Vienna Nazi History Walking Tour: Heldenplatz & Judenplatz
The Stadttempel is the only synagogue in Vienna that still stands from before the Nazi era.
A 2.5-hour guided walking tour of Vienna's Nazi history and Jewish past, led by a certified expert who traces Hitler's early years, the Third Reich's grip on the city, and Austria's ongoing effort to confront what happened. You visit Heldenplatz, where the Anschluss was announced; Judenplatz and its Holocaust Memorial; the Vienna Central Cemetery; and lesser-known streets that reveal how antisemitism took root and how more than 65,000 Austrian Jews were persecuted.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Vienna's Nazi history and Jewish heritage
- Meet guide at Anker Clock
- Learn about Vienna circa 1900
- Discover everyday Jewish life
- Visit Vienna’s main synagogue
- Explore Freyung Square and history
- Visit Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial
- Examine Heldenplatz Nazi history site
- Anchor Clock 30m
- Freyung Square 30m
- Judenplatz 30m
- Heroes’ Square 40m
What’s included
- Certified local guide leading the entire tour.
- 2.5-hour walking route through Vienna's WWII and Nazi history sites.
- insights into Hitler's early years, the Third Reich's role in Vienna, and the persecution of Austrian Jews.
- access to lesser-known streets and locations.
- taxes and service fees.
Times
- Monday, Tuesday and Sunday 09:30
- Thursday to Saturday 13:30
Before you book
Operated by You On Tour Vienna
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
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The experience
The tour starts at the Anker Clock in Vienna's inner city, where your guide introduces the city around 1900: a moment of cultural brilliance shadowed by rising antisemitism. From there, the walk moves through the Vienna Central Cemetery to explore everyday Jewish life: community, traditions, and the vibrant pre-war presence that shaped the city. The guide explains why the Stadttempel, Vienna's main synagogue, survived when others did not, grounding the story in the choices and circumstances that determined who and what endured.
At Freyung Square, the guide examines the social and political climate that fed antisemitism in Vienna. The walk then reaches Judenplatz, where the Holocaust Memorial stands as a record of the destruction of Vienna's Jewish community and the lives lost to Nazi persecution. The final stop is Heldenplatz, where Hitler announced the Anschluss in 1938: one of the most significant sites of Nazi history in the city. Here, the guide reflects on Austria's role in that history and the country's ongoing process of reckoning with its past.
This is an exterior-only walking tour, so you move through the streets and squares themselves rather than entering buildings. The route covers sensitive subjects with historical care and respect. Some content may be emotionally impactful. The tour operates in all weather, so dress accordingly and wear comfortable walking shoes. Wheelchair access is available throughout, and infants or small children can travel in a pram or stroller.
Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour led by a certified guide, so you follow a set route and schedule rather than exploring at your own pace. It suits anyone seeking historical context and expert interpretation of Vienna's Nazi past and Jewish history, particularly those who want to understand how Austria has worked to confront and remember this period. The guide's presence means the sensitive subjects are handled with historical care and respect.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What exactly happened at Heldenplatz during the Nazi era?
Heldenplatz is where Hitler announced the Anschluss, Austria's annexation into Nazi Germany, in 1938. The guide examines this pivotal moment and Austria's role in the Nazi regime, helping you understand why this square remains one of the most significant sites of Nazi history in Vienna.
Why did the Stadttempel survive when other Vienna synagogues did not?
The Stadttempel is Vienna's main synagogue and the only one still standing from before the Nazi era. Your guide explains the circumstances and choices that allowed it to survive, deepening the story of religion, identity, and survival in Vienna's Jewish community.
How many Austrian Jews were persecuted during this period?
More than 65,000 Austrian Jews were persecuted during the Nazi era. The tour traces the roots of antisemitism in Vienna and explores the destruction of the city's Jewish community through the sites you visit, including the Holocaust Memorial at Judenplatz.
Does the tour include visits inside buildings or museums?
No, this is an exterior-only tour. You walk through Vienna's streets and squares, visiting sites like Heldenplatz, Judenplatz, Freyung Square, and the Vienna Central Cemetery, but do not enter buildings or interior spaces.
How long does the walking tour take?
The tour lasts 2.5 hours and covers several neighborhoods in Vienna's inner city. The pace is steady but manageable, and the route is wheelchair accessible throughout.
Vienna Nazi History Walking Tour: Heldenplatz & Judenplatz
2h 30m · EN
from € 26 per person
≈ US$ 30 in your currency
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