Vienna, Austria
Vienna rewards slow travel. The city that ran the Habsburg empire for six centuries kept its imperial furniture: Schönbrunn's 1,441-room summer palace in the west, the Hofburg complex downtown, and the two Belvedere palaces, with Klimt's The Kiss hanging in the Upper Belvedere.
Vienna's big three palaces each need half a day. Schönbrunn (U4 to Schönbrunn) pairs the Grand Tour of 40 state rooms (about €26) with free gardens, the Gloriette viewpoint and the world's oldest zoo. The Hofburg downtown covers the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments and the Spanish Riding School's morning exercises. The Upper Belvedere hangs Klimt's The Kiss alongside Schiele and Kokoschka, about €18 with a timed ticket.
St. Stephen's Cathedral anchors the 1st district; climb the 343 steps of the south tower for rooftop views over its patterned tiles. The Kunsthistorisches Museum (about €21) holds Bruegel's Tower of Babel and the Habsburg picture gallery under a marble-and-gold staircase. For 20th-century Vienna, the Leopold Museum in the MuseumsQuartier has the world's largest Schiele collection.
Book the State Opera or Musikverein a few weeks ahead; same-day standing-room tickets at the opera cost under €20 and go on sale 80 minutes before curtain.
Order Wiener schnitzel at Figlmüller (the original schnitzel outgrows its plate) or, cheaper and later, at Schnitzelwirt in Neubau. Tafelspitz — boiled beef with apple-horseradish — is the house dish at Plachutta. The Naschmarkt handles lunch with 120 stands and a Saturday flea market at its far end; the Karmelitermarkt in Leopoldstadt is the calmer local version. Sausage stands (Würstelstände) stay open past midnight — Bitzinger by the Albertina serves Käsekrainer with a glass of sekt. For wine, ride tram 38 to Grinzing or bus 38A toward Kahlenberg and drink young Wiener Gemischter Satz at a heuriger overlooking the vineyards.
Entry fees, opening hours, how long to allow and the best months to visit — compared side by side.
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Innere Stadt is Vienna’s historic 1st district, featuring imperial architecture, major landmarks, and central transport links. It offers a compact, walkable area ideal for history and culture enthusiasts.
Mariahilf is a central Vienna district centered on Mariahilfer Straße, known for shopping, theaters, and a mix of residential and commercial areas with good public transport links.
Leopoldstadt is Vienna’s 2nd district, known for its green spaces like the Prater, riverside paths, and a community-oriented atmosphere with good transport connections to the city center.
Landstraße is a mixed residential and business district with good transport links, quieter streets, and access to green spaces, located just southeast of Vienna’s city center.
Wieden is Vienna’s 4th district, known for its Gründerzeit architecture, local markets, and proximity to central cultural sites, offering a quieter alternative close to the city center.
Josefstadt is a small, primarily residential district near Vienna’s center, known for theaters, local eateries, and a calm, everyday atmosphere with convenient city access.
Our shortlist of 6 best classical concerts in Vienna, ranked by verified review score and setting across Headout, Tiqets, GetYourGuide and Viator inventory. Top pick: Amadeus Concerts at the Ehrbarsaal (5.0/5 from 102 reviews, about €49). Church concerts run €27-39; the Musikverein Golden Hall from €33.
Our shortlist of 6 best day trips from Vienna, ranked by verified review score and value across Viator and GetYourGuide inventory: Hallstatt, the Wachau Valley, Salzburg, Bratislava and Budapest. Top pick: the 12-hour Private Tour to Wachau-Hallstatt-Salzburg (5.0/5, 46 reviews). Group coach options start around €49.06.
Our shortlist of 6 best walking tours in Vienna, ranked by verified review score and price per hour across Viator, GetYourGuide, Headout and Tiqets inventory. Top pick: A private Historical Walking Tour in Vienna (5.0/5 from 20 reviews, 2h30). Group walks start around €23.36; private themed walks run €200-260.
Located in the largest of the Habsburg's residential palaces, the Albertina is home to the biggest and most valuable graphical collection in the world. With your Albertina Museum tickets, see the permanent exhibition of the Batliner Collection, _Monet to Picasso_, 20 elegant staterooms, and more!
Open year-round, your Tiergarten Schönbrunn tickets offer an amazing array of animals; you'll see 700 different species, from ants to zebras! Some of the zoo's most popular residents include giant pandas from China, Siberian tigers, koalas, polar bears, African elephants, lions, penguins, as well as rare, endangered Austrian species. Not only can you use your Tiergarten Schönbrunn tickets for recreation, but visitors can also learn more about nature and wildlife conservation at this unique animal attraction. Tiergarten Schönbrunn tickets are the perfect complement to a day at the sprawling Schönbrunn Palace complex – a UNESCO-listed location with a long and fascinating history. The zoo itself was founded in 1752, by the Holy Roman Emperor at the time, Francis I. Despite being the oldest zoo in the world, Tiergarten Schönbrunn features some of the most modern facilities found in any zoo around the world, adding to its unique charm.
You can stick to the grand, café-lined promenades of Vienna. But off the tourist trail, there's plenty more to see. This day's excursion takes you from Vienna to postcard-perfect Wachau, along the famous Danube River. In winter, you'll have lunch and an extended look around Krems and Dürnstein. In summer, embark on a boat ride down the Danube to see the best of the valley from the water.
Discover the life and work of one of history's greatest classical composers in the places he worked and performed for over 40 years. On this guided tour, explore the life of Joseph Haydn, his glorious music, and vibrant 18th-century lifestyle of the Esterházy court. Meet personalities from the past, hear their touching stories and see where the princess's immediate servants lived. Your fingers might itch to play the organ, once played by Joseph Haydn when you see it in the palace's 17th-century chapel! In Melinda Esterházy's apartment, explore her career at the opera, her life as a trainee and prima ballerina, and later as princess Esterházy. At the wine museum, you're free to look around alone or join the underground tour through the cellars. It's a great way to discover more about the history of wine-making in the area.
Watch Light of Creation, a 30-minute light show at Vienna's Votivkirche inspired by Genesis. This program uses advanced technology to tell the ancient story in the church surrounded by historical architecture. See the creation of the universe in six acts: light's appearance to life's growth. Projection technology changes the church with light, color, and sound. Listen to music composed for the show, from the sounds of the Big Bang to key moments. Note the mix of old architecture with modern tech.
Visit Klosterneuburg Abbey and explore more than nine centuries of history. Located just outside Vienna, the abbey remains an active religious, pastoral, scientific, cultural, and economic center run by the Augustinian Canons. Your visit begins in the Treasure Chamber, filled with precious artworks and historical objects. From May to November, you can also visit the annual exhibition. On weekends and public holidays, the Abbey Museum is open to visitors. Continue through the Marble Hall, which was once used by members of the Habsburg family. Guided tours of Klosterneuburg Abbey are available throughout the day in German. An audio guide is available in 14 languages, making it easy to follow the tour and learn more about the abbey's history and collections. Join the guided winery tour in the afternoon to learn about Austria’s oldest winery, walk through the Baroque cellar, and enjoy a wine tasting.
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