What to do in Vienna?

To visit Vienna, Austria, is to discover a very rich city at the historical and cultural level. And I reassure you right away, you don’t need to be a fan of Sissi the Empress to appreciate its beauty.

With its majestic palaces, its many museums, and the entire historic center of the city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the former capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire has managed to retain all its splendor and splendour.

Discover all the must-see places of interest in Vienna now with our top 25 things to do and see in Vienna.

You will also find our suggested itineraries for visiting Vienna in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days and our selection of the best hotels.

So where to go and what to do in Vienna? 

Visit Vienna: the essentials

A little advice before starting this top things to do and see in Vienna.

To visit Vienna and its main places of interest, I recommend that you  take the Vienna Pass. It includes in particular:

• Access to 70 must-see tourist sites, monuments and museums such as Shonbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, Belvedere Palace and most of the places I mentioned.
• Unlimited access to hop-on hop-off buses – 6 routes and 47 stops.

Depending on the duration of your trip to Vienna, you can choose between the 1, 2, 3 or 6 day pass. 

1. Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace is one of the places of interest not to be missed during your stay in Vienna.

Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, often compared to the Palace of Versailles, it was for a long time the summer residence of the Habsburgs, the Austrian imperial family.

Today, guided tours are organized in this sublime 18th century Baroque building. Perfect for discovering its extremely rich history!

Inside you can tour the imperial apartments and the many ceremonial rooms to immerse yourself in the daily life and even the intimacy of emperors and empresses.

The large gallery with its mirrors, high windows and magnificent frescoes is particularly impressive, as are the Chinese cabinets, richly decorated with very precious Chinese porcelain .

If you don’t want to take the guided tour, remember that the ticket for Schönbrunn is included in the Vienna Pass.

Tips:
What to do in Vienna at night?

Another activity that I advise you to do in Schonbrunn is to attend a classical music concert in the famous Orangery hall.

An exceptional place that once hosted the great banquets of the court. On the program of the concert: the most famous operas of Mozart followed by the waltzes of Strauss.

Don’t wait any longer to experience a memorable evening during your visit to Vienna, and book your tickets now by clicking here.

2. Schönbrunn Gardens

At Schönbrunn Palace, I also advise you to stroll through the large park. It is over 1km long and one of the best places to walk in Vienna!

During your walk in the gardens, you will be able to see:

• The Palm Greenhouse, the last such building in Europe. Inside, several climates (cold, temperate and tropical) are reconstituted there in order to maintain the optimal conditions for the development of the flora.
• The zoological garden which caused a sensation in 1828 by hosting the first giraffe on Austrian soil. She even launched a fashion with “giraffe” style clothes, accessories and hairstyles.
• The many fountains dotted around the park.
• Vienna’s Imperial Coach Museum, a remarkable collection of coaches, state carriages and sleighs regularly used by members of the royal family.

Access to the buildings located in the park such as the zoological garden or the museum are not included in the entrance ticket to the castle.

That’s why I’ve put the links for you to buy your tickets separately if you want to visit them. They are, however, included with the Vienna Pass.

Tips:
Since the Schonbrunn Gardens are really extensive, there is a small panoramic train that allows you to go around them and stop whenever you want. You can hop on and off as many times as you want on the 9 stops of the circuit.

To book your circuit in the little train in the park, click here!

3. Hofburg Imperial Palace

We continue this circuit in Vienna, with a visit to the Hofburg Palace.

Just like Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, which is one of the main places to visit in Vienna, served as the residence of the powerful Austrian emperors for more than 6 centuries!

Each going there from his personal expansion, adding a wing here and there, the palace is today the largest in the city and certainly the most impressive historic building in Vienna.

During your visit, you will be able to admire the imperial apartments and in particular the bedrooms, the toilets and gymnasiums, the great living room of the Empress or the Emperor’s study.

Only part of the palace is accessible because it now houses the offices of the presidential administration and several museums including the Albertina (I’ll tell you about it below).

Speaking of museums, I recommend that you visit the museum dedicated to Sissi the Empress.

It retraces the entire (quite turbulent) life of the famous Empress until the tragic attack in Geneva where she lost her life. You will find there many objects that belonged to her as well as some of her most beautiful dresses and jewelry.

Another wing of the palace also houses an important collection of silverware comprising nearly 7,000 items relating to the art of the table.

The entrance fee to the palace includes the visit to the royal apartments, the Sisi museum (I didn’t forget an “s” is the real name of the museum) and the silverware collection.

