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THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND GARDENS IN VIENNA

Anyone who is out and about all day – whether for business or pleasure – needs a break from time to time. Vienna is a green city with many oases where you can recharge your batteries. That’s why we present the most beautiful parks and gardens in Vienna.

Here you can take a stroll, sit and enjoy the sun, go for a run or discover monuments and historical buildings. Vienna’s parks and gardens are worth a visit at any time of year and are lovingly maintained and preserved.

Volksgarten

The Volksgarten is located directly on Vienna’s Ringstrasse between the Burgtheater and Heldenplatz. It was the first garden owned by the emperor to be opened to the public, back in 1823, and was given the name “Volksgarten” just two years after its opening.

The garden is dominated by the gleaming white Theseus Temple. It was built in 1823 and originally contained a sculpture of Theseus by Antonio Canova. However, this is now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

The garden enchants visitors above all with its splendor of roses. Over 3000 rose bushes adorn the Volksgarten, displaying over 200 varieties of roses.

You should definitely marvel at the Oriental plane tree (next to the Temple of Theseus), which majestically adorns the garden with a height of 20 meters and a trunk measuring 3.6 meters in circumference. It has been a listed building since 1951.

Belvedere Palace Garden

This showpiece of Baroque garden design in the French style is not only very popular with visitors to Vienna, but also with the Viennese themselves. The spacious gardens between the Upper and Lower Belvedere consist of three levels with symmetrical flower parterres, water basins, steps and trimmed hedges. A large pond on the south side of the Upper Belvedere extends the garden.

Anyone visiting here should definitely visit the somewhat hidden Alpine garden. It displays a wonderful collection of alpine plants. This collection was started in 1803 by three Austrian archdukes and was originally located in the park of Schönbrunn Palace. The garden also contains a beautiful collection of rhododendron bushes and Japanese bonsai.

Please note: The garden is closed during the winter months.

The gardens also include the so-called “Chamber Garden”. It was originally Prince Eugene’s private garden, where he only received his closest friends. The gardens also include the “Botanical Garden”, which also contains a variety of non-native plants such as orchids and succulents.

Photos: Belvedere © Vienna Tourism / Christian Stemper

Park of Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace is one of the most visited sights in Vienna. Anyone visiting here should take the time to stroll through the extensive park. The magnificent symmetrical flowerbeds, the Neptune Fountain at the end and the hill rising behind it with the Gloriette offer a breathtaking panorama. Those who dare to make the ascent and climb to the roof of the Gloriette are rewarded with the reverse panorama, which offers a magnificent view of the castle and the city.

To the right and left of the flower border, you can stroll through branching avenues and repeatedly come across fountains, statues, staged Roman ruins or the maze. Schönbrunn Zoo, the oldest preserved zoo in Europe, begins to the right of the Neptune Fountain.

The Palm House at the opposite end of the zoo is well worth a visit. This beautiful building was opened in 1882. It contains a magnificent collection of plants from all over the world in three areas – cold house, temperate house and warm house.

Photo 1: Schönbrunn Palace, palace park © Vienna Tourism / Peter Rigaud

Photo 2: Palm House, Schönbrunn Palace Park © Vienna Tourism / Paul Bauer

1000 parks and gardens

Vienna has a total of around 1000 parks and gardens. Here are a few special mentions.

A little-known park among visitors to Vienna is the Türkenschanzpark in Vienna’s 18th district. Winding paths, fountains and ponds, fountains and a children’s playground make it a popular destination. Above all, however, it contains many rare plants, most of which are labeled. If you come here, you should also take a look at the area around the park. Many old villas with beautiful gardens will take you back to another century.

Vienna’s Augarten, just a few minutes’ walk from our two Viennese hotels, IMLAUER Hotel Wien and IMLAUER Hotel Nestroy, is another example of a baroque garden. It is also a wonderful place to relax. A special feature are two of the six Viennese flak towers that were erected during the Second World War.