Best for
Architecture fans, anyone visiting during a Rathausplatz event
Time needed
20–40 minutes for the exterior and square; longer for events
Worth it?
Yes for the square and architecture — free and worth a stop, especially in season
Skip if
You're not interested in exterior architecture and no event is on
About Vienna City Hall (Rathaus)
Vienna's City Hall was completed in 1883 to designs by Friedrich von Schmidt, a soaring neo-Gothic pile deliberately modelled on the great town halls of medieval Flanders, crowned by the Rathausmann — a 3.4-metre bannerman statue perched atop the central spire that has become an unofficial city mascot. It's still the working seat of Vienna's city government and mayor.
Free German-language guided tours run three mornings a week and cover the building's grand staircases and ceremonial halls, but most visitors experience the Rathaus from outside, via the vast Rathausplatz in front of it — one of the most consistently programmed public squares in Europe, hosting the Christmas Market from November, an open-air film festival with free concert screenings in summer, and an elaborate ice-skating rink (the Wiener Eistraum) each winter.
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Even without a tour, the building's illuminated Gothic facade at night, viewed across the square from the Ringstrasse, is one of Vienna's most photographed nighttime scenes.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Neo-Gothic architecture modelled on Flemish town halls
- 2The Rathausmann bannerman statue atop the central spire
- 3Free guided tours three mornings a week
- 4Rathausplatz's Christmas Market, summer film festival and winter ice rink
- 5Illuminated Gothic facade, best viewed at night from the Ringstrasse
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Insider Tips
Tours are in German only, but free multilingual audio guides are available
Registration for the free tour happens same-day, 08:00–09:00 — plan ahead
Check what's programmed on Rathausplatz — the square hosts major seasonal events year-round
The Christmas Market (from mid-November) is one of Vienna's best
Photograph the illuminated facade at night from across the square
Book a Guided Tour
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Getting There
Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Wien
Open in Google Maps →- 1U-Bahn U2 to Rathaus, directly outside. Tram 1, 2, 71, D to Rathausplatz/Burgtheater.
Where to stay
Hotels in Vienna
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want to see one of the Ringstrasse's grandest neo-Gothic buildings
- Your visit coincides with the Christmas Market, film festival or ice rink
- You're walking the Ringstrasse and want a free stop
- You enjoy illuminated night photography of major landmarks
Skip if...
- You're not planning to attend a Rathausplatz event
- You've limited time and prioritise interior museum visits
- Exterior-only landmarks don't interest you much
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Vienna
Austrian Parliament Building
A Greek-revival temple to democracy on the Ringstrasse, guarded by a monumental Athena fountain — free guided tours through the recently renovated interior.
Burgtheater
Austria's national theatre and one of the German-speaking world's most prestigious stages — a grand Ringstrasse building with Klimt ceiling paintings above its staircases.
Volksgarten
A formal 19th-century rose garden between the Hofburg and the Ringstrasse — the Theseus Temple, a monument to Empress Elisabeth, and one of the most fragrant free stops in central Vienna.