tourism office vienna

• Go to navigation
• Go to content
• Go to search

Sprache / Jezik / Dil

• Bosanski Hrvatski Srpski
• Türkçe
• Current tab: Search for

Address finder

• Current section: Topics

Contact the City

Emergency numbers.

• Education & Research
• Business & Media
• Current subtopic: Culture & History
• Environment & Leisure
• Health & Social Services
• Transportation & Urban Planning
• Living, Housing & Working
• Politics & Administration

Your current position:

• Culture & History

Visiting Vienna

Topics menu.

• Commemoration and Reflection
• Jewish Vienna
• Municipal and Provincial Archives
• Music, Theatre, Dance
• Religion and Cemeteries
• Vienna City Hall
• Vienna - the making of a capital

Vienna is a city with a very high quality of life, a feature that is highly appreciated by the many visitors who come to the Austrian capital. The Vienna Tourist Board provides comprehensive information about sights, hotels and leisure activities in Vienna to give visitors a structured overview of the many events and attractions in the city.

• Thematic focus in 2024: "Heartbeat Streets. Fall in Love with Vienna's Neighborhoods"

Accommodation in Vienna

Make use of the convenient online booking system on the Website of the Vienna Tourist Board or contact the staff of Vienna Hotels & Info, the booking service of Vienna Tourist Board, who will be happy to find the right accommodation for your stay. more

Vienna City Card

24, 48 or 72 hours of free travel on all modes of public transport plus more than 200 discounts in selected Viennese museums, cafés, restaurants, theatres et cetera starting from EUR 17. more

Off the beaten track

• Modern architecture
• An unconventional sightseeing tour

Guided tours

• Guided tours through the City Hall
• Guided city bus tours
• Guides and tours in Vienna

Transportation

• City Airport Train
• Taxi stands

Virtual Vienna

• ivie - the City Guide App

Views of Vienna

• StadtWien -Public WLAN
• Public internet access (City map)
• Vienna Tourist Board on YouTube

Visitors to Vienna

• Sightseeing
• Calendar of Events
• Shopping, Wining & Dining

Enjoy images, webcam shots and films of the city. more

© Stadt Wien, Rathaus, A-1010 Wien • Credits and disclaimer • Privacy

Welcome to the Holiday Information Service

Our holiday experts are here to assist you with your holiday planning. Send us a message and we will get back you as soon as we can.

Please fill in fields marked with *

Give us a call Monday to Friday from 8am to noon. Outside of our office hours please drop us an email and we'll be happy to answer your questions.

Telephone: 00800 400 200 00 Österreich Werbung Vordere Zollamtsstraße 13 A-1030 Wien Wien AT

[email protected]

*toll-free; calls from mobile networks may incur charges

Austria’s capital Vienna offers a blend of imperial traditions, music, and endearing charm.

• Where to Go

Austria’s capital Vienna offers a blend of imperial traditions, music, and endearing charm. A city that inspires with the old and the new alike, and always has a cosy place available in a coffee house or wine tavern.

Top 6 Highlights in Vienna

Explore vienna's lifestyle, vienna: city of music.

If you sit on the nearby Kahlenberg mountain and look down on Vienna, you will see what a fascinating collage this city is. There are green, rolling vineyards, and then there are the magnificent, imperial buildings Vienna is known for. After all, Vienna is a city where world history was written for half a millennium. Art history, as well.

Must-Sees in Vienna

On a trip along the Ringstrasse, you pass the Vienna State Opera , the Museum of Art History and its counterpart, the Museum of Natural History , the Parliament , the Burgtheater , and the City Hall .

Right in the heart of the city, the Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral casts its shadows through narrow cobblestone streets. The palaces and parks of the Habsburg era - Schönbrunn Palace with the Gloriette and the zoo, Belvedere Palace , and the Hofburg palace - give the city an imperial air, enriched by beautiful buildings from the Art Nouveau period.

About Vienna

Vienna’s history dates back to the first post-Christian century, when the Romans established the military camp Vindobona. Today’s cityscape is characterised by the abundance of Baroque buildings created mostly under the rule of Empress Maria Theresia (1740 - 1780) and Franz Joseph (1848 - 1916), who was largely responsible for the monumental architecture in the city's centre. Learn more .

Schönbrunn Palace Austrian National Tourist Office / Peter Burgstaller media_content.tooltip.skipped

Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna Austrian National Tourist Office / Peter Burgstaller Schloß Schönbrunn media_content.tooltip.skipped

Schönbrunn Palm House Austrian National Tourist Office / Julius Silver media_content.tooltip.skipped

Upper Belvedere in summer Belvedere Wien / Anna Neulinger media_content.tooltip.skipped

A great view of the Vienna Volksgarten, a public garden Wien Tourismus / Christian Stemper media_content.tooltip.skipped

Imperial palace in Vienna Austrian National Tourist Office / Julius Silver media_content.tooltip.skipped

park Burggarten in Vienna Austrian National Tourist Office / Willfried Gredler-Oxenbauer media_content.tooltip.skipped

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna Austrian National Tourist Office / Harald Eisenberger media_content.tooltip.skipped

View to the Museums of Art History and Natural History Wien Tourismus / Christian Stemper media_content.tooltip.skipped

Schönbrunn Palace

Hofburg palace, spanish riding school vienna, belvedere palace, the giant ferris wheel, parks, woods & vineyards, ball season in austria, vienna: scenic culture highlights, vienna: architectural highlights.

The Erlkings, music ensemble from Vienna The Erlkings / Julia Wesely media_content.tooltip.skipped

Get your Artist’s Guide to Vienna - featuring The Erlkings

Have you ever wondered what makes Vienna the world’s capital of music? More famous composers have lived here than in any other city. Why is that? What inspired them? The talented music ensemble The Erlkings responded with their personal insights and tips to these questions and this culturally rich city. Get your copy!

Vienna’s Zeitgeist According to a 125-Year-Old Ferrous Lady

Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel has quite a few stories to tell. During its 125 years of being in motion, it has seen it all: war, Hollywood fame, and love stories. Take a peek into the Zeitgeist of a tumultuous era in Vienna.

Viennese Cuisine

"museumsquartier" cultural quarter, coffeehouse culture.

We would like to show you content from external sources here. Unfortunately, you have not given us permission to do so. As soon as you load the content, you agree to the use of cookies for statistical and marketing purposes. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time via the ( data protection statement ). Load content See on Musikverein Vienna Austrian National Tourist Office / Sebastian Stiphout media_content.tooltip.skipped

Music is in the Air

Vienna is home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra , one of the best orchestras in the world. And even among the world's greatest conductors, it is an honour to take the lead at the New Years Day Concert, held at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein every year on the 1st of January.

The Vienna Boy's Choir inspires music lovers around the globe with their great voices.

In addition to classical music, Vienna offers jazz fans unique concerts at the Porgy & Bess jazz club, but fans of the electronic music scene can also find their rhythm at unusual locations such as the Danube Canal or the Praterstern.

Vollpension / Mark Glassner media_content.tooltip.skipped

Welcome to Vollpension

Granny’s public living room in vienna.

When you open the door to ‘Vollpension Generation Café’ aka ‘Granny’s public living room’ you instantly feel like you enter the living room of your childhood where you get a warm hug and be spoiled by your grandma’s freshly baked cakes. The concept of this café in Vienna is based on exactly that feeling.

Vollpension is German for both, a hotel stay including full-board – similar to your granny’s place - and retirement payment. Old-age poverty and loneliness are big issues not only in Austria but around the world. Therefore, 50% of the Vollpension team are older than 60.

Vienna in 3 Days

Vienna, the city of music, art, culture, and fine food, in the beating heart of Europe.

Hotels in Vienna

Discover the diverse array of hotels in Vienna, where each property maintains a high standard of excellence while boasting its own unique identity.

Vienna Pass - Your Key to the City

Check out your benefits

Tourist Bureau Vienna – Tourist Info

Practical information and tips for your stay in Vienna are also available on site. Three tourist office – tourist bureau – information offices are already available on arrival at the airport, at the central station or in the city center for information of any kind.

Tourist Bureau at frequented places

I n the center of Vienna there is an information point of the Vienna Tourist Board at the Albertinaplatz, corner Maysedergasse. Here information, advice and the delivery of map materials, brochures and brochures and information about current events. This tourist information office is open daily from 9am to 7pm

Sie sehen gerade einen Platzhalterinhalt von Standard . Um auf den eigentlichen Inhalt zuzugreifen, klicken Sie auf den Button unten. Bitte beachten Sie, dass dabei Daten an Drittanbieter weitergegeben werden.

Tourist Office Vienna – tourist bureau

Furthermore, there is a tourist information at the main station in Vienna. This information center is also open daily from 9 am to 7 pm. Note: the entrance area is stepless and 200 cm wide!

For all visitors to Vienna arriving by plane there is an information point in the arrivals hall at the airport Vienna-Schwechat . It is open daily from 7am to 10pm.

Telephone hotline for information regarding Wien-Hotels & Info

The Wien Tourismus – Gästeservice assists guests in finding and booking accommodation. Questions are answered from Monday to Friday by telephone on the hotline + 43-1-24 555 or in writing by email to [email protected] in the time from 9 to 19 o’clock.

Opening times of the Viennese shops, museums …

The legally permitted shop opening hours are from Monday to Friday from 05.00 to 21.00, Saturday to 18.00. In fact, the opening hours of the shops vary. The shops are most often open during the week from 9am to 6pm (groceries starting at 8am), Saturdays until 1pm or 5pm.

In the city center of Vienna most of the restaurants are open daily and they serve hot meals throughout the day. In general, it can be assumed that the hot kitchen between 11 – 14 clock and 18-22 clock offered. At Vienna’s typical Viennese sausage stalls, night owls also get warm food late at night.

The most important museums in the city open every day, except for a few days a year, so you can expect an opening time between 10 and 17 o’clock. However, smaller and thematic specified museums are either open only on weekends or have at least a few closing days / week. Please therefore check the opening times in each case in advance!

Infrastructure such as pharmacies, banks and post offices

Pharmacies are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday to Friday and from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon on Saturdays. But there are also outside these times, around the clock, a pharmacy standby service. In this regard, the pharmacies alternate – each pharmacy has posted the notes on the nearest duty pharmacy at their front doors or this is by phone (phone 1455) at the information center in question.

The following information should be noted for banking and post offices : The opening hours of most banks are from 8 am to 12.30 pm and from 1.30 pm to 3 pm from Monday to Friday. (Thursdays open until 17:30) In the city center, the bank branches usually open at noon.

The Vienna post offices are open from 8 am to 6 pm. The common credit cards are accepted without any problems. For any loss reports and inquiries, we have summarized the hotlines of the most famous organizations here: American Express Tel. 515110 – Airplus / Diners Club Tel. 501350 – Mastercard Tel. 717010 – Visa Tel. 71111

Public transport Vienna

Subsequent operating hours of public transport must be taken into account in the activities. The Vienna Underground lines run daily from about 5 o’clock in the morning until midnight. The intervals are about 5 minutes, during the use peaks the intervals are increased to 2 to 4 minutes. On the weekends (Friday night and Saturday night) or on the nights before the holidays there is a 24-hour service.

The Vienna tram / tram lines and buses are available during the day but stop the operation before the subways. Along the main roads, night buses also pass through the city every night. The details of the individual timetables can be requested online from the timetable of Wiener Linien .

Emergency telephone numbers Vienna

For all emergencies that may occur during the stay there are short numbers for a quick help: Fire Brigade: 122 and Police: 133 Ambulance / Rescue : Tel. 144 – Doctors Emergency Service: Tel. 141 Euro emergency call : Tel. 112, is the European emergency number, usable free of charge in all EU states

ViennaMed Ärzte-Hotline für Gäste (0-24): Tel. +43-1-513 95 95 Zahnärztlicher Nacht- und Wochenenddienst (Tonbanddienst): Tel. +43-1-512 20 78

ViennaMed Medical Hotline for Guests (0-24): Tel. + 43-1-513 95 95 Dental night and weekend service (tape recorder): Tel. + 43-1-512 20 78

© 2024 vienna-trips.at - Ausflugstipps und Urlaubstipps

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Destinations

20 Best Things to Do in Vienna, Austria, From Palace Strolls to Sachertorte

Here's how locals recommend exploring the capital city.

