Karlsplatz

Before the 18th century, this was just marshy land outside the city walls where the Wien River flowed. Everything changed in 1713 when Emperor Charles VI promised to build the Karlskirche after a plague hit the city. Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach finished the church in 1737, giving the area its first bit of gravity. The square didn't actually exist as a wide-open space until the river was paved over around 1900. This era brought Otto Wagner’s famous Stadtbahn stations, which were almost demolished in the 1970s when the U-Bahn arrived. Thankfully, they were saved and moved to their current spots. In 1978, the city added the Henry Moore sculpture to the pool, finalizing the mix of old-world empire and 20th-century grit.

Karlsplatz is a crash course in Viennese design history. The Karlskirche dominates the view. It’s a wild Baroque mix where a Roman temple portico sits between two massive columns inspired by Trajan’s Column in Rome. But the real star for many is the Jugendstil work of Otto Wagner. His twin pavilions, built in 1898, use marble slabs held by green iron frames and decorated with gold sunflowers. They were revolutionary for their time. Look south and you'll see the stern, neoclassical Technische Universität. To the north, the Musikverein and Künstlerhaus add a layer of 19th-century prestige. It’s an architectural argument that spans three hundred years, and somehow, it all works.

The square is a gateway to the 4th district, Wieden. It’s less touristy and more real. Right on the square is the Wien Museum, which recently got a massive, modern overhaul. It's the best place to understand how the city grew. If you’re hungry, walk west for three minutes to reach the Naschmarkt. Skip the overpriced tourist stalls at the entrance and head deeper into the market for authentic falafel or a glass of Riesling. If you head north, you'll cross the Ringstraße and hit the State Opera in five minutes. Karlsplatz is the perfect pivot point between the posh first district and the creative energy of the neighborhoods to the south.

Bring a wide-angle lens. To get the classic shot, stand at the edge of the reflecting pool in Resselpark. If the water is still, you’ll get a perfect mirror of the Karlskirche. Incorporate the Henry Moore bronze sculpture for a foreground that feels modern. For the Otto Wagner Pavilions, focus on the details. The gold leaf on the sunflowers catches the light best in the mid-afternoon. Don't just look at the buildings. Capture the motion of the place. Students from the TU Wien lounge on the steps, and the contrast between a teenager on a skateboard and a 300-year-old cathedral is exactly what makes this spot worth your time.