State Opera

The best way of experiencing Vienna’s gem of an opera house (Wiener Staatsoper), one of Europe’s most beautiful, is to see a performance (the opera and the ballet alternate during the year). But if you don’t have time, taking a tour of the building is the next best thing. The Staatsoper, which opened in 1869, has an illustrious history—its principal conductors have included Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Herbert von Karajan andLeonard Bernstein—and hosts the annual Vienna Opera Ball. There are several guided tours daily.