The visit is included in the Vienna Pass otherwise the ticket alone can be purchased here.

The anecdote
The palace has 18 wings and no less than 2,600 rooms, I find it great to have 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms! Well, the difference is that they didn’t have to clean up 😛

4. Belvedere Palace

The Belvedere Palace is the 3rd ^major Baroque-style palace to see in Vienna. It is actually 2 palaces linked together by a large French garden.

In the first palace, located in the upper belvedere, painting enthusiasts can admire the largest collection of works by the famous Austrian painter Klimt and paintings by Monet and Van Gogh.

The belvedere at the bottom is used for the organization of temporary exhibitions. 

The visit is included in the Vienna Pass.

If you want to avoid the queues but you don’t have the pass to visit Vienna, I advise you to take your skip-the-line tickets for the Belvedere Museum here.

 

5. Stephansdom, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna

The famous St. Stephen’s Cathedral is located in Vienna’s central square, Stephansplatz. It is one of Vienna’s main tourist attractions. 

Built from the 14th century on the ruins of an old church, the cathedral is a magnificent example of Baroque and Gothic architecture. Its roof, with colorful tiles representing the 2-headed kuk eagle and the coats of arms of Vienna and Austria, is truly impressive.

The interior of the cathedral is well worth a visit to admire in particular the relics adorned with gold and precious materials and the catacombs where the tombs of Emperor Frederic III and Prince Eugene of Savoy are located .

Finally, to end your visit in style, I recommend that you climb the 343 steps to access the Turmerstube, which offers a breathtaking view of all of Vienna.

To not miss anything during your visit to the cathedral, I advise you to buy an all-inclusive ticket , which will also save you from queuing at the entrance!

What’s great is that this ticket also includes a visit to the cathedral museum and a guided tour of the catacombs. 

A few evenings a week, you also have the opportunity to attend a classical music concert given in the Vienna Cathedral. On the other hand, it is imperative to reserve your places in advance by clicking on this link!

The anecdote
It is in the north tower of the cathedral that you will find the Pummerin, the largest bell in Austria.

6. Take a cruise on the Danube

Another activity that I suggest in this top 25 things to do and see in Vienna, a cruise on the Danube.

A boat trip on the river will allow you to admire unique views of Vienna. Several formulas are proposed in terms of duration.

The most classic is the 1 hour outing that you can book here.

Tips:

Speaking of seeing the city from above, you can also book a helicopter flight over Vienna.

7. Vienna Prater / Vienna Ferris Wheel

The Prater is a large public park to go to in Vienna.

It is most famous for housing another of the city’s symbols, its Ferris wheel: the Riesenrad. 64.75 meters high (to be precise), it is one of the oldest wheels still in use.

You can take a tour in one of the 15 wooden cabins in 20 minutes to admire a beautiful panorama of the whole city. 

You can buy your tickets directly here,  otherwise the tour is also included in the Vienna pass.

Apart from the Ferris wheel, you will also find other rides in the park as it hosts a permanent funfair with over 250 attractions.

If you are wondering what to do in Vienna with children, this is a great idea!

Another part of the park, the “Green Prater” is a paradise for walkers and cyclists. Many trails allowing you to walk in this space of forests and meadows. And for those who do not wish to walk, a small train will take you around.

Read all about things to do at the Prater on your Vienna vacation on the official website.

8. Museum Quarter

If you are a museum lover, the MuseumsQuartier is for you. This is the best area to do some cultural tourism in Vienna.

Built on the site of the former imperial stables, this pedestrian area offers a varied choice of very interesting museums over nearly 60,000 m². It is also filled with restaurants, cafes and bookshops.

Among the most famous museums in Vienna, do not miss to visit  (click on the links in orange to book your tickets one by one):

• The Leopold Museum houses the world’s largest collection of works by Egon Schiele and some works by Gustav Klimt (whose other works are on display in the Belvedere Palace).
• The MUMOK, the modern art museum focuses mainly on 20th century art ^with works by Andy Warhol and Yoko Ono. There are also paintings by Pablo Picasso.
• The Kunsthalle Wien focuses on international contemporary art.

The map of the MuseumQuartiers and the museums to visit is here.

Note that access to all the museums of the MuseumQuartiers is included with the Vienna city pass.

9. The Staatsoper, Vienna State Opera

Impossible to visit Vienna without passing at least in front of the Staatsoper, the temple of classical music where world-renowned operas and concerts are performed.

