥檚 like someone said, 鈥淟et鈥檚 make it travel-sized,鈥� and it鈥檚 oddly satisfying. Great for photos, or just for pretending you鈥檙e a giant for a moment.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: 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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Stephansplatz (St. Stephen's Square) on Map
Sight Name: Stephansplatz (St. Stephen's Square)
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.
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
Famous Homes of Vienna
Throughout centuries, the Austrian capital has been home to numerous famous individuals, from creative people of arts to thinkers, scientists, and politicians. Vienna's illustrious history is closely intertwined with the abodes of its celebrated residents, where artistic virtuosos and luminaries of their time found solace and inspiration.
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
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
Vienna Old Town Walking Tour
Vienna鈥檚 Old Town鈥攖he historic core of Austria鈥檚 capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site鈥攊s 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鈥攂efore 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鈥攂efore 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
Old Town Churches Walking Tour
"Vienna is the city of miracles and music" 鈥� Whoever said that must have emphasized Vienna's close association with the Christian faith. The intertwining of Christian heritage and artistry in the Austrian capital finds expression primarily in its magnificent churches.
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 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鈥檛 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鈥檛 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
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