WHAT TO DO IN VIENNA

Vienna is the capital of Austria, a very aristocratic city with impressive buildings and gorgeous architecture!

Best time to go: Spring , Autumn and Christmas. Especially during the Christmas period with all the incredible Christmas markets & decorations, Vienna is amazing but be prepared for low emperatures!

Duration of stay: In my opinion 4 days are needed in Vienna to get a good look at this beautiful city.

Currency:  Euros (€)

Language: German but they speak and understand English.

Tourist-Info address: Albertinaplatz/Maysedergasse 1010 in Vienna every day 10:00 – 18:00

Accommodation: Try to choose your accommodation in Vienna’s city center so you are very close to most of the main attractions. Angel’s tip: A local friend of mine, Thomas advised not to stay near workers district – Favoriten, Simmering, Erdberg- as it’s not a good location. You can take a taxi/bus, tram, e-scooter and metro to the city center if you choose to stay a bit further out. An example is somewhere near the street Leegasse that it’s close to the metro station, close to the famous Schonbrunn castle, Gloriette, the gardens and 20 min from the city center.

Plug:  European electrical plug. In any case it is a good idea to take an adapter with you. Or if you forget , you can maybe ask for one at the hotel reception. (some high end hotels may have usb port where you don’t need a plug)

Car: There is no need in my opinion to rent a car, especially if you choose to stay in the city center. You can easily discover the city purely on foot and by e-scooter (road network with bike lanes is very well organized) ;  sometimes for longer distances you can call uber or take a taxi.

What to do in Vienna?

Check below the 15+1 things you cannot miss if you visit Vienna for the 1st time:

1. Palaces, palaces and palaces. Yes Austria has many impressive palaces with so much history, marvellous gardens and views. It is much better to book in advance in order to avoid the big queues. Angel’s tip: You can check here some group tickets that you can buy if you plan to visit many palaces.

You can see below the most important palaces in Vienna for me and the ones I personally visited:

• the Schönbrunn Palace: The former summer residence of the Habsburg rulers and one of the most impressive palaces in Europe.

  Opening hours: usually 09:00–17:00, depending on the season. Angel’s tip: If you just want to enjoy the atmosphere, walk around, and admire the palace from the outside, the gardens are free. The interior tour takes around 1–2 hours and, although a bit pricey in my opinion, it’s truly beautiful. A good-value option is the Classic Pass (around €28.50 per person), which includes the palace tour along with access to selected garden areas such as the Privy Garden, the Orangery, and the Maze. The palace is located slightly outside the city center, so I went by taxi  but the metro also connects straight to the entrance.

• the Hofburg-Imperial palace: The main winter residence of the Habsburg dynasty and a huge complex in the very heart of Vienna. Inside, you’ll find the famous Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments, and the Imperial Silver Collection.

  Opening hours: typically 09:00–17:30 or 18:00. Entrance fee: around €20 for the Sisi Museum + Imperial Apartments. Angel’s tip: Many visitors say this is their favorite palace experience because it feels more intimate and personal – especially if you enjoy the story of Empress Sisi.

• the Belvedere palace, which originally built as the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Belvedere complex consists of 2 Baroque palaces (Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery and the Palace Stables, all surrounded by magnificent gardens, fountains, and sculptures. Belvedere also houses one of the most important art collections in Europe. The Upper Belvedere displays the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt, including his masterpiece The Kiss. You’ll need around 2–3 hours for the full visit and entrance from €16.50 to €32. Angel’s tip: If you love art, this is an absolute must – the Klimt paintings are incredible, and the museum offers an app that explains many of the works so you understand exactly what you’re seeing. If you’re not a big art fan, you can simply enjoy Belvedere from the outside – the gardens alone are worth it.

2. Strolling around Stephansplatz where the famous and incredible St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a must. So many shops,

restaurants, bars around and for sure a visit inside the Cathedral is great. The entrance fee to the top of the Cathedral is €5.5, and you need to climb 343 stairs to get there. Angel’s tip: I am not sure if I would recommend it. Although the view from the top is splendid, you can only enjoy it behind closed windows with steel bars and it is tiring haha.