If you have time, I also advise you to go there to attend an opera. Contrary to popular belief, ticket prices are not that high when you consider the exceptional quality of the show on offer.

And if you don’t speak German or Austrian, the original language of most operas, you can activate the subtitles available in all languages!

The Staatsoper also organizes live operas, especially in April, May and June. The performances are projected live on a giant screen in front of the Opera. A really great idea to allow everyone to enjoy it, and for free too!

Finally, the Vienna State Opera also organizes guided tours of the interior and backstage on days when there are no rehearsals. If you can’t afford to attend a show, you can at least admire the place.

Tips:

Meet in front of the Staatsoper box office 1h30 before the start of the performances.

You can buy tickets for less than 10€. For that price you will still have to agree to stay up and at the back of the room for the 2 to 3 hours of the show.

10. Attend a concert in Vienna

Other places in Vienna are also famous for their music show such as the Musikverein, the Orangery of Schonbrunn Palace, or the Vienna Volksoper.

Fares are often lower than for the Staatsoper.

You can find all the musical programming in Vienna on this site.

I have also prepared a selection of the best concerts in Vienna just below. Click on the links to access details and book:

• Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at the Musikverein
• A concert of 30 musicians from the Mozart orchestra in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein
• A classical music concert in the magnificent baroque church of St. Peter in Vienna
• A classical music concert given by a string quartet at Sainte-Anne church
• A performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Saint-Charles-Borromée Church
• Mozart and Strauss concert at the Vienna Kursalon with musicians, singers and dancers
• A concert by the Vienna Residence Orchestra, one of the best chamber orchestras in the world, in the Auersperg Palace.

11. The Naschmarkt

Still wondering what to do in Vienna?

Direction, the Naschmarkt, the permanent market of Vienna.

Open from Monday to Saturday, you will find all the local Austrian products but also products from all over the world.   Indian, Italian, Vietnamese, you will be spoiled for choice.

Saturday is also the day of a huge flea market to unearth lots of great finds or just something to clutter your house a little more!

The place is very lively and really nice with many cafes and restaurants to eat. The DO-An and the Naschmarkt Deli are particularly famous.

12. Visit the Albertina Museum

The Abertina is located in the historic center of Vienna and is part of the Hofsburg Palace Museums.

The museum offers permanent and temporary exhibitions covering a period from the 15th century to the present day. You will find works by Cézanne, Picasso, Monet or Chagall and Renoir.

In addition to these masterpieces, admission to the museum will allow you to visit the 20 ceremonial rooms recently restored and whose original furniture will make you relive the sumptuous era of the imperial family.

This is the must-do museum in Vienna!

Tickets with priority access can be purchased in advance directly here.

Also included in the Vienna Pass.

Tips:

As you can see, there are many museums to visit in Vienna. I have detailed the most famous and well-known, but there are many others:

• The Natural History Museum of Vienna, a superb museum where you can discover the oldest collection of meteorites in the world, dinosaur skeletons or even observe the Venus of Willendorf (a limestone statuette from the Upper Palaeolithic).
• The chocolate museum where impressive chocolate sculptures are exhibited. The museum also organizes workshops to prepare 3 different kinds of chocolate bars.
• The House of Music, a museum on the history of Viennese classical music. Not at all boring and super interactive!
• The Torture Museum on the various corporal punishments applied over the centuries
• The Technics Museum, an interactive and well done museum on the evolutions of technologies
• The museum of illusions, to take photos in 3D settings. A great idea for a visit to do with children in Vienna!
• The Jewish Museum of Vienna and the museum on Judenplatz on Jewish history and traditions in Austria
• Madame Tussauds Vienna to take selfies with your favorite stars.

13. The Spanish Riding School of Vienna

The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is a very old institution. The classical art of Haute-Ecole dressage has been practiced there since the Renaissance.

Even today, the school is a world-renowned training center. Riders train there every day on their thoroughbred Lipizzaner stallions. Years of training are necessary for them before arriving at a perfect result.

Attending their morning training is also one of the most touristic activities to do in Vienna. It must be said that the place where the dressage takes place, the Imperial Winter Riding School, is definitely worth a visit with its impressive chandeliers and balconies.

If you wish to attend the morning training, you must remember to book in advance here.

Note that with the Vienna Pass, entry is included.

14. The Mozart House

I continue this guide to Vienna through the Mozