A mainstay of Vienna sightseeing tours, Karlsplatz is home to a number of the city’s top architectural masterpieces. The most famous (and most striking) is the 18th-century baroque Karlskirche, built by Roman Emperor Charles VI but named for Saint Charles Borromeo of Milan. The square is also known for Otto Wagner’s twin rail station pavilions; Joseph Maria Olbrich’s landmark Secession Building, which houses the Beethoven Frieze by Gustav Klimt; and the sprawling Tilgner-Brunnen Fountain, built in 1902.
Karlsplatz straddles Vienna’s first and fourth districts and is one of the main transport hubs in the city. The Karlsplatz U-Bahn station is towards the park’s western end, with the U1, U2, and U4 metro lines stopping here. Alternatively, you can reach Karlslatz via tram or bus. It’s also a short walk from the Hofburg complex and its many imperial palaces and museums.
By day, the square bustles with visitors strolling through or stopping to relax at the fountain. In the evening, groups of students strum guitars and socialize beneath the church’s illuminated facade. The prettiest time of year to visit is during the winter holidays when the annual Christmas market and ice skating rink take over the square.
The Secession Building isn’t the only important museum ringing Karlsplatz. On the opposite side of the square, the Albertina Modern houses a world-class collection of 19th- and 20th-century art. Other important cultural institutions near the square include the Musikverein, a concert hall that is home to the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Künstlerhaus, an art gallery and exposition hall. The Vienna Museum Karlsplatz is located on the eastern side of the square as well.
