The 18th century summer palace and gardens of Schönbrunn are not as remote now from the city of Vienna as they were when first constructed by the Habsburgs. This was one of the first sites my siblings and I saw when we made our pilgrimage to Vienna in the fall of 2003, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The palace was richly decorated by Empress Maria Theresa with chandeliers and paintings and richly paneled rooms gilded in Rococo designs. We took audio tours, which provided a useful history of the rooms and residents of the palace (especially helpful for those not as familiar with the Habsburgs). Once finished, my siblings and I went outside and enjoyed a partially sunny afternoon wandering through the gardens and up the hill to the Gloriette, a beautifully symmetrical building offering an exceptional view of Vienna. Although the gardens were not as extensive as Versailles or the Peterhof Palace, they were still impressive, and provided a peaceful interlude to a day's worth of tours. Without a doubt, Schönbrunn palace and gardens are one of the must-see attractions in Vienna.

Logistics: Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens are accessible by public transportation via the underground, trams, or bus, but may also be reached by private transportation.