podtour
From the Cathedral to the Imperial Palace
From Mozart's house to the gates of the Hofburg, get to know Vienna through the stories on its streets.
Legends of Old Vienna: audio walk in Vienna
Vienna's legends told for what they are, with the date someone first wrote them down: the basilisk in the well, dear Augustin and the plague pit, the church "of the year 740", the man wrongly credited with coffee, the Toothache Christ and the Devil's nail-studded trunk.
What this walk is about
You start beneath a clock where emperors parade past and wonder whether Marcus Aurelius really lived here. On the old gallows square you find out why the scaffold made way for a marble wedding. Then on to the church that claims to be Vienna's oldest and the woman who saved it, the doorway where the first real coffee house opened, the tavern that says dear Augustin sang there, and the meat-market street that lost its butchers and filled up with Greeks. Next come the basilisk's well, a dome that doesn't exist and the kiss that, according to a poet, Beethoven gave an elderly Haydn; and the house of the siege scout the city turned into the inventor of coffee. You finish at the cathedral: a Christ with toothache, stag's antlers against lightning and the nail-studded trunk that, legend has it, the Devil locked. At every stop you'll learn what's legend, how long it's been told and what lies behind it.
- Start
- The Clock of the Emperors and Marcus Aurelius
- Finish
- The Tree Trunk Full of Nails
- Who it is for
- A walk for anyone curious about legends and mystery. For anyone curious about Vienna's history. You can also enjoy it as a family.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- The walk is mostly level. There are cobbles or uneven surfaces.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
The Clock of the Emperors and Marcus Aurelius
- 2
From the Gallows to a Marble Wedding
- 3
A Church from the Year 740?
- 4
Vienna's First Coffee House
- 5
Dear Augustin
- 6
Greeks on the Butchers' Street
- 7
The Basilisk's Well
- 8
The Dome That Is Not There
- 9
Kolschitzky: A Real Spy with a Legendary Invention
- 10
The Christ of Toothache
- 11
Stag Antlers and Coloured Awnings
- 12
The Tree Trunk Full of Nails
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Vienna, before you go
The big squares can make you feel you ought to hurry. Vienna rewards looking at façades and allowing a proper pause; combine its compact old centre with transport when changing areas.
More walks nearby
From Judenplatz to Café Central
Vienna's old squares witnessed conspiracies, refuge and shifts in power. Follow their stories from Judenplatz to Café Central.
The Habsburgs: Vienna and Spain
Spain left its mark on the Habsburg palace through marriages, names and exiles. Follow those connections through Vienna's courtyards and squares.
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
Podtour manages your launch request with your consent. You can withdraw it and exercise your rights as explained in our privacy policy. Privacy details.
One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.