3. Museums, museums, museums. If you are a museum lover, you will adore Vienna. Angel’s tip: on the 1st Sunday of every month some museums have free entrance like the following: Wien Museum Karlsplatz, Roman Museum, Collection of Clocks and Watches, Wien Museum Hermesvilla in the Lainz Game Reserve and the Museum of Military History.

If you have plenty of time to visit some of the incredible museums located in Vienna, some examples follow below:

• Albertina museum is an excellent modern art museum in the heart of Vienna with impressive rooms full of Picasso and Monet artworks.
• Mumok is the largest museum of modern and contemporary art in central Europe.
• Leopold museum with the exquisite paintings.
• The museum of Natural history  is in the extraordinary building.
• Kunsthistorisches- art history museum.
• and so many more that vary from a chocolate museum and a museum of illusions to a Tortuge museum or a museum of Collections of clocks and watches…!

You cannot miss a visit to the MuseumsQuartier, one of the largest cultural quarters in the world. It combines institutions of different art fields, a combination of baroque buildings and modern architecture, restaurants, shops and cafés .

4. Check the modern side of the city,  a different Vienna where the street art conquers : the Hundertwasser house and its museum Kunst Haus. Actually they are buildings where every day people visit and admire. Not possible to enter inside since it is not permitted.

5. Vienna is so elegant, the buildings and the architecture it has are really incredible. So many squares with beautiful statues and fountains. Really impressive buildings apart from the palaces that I recommend you to visit are:

• the Gloriette close to Schönbrunn palace with the cafe
• the Austrian Parliament
• the Justizpalast -Palace of  Justice
• the Rathaus
• the State Hall of the National library (entrance from Josefsplatz 1)
• the Saint Peter’s catholic Church
• the church Kirche am Steinhof

6. If you have , a visit to Prater is unavoidable. But even if you don’t, you must see the oldest ferris wheel in the world called ‘Riesenrad’ from 1897 in an impressive entertainment park for kids and adults. The view from above is so beautiful and entrance fee is 12 euros.

Vienna with Kids – Top Activities

• Prater Amusement Park, as mentioned above – Giant Ferris wheel, carousels and fun rides for all ages
• Schönbrunn Palace & Zoo – See tigers, pandas and the world’s oldest zoo!!
• Haus der Musik – Interactive music museum, perfect for hands-on learning.
• Zoom Children’s Museum – Art, workshops and creative play. Kids love it!
• Danube River – Family-friendly boat rides and walking paths.

7. You cannot leave Vienna without trying the famous viennese Schnitzel. I really recommend to make a reservation for any of the below restaurants:

• “Ribs of Vienna” for absolutely delicious ribs. (€€)
• “Figlmüller – Restaurant Bäckerstraße” for a huge amazing viennese Schnitzel. (€€)

• “Pürstner” for local Austrian cuisine and atmosphere. (€€)
• “Do & Co” in Stephansplatz for incredible views and great dishes. (€€€) Angel’s tip: The “North Sea cod and lobster beurre blanc” and the “Tuna mango tartare & fried avocados” were really tasty. 

8. Breakfast, Viennese coffee or hot chocolate and a dessert in “Café Central“ in Vienna is absolutely necessary. This is the café where Trotsky, Freud, several writers and poets like Zweig, Polgar and Altenbergafé were going back in 1876). Beautiful interior and kind service but the queue is usually long, so make a reservation in advance. Many people were ordering the popular Viennese dessert “Kaiserchmarrn” which is a lightly sweetened fluffy shredded pancake in slices that took its name from the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I. It is served as a dessert or  light lunch. It is usually accompanied with Zwetschgenröster, something like a plums marmelade.

9. I am sure you have heard of the famous Sacher Torte. Yes, this is the most famous chocolate cake in the world and the most famous in Vienna where it was “born”. You can find the Original Sacher-Torte in hotel Sacher in the city center but queues are extremely long. I waited for 1,5 hour on a Sunday afternoon and I am not sure if it deserved it… Angel’s tip: They accept reservations but not on holidays and not on the same day. I recommend calling for reservation at least 3 days in advance. Alternatively I suggest trying the “Demel” cafe.

