Vienna State Opera

Prestigious and high-class, this opera house is to the world's opera what Oxford is to the world's universities. Whether you want to attend one of the performances or just marvel at the architecture and history of the place, it is definitely worth a visit.

The opera, designed in neo-renaissance style, was first opened in 1869. Although today one of the most iconic buildings in Vienna, back in the day, it was met with a wave of public displeasure, mostly due to the fact that it was not considered glamorous enough. Interestingly though, when the building was bombed during the Second World War some 60 years later and had to undergo a reconstruction, the Viennese chose to have it rebuilt to look exactly the same way as before.

If you want to visit the opera but are on a budget trip, don't lose hope. There is a limited number of standing-only tickets that come at a price of 3 - 4 euros each, on sale in a booth next to the opera house prior to every show. The sale starts 80 minutes before the performance, but the sooner you come, the better. You can only buy one ticket per person.