Vienna City Hall (Rathaus)
Vienna City Hall (Rathaus) is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Vienna audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~30 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Vienna Vienna guide
About Vienna City Hall (Rathaus)
Friedrich von Schmidt's Neo-Gothic city hall, finished in 1883, is topped by the copper Rathausmann. Its square hosts Vienna's Christmas market and winter ice rink.
Vienna's City Hall, or Rathaus, is a Neo-Gothic landmark built between 1872 and 1883 to designs by Friedrich von Schmidt, and the most important secular neo-Gothic building on the Ringstrasse. It serves as the seat of the Mayor of Vienna, the City Council and the Vienna Landtag. Its construction consumed around thirty million bricks and more than forty thousand cubic metres of natural stone.
The central tower reaches 97.9 metres, and the Rathausmann, an armoured copper standard-bearer symbolising the City of Vienna and set on top in 1882, lifts the total to about 104 metres; his armour echoes that of Emperor Maximilian I. A popular legend holds that the tower was kept just below the Votivkirche's spires and the statue added to regain height, but this remains an anecdote. The Rathausplatz outside hosts the Christmas market, a winter ice rink and a summer film festival.
Did you know? The tower's stonework rises 97.9 metres, but the copper Rathausmann on its peak, an armoured standard-bearer set there in 1882, pushes the total height to about 104 metres. His armour copies that of Emperor Maximilian I.
How long should you spend at Vienna City Hall (Rathaus)?
Plan about ~30 min at Vienna City Hall (Rathaus). That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Vienna City Hall (Rathaus) worth visiting?
Vienna City Hall (Rathaus) is one of the 35 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Vienna, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Vienna
Day 1 of the Vienna in 2 days itinerary →Day 2 of the Vienna in 3 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Vienna City Hall (Rathaus)
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