StockFrame/Getty Images

Vienna (or “Wien” in German) is a must-visit city for many travelers, whether you’re visiting Europe for the first time or returning for a new adventure. The capital of Austria is a rich cultural hub, boasting museums, Baroque architecture, and a legacy closely tied to classical music — hence its nickname, the City of Music. Vienna is also the birthplace of Wiener schnitzel, and it continues to hold the title of “most livable city,” as determined by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Liveability Index .

Tina Haselbacher, the owner of Almanac Hotels — which opened Almanac Palais Vienna in March 2023 — describes Vienna as “a place where tradition meets the contemporary.” While the city is, in many ways, visually defined by its historic structures, Haselbacher explains that there are “interesting and contemporary concepts living behind these traditional facades, such as modern art, cutting-edge culinary innovations, and interactive experiences with today’s creators.”

To discover both sides of Vienna, you’ll want to fill your itinerary with a combination of the old and the new — a stop by the Hofburg Palace followed by an afternoon exploring the Kunsthalle Wien in the Museumsquartier, for example. Read on to discover the best things to do when visiting Vienna, according to locals. 

Visit the famed Schönbrunn Palace.

Alisha McDarris/Travel + Leisure

According to Julija and Wolfgang Rigon of Good Vienna Tours, you “can't visit Vienna without [seeing] Schönbrunn.” The summer residence of the Habsburgs, Schönbrunn Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. While you’ll inevitably experience lines, particularly if you’re there during the weekend, there’s still plenty to do while you wait. “You get [your ticket] relatively quickly and see what time you are allowed into the castle. While you're waiting, you can grab a bite to eat or visit the gardens,” says the couple.

Enjoy a slow morning at a coffee house.

Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images

“Viennese coffee house culture is an integral part of the Viennese lifestyle, so much so that UNESCO placed it on its intangible cultural heritage list ,” says Michael Gigl, head of market USA for the Austrian Tourist Office . Don’t expect a fast-paced, Starbucks-like morning, though. “The true secret to the Vienna coffee house experience is the lack of time pressure. No one will bat an eye if you decide to read every single newspaper and magazine on hand," he says. "Opening a laptop, however, is rather frowned upon.” Gigl’s coffee house recommendations include Café Sperl , Café Hawelka , Café Korb , Café Ritter , and Café Schwarzenberg .

Stop by St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Viktor/Getty Images

At its tallest point, St. Stephen’s Cathedral reaches 136 meters, making it the tallest church in Austria and one of the most recognizable sights in Vienna. Visiting the main entrance is free, but you’ll need to purchase a ticket to see the cathedral in its entirety. “The view from the top, whether by foot or by elevator, is highly recommended in good weather,” says Wolfgang Rigon.

Snap a photo of the Majolikahaus (Majolica House).

BrendanHunter/Getty Images

“Otto Wagner’s Majolikahaus is a Viennese Art Nouveau-styled building famous for its colorful tiles with a floral motif," says Haselbacher. "It is such a special place to see an icon of the Art Nouveau style." Designed by the Austrian architect in 1898 and 1899, Majolikahaus can be found at Linke Wienzeile 40 in the Laimgrube neighborhood. 

Fill up on Wiener schnitzel.

bhofack2/Getty Images

“Without having eaten [Wiener schnitzel] in its hometown, you have not been to Vienna,” says Julija Rigon. Made of thinly pounded veal, dipped in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and fried until golden brown, Wiener schnitzel is said to have been introduced in Vienna in the 1850s. It’s not hard to find the dish here; a few restaurant options include Schnitzelwirt , Skopik & Lohn , and Salzamt .

Take a dip in the Krapfenwaldlbad swimming pool.

If you grow tired of walking around Vienna and find yourself in need of a refreshing swim, make your way out of the city center. “ Krapfenwaldlbad is an outdoor swimming area in the woods of Vienna, overlooking the entire city," says Haselbacher. "Head there in the summertime to cool off and mix with locals and families."

Attend a performance at the Vienna State Opera.

Ursula Schmitz/Travel + Leisure

“About 10,000 people enjoy a classical music performance somewhere in the city every day, so go grab a ticket to the opera or a concert performance,” says Gigl. The Vienna State Opera House features 350 performances each season — both operas and ballets — and tickets can be purchased online . To learn more about Vienna’s musical history and tradition, Gigl suggests visiting the Haus der Musik (House of Music) “for an engaging interactive experience.”

Get an insider’s view of the city via a walking tour.

kolderal/Getty Images

Unless someone in your party already has a solid understanding of the city — including its layout, history, and lesser-known facts — a walking tour is a great way to get your bearings. Good Vienna Tours offers tours in English every day at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m.

Learn about Vienna’s past and present at the Jewish Museum.

Courtesy of the Jewish Museum Vienna

With an emphasis on the time period encompassing the two World Wars, this museum educates visitors on Jewish history, culture, and religion. Though it is split into two locations, a single ticket grants you access to both Museum Dorotheergasse and Museum Judenplatz . The latter is home to the Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial, a memorial designed by Rachel Whiteread that honors the Austrian victims of the Holocaust.

Indulge in a slice of Sachertorte.

tupungato/Getty Images

Sachertorte, which Gigl calls “the world’s most storied cake," should be on your must-try list while in Vienna. Invented in 1832 by pastry chef Franz Sacher, Sachertorte is a rich chocolate sponge cake made with layers of apricot jam and a chocolate ganache topping. Café Demel and Café Sacher have had a rivalry over the treat for centuries, so you may need to try both and see which one you prefer.

Relax in Vienna’s green spaces.

Creativemarc/Getty Images

“One of the reasons Vienna is consistently named as one, if not the, best place to live, is the city’s abundance of green spaces, parks, and recreational opportunities,” says Gigl. “Try the Prater for a leisurely stroll, or head to the ‘Alte Donau’ (Old Danube) for a swim or a paddleboard session,” says Gigl.

Explore the art collection at the Belvedere Museum.

Deanna Mazzola/Travel + Leisure

There’s a high chance art aficionados will already be familiar with the Belvedere Museum , which the Rigons describe as a “beautiful Baroque palace with an even more impressive garden.” Haselbacher adds, “They have the biggest collection of [Gustav] Klimt, and the architecture is really special." The Klimt collection includes his most famous piece, “The Kiss.”

Eat lunch at a würstelstand.

Lauren Breedlove/Travel + Leisure

A würstelstand is a traditional Austrian street food outlet that serves sausage, hot dogs, and beer, among other delicacies. You’ll find them all over Vienna, but Würstelstand LEO is said to be the city’s oldest sausage stand. If you aren’t adverse to dairy, order the Käsekrainer, which is a sausage filled with small chunks of cheese.

Walk along the Ringstraße.

In 1857, Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the construction of a boulevard built around Vienna’s city center. Down came the historic city walls, and the Ringstraße (or Vienna Ring Road) took its place, although it took a few decades to complete. “The State Opera, the Hofburg, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural History, the Burgtheater, the City Hall, and the Parliament are just a few sights on Ringstraße,” says Wolfgang Rigon. He suggests walking the 5.2km (about 3.2 miles) route or taking a streetcar.

Shop in Vienna’s two remaining street markets.

Ursula Schmitz/Travel + Leisrue

Hasselbacher notes that if you make your way to Währing, the 18th district, you’ll find Kutschkermarkt, one of “the last remaining street markets in Vienna.” The other street market, Brunnenmarkt , is in Ottakring, the 16th district. Both offer a variety of produce, meats, breads, spices, flowers, and more. On Saturdays, Kutschkermarkt also has a farmer’s market, where regional fruits and vegetables join the lineup.

Spend a few hours in the MuseumsQuartier.

Self-described as “one of the largest cultural quarters in the world,” the MuseumsQuartier is a hub of Viennese creativity. Here you’ll find the Leopold Museum , the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna), and the contemporary exhibition space Kunsthalle Wien . If you’re interested in architecture, music, theater, dance, street art, literature, photography, or all of the above, you’ll find something interesting in the MuseumsQuartier.

Round out your meal with a Punschkrapfen.

A_Lein/Getty Images

“Punschkrapfen is a local delicacy made of nougat and jam-filled sponge cake soaked with rum,” says Haselbacher. Translated to punch cake, the dessert can be found in numerous places across the city, and you’ll notice it immediately thanks to its bright pink coloring.

Dive into Habsburg history at Hofburg Palace.

TomasSereda/Getty Images

Hofburg Palace once served as the Habsburgs’ winter residence, but today it’s the workplace and home of the president of Austria. Visitors are allowed to explore the palace, which houses three museums: the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection (although the latter is expected to be closed until 2026).

Make a reservation at Palmenhaus.

Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

You’ll find Palmenhaus in Vienna’s 1st district, next to the Albertina Museum . “With over 400 butterflies flying in the palm house year-round, it is a lovely spot to be immersed in nature,” says Haselbacher, who adds that it’s also a “very nice spot to have a drink, overlooking the Park Burggarten.”

Visit the history-filled Kunsthistorisches Museum.

rusm/Getty Images

“If you are even a little interested in art, a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum is a must,” says Julija Rigon. "It is one of the largest and most important museums in the world." Also referred to as the Museum of Fine Arts, the venue's collections span five millennia and include works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Rubens, Michelangelo, Vermeer, and more.

Related Articles

Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Public Transportation

Airport Guide

48-Hour Itinerary

Top Things to Do

Top Museums

Naschmarkt Guide

Austrian Foods to Try

Best Restaurants

Nightlife in Vienna

Best Places to Taste Wine

Your Trip to Vienna: The Complete Guide

Vienna Guide: Planning Your Trip

TripSavvy / Alisha McDarris

Vienna looms large in the popular imagination as a European city that's steeped in history and elegance. When you picture the city, you might imagine well-dressed denizens drinking coffee in lavishly decorated cafés, or enjoying an evening at Vienna's world-famous opera. Its reputation for quaint—or even old-fashioned—style is a firm one. Yet the capital of Austria is more diverse and contemporary than you might imagine. Dynamic yet relaxed, the mid-sized city harbors trendy galleries, world-class wineries, a vibrant nightlife scene , and plenty of youthful energy.

Read on for our full tips on planning a vacation in Vienna, including information and advice on the best time of year to visit, the best things to see and do, where to eat, and how to get around.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit:  The city is at its best in the summer, when long days, lively festivals, and a relaxed ambience reign. In the early winter, holiday markets and postcard-perfect scenery offer a cozy backdrop.

Language : German is Austria's official language, though English is commonly spoken in Vienna  .

Currency: The Euro has been Austria's official currency since 2002   .

Getting Around :  As Central Vienna is fairly small, it's easy to get around on foot. The extensive tram system is also user-friendly and practical, though some visitors may want to use the affordable city bike scheme (note that sticking to bike paths is recommended).

Travel Tip:  If you're visiting during high season, remember that early birds succeed in avoiding the biggest crowds. We suggest hitting up museums, palaces, and other popular attractions as soon as they open, and going on weekdays if possible.

Things to Do

If you've never been to Vienna, visiting the main museums and monuments in the Hofburg Palace Complex —including the Sisi Museum, Imperial Apartments, and Silver Collection—is highly recommended. Also spend a few hours exploring the nearby MuseumsQuartier , where museums like Leopold Museum and Kunsthalle Wien feature masterpieces from the likes of Gustav Klimt. After that, wander through the old-fashioned, grand streets of the city center and then perhaps take a walk along the Danube River. If you have room in your schedule, consider taking a river cruise to see some of the city's key sites from the picturesque vantage point of the water. Note that the Vienna Pass includes a river cruise in addition to entry to numerous other popular city attractions and monuments.