10. My favorite bar and hidden gem was “Prunkstuck Kleinod” (closed on Mondays). Amazing ambience, great cocktails/spirits and exquisite service. Another similar is “Kleinod”. “Do&Co” and “25 Hours Hotel” rooftop bar are excellent choices as well for drinks with a view.

11. You must see the Vienna from above in at least one of the following buildings: “Danube Tower”, The Prater “Riesenrad” (the ferris wheel mentioned above), “25 Hours Hotel” rooftop bar, “Gloriette” above the Schönbrunn Palace, the St Stephen’s cathedral. The view is breathtaking!

12. If you are a coffee lover, try something different for a coffee to go. A coffee on a chocolate cone close to Stephanplatz from “Fenster cafe” is an interesting idea.

13. Vienna has beautiful open markets (with cheese, fruits, vegetables and delicious food) to visit and Naschmarkt is one of them, actually the most popular in Vienna. A great place to grab a bite, enjoy your lunch/breakfast with some fresh delightful local specialties or other cuisines.

14. Last but not least, Vienna State Opera: one of the world’s leading opera houses, known especially for performances of works by Richard Wagner, Mozart, and Richard Strauss. You can book tickets here to attend an opera, or ballet night but you can also have a guided tour during the day instead (without watching an opera or a ballet). Guided tours take place daily on specific hours and reservations are not required. You just go there, wait in the queue and choose your group and language (available groups in English, German and French language). Tickets for performances in the opera start from 5-10 €  up to 300 € for the best seats. You can book online or visit the tourist office in order to check where are the best seats available. Angel’s tip: If you want to enjoy a performance and not pay much, there are “standing room” tickets available which are really cheap (€4-6). Tickets go on sale 80 minutes before each performance and seats are not assigned. Our guide told us that these are really great option but you need to be there at least 2 hours before the start of each performance.

You can find more details here.

15. Visit the famous Vienna Christmas Markets: Vienna is one of the most magical cities in Europe during the Christmas season. From mid‑November to Christmas Eve, the city transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland, with dozens of Christmas markets scattered across the streets, squares and palace gardens. The most famous market is the Rathausplatz Christmas Market, right in front of the stunning City Hall. Hundreds of wooden stalls offer festive treats like glühwein (mulled wine), roasted chestnuts, handmade decorations and sweet pastries. Children will love the ice skating rink, carousel and the interactive Children’s Advent World, which turns the square into a playful wonderland.

Angel’s tips:

• Go on a weekday evening if possible to avoid the crowds, but the festive lights make evenings particularly magical.
• Try local treats: Vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent cookies), Bratwurst & hot chocolate with whipped cream.
• Many markets offer live music, choirs or small performances – perfect for soaking in the Austrian Christmas atmosphere.
• Keep some cash on hand; many stalls don’t take cards.

Even if you don’t buy anything, just walking from market to market, enjoying the lights and smells of cinnamon and roasted almonds, is an experience you won’t forget. For me, Vienna at Christmas is the ultimate combination of history, culture & festive magic.

+1:  I combined Vienna with Bratislava in Slovakia, so if you are looking into visiting another city close by for 1 day or 2, Bratislava is a great option and only 1 hour far by train! I paid only 16 euros to go and return same day.

Angel’s tip: Bratislava is nothing extraordinary but pleasant, I liked Vienna much more though and my local friend told me that Slovakia has so much more and better things to offer than Bratislava. I had no idea than Slovakia has great castles you can visit and even sleep like Liptovský Hrádok and Hotel Grand Vígľaš, did you? .

Angel’s tip: Another amazing day trip you can do form Vienna is Hallstatt. A fairytale village 3.5 hrs by train or car that I totally recommend it. You can read more in my Hallstatt article. 

VIENNA, you are so gorgeous and elegant! I will be back soon!

*For more pictures check my posts, guide & highlight “Vienna” on my Instagram account!*

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