14 Best Things To Do In Vienna, Austria

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Last Updated on November 23, 2024 by sydabroad

If you are looking for the best things to do in Vienna, then keep reading! 

Welcome to Vienna, the capital of Austria known for its stunning palaces, museums, culture, and so much more. Vienna is unlike any city I have ever visited. It’s absolutely beautiful and the architecture in this city is seriously amazing.

Keep reading for the ultimate Vienna travel guide. Whether you are visiting Vienna for a weekend or a week, this guide is for you. Vienna was one of the cities I visited during my European backpacking trip in 2021. Aside from Vienna, I also visited Berlin, Madrid, Paris, Milan, Santorini, and more. It truly was the trip of a lifetime. If you ever get the opportunity to backpack through Europe, do it!

Looking for other European travel guides?

• 14 Best Things to Do in Paris, France
• 7 Amazing Things to Do in Perast, Montenegro
• How to Spend 3 Days in Dublin, Ireland
• How to Spend One Day in Bratislava, Slovakia

This post is all about the best things to do in Vienna, Austria.

Best Things to Do in Vienna – The Basics

Currency = Euro

The currency in Austria is the euro. (EUR)

1 USD = .93 Euro

Many places in Vienna will accept card payments but I find it helpful to keep a bit of cash for small purchases. Cash is really useful if you need to tip a guide, split a restaurant bill, or shop at a local market. Also note, that there are plenty of ATMs throughout the city. 

Language = German  

The national language in Austria is German. However, you will find that many people in Vienna will speak English. Because Vienna is such a popular tourist destination and the largest city in Austria, you won’t have a hard time getting around if you don’t speak German. 

If you decide to visit smaller towns outside the city, many people only speak German. I suggest having Google Translate downloaded and learning a few phrases in German to be polite. I love to Duolingo app for learning new languages.

Phone & Internet 

From my experience, I never had an issue with the phone and internet in Vienna. There was cell service just about everywhere and a majority of the cafes and restaurants I visited had wifi. Pretty much all hostels and hotels will have wifi too. 

Daily Budget 

For a budget traveler, expect to spend about 50 to 90 euros per day (including accommodation). If you stay at hostels, eat street food, and do free activities, Vienna is an affordable city to visit. 

For more of a mid-range budget, expect to spend 100 to 180 euros per day. If you want to stay in a boutique hotel or Airbnb and eat at more restaurants, you can do all of this on a mid-range budget.

Tipping in Vienna 

Tipping in Vienna is customary. It’s typical to tip about 5% to 15% on the bill. 

Can You Drink The Tap Water?  

Yes, tap water is safe to drink in Vienna. There are many drinking fountains around the city. 

Bucket List Things to Do in Vienna, Austria

1. BELVEDERE PALACE 

You can’t visit Vienna without checking out one of the most beautiful palaces in the city, Belvedere Palace. Belvedere Palace was built in the 1700s as a ceremonial residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy.

We visited right when the palace opened to avoid the crowds (at 10 AM). I suggest you do the same if you want to enjoy this place with fewer people. Give yourself at least 2 to 3 hours to visit. Although you could spend all day here. 

Belvedere Palace is incredible. it’s split up between Upper and Lower Belvedere. We visited Upper Belvedere. The admission to Upper Belvedere is 13.50 euros for students and if you are under 26. Lower Belvedere was built as more of a functional residence and now hosts temporary art exhibitions.   

If you need a little pick-me-up after the palace, visit Belvedere’s cafe, Schlosscafe, for an espresso. After that, head over to the gardens. They are so. stunning. You have to include this in your visit! Give yourself at least an hour to wander through the gardens.

2. NASCHMARKT VIENNA 

Naschmarkt is an open-air food market and a must to add to your Vienna travel guide! We wandered through the market and had lunch at Neni – an incredible Israeli restaurant.

Then stopped in a chocolate shop to pick up a few delicious dark chocolate bars. Another good restaurant to visit in Naschmarkt is Umarfish for seafood and wine. You will also find a variety of produce and street food here. 

Naschmarkt is open from 6 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday. Make sure to bring cash, many of the stalls do not accept card payments.

Many things in Vienna are closed on Sundays. We arrived in the city on a Sunday and there were very few restaurants, shops, and attractions open. So keep this in mind when planning your itinerary. 

3. KUNTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM (ART MUSEUM)

The Kunthistorisches Museum is an art museum in Vienna. It houses an incredible amount of art all from the 1500s to the 1900s. You will see pieces from all around the world and could seriously spend hours in here. This was my favorite museum to visit in Vienna, and I highly recommend adding it to your Vienna bucket list. 

If you are looking for more museums to visit in Vienna, read my guide here on all of the best museums in Vienna to visit! 

4. SCHONBRUNN PALACE

Another palace that needs to be on your Vienna travel guide! Schonbrunn Palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Austria’s most visited tourist attractions. 

Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours exploring this palace. It’s incredible. And don’t forget to stroll around the gardens!  

5. EXPLORE RING ROAD 

Vienna’s Ring Road (formally called Ringstrasse), is a 3-mile-long circular road with some of the city’s most famous sites along it. It’s also a great place to get some shopping done. Just off the Ring Road, there is a road with tons of brand-name stores. 

It’s near Burggarten Park, so lots to do in this area. My sister and I went to a delicious restaurant across from the park, walked around for a bit, and then did some shopping near Ring Road. 

6. VIENNA OPERA HOUSE

Another great thing to do in Vienna is to attend an opera at one of the most famous Opera Houses in the world, the Vienna Opera House.

It was one of the first major buildings on Ring Road. Tickets to the operas vary, and you can find affordable tickets. There are also a variety of different opera houses to visit in Vienna, this one is just the most famous. 

RELATED POST: 10 BEST MUSEUMS IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA

7. AUSTRIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY

This library is incredible. The Austrian National Library is the largest in the country. The library houses over 12 million items in its many different collections.  

It is centrally located, right next to the Spanish Riding School. You don’t need too much time here. I believe we spent about 45 minutes or so but it was well worth it. Probably one of the most beautiful libraries I’ve ever seen. 

You can purchase tickets on arrival and a standard adult ticket costs 10 euros. 

8. DONAUKANAL

The Donaukanal is a regulated water channel in the city of Vienna that used to be part of the Danube. It’s the perfect place to walk, bike, or just people-watch. In the evenings it’s a popular place for young people to buy drinks and hang out. 

If you have enough time in Vienna, I suggest taking a day trip to Bratislava. It’s such a lovely city and makes for a great day trip. Read my guide here all about visiting Bratislava from Vienna.

9. BURGGARTEN

This is a lovely park to explore or just chill. If you are looking for a good restaurant, check out Palmenhaus, it’s right in the park. I got an Aperol spritz and a Caesar salad, it was incredible! 

On the other hand, you can bring your food to the park and sit for a picnic. It’s a great area to visit, one you don’t want to miss in Vienna. 

10. SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL

The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is an Austrian institution dedicated to classical dressage and the training of Lipizzaner horses. Here, you can get guided tours and buy tickets to watch training sessions. 

This is the only institution in the world that has practiced classical dressage for over 450 years. 

11. SAINT STEPHANS CATHEDRAL

Head to the very center of the city to visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The gothic-style architecture of the building is something you can’t miss. You can also buy tickets to visit the inside or even book a guided tour.

After I took a walking tour of the city (which I highly recommend), I stayed in the area and got to see the cathedral. We didn’t have time to go inside, but I’ve heard it’s amazing. 

12. PRATER PARK

This is such a fun place to visit in Vienna! Prater Park is basically a mini amusement park. It’s full of rides, games, restaurants, and cafes. I didn’t ride any rides but my sister and I enjoyed pitchers of beer at a local restaurant. Prater Park was such a fun vibe for the evening.

13. HOFBURG PALACE

Another gorgeous palace and something you can’t miss in the city is Hofburg Palace. It’s now a massive museum – one of the best to visit in Vienna. Hofburg Palace is the former principal imperial palace of the imperial dynasty. It was built in the 13th century and expanded many times after that. 

Hofburg Palace is within walking distance of the Austrian National Library and the Spanish Riding School. I love how Vienna is such a walkable city for the most part. There are many major sites very close to one another.

14. HUNDERTWASSERHAUS 

If you are into funky architecture, head to Hundertwasserhaus. It’s an apartment in Vienna built after the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. It’s a pretty cool building to check out if you are in the area and is a great Instagram spot. 

TRANSPORTATION IN VIENNA

HOW TO GET TO VIENNA 

If you are flying, you will likely fly into Vienna International Airport. If you are arriving via train, the main train station is called Wien Hauptbahnhof. 

RELATED POST: 48 HOURS IN BERLIN, GERMANY – TRAVEL GUIDE

GETTING AROUND IN VIENNA

I suggest using the metro to get from place to place in Vienna. Once you are in the city center you can walk to many places. The metro is quick and efficient, this is what my sister and I used the whole time. 

WHERE TO STAY IN VIENNA 

I stayed at the Ibis Wien City. Ibis hotels are great budget accommodation options in Europe. I have stayed at them in Berlin, London, Amsterdam, and Dublin. 

Ibis hotels are a mix between a hostel and a hotel. During our stay in Vienna, my sister and I decided to get a private room instead of a dorm. It was a nice room with our bathroom and even a TV! They also have hostel-style rooms. 

I will say we had an odd encounter in Berlin in this hotel. So, we booked a hostel room, as we had the whole trip. Well, this time an old man was mine and my sister’s hostel roommate, which was not ideal. I have stayed in countless hostels and this has never been the case. They usually have an age limit or at least all-girls dorms available. Ibis did not, so we ended up moving hotels. Just wanted to let you know just in case you run into a similar situation. Some Ibis locations don’t offer girls-only dorms. 

FIND A PLACE TO STAY IN VIENNA

Booking.com

EAT + DRINK IN VIENNA

• Motto am Fluss: Good view of the Donakanal 
• Wirr: Good breakfast 
• Rebhuhn: Viennese food
• Zum Roten: Viennese food 
• Cafe Sperl 
• Cafe Central: Famous because it was a popular meeting point for famous people back in the day
• Cafe Siebenstern (Cafe 7Stern)
• OBEN
• Ulrich  
• Honu: Amazing poke bowls
• Votiv: Great schnitzel and Sacher-torte cake. Our guide recommended this place!
• Helli&Leo: A unique 2D gelato shop
• Schronbrunn Palace apple strudel

FOODS TO TRY IN VIENNA 

• Rindsuppe (beef soup) 
• Apfelstrudel (apple strudel)
• Wiener schnitzel 
• Tafelspitz (beef boiled in broth) 
• Sacher-Torte cake 
• Vienesse breakfast 
• Melange (Viennese coffee) 

And that’s a wrap on all of the best things to do in Vienna, Austria! I hope this guide was helpful and if you have any questions please DM me on Instagram, comment below, or email me at sydabroad@gmail.com.

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