• Stroll through Schonbrunn Palace 's breathtaking rooms and gardens and learn more about Vienna's Imperial history as well as the royal families that lived there.
• Pay a visit to the Secession Haus to see Gustav Klimt's magnificent "Beethoven Frieze" mural and marvel at the building's distinctive golden facade.
• Admire the harmonious Gothic architecture of St-Stephens Cathedral ( Stephansdom ) and take in panoramic views of the city from its southern tower, which rises to some 223 feet.

Explore more Viennese sights and attractions with our full-length articles on the  best things to do in Vienna and the best day trips outside the city . The city is home to more than 100 museums  , so check out our guide to Vienna's top museums to help narrow your choices.

What to Eat and Drink

Situated at the border between Western and Eastern Europe, Vienna offers a rich and diverse culinary culture. Local dishes are influenced by a number of traditional cuisines, including Germanic and Eastern European, and the city's unpretentious restaurant scene melds innovation with tradition. In the spring, local produce such as fresh asparagus is star of the show in the city's numerous, relaxed bistros and more formal tables. Specialties such as Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte chocolate cake, and Tafelspitz (boiled beef or veal with applesauce) have seen numerous creative spin-offs and adaptations, and vegetarian and vegan travelers can find plenty to eat in the capital.

The city's traditional coffeehouses aren't simply an excellent place to try a typical Viennese melange (similar to a cappuccino) or espresso. They're the center of a vibrant, casual food culture, and a place to meet friends over lunch or an early dinner. Meanwhile, open-air markets and beer gardens are popular places to enjoy a casual al fresco drink or meal.

This city is also home to one of Europe's most important wine-growing (and tasting) centers. Vienna's outskirts harbor dozens of authentic wineries that produce traditional (primarily white) wines such as Gruner Vetliner and Riesling. Starting from late spring, it's a beloved tradition to gather in the Heurigen (winery restaurants and outdoor terraces) to taste the local bounty. And in the fall, the city hosts a number of festive harvest celebrations that also place wine at the center of celebrations.

Explore our articles on the best foods to taste in Vienna , top Vienna restaurants , and the best places for wine-tasting in the Austrian capital .

Where to Stay

When deciding where to stay in Vienna, you should take your budget and travel needs into consideration. The city offers a diverse range of accommodations at numerous price points, from large international hotel chains to small boutique hotels and apartment rental services. We recommend that you browse deals and book your accommodation several months in advance to lock in the best rates.

It can be substantially more expensive to choose a hotel in the city center, close to the most popular tourist attractions. To save money, consider booking a hotel or an apartment rental in a neighborhood a bit further outside the center (but do try to make sure you're close to a tram or U-Bahn station so you can easily get to the sights). In addition, visiting during the off-season (spring and fall) may mean you can find better deals on accommodation.

Read our recommendations on the best Vienna hotels. If you're looking for something a bit upmarket to celebrate a special occasion, see our guide to Vienna's most luxurious hotels .

Getting There

You can also easily reach Vienna by train from European capitals including Prague, Munich, and neighboring Bratislava. Driving is not generally necessary given the extensive European train network and abundance of cheap flights from other capitals on the continent. If you do decide to drive to or around the city, make sure to study Austrian and European traffic rules and rent a car with a reliable GPS navigation system. 

Vienna International Airport is Austria's largest airport, and is located in the town of Schwechat (around 11 miles southeast of the city center). It serves as a regional hub for major European airlines such as Austrian Air, Air France, and Lufthansa, as well as low-cost carriers such as EasyJet. This is a comfortable, manageable airport with ample shopping and dining facilities. Getting into the city center using dedicated airport trains is easy and relatively quick, taking between 30 to 45 minutes on average.

Money-Saving Tips

• Consider buying a Vienna City Card , which gives you unlimited transportation on the city's tram, bus, and subway network and offers discounts on a variety of popular Vienna attractions. The Vienna Pass (mentioned above) is another popular money-saving option.
• Low season in the Austrian capital (generally spring and fall) can be less expensive, thanks to lower airfares and hotel rates.
• Enjoy annual events such as the Long Night of Museums, which sees the capital's major museums open to the public for free through most of the night in early October.
• You can travel around the city by bike using Vienna's Citybike scheme . The first hour is entirely free.
• In the warmer months, consider packing a delicious picnic of Viennese breads, pastries, fruit and other goodies, and taking it to one of the city's parks or gardens (such as the one at Schonbrunn Palace) .
• Enjoy a variety of inexpensive local foods and sit-down restaurants by paying a visit to the Naschmarkt, Vienna's largest and most popular outdoor market. 
• Enjoy  free concerts  in the open air during the summer, as well as outdoor movies.

20 Top Things to Do in Vienna, Austria

The 10 Best Restaurants in Vienna

Vienna's Naschmarkt Market: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to Aruba: The Complete Guide

The 10 Best Places to Taste Wine in Vienna, Austria

Your Trip to Frankfurt: The Complete Guide

Paris Guide: Planning Your Trip

Your Trip to Florence: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to Edinburgh: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to Berlin: The Complete Guide

France Guide: Planning Your Trip

Regensburg: Planning Your Trip

Dublin Guide: Planning Your Trip

Washington, D.C. Guide: Planning Your Trip

Your Trip to the Bahamas: The Complete Guide

Your Trip to the Czech Republic: The Complete Guide

  [An * means an affiliate relationship; see footer] City guide | Search the site | Tips for May

Visiting Vienna

A Guide to Vienna

This article is going to be biased because I live here and love the city. But let me just introduce you to a few topics that should help you find your way around Vienna (literally and figuratively) as you consider or plan a visit.

We’ll look (briefly) at what the city offers visitors, its history, its layout, and some basic information on issues like public transport and languages.

• Book a concert experience * for your trip
• My top places to visit
• Concert & tour overviews
• What to do in a day
• Events & festivals

Read on or jump to…

Background & history

• Historical sights
• Music & art
• Food & “Gemütlichkeit”
• Layout & getting around

Best time to visit?

Your next steps, quick overview for visitors.

(The Graben pedestrianised street in the city centre)

This really is a beautiful clean city full of urban charm, with a rich and long history, plenty to see and do (also with children ), excellent services and amenities, and a selection of cakes that will do evil things to your willpower.

(Told you I was biased.)

Let us begin with a bit of…

(One entrance to the central Hofburg palace area)

Vienna is the capital of Austria (a western democracy and member of the European Union). Located in the east of the country on the banks of the mighty Danube river, the city is home to just over 2 million people.

Despite its size, Vienna retains the feel of a large town. Part of that is down to the numerous parks, woodland, outlying hills, and other open and green spaces.

Global urban liveability rankings tend to put Vienna at (or near) the top: the city has excellent public services (particularly public transport ), accessibility, economic success, low crime , and a wide range of leisure and cultural activities.

Vienna’s not perfect, but there are worse places to live…

(The Burggarten park in the very centre of town)

Vienna owes its size (and much of its beauty) to the legacy of the Habsburg monarchy that ended in 1919.

The Habsburgs ruled over large areas of Europe for many centuries, and Wien (to give the city its German name) was both their home and the administrative centre of their authority for almost all that period.

An Imperial capital inevitably attracts wealthy residents as well as musicians, architects, artists and designers.

As a result:

• Numerous monumental buildings and concert venues exist (also because the Emperors, Empresses, and their families constantly engaged in a game of one-upmanship in architecture)
• Great works of art fill Vienna’s museums (also because Imperial families, aristocrats and wealthy residents had expensive hobbies, an eye for collecting, or received rather nice gifts)

The city’s history predates the Habsburgs, of course. The Romans settled here, for example, when Vienna was known as Vindobona . And we still have churches that date back over 1000 years.

What Vienna offers

(The coffee house in Palais Ferstel )

Vienna counts as a popular tourist destination, particularly for short city breaks. The huge tourism sector and high level of education means service personnel and similar normally all speak good English (the national language is, however, German).

Obviously the city has all the amenities and opportunities you’d associate with a large, wealthy and well-run European city (and the Euro as its currency ).

People visit for various reasons, and I can’t speak to, for example, the nightlife and cocktail bars because I’m a shy writer whose idea of a wild night is a glass of wine on the sofa and Netflix.

However, Vienna’s traditional selling points from my perspective are the historical sites, the music & art, and the gastronomic Gemütlichkeit .

Let’s begin with the buildings…

Historical sights & sites

(Schönbrunn Palace)

Like many of the great European cities, you can simply wander around the streets and enjoy the mix of past architectural eras, such as Baroque townhouses, Jugendstil shop fronts, Biedermeier villas and Neogothic municipal offices.

We have, for example, three large palace complexes:

• The Hofburg in the very centre: seat of the Habsburgs for centuries and full of attractions like the Imperial apartments, the crown jewels, and the Spanish Riding School (home to the Lipizzaner horses)
• Schönbrunn : giant summer palace of the Habsburgs with a landscaped park, award-winning zoo, evening concerts, VR experience, carriage museum, and more
• Belvedere : two Baroque palaces now home to some fabulous art (see below)

We also have a giant Gothic cathedral , a whole host of gorgeous museums and churches , and various delightful buildings from the 1800s that appeared when they turned the city fortifications into prime real estate .

I’ve written a guide to the main sightseeing areas here .

Music and art

(The State Opera House)

Vienna can legitimately lay claim to being the home of classical music, whatever the rest of the world may say.

Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, Mahler, Bruckner, Schubert, Lehár, various members of the Strauss family, and many others all tinkled the ivories, plucked at strings, and produced copious quantities of sheet music here.

Many people choose to visit the landmarks associated with the famous composers, such as their homes, or to listen to their works in one of the city’s (often historical) concert venues . Vienna has one of the world’s greatest opera houses and one of the world’s best classical music concert halls .

The Habsburgs did a lot of interior decorating, which is one reason why Vienna can show you quite a bit of world-class art with numerous exhibitions on at any one time.

The top three locations are probably:

• The Albertina : the permanent collection covers names like Monet and Picasso. But they always have a selection of additional special exhibitions that range from Albrecht Dürer to Andy Warhol and beyond
• The Kunsthistorisches Museum : as well as paintings from a who’s who of old masters that includes the world’s greatest Bruegel collection, the Kunstkammer chamber of wonders never fails to blow my mind
• Belvedere : mentioned earlier and home to Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss , for example. Another location with regular special art exhibitions

As a large, flourishing city, contemporary art and music gets a shout in, too (see, for example, the MuseumsQuartier collection of institutions).

Food & Gemütlichkeit

(Apfelstrudel)

Gemütlichkeit is a German word that means a kind of cosy congeniality. Fast and furious are not words typically associated with Viennese restaurants and cafés.

As for food and drink , think cake and coffee.

Vienna has a strong café culture and its own particular brand of wood-and-marble coffee houses . The latter can date back up to 200 years and once echoed to the sounds of artists, intellectuals and politicians arguing into the night over a melange and Sachertorte .

Ah, Sachertorte.

(A typical Viennese breakfast. I’m not joking)

The locals love their cakes . The whole coffee and cake thing counts as a genuine authentic experience here.

The broader cuisine errs on the heavy side (cough, sausages ), but Vienna has long caught up with “modern” trends like healthy eating and vegetarianism .

It goes without saying that a city of this size covers a whole range of culinary options. But the Wiener Schnitzel still rules supreme, no matter what your doctor says.

On the alcoholic side of things, Vienna and Austria don’t go in for corporations much. So regional beers and wines dominate. Vienna even has its own (high quality) vineyards .

Now for just a few words on the city’s layout and getting around…

Layout guide & getting around

(Trams on the Ring)

Vienna consists of 23 districts . You can think of them (roughly) as a central district surrounded by two rings of inner and outer districts.

The central (first) district corresponds to the boundaries of the historical fortified city. Until the late 1800s, a wide open space surrounded this city, beyond which you had villages, country houses, and palaces.

When the city took down its fortifications and released the open ground for development , Vienna slowly merged with those outer areas.

That first district, which grew organically over the centuries, remains quite compact, eminently walkable, and stuffed to the brim with beautiful pristine buildings that either look historical or are historical. Many people just wander through the centre on their first trip.

(The Kunsthistorisches Museum)

That open area is now the Ring boulevard . The late 19th-century buildings either side of it form another highlight.

Many of Vienna’s most famous sights line the so-called Ringstrassen. Like the State Opera House , for example. Or the Kunsthistorisches and Naturhistorisches museums.

To summarise, many of Vienna’s tourist attractions lie close to each other in that relatively small first district or at its edge.

But not all.

For example, some of those country residences that Vienna eventually absorbed also come top of the tourist rankings . Like Schönbrunn Palace, for example: the Habsburg summer residence mentioned earlier and home to the Tiergarten Schönbrunn zoo with its giant pandas.

(One of the new generation of trams coursing through Vienna’s streets)

Don’t be too concerned by the prospect of travel in the city, though.

Vienna has a fast, frequent, comprehensive, clean, cheap, and efficient municipal subway, tram and bus system that means even the outlying sights can be reached quickly and easily without ruining your holiday budget.

This also means accommodation outside the centre still provides relatively swift access to the first district: just jump on a tram, for example.

Vienna also has its own international airport (code VIE), located around 20km to the east of the town centre. As you can imagine, getting into the city from the airport and out again is easy when you have a decent public transport system.

(The Christmas market on the Rathausplatz)

Finally, are there good and bad times to visit?

Given all the city has to offer, you really can’t pick a poor month for a trip to Vienna. Although, frankly, January and February can feel a bit grim in the Austrian winter. Though that also means fewer crowds, of course.

If you force me to commit, then the best times are kind of the obvious ones:

• Second half of November through to early January: the time of the Christmas and New Year markets, which are just wonderful. Not to mention the lovely Christmas lights .
• Late May to August : warm weather allows you to wander freely around all the beautiful streets, parks and gardens, and enjoy the street café and wine tavern culture.

The downside of those dates is a lot of people agree with that assessment, so Vienna can fill up with visitors.

Finally, a couple of other guides that should start you off as you decide what to do, where to go, and where to stay:

• Events : current event tips and a month-by-month overview of what you can do in the city
• Sightseeing overview : lots of suggestions on where to focus your time
• Hotels and accommodation tips : broad advice but also suggestions for key locations like major event venues, the city centre and similar

Hope to see you here sometime soon…

Vienna Travel Guide

Book your individual trip , stress-free with local travel experts

Select Month

• roughguides.com
• Travel guide
• Local Experts
• Travel Advice

Accommodation

Plan your tailor-made trip with a local expert

Book securely with money-back guarantee

Travel stress-free with local assistance and 24/7 support

Most people visit VIENNA (Wien) with a vivid image in their minds: a romantic place, full of imperial nostalgia, opera houses and exquisite cakes. Even so, the city can overwhelm with its eclectic feast of architectural styles, from High Baroque through the monumental imperial projects of the late nineteenth century, to the decorative Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) style of the early twentieth, used to great effect on several of the city’s splendid U-Bahn stations.

The Belvedere

Drinking and nightlife, entertainment, the hofburg, kärntnerstrasse and graben, the kunsthistorisches museum, the museumsquartier, the ring and rathausplatz, the secession, stephansdom, vienna’s heurigen.

Vienna became an important centre in the tenth century, then in 1278 the city fell to Rudolf of Habsburg, but didn’t become the imperial residence until 1683. The great aristocratic families flooded in to build palaces in a frenzy of construction that gave Vienna its Baroque character. By the end of the Habsburg era the city had become a breeding ground for the ideological passions of the age, and the ghosts of Freud, Klimt and Schiele are now some of the city’s biggest tourist draws.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO

Central Vienna is surprisingly compact, with the historical centre, or Innere Stadt, just 1km wide. The most important sights are concentrated here and along the Ringstrasse – the series of traffic- and tram-clogged boulevards that form a ring road around the centre. Efficient public transport allows you to cross the city in less than thirty minutes, making even peripheral sights, such as the monumental imperial palace at Schönbrunn , easily accessible. However, for all the grand palaces and museums, a trip to Vienna would not be complete without spending a leisurely afternoon over a creamy coffee and a piece of cake in one of the grand, shabby-glamorous coffeehouses for which the city is famous.

Travel ideas for Austria, created by local experts

15 days  / from 6264 USD

Capitals of Europe - Berlin, Prague, Vienna and more

This trip is ideal for all city & culture lovers: the Reichstag in Berlin, the castle in Prague, historical Cesky Krumlov, St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, the fortress above Salzburg and Schloss Neuschwanstein near Munich - these are just some of the highlights of this incredible roundup trip.

11 days  / from 4212 USD

Castles across Austria and Czechia

Austria and Czechia are home to some of the world's most beautiful architecture and culture gems, such as Schloss Schönbrunn in Vienna, Prague castle, the fortress above Salzburg and many more. Finish your tour with a visit to Schloss Neuschwanstein before flying out of Munich.

11 days  / from 3510 USD

Exclusive trip to Prague and Austria

Explore the main highlights of Central Europe: fascinating Prague & historical Cesky Krumlov, the highlights of Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck in Austria and then further on to Germany - get in the Disney spirit at Schloss Neuschwanstein.

For cheaper accommodation booking ahead is essential in summer. Several hostels are near the Westbahnhof, which is an easy few stops into the centre.

South of the Ringstrasse, the Belvedere (daily 10am–6pm; Oberes €14, combined ticket €20; tram #D from the opera house) is one of Vienna’s finest palace complexes. Two magnificent Baroque mansions face each other across a sloping formal garden. The loftier of the two, the Oberes Belvedere, has the best concentration of paintings by Klimt in the city, including The Kiss, while the Unteres Belvedere and Orangerie show temporary exhibitions.

For a bar crawl or live music the string of clubs under the railway arches around U Thaliastr, Josefstädterstr. and Alser str. are a good bet, while in summer beach bars line the Donaukanal.

The local listings magazine Falter ( w www.falter.at ) has comprehensive details of the week’s cultural programme. The tourist office also publishes the free monthly Programm .

Hofburg palace on St. Michael square (Michaelerplatz), Vienna, Austria © Mistervlad/Shutterstock

A block southeast of Graben is the immense, highly ornate Hofburg palace , housing many of Vienna’s key imperial sights. Skip the rather dull Kaiserappartements in favour of the more impressive Schatzkammer (Mon & Wed–Sun 9am–5.30pm; €12), where you’ll see some of the finest medieval craftsmanship and jewellery in Europe, including relics of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg crown jewels. The Hofburg is also home to two of Vienna’s most enduring tourist images: singing boys and prancing horses. Steps beside the Schatzkammer lead up to the Hofmusik Kapelle (Mon & Tues 10am–2pm, Fri 11am–1pm; free), where the Vienna Boys’ Choir sings Mass (mid-Sept to June Sun 9.15am; t 01 533 99 27): you can obtain free, standing tickets from 8.30am (otherwise €10–36; book in advance).

On the north side of the Hofburg, the imperial stables are home to the white horses of the Spanish Riding School , known for their extraordinary, intricate performances. There are three main ways to see them: book a performance well in advance (mid-Feb to mid-June & mid-Aug to Dec, usually Sat & Sun at 11am, occasionally Fri & eves; standing from €25, seats from €50); attend a morning exercise session (10am–noon: April–June, Sept & Oct Tues–Fri; Nov–March & Aug Tues–Sat; tickets for exercise session and tours from Michaelerplatz visitor centre Tues–Sun 9am–4pm; €15); or join a guided tour

of the school and stables (March to mid-June & Aug to mid-Dec daily, otherwise 5–6 days per week; tours 2pm, 3pm & 4pm; tour €18; combined tour and training session €31). Alternatively, if you just want to take a peek at the horses, look into the stables (Stallburg) from the glass windows on Reitschulgasse.

Finally, at the Hofburg’s southeastern tip, the Albertina (daily 10am–6pm, Wed till 9pm; €12.90) houses one of the world’s largest graphic art collections, with works by Raphael, Rembrandt, Dürer and Michelangelo.

Though one of Vienna’s prettiest little squares, Judenplatz , northwest of Stephansdom, is dominated by a deliberately bleak concrete Holocaust Memorial by British sculptor Rachel Whiteread. The square marks the site of the medieval Jewish ghetto and you can view the foundations of a fourteenth-century synagogue at the excellent Museum Judenplatz at no. 8 (Mon–Thurs & Sun 10am–6pm, Fri 10am-5pm; €10), which brings something of medieval Jewish Vienna to life. The ticket includes entrance to the intriguing Jüdisches Museum of Jewish tradition and culture, at Dorotheergasse 11 to the south of Stephansplatz (Mon–Fri & Sun 10am–6pm).

Stephansplatz, Vienna © Shutterstock

From Stephansplatz, pedestrianized Kärntnerstrasse runs south past street entertainers and shops to the illustrious Staatsoper , opened in 1869 in the first phase of the Ringstrasse’s development. A more unusual tribute to the city’s musical genius is the state-of-the-art Haus der Musik , Seilerstätte 30, (daily 10am–10pm; €13), a hugely enjoyable museum of sound.

Running west of Stephansplatz is the more upscale Graben, featuring an extremely ornate plague column ( Pestsäule ), built to commemorate the 1679 plague.

Of all Vienna’s museums, the Kunsthistorisches Museum on Burgring still outshines them all (June–Aug daily 10am–6pm, Thurs till 9pm; Sept–May Tues–Sun 10am–6pm, Thurs till 9pm; €15). It’s one of the world’s greatest collections of Old Masters – comparable with the Hermitage or Louvre. Highlight is an unrivalled collection of sixteenth-century paintings by Brueghel the Elder, while the Peter Paul Rubens collection is also very strong and works by Vermeer and Caravaggio are worth seeking out. A number of Greek and Roman antiquities add breadth and variety. Set aside several hours at least: there is also an excellent café.

On the Ring’s eastern section, beyond Stubenring, is the enjoyable MAK (Tues 10am–10pm, Wed–Sun 10am–6pm; €9.90, free Tues 6–10pm), an applied arts museum whose eclectic collection spans the Romanesque period to the twentieth century and includes an unrivalled Wiener Werkstätte collection.

Southwest of the Ring is Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier, a collection of museums and galleries in the old imperial stables, where the original buildings are enhanced by a couple of striking contemporary additions. Stylish outdoor seating, plenty of good cafés and an interesting calendar of events make the area a focus for Vienna’s cultural life. The best museum here is the Leopold Museum (Mon, Wed & Fri–Sun 10am–6pm, Thurs 10am–9pm; €13), with fine work by Klimt and the largest collection in the world of works by Egon Schiele.

The Ring, the large boulevard that encircles the Innere Stadt, along with its attendant monumental civic buildings, was created to replace the town’s fortifications, demolished in 1857, many of these buildings now house museums. On the western section is the showpiece Rathausplatz , a square framed by four monumental public buildings: the Rathaus (City Hall), the Burgtheater, Parliament and the Universität – all completed in the 1880s.

The biggest attraction in the city suburbs is the imperial summer palace of Schönbrunn (U4 to Schönbrunn), designed by Fischer von Erlach on the model of residences like Versailles. To visit the palace rooms or Prunkräume (daily: April–June, Sept & Oct 8.30am–5pm; July & Aug 8.30am–6pm; Nov–March 8.30am–4.30pm) there’s a choice of two tours: the “Imperial Tour” (€13.30), which takes in 22 state rooms, and the “Grand Tour” (€16.40 with audioguide, €19.40 with tour guide), which includes forty rooms. The shorter tour misses out the best rooms – such as the Millions Room, a rosewood-panelled chamber covered from floor to ceiling with wildly irregular Rococo cartouches, each holding a Persian miniature watercolour. The palace gets unbearably overcrowded at the height of summer, with lengthy queues, so buy tickets in advance online. The splendid Schlosspark (daily 6.30am–dusk; free) is dotted with attractions, including the Gloriette – a hilltop colonnaded monument, now a café and terrace with splendid views (terrace daily: mid-March to June, Sept & Oct 9am–6pm; July & Aug 9am–7pm; late Oct to early Nov 9am–4pm; €3.60), fountains, a maze and labyrinth (same hours as Gloriette; €5.20) and Vienna’s excellent Tiergarten or zoo (daily: Jan, Nov & Dec 9am–4.30pm; Feb 9am–5pm; March & Oct 9am–5.30pm; April–Sept 9am–6.30pm; €18.50).

Schönbrunn, Vienna © Shutterstock

The eccentric, eye-catching building crowned with a “golden cabbage” by Karlsplatz is the Secession building (Tues–Sun 10am–6pm; €9.50), built in 1898 as the headquarters of the Secessionist movement, whose aim was to break with the Viennese establishment and champion new ideas of art and aesthetics. Designed by Joseph Maria Olbrech, the gallery was decorated by several luminaries of the group, including their first president Gustav Klimt. It still puts on contemporary exhibits today, with Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze downstairs the only permanent artwork.

Mariahilferstr. is best for high-street clothes shops and the big chains, though Neubaugasse, nearby, is more eclectic.

The obvious place to begin exploration is Stephansplatz , the pedestrianized central square dominated by the hoary Gothic Stephansdom (Mon–Sat 6am–10pm, Sun 7am–10pm, except during services; free, but entry fees to most sections, combined ticket €17.90). It’s worth paying to explore the interior more fully, with the highlights of the main section (English tours Mon-Sat 10.30am; €5.50) the Wiener Neustädter Altar, a late Gothic masterpiece, and the tomb of the Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich III. The catacombs (tours every 15–30min, Mon–Sat 10–11.30am & 1.30–4.30pm, Sun 1.30–4.30pm; €5.50) contain the entrails of illustrious Habsburgs housed in bronze caskets. Stellar views reward those climbing the 137m-high (343 steps) south spire; (daily 9am–5.30pm; €4.50). Lower, but with a lift, is the north tower (same hours; €5.50). The warren of alleyways north and east of Stephansdom preserves something of the medieval character of the city, although the architecture reflects centuries of continuous rebuilding.

To sample Austrian wines on a scenic excursion, visit one of the wine-producing villages on Vienna’s outskirts. To the north of the Danube, Stammersdorf (tram #31 from Schottenring; 36min) is surrounded by vineyards and filled with traditional, family-run Heurigen (wine taverns).

Wienhof Wieninger 21 Stammersdorferstr A great place to start, with a pleasant garden, good-value meals (from around €8) and an excellent selection of whites available by the glass (from €1.55). Mid-March to April Fri 3pm–midnight, Sat & Sun noon–midnight, May to mid-Dec Thurs & Fri 3pm–midnight, Sat & Sun noon–midnight.

Discover more places in Austria

• Travel Guide Morocco
• Travel Guide Namibia
• Travel Guide South Africa
• Travel Guide China
• Travel Guide India
• Travel Guide Indonesia
• Travel Guide Japan
• Travel Guide Laos
• Travel Guide Malaysia
• Travel Guide Myanmar (Burma)
• Travel Guide Nepal
• Travel Guide Philippines
• Travel Guide Singapore
• Travel Guide South Korea
• Travel Guide Sri Lanka
• Travel Guide Taiwan
• Travel Guide Thailand
• Travel Guide Australia
• Travel Guide Fiji
• Travel Guide New Zealand
• Travel Guide Belize
• Costa Rica Travel Guide
• Travel Guide Cuba
• Travel Guide Guatemala
• Travel Guide Honduras
• Travel Guide Jamaica
• Travel Guide Nicaragua
• Travel Guide Panama
• Travel Guide Puerto Rico
• Travel Guide Trinidad and Tobago
• Travel Guide Albania
• Travel Guide Austria
• Travel Guide Belgium
• Travel Guide Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Travel Guide Bulgaria
• Travel Guide Cyprus
• Travel Guide Czechia (Czech Republic)
• Travel Guide Denmark
• Travel Guide England
• Travel Guide Estonia
• Travel Guide Finland
• Travel Guide France
• Travel Guide Germany
• Travel Guide Greece
• Travel Guide Hungary
• Iceland Travel Guide

The Rough Guides to Austria and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Find even more inspiration here

Planning your own trip? Prepare for your trip

Use Rough Guides' trusted partners for great rates

written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 26.04.2021

Ready to travel and discover Austria?

Get support from our local experts for stress-free planning & worry-free travels.

• Where to stay
• Travel advice

18 top things to do in Vienna

Jul 1, 2021 • 8 min read

Cycling on Danube Island in Vienna's Donaustadt district. © Balakate/Shutterstock

Museums filled with masterpieces, brilliant baroque streetscapes, sumptuous palaces and epicurean delights, naturally Vienna is an unmissable stop on your Europe adventure.

Now with street art, craft beer brewing, an analogue-only hotel stay, and summer ‘beach bars’, contemporary Vienna continues to flourish as a creative cultural hub.

Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

The jewel in Vienna's artistic crown is its Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna . As well as accumulating vassal lands, the Habsburgs assembled one of Europe's finest collections of art and artefacts. Housed inside a majestic neoclassical building, the highlight of this incredible cache is the Picture Gallery, an encounter with a vast and emotionally powerful collection of works by grand masters, such as Pieter Bruegel the Elder's evocative and 'industrial' Tower of Babel from the 16th century or the bright plenitude of Giuseppe Arcimboldo's Summer.

Vienna’s coffee houses

Great works of art have been created in these 'living rooms' of the Viennese. Patronised by luminaries such as Mahler, Klimt, Freud, Trotsky and Otto Wagner in their day, Vienna's Kaffeehäuser (coffee houses) were added to the Unesco list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011. Many retain their opulent original decor, and often specialise in a particular cake, such as the Sacher Torte, an iced-chocolate cake with apricot jam once favoured by Emperor Franz Josef, at Café Sacher. New-wave coffee houses are putting their own twist on the tradition.

MuseumsQuartier

Have you had enough of culture yet? No? Good, because the MuseumsQuartier (MQ) is a 90,000 sq metre exhibition space encompassing 60 cultural institutions ranging from fine art, music, theatre, and dance to game culture, street art and photography. Highlights include – including the Leopold Museum , MUMOK , Kunsthalle Wien , Architekturzentrum and Zoom but there are multiple micro-museums and creative spaces to explore. It’s also one of the key locations for the annual Wiener Festwochen (Vienna Festival) held over six weeks in May and June.

The annual Calle Libre street art festival focuses on one guiding theme as celebrated artists respond across curated walls for a week each summer. Founded almost a decade ago by Jakob Kettner, the festival brings together live paintings, street art works, guided tours, film screenings and workshops for urban aesthetics. You’ll get the chance to learn more about Vienna’s burgeoning street art scene, discover works from local and international artists, and find out what issues are shaping and challenging the city today. 

Ringstrasse Tram Tour

For a spin around Vienna's architectural highlights, jump on a tram and travel along the Ringstrasse , one of Europe's most magnificent streets. The circular boulevard of imposing state buildings was carved out of the space once occupied by fortifications protecting Vienna from Ottoman Turk attack in the 16th century. You’ll pass the Monument to the Victims of Fascism at the former Gestapo headquarters site, the neoclassical facade of Parlament, Austria’s parliament, the Athena Fountain, and Äusseres Burgtor (Outer Palace Gate). The Roman gate leads the way to the Imperial Palace, the Hofburg.

Schloss Schönbrunn 

The magnificent rococo former summer palace and gardens of the Habsburgs are a perfect place to experience the pomp, circumstance and gracious legacy of Austria's erstwhile monarchs. A visit to 40 of the palace's lavishly appointed rooms reveals the lifestyle and the eccentricities of Europe's most powerful family. Beyond the Unesco-listed palace, Schloss Schönbrunn Gardens invite a stroll past pseudo-Roman ruins, along bucolic paths winding through leafy woods and a stopover in the gardens' highlight, the Gloriette, with mesmerising views of the palace and city beyond.

Hofburg Palace 

The former wintering ground of the Habsburg monarchs for over 700 years, Hofburg is a living palace today. One of the biggest palace complexes in the world, it now houses a fine collection of museums, is home to the Austrian president, Austria's National Library and public offices. It is also the temporary home of the Austrian Parliament while the main building undergoes renovations expected to be completed in 2024. 

Donauturm tower

The newly renovated 1960s modernist Donauturm tower offers panoramic views across the city and the Danube river. It’s also located in one of the most beautiful and largest parks in the city, the Danube Park making it doubly worth a visit. From the top you’ll see the entire surrounding region of Vienna on a clear day. Who can resist booking a sunset meal at a rotating restaurant at 170m high? This is peak tourist, and we love it. The set-price Viennese three-course meal includes lift tickets.  

Whether it's coffee houses, local dining, or a pub crawl, there are a host of tours on offer to the best places to eat and drink in Vienna. Bi-lingual local tour guides guide visitors to different, seasonally appropriate (Christmas market foodie tour anyone?) locations to show off the best the city has to offer. One popular outfit founded by local couple Melinda and Thomas, Vienna Food Tours covers the variety of cuisines that influenced Viennese food: sampling appetizers, a sausage stand, mains, and of course something sweet to round it off over a whole afternoon. 

Riesenrad Giant Ferris Wheel 

It’s famous among cinephiles as the place Graham Greene sent his fictional character Harry Lime for a slow rotation in the 1949 film The Third Man. The 1897-built Riesenrad , otherwise known as the Viennese Giant Ferris Wheel, rises above the beautiful green open spaces of the Prater in Vienna’s 2nd district. A ride takes you high above the city and the wooded parkland and meadows below. Save some time to explore the Prater by foot or bicycle after you return to ground level.

Schloss Belvedere 

Living up to its Italianesque name 'beautiful view', this 18th-century palace and garden ensemble is deceptively close to Vienna's city centre while still creating a feeling of being worlds apart. Symmetrical, finely sculpted and manicured gardens overlooking Vienna's unfolding skyline connect two exquisite palaces dedicated to a who's who of Austrian art. Gustav Klimt's painting The Kiss is a highlight. The masterpieces on display are complemented by interiors so stately that they're worthy of a visit in their own right.

Stephansdom 

A Gothic reminder of another age, the Stephansdom is Vienna's heart and soul. The awe-inspiring cathedral lords over the city, topped by an intricately tiled roof, with its distinctive row of chevrons and Austrian eagle. Below the cathedral are the Katakomben (catacombs), with their eerie collection of the deceased; inside, a magnificent Gothic stone pulpit presides over the main nave; and rising above it to dizzying heights is the South Tower with its viewing stage offering dazzling panoramas over town.

Copa Cagrana Beach

Just beyond the city centre, nestled by the Donauinsel, lies Copa Cagrana Beach , a stretch of sandy beach bars, pop-up food stalls and a large open-air TV viewing area that locals flock to in the summer months. Only open between June and September Vienna makes the most of the holiday atmosphere with volleyball courts, trampolines and green space beside the water. Nibble on delicate Trześniewski sandwiches (open finger sandwiches) as you look across the Donaukanal, or satiate your summer cravings with a fresh spritzer.

Vineyard hiking

The hills surrounding Vienna are awash with vineyards and views, ripe for hiking and tippling in equal measure. Held in autumn (typically late September or October), the annual wine hiking day sees over 190 winemakers set up small wooden huts along the popular walking paths above Vienna, where thirsty hikers can stop in to try the fresh wine harvest of the year. Pick up your glass from one of the hiking-day stations at the bottom of the trail, and meander your way from Neustift to Nussdorf, Strebersdorf to Stammersdorf, or the shorter Ottakring to Neuwald route. The ‘hikes’ themselves are quite low impact and allow plenty of time to stop, sip and enjoy the fresh air.

VHS, vinyl and typewriters

Seeking a true digital detox can be challenging, with a constant barrage of tech an unavoidable part of our daily lives. To help you stay offline and relax, 25 Hours hotel has collaborated with Supersense cafe to create the first ‘analogue hotel room’ for your perfectly curated escape from modern life. Replacing wi-fi and wide screens with a typewriter, VHS player and vinyl records, the suite offers a stylish retreat to the simpler technologies of decades gone by. Perfect for a truly unplugged weekend getaway. If you want to explore further, book a bicycle from their friends at Schindelhauer.

Craft beer has come of age in Vienna with a number of bars specialising in locally made brews. Just off Mariahilferstrasse, Ammutson Craft Beer Dive 's commitment to fresh tap beer from local microbreweries is a welcome addition to the scene. While stalwart craft beer venues like Beaver Brewing Company continue to provide a hearty mix of delicious food, alongside their expansive and regularly changing craft beer menus. Beer drinkers, on your marks...

Christmas markets 

Vienna's much-loved Christmas market season runs from around mid-November to Christmas Eve. The Christkindlmärkte atmosphere is magical with stalls in streets and squares selling wooden toys, festive decorations and traditional food such as Würstel (sausages) and Glühwein (mulled wine). The centrepiece is the Wiener Weihnachtstraum Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz but you'll find Christmas markets across the city including at Schloss Schönbrunn.

Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus: 15th district

The 15th district is experiencing a rejuvenation thanks to community driven events, interesting stores and markets. Brunch and coffee lovers can get their fill at Landkind , Das Augustin and Turnhalle im Brick 5 , and see Austria’s best barista slinging lattes at GOTA Coffee Experts . Hidden down the district's side alleys is the unique indie art gallery, Improper Walls , and quirky stores such as Metaware , a ‘gift shop for nerds & geeks’.

In the evenings, there’s a wealth of food and drink options to explore in the district, from Das Eduard’s pita burgers on its outdoor terrace, to indie bar ein affee and wine haven Reinwein . Vegetarians can enjoy the secluded delights of restaurant and art gallery Hollerei , a short walk from Meidling Hauptstrasse station.

This article was first published in May 2019, last updated by Tasmin Waby on 29 June 2021.

Free things to do in Vienna Best day trips from Vienna The 7 best things to do in Vienna with kids

This article was first published May 13, 2019 and updated Jul 1, 2021.

Explore related stories

Architecture

Jun 16, 2022 • 7 min read

Panama City’s hippest neighborhood is also its smallest and most historic. Here's our guide to the best things to do in charming, timeless Casco Viejo.

May 15, 2022 • 12 min read

Mar 9, 2021 • 5 min read

Feb 17, 2020 • 6 min read

Dec 4, 2019 • 5 min read

May 27, 2024 • 7 min read

May 25, 2024 • 8 min read

May 26, 2024 • 6 min read

May 26, 2024 • 9 min read

May 26, 2024 • 7 min read

27 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Vienna

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 22, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Capital of the Republic of Austria and one of Europe's most visited cities, Vienna (Wien) owes much of its charm and rich history to its splendid location on the banks of the Danube River. For centuries the gateway between West and East Europe, it was the natural nucleus of the once sprawling Habsburg Empire, and to this day remains Austria's most important commercial and cultural hub.

Vienna continues to attract over 17 million visitors each year with its many great historical sightseeing opportunities, its fabled collections of art, glittering palaces, and exceptional musical heritage. This appreciation of the nation's rich culture is still very evident in Vienna's magnificent museums, its fine concert halls, and one of the world's great opera houses.

With an unmistakably cosmopolitan atmosphere, Vienna retains a distinctive charm and flair. This is very much accentuated by its fine old architecture; its famous horse-cabs, known as Fiakers; as well as its splendid coffeehouses with their famous Viennese cakes and pastries.

Whether you're looking for great places to visit in Vienna for a single day, or multiple things to do over several days, you'll have plenty of choices in this elegant city. If time permits, consider taking some day trips to explore the beautiful surroundings and nearby cities . And be sure to refer often to our exhaustive list of the top tourist attractions and things to do in Vienna, Austria.

1. Explore Imperial Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens

2. visit the historic hofburg, 3. kunsthistorisches museum and maria-theresien-platz, 4. a baroque masterpiece: belvedere palace, 5. take the kids to vienna zoo (tiergarten schönbrunn), 6. get your art fix at the albertina museum & albertina modern, 7. the vienna state opera house, 8. see st. stephen's cathedral, 9. see the dinosaur relics at the museum of natural history (naturhistorisches museum), 10. vienna city hall (rathaus) in the historic city center, 11. visit the prater and ride the giant ferris wheel, 12. take in a performance at the spanish riding school, 13. see the royal burial vaults in the imperial crypt and the capuchin church, 14. visit the leopold museum & vienna's museum quarter, 15. st. peter's catholic church (peterskirche), 16. dine like royalty at the famous demel: vienna's ultimate café, 17. st. charles church (karlskirche), 18. see the city views from the danube tower (donauturm), 19. walk by the colorful homes of hundertwasserhaus, 20. take a stroll on donauinsel (danube island), 21. learn about the austrian parliament building, 22. kärntner strasse and the donner fountain, 23. take in a show at the burgtheater: austria's national theater, 24. museum of military history, 25. the franciscan church: st. jerome, 26. jewish museum & judenplatz holocaust memorial, 27. sigmund freud museum, where to stay in vienna for sightseeing, map of tourist attractions & things to do in vienna, vienna, austria - climate chart.

The spectacular 18th-century Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) is worth visiting not only for its magnificent architecture, but also for its beautiful park-like setting. One of Vienna's top tourist attractions, this beautiful Baroque palace contains more than 1,441 rooms and apartments, including those once used by Empress Maria Theresa.

Tour highlights include a chance to see the Imperial Apartments, including Emperor Franz Joseph's Walnut Room and his Bedroom, which still has the small soldier's bed in which he died. Of Empress Maria Theresa's rooms, highlights include her richly furnished and decorated garden apartments, along with her Breakfast Room with its floral artwork created by her daughters.

Schönbrunn Park and Gardens is another must-see here. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site , the park, with its sweeping vistas and sumptuous Baroque gardens, is one of several top free things to do in Vienna (although you will have to pay to enter the maze and some of the adjoining buildings, such as the 1883 Palm House). If traveling with kids, visit the Children's Museum for a chance to see them dressed up as a prince or princess.

A good way to get to the palace and avoid the wait at the entrance is on a Skip the line: Guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace and Vienna Historical City Tour . These popular tours begin with a handy pickup from your central hotel or the Opera House. After a narrated drive along the famed Ringstrasse, past major attractions like the Hofburg Palace, City Hall, and the Vienna State Opera, you'll tour Schönbrunn Palace without having to wait in line. The tour continues to Belvedere Palace, where you can see Gustav Klimt's The Kiss and other famous Austrian art with a discounted admission.

Address: Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna, Austria

• Read More: Visiting Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace: Highlights, Tips & Tours

For more than six centuries the seat of the Habsburgs – and the official residence of every Austrian ruler since 1275 – the Hofburg is perhaps the most historically significant of Vienna's palaces. The official seat of the Austrian President, this sprawling complex consists of numerous buildings reflecting various periods, including architectural flourishes from the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo movements.

All told, this vast complex covers 59 acres with 18 groups of buildings, including 19 courtyards and 2,600 rooms. Its main attractions are the Imperial Apartments , the Sisi Museum , and the Silver Collection , while other notable sites within the complex include the Imperial Chapel (Burgkapelle) and the Hofburg Treasury with its large collection of Imperial regalia and relics of the Holy Roman Empire. Informative guided tours are available in English.

You can stop at the Hofburg and the city's other important tourist attractions on the Vienna Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off Tour . This is by far the best option for first-time visitors who want to see the major sites and get acquainted with Vienna. One-, two-, or three-day options are available.

Address: Michaelerkuppel, 1010 Vienna, Austria

• Read More: Exploring Vienna's Imperial Hofburg Palace: A Visitor's Guide

Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien) is housed in a magnificent building created expressly to show off the tremendous art collections of the Hapsburg royal family. The superb collection of Dutch art features the world's largest collection of works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, including his masterpiece Tower of Babel .

There are also paintings by Raphael, Titian, Bellini, Caravaggio, and Vermeer, plus portraits by Velazquez. While the museum's specialties are late Italian Renaissance, Baroque, and Flemish painting, the collections go far beyond those with classical Greek and Roman art and Egyptian artifacts.

English language guided tours are available and can be tailored to your specific interests. The museum's café is also worth a visit, especially for its atrium setting and tall, elegantly decorated walls and ceiling.

The museum overlooks Maria-Theresien-Platz, the focal point of which is the grand monument to Empress Maria Theresa. The statue was commissioned by Franz Joseph I and was unveiled in 1887. This massive monument depicts the Empress on her throne while surrounded by major personages of her day, including a number of generals on horseback. The high reliefs depict illustrious figures from the fields of politics; economics; and the arts, including Haydn, Gluck, and Mozart.

If you're able to squeeze in a little more gallery hopping, head over to the Museum of Applied Arts (Museum für angewandte Kunst), or MAK. This superb museum features traditional Austrian crafts and arts along with contemporary art, design, and architecture.

Address: Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.khm.at/en/

Among Vienna's most popular attractions, Belvedere Palace is really two splendid Baroque buildings: the Lower (Unteres) Belvedere and the Upper (Oberes) Belvedere. Highlights of the Upper Palace include the Ground Floor Hall with its statues, and the Ceremonial Staircase with its rich stucco relief and frescoes.

Also worth seeing is the Marble Hall. This stunning two-story hall features numerous period sculptures, paintings, and ceiling frescoes. The Lower Palace also boasts a Marble Hall, this one noted for its oval plaster medallions and rich ceiling fresco, as well as a Marble Gallery built to house a collection of historic statues.

Other must-see buildings include the Winter Palace, a Baroque building that once housed the Court Treasury; the Orangery; the Palace Stables, home to the Medieval Treasury; and the Belvedere Gardens and Fountains linking the two palaces.

If there's time left in your Belvedere itinerary, be sure to include the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere. This popular art museum in the Belvedere Palace is well known for its extensive collections, including a rich array of sculptures and panel paintings from the 12th to the 16th centuries. But it is perhaps best known for Austrian Symbolist artist Gustav Klimt's The Kiss , a masterpiece of early modern art.

Address: Prinz Eugen Strasse 27, A-1037 Vienna, Austria

• Read More: Exploring Vienna's Belvedere Palace: A Visitor's Guide

The origins of the Vienna Zoo – also known as Schönbrunn Zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn) – can be traced to Emperor Francis I's menagerie. Founded in 1752 it's the oldest continually operating zoo in the world. With many of its original Baroque buildings still intact, it's one of the most pleasant zoos in Europe to visit, particularly if you spend a little time seeking refreshment in the original 18th-century Imperial Breakfast Pavilion that now houses a great café.

A highlight of the zoo's more than 750 species are its giant pandas, including cubs, as well as the many fascinating creatures housed in the interactive Rainforest House and Aquarium. If you're traveling to Vienna with children, be sure to check the zoo's official website for details of feeding times, always a fun family experience. Also worth checking into is the availability of special themed and backstage guided tours.

If after visiting the zoo, you've still got time in your Vienna travel itinerary for more critters, check out Haus des Meeres , a large public aquarium situated in a WWII flak tower. Also worth seeing is the Butterfly House (Schmetterlinghaus), located next to the Opera house and a pleasant place to unwind after all that sightseeing.

Address: Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.zoovienna.at/en/zoo-and-visitors/visitor-information/

All the great names in modern art are represented, often by multiple works, in the magnificent Albertina museum. Representative examples from all the various schools and movements are to be found here, including French impressionists, Vienna secessionists, the Russian avant-garde, the expressionists, and fauvists, represented by their greatest artists.

These include important works by the likes of Chagall, Picasso, Cezanne, Degas, Magritte, Vlaminck, Modigliani, Klimt, Munch, Kandinsky, Münter, Miró, Brach, and Ernst - all are here to compare and admire. All told, this must-visit Vienna attraction is home to over a million works of art plus in excess of 65,000 drawings.

Many of these masterpieces hang in a splendid 17th-century palace where the Habsburg archdukes lived for a century, and their sumptuous State Rooms have been restored to their original glory. In addition to these permanent displays, temporary exhibits are also available for viewing. English language guided tours are available, along with informative audioguides. If traveling with kids, be sure to look into one of the private children's tours, which can also include a fun workshop.

If there's time in your Vienna itinerary, be sure to add the brand new Albertina Modern to your list of must-sees. Located an easy 10 minutes' walk away on Karlsplatz, the Albertina's large collection of post WWII and contemporary art by Austrian and international artists is housed in this newly renovated neoclassical building.

Address: Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.albertina.at/en

One of the world's largest and most splendid theaters, the Vienna State Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper) has hosted many of the world's most prominent composers, conductors, soloists, and dancers. Operatic and ballet performances are staged at least 300 times a year, fuelled by an obsession with music that goes as far back as 1625 when the first Viennese Court Opera was performed.

The current massive Opera House was built in 1869 and is notable for its French Early Renaissance style, while interior highlights include a grand staircase leading to the first floor, the Schwind Foyer (named after its paintings of famous opera scenes), and the exquisite Tea Room with its valuable tapestries.

Capable of accommodating an audience of 2,211 along with 110 musicians, the Opera House is also home to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. English language behind-the-scenes guided tours are available.

If music is your thing, you may also want to pay a visit to Wiener Musikverein , a concert hall that serves as home for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (tickets can be booked online in advance). And the House of Music (Haus der Musik) offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into sound and music through interactive displays and demonstrations.

Address: Opernring 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/

Vienna's most important Gothic edifice and the cathedral church of the archbishopric since 1722, St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) sits in the historic center of Vienna. The original 12th-century Romanesque church was replaced by a Late Romanesque one in the 13th century, the remains of which are the massive gate and the Heathen Towers (Heidentürme).

Next came reconstruction in the Gothic style in the 14th century, along with the addition of the choir and the chapels of St. Eligius, St. Tirna, and St. Catherine. The famous 137-meter high South Tower (Steffl) belongs to the 15th-century.

Improvements and further construction followed from the 17th to 19th centuries, and the whole structure was rebuilt after World War II. Highlights include climbing the 343 steps to the Steffl's Watch Room for the spectacular views, and the North Tower, home to the massive Pummerin Bell. For those not wanting to tackle the stairs, a fast lift takes visitors to a viewing platform.

Other features of note are the 14th-century catacombs and the Cathedral Treasure, containing many of the cathedral's most important artifacts. Interesting English language guided tours are available, including an unforgettable 1.5-hour evening tour that takes in the cathedral's superb city views.

Address: Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Read More: Exploring St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

Best known for its huge Dinosaur Hall and for the world's largest exhibit of meteorites (which includes the Tissint meteorite from Mars that fell in Morocco in 2011), Vienna's Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) is a fascinating place to visit. Its 39 exhibit halls trace such subjects as the origins and development of humans and the evolution of human culture from prehistoric times.

One of its rarest treasures is the so-called Venus of Willendorf, a pottery figurine dating from between about 28,000 and 25,000 BCE. The museum's newest feature is its Digital Planetarium with full dome projection. The building opened in 1889 and is itself a work of art, especially the magnificent ceiling painting above the main staircase.

A variety of fun workshops and guided tour options are available, and audioguides are provided upon request. The museum's latest addition, "Deck 50," features workshops and lectures, as well as fascinating "meet a scientist" sessions that provide a unique opportunity to ask questions of leading experts in a variety of disciplines.

Address: Burgring 7, 1010, Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.nhm-wien.ac.at/en

Located in the heart of historic Innere Stadt and overlooking Rathausplatz, Vienna's City Hall (Weiner Rathaus) is an impressive Neo-Gothic building that serves as the city's administrative center. Remarkable for its size, it occupies nearly 14,000 square meters of the former Parade Ground.

This attractive and much-photographed building was completed in 1883 and is notable for the famous Rathausmann on top of its 98-meter-high tower, a banner-carrying iron figure presented to the city as a gift from its master locksmith.

The arcaded courtyard in the center of the building is the largest of seven courtyards and is used for popular summer concerts. Highlights of a guided tour of the building include the Schmidt Halle, the large entrance into which carriages would once drive to deposit their passengers, and the two Grand Staircases leading to the Assembly Hall.

Other sights included in the tour are the Heraldic Rooms; the City Senate Chamber, notable for its coffered ceiling decorated with gold-leaf and its huge Art Nouveau candelabra; and the Mayor's reception room. Tours are free and are available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1pm, and audioguides are also available.

Try to time your visit to coincide with one of the frequent festivals or events held in Rathausplatz. The old City Hall makes an extremely romantic backdrop for everything from colorful Christmas markets to summer music concerts.

Address: Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.wien.gv.at/english/cityhall/tours.htm

Visiting the Prater (Wiener Prater), a large natural park situated between the Danube and the Danube Canal, is a little like stepping into another world. Covering an area of 3,200 acres, this vast park - once a royal hunting ground - has long been one of Vienna's most popular recreation areas. There's something here for everyone, from thrills and spills in the Wurstel area, with its old-fashioned theme park rides, to dining and dancing, to the dinosaur-themed park for the kids.

A highlight for sightseers is taking a ride on the famous Giant Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad), a Viennese landmark that has provided fine views over the city since 1896. If you can afford it, go for the super luxurious cabin, suitable for parties of up to 12. Other park highlights include the Prater Ziehrer Monument , a larger-than-life statue of composer CM Ziehrer built in 1960; the Prater Museum with its displays documenting the park's history; a Planetarium ; and the Liliputbahn miniature steam railroad traversing a four-kilometer line near the main avenue.

Elsewhere in this vast park there's room enough for horseback riding, swimming in the stadium pool, football, cycling, tennis, and bowls. Also worth visiting is nearby Danube Park (Donaupark). This 250-acre open space is also home to a fun miniature railroad, an artificial lake (Lake Iris), and a theater. Visiting Prater park at night is also fun, and is highly recommended.

Address: 1020 Vienna, Austria

Official site: https://prater.at/en/park-information/

Dating back to the time of Emperor Maximilian II, the superb Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule) was established after the ruler had the famous Lipizzaner horses introduced to his courtesans in 1562.

Today, it's one of Vienna's leading attractions, and one of the leading riding schools in the world, thrilling audiences with fabulous displays of equestrian skills in the Baroque Winter Riding School in the grounds of the Hofburg Palace, where it has been located since 1735. Tickets to these popular performances sell out quickly, so be sure to book as far in advance as possible.

If available, purchase a package that includes a behind-the-scenes tour and the chance to visit the stables, along with a morning training session. An on-site café ensures you can linger a little longer-you'll certainly want to.

Address: Michaelerplatz 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.srs.at/en/

Dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels, Vienna's Capuchin Church (Kapuzinerkirche) is best known for its spectacular Imperial Vault (Kapuzinergruft). This stunning edifice is home to the Habsburg family vault containing the remains of 145 members of the family (almost all Austrian Emperors since 1633 are buried here).

The nine vaults are arranged in chronological order, making it easy to trace the evolution of taste, at least in burials. A highlight includes the Founder's Vault , the final resting place of Emperor Matthias who died in 1619, and Empress Anna, who died in 1618.

Also of interest is the Maria Theresa Vault , a domed chamber dominated by a double sarcophagus in the Rococo style and built for the Empress, who died in 1780. The sarcophagus takes the form of a bed of state, at the head of which is the Imperial couple with an angel and a crown of stars, while along the sides are numerous reliefs depicting scenes from Maria Theresa's life.

Address: Neuer Markt, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.kapuzinergruft.com

Since opening in 2001, Vienna's Museum Quartier (Museumsquartier, or "MQ") has been home to a variety of first-rate museums that are well worth exploring. A mix of old and new architecture centered around an area that once served as the former royal stables, it's easy to spend the best part of a day (or two) here.

Must-visits include the famous Leopold Museum , noted for its large collection of works by Austria's leading modern artists, such as Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, and MUMOK , the Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna, featuring more than 10,000 contemporary and modern pieces by renowned artists including Picasso and Warhol.

Another highlight of a visit to the Museum Quarter includes the popular summertime Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen). The event's main offices are located here, so it's a hub of activity once tickets become available, and many of the surrounding buildings are used as venues for a variety of cultural events and concerts. Also located here is the Tanzquartier , the country's leading dance center, along with artists' studios and galleries.

Address: Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Wien, Austria

Official site: www.mqw.at/en/

Modeled on St. Peter's in Rome, Peterskirche – the Collegial and Parish Church of St. Peter – is built on a site originally occupied by a Roman church and later by one founded by Charlemagne in 792 AD. The present edifice was built in the 18th century and boasts a massive dome with a superb fresco and many artistic treasures.

Other highlights include the Barbara Chapel with its magnificent portal, and in which Franz Karl Remp's Decollation of St. Barbara is found, and the choir with its High Altar and painting of the Immaculate Conception. The church is also noted for its frequent organ recitals.

Also of note is the nearby Plague Pillar , a 21-meter-tall Baroque pillar built to commemorate the end of the devastating plague of 1679 that cost at least 75,000 Viennese their lives. The nearby Abbey of the Scots (Schottenstift), built in the 12th century and extensively renovated and enlarged since, is also worth popping into. Its school included Johann Strauss and Austria's last emperor, Charles I, among its pupils, while its fine collection of artwork includes pieces from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Address: Petersplatz 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.peterskirche.at

Founded in 1786, the famous Demel is not only the oldest café and bakery in Vienna, it's perhaps the most memorable food experience you'll have in this wonderful city. Officially known as Hofzuckerbäckerei Demel – shortened to "Demel" by those in the know – this exquisite café serves dishes and cakes carefully prepared by hand to traditional centuries-old recipes.

Some of these delicious treats were once used to satisfy the cravings of Emperor Franz Joseph who secretly had Demel cakes and pralines served during his tête-à-têtes with his lover. Apparently, his unhappy wife, Sisi, was addicted to their legendary violet sorbet.

A highlight of a visit is the Demelinerinnen, the modestly dressed waitresses wearing black dresses with lace collars who still address customers with the formal, " Haben schon gewählt ?" ("Has Madam/Sir already made her/his choice?").

The other highlight, of course, is drooling over the mouthwatering displays of cakes and pastries, including special creations resembling characters or creatures from history and mythology, each a work of art. Reservations can be made in advance online, and are recommended.

Address: Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, a saint invoked during times of plague, St. Charles Church (Karlskirche) was built in 1737 and remains Vienna's most important Baroque religious building. This vast building is crowned by a magnificent 72-meter dome and is famous for its twin 33-meter Triumphal Pillars, based on Trajan's Column in Rome, with their spiraling bands depicting scenes from the life of St. Charles.

Interior highlights include the fabulous frescoes of St. Cecilia. Be sure to check the church's official website for details of its regular concert program.

Also worth visiting is the Gardekirche , built in 1763 in the city's southern outer district as the church of the Imperial Hospital and later serving Polish congregations. Of particular interest is the painting above the High Altar.

Address: Kreuzherrengasse 1, Vienna, Austria

Few European capital cities in the 50s and 60s were left without that definitive mid-20th-century landmark, the telecommunications tower, and Vienna is certainly no exception. Standing taller than any other building in the city and in fact the tallest structure in Austria, the 252-meter-tall Danube Tower, the Donauturm, opened to great fanfare in 1964 and continues to attract visitors for its spectacular view over the Danube River.

Highlights of a visit include the speedy elevator ride to the observation deck at 150 meters, from which you can also pick out many of Vienna's most important attractions. The other big draw here actually combines two of a traveler's favorite things to do: enjoying incredible views and partaking in world-class dining experiences.

The Danube Tower is in fact home to two restaurants, one fine dining and the other a casual café-style establishment.

Address: Donauturmstraße 8, 1220 Wien, Austria

Official site: https://www.donauturm.at/en/

Famous as Vienna's "nature and human-friendly" apartment block, the decidedly odd (yet fascinating) Hundertwasserhaus is well worth a visit. Designed by painter Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this brightly colored landmark on the corner of Löwengasse and Kegelstrasse was completed in 1985, and the occupants of its 53 units-perhaps unsurprisingly-consist mostly of artists, intellectuals, and creative types, much like the architect himself.

Although the brightly colored building can only be enjoyed from the outside, you can explore the nearby Kunsthaus Wien, a complex of apartments containing a terrace café where you can rest while soaking up the ambience. Afterwards, pop over to the similarly styled shopping arcade.

Address: Kegelgasse 36-38, 1030 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.hundertwasser-haus.info/en/

If you took the time to enjoy the views from the Danube Tower, you'll have noticed that the city appears to have not just one, but two rivers running through it. No, you're not seeing double. In fact, what you're seeing is the Danube River (the wider of the two) and, running parallel to it, a canal known as the Donaukanal, or "new Danube." Separating them is a long stretch of land known as Danube Island (Donauinsel), and a sightseeing opportunity you won't want to miss.

Although only 210 meters wide at its widest point, the island is over 21 kilometers in length and is a popular spot to walk and relax for locals. Easily accessible via water taxi or bridge, the island is dotted with interesting dining opportunities (both casual and upscale), and is particularly pleasant for those wanting a quiet stroll along the Danube.

Sports enthusiasts are also drawn here, partaking in activities as diverse as biking and rollerblading, along with canoeing, kayaking, and swimming at one of the many beaches . Danube Island is also the scene of the annual Donauinselfest , Europe's biggest open-air festival, and one so popular an estimated three million visitors drop in to enjoy it each September.

Home of Austria's National and Federal Parliament since 1918, the Parliament Building impresses with its vast dimensions. Completed in 1883 for use by the Imperial and Provincial delegations, it boasts many Greek influences, from its Corinthian columns to its rich decoration. Of particular note are the exterior carvings depicting the granting of the Constitution by Franz Joseph I to the 17 peoples of Austria, along with numerous marble statues and reliefs.

Another highlight is the splendid Pallas Athene Fountain with its four-meter-high statue adorned with a gilded helmet and lance, along with figures symbolizing the Rivers Danube, Inn, Elbe, and Moldau.

English language guided tours are available from the Visitor Center where you can also enjoy displays and multimedia presentations about the history of the building and Parliament itself. (Editor's Note: Please be aware that there may be some restrictions regarding tour access due to ongoing renovations.)

Address: Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring 3, 1017 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.parlament.gv.at/ENGL/

Looking to do a little window shopping after all that museum and gallery hopping? Then head to Vienna's most elegant street, Kärntner Strasse. Linking Stephansplatz to the Staatsoper on the Ring and ending at Karlsplatz, this (mostly) pedestrian-friendly area is fun to wander thanks to its lime trees, pavement cafés, fashionable shops, elegant boutiques, and busy shopping arcades.

Although most of the buildings you see today are 18th-century, the Maltese Church still has a few features dating from the 13th-century when the street served as an important trade route (take a peek inside for its coats of arms of the Knights of Malta).

Other notable buildings are Palais Esterházy , built in 1698 and now home to an upscale restaurant, while nearby buildings house high-end clothing stores. Also of note is the exquisite Donner Fountain , built in 1739 by Georg Raphael Donner to reflect the 'caring and wise' city government; it was, of course, commissioned by those who ran Vienna at the time.

The Burgtheater, Vienna's superb National Theater, has long been famous for its productions of German-language plays and performances. Many famous names have acted on its four stages since its founding by Emperor Joseph II in 1776 as the Court Theater. After devastation by bombing and fire in 1945, the theater eventually reopened in 1955 and has since grown in stature as the country's most important theater.

In addition to its size and the caliber of its performances, the building's exterior is impressive on account of its numerous decorative figures, scenes, and busts. Equally as impressive is its interior consisting of rich decoration in the French Baroque style, and a staircase with frescoes by Gustav and Ernst Klimt. Behind the scenes, guided tours are available in English and are well worth the cost.

Address: Universitätsring 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Whether you're a military history buff or are simply interested in learning more about Austria's place in the history of European conflict and warfare, be sure to schedule a visit to The Museum of Military History: Military History Institute (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum - Militärhistorisches Institut).

This remarkable collection is all too often overlooked, but those who do venture here are rewarded by the chance to peruse an immense collection of weaponry and exhibits detailing events in which the Austrian military was involved from the 1600s up to the 1950s. Along the way, you'll see weaponry, from muskets to machine guns, cannons to tanks, as well as vintage aircraft. Add to this interesting dioramas and models, along with uniforms and medals, and you'll want to stay right through until closing.

And be sure to spend time enjoying the splendid architecture, too. The museum is located in the city's sprawling Arsenal, and in places, the lavish interior-such as in the memorial hall-rivals that of any of the city's palaces. English language guided tours are available and come highly recommended.

Address: Arsenal 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.hgm.at/en

The early 17th-century Roman Catholic Franciscan Church (Franziskanerkirche), also known as the Church of St. Jerome, is unique in Vienna for having a Renaissance façade, while its delightful interior is decorated in Baroque style. Highlights include the High Altar from 1707 and a painting of the Madonna and Child from 1550. Other paintings are the Martyrdom of St. Capristan and one of the church's patron saint.

Also of interest is the carved Baroque organ from 1643, the oldest organ in Vienna, notable for its folding doors with their fine carved and painted saints. The church's most famous artifact, however, is a carved image known as the Madonna with the Axe , known for having been carried by Austrian soldiers during their campaign against the Turks in Hungary, and credited for their victory.

Address: Franziskanerplatz 4, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Established to both celebrate and commemorate Vienna's Jewish population, The Jewish Museum (Jüdisches Museum Wien) does a stellar job of both. Established in 1986 and spread across two locations in the city-in Judenplatz and Dorotheergasse-the museum features displays and exhibits relating to the history of Jewish culture and religion in Austria over the centuries.

The Dorotheergasse location consists of the main collection, housed in Palais Eskeles, including artifacts and memorabilia relating to Jewish life in the post-WWiI period. A café and bookshop are also located here.

The Jewish Museum Vienna at Judenplatz houses displays relating to the social, cultural, and religious lives of the city's Jewish population. Highlights include a chance to visit an authentic medieval Jewish synagogue, along with art and photography collections. Afterwards, be sure to spend time in Judenplatz itself and visit the Holocaust Memorial located in the heart of the square.

Address: Dorotheergasse 11, 1010 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.jmw.at/en

Established in 1971, the Sigmund Freud Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of the most remarkable thinkers of modern times. Located in Freud's former home (it was built in 1891, the year he moved in, and was his home for 47 years), the museum features rooms and exhibits relating to the history of psychoanalysis, including its influence on art and society as a whole.

Many of Freud's original writings are housed in the museum's research library, considered one of the most important such facilities in the world. In addition to personal artifacts from his life, along with his collection of antiques, an impressive modern art collection is housed on the property, too.

Address: Berggasse 13, 1090 Vienna, Austria

Official site: www.freud-museum.at/en/

The Ringstrasse circles Vienna's old city center, replacing the walls that once enclosed it. Most of the city's major attractions are inside or along this ring, with major museums surrounding the buildings of the former Habsburg Palace, the Hofburg. As you might expect, most hotels in this compact center are in the luxury range. Budget hotels are found farther outside the ring or in the attractive neighborhood around Schönbrunn Palace and the zoo.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Things to Do near Vienna : A delightful two-hour road trip from Vienna, Graz is Austria's second biggest city and is popular for its many well-preserved Baroque buildings, especially those located in the Old Town area. Two hours west, and you're in lovely Linz . Also on the magnificent River Danube and once home to such luminaries as Wolfgang Mozart, Linz boasts numerous great museums and art galleries. For more ideas of great day trips from Vienna , be sure to check out our list of the top excursions to destinations such as the Wachau Valley and Melk Abbey.

Head for the Hills : Widely regarded as one of Europe's most attractive cities, Salzburg sits under the shadow of the 1,853-meter-tall Untersberg, adding a distinctive character to the city's old medieval city center. Innsbruck is another city that's beauty is enhanced by its mountain scenery, and is a special favorite of those who enjoy superlative skiing. Also popular with ski enthusiasts, the dramatic scenery of Kitzbühel is the perfect backdrop for hiking and biking adventures in summer.

Austria Vacation Ideas : The lovely shoreline of the Hallstätter Sea is where you'll find the pretty town of Hallstatt , one of the loveliest destinations in Austria and one that offers a variety of great vacation experiences. The medieval town of Klagenfurt is another great option and is famous for its charming Old Town center with its many galleries, shops, and cafés (and be sure to wander along its old canals, too). Exploring the sites of Bregenz is another good option, and is especially popular for sightseeing due to its location on the shores of Lake Constance.

More on Austria

• Attractions
• In the Rain

Public Transport

• Central Station
• SIM Card for Tourists
• 1 Day in Vienna
• Park and Ride
• Shopping Guide

Restaurant Guide

• Nightlife Guide
• Lifestyle Guide
• Viennese Cuisine
• Imperial Palace
• Christmas Markets
• St. Stephens Cathedral
• Hotels Near Vienna Airport
• Exclusive Luxury Hotels
• Conference Rooms
• Interpreters

Planning a trip to Vienna?

Contact vienna tourist information.

We help travelers in Vienna whenever possible. B2B contact is here. 

Contact us at  [email protected]/en or use our contact form.

How Can We Help?

1. information services.

Answer to questions about trips planned to Vienna or during your stay. 

2. Booking Services

Booking for hotels, tickets, tours, conference hotels and  group travel .  Restaurant reservations. 

3. B2B und M.I.C.E.

Cooperation with Vienna Tourist Information in the travel sector, from local providers to tour operators. 

Contact For Other Inquiries

Inquiries for cooperation from tour operators, airlines, media, TV, newspapers and travel companies can be made using our contact form. 

[email protected]

Contact Form

Blog and Influencer

Press, TV and Media

M.I.C.E. (Group Travel)

Privacy Policy

Things To Do

Plan Your Trip

Airports in Vienna

Airport Transfer

Shopping Tips

With Children

Copyright 2024 Vienna Tourist Information , all rights reserved.

You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Instagram . To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.

Having a strong business network makes a difference. Find out here who can best help you and how. In addition, you can learn more about how our organization and the individual departments are structured.

The Vienna Tourist Board

Address: Invalidenstraße 6, 1030 Vienna, Austria Telephone: +43-1-211 14-0 Fax: +43-1-211 14-700 Email: [email protected]

Vienna Hotel Information

Telephone: +43 -1- 24 555 Fax: +43-1-24 555-666 Email:  [email protected] (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)

Vienna Tourist Information

Address: Albertinaplatz, 1010 Vienna, Austria (On the corner of Maysedergasse, behind the State Opera House) Telephone: +43-1-24 555 Fax: +43-1-24 555-666 Email:  [email protected] (Daily from 9am until 5pm)

Executive Management & Departments

• Executive Board
• Executive Corporate Public Relations
• B2B Management
• Brand Management
• Destinations Management
• Commercial Services
• Media House

Owner and Publisher:

Vienna Tourist Board 1030 Vienna Telephone: +43-1-211 14-0 Fax: +43-1-211 14-700 The Vienna Tourist Board (a legal and public entity) is the tourism office of the City of Vienna. CEO: Norbert Kettner

Purpose of Publication: Tips and information for visitors to Vienna, the tourism industry, and media business.

Filter results

Welcome to Vienna

Recommend article.

Please complete all the mandatory fields marked with an * .

Recommendation successfully sent

Thank you for recommending our article.

The data and email addresses you provide will not be saved or used for other purposes.

• Email is a mandatory field.
• Please enter a valid email address.
• Email address valid
• Name is a mandatory field.

Subject: Recommendation from www.vienna.info

• Error: Please wait a moment, verification is still in progress.
• Error: Please try again. If the error continues to occur, it means we cannot identify you as a human being. You will not be able to send the form for security reasons.
• Share page Share on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn recommend

Vienna Tourist Board

• http://www.wien.info
• +43 1 211 14-0
• [email protected]

ivie - The official city guide app

Free of charge for iOS and Android

Discovering Vienna anew with your smartphone? ivie, the digital city guide for Vienna, is your perfect companion.

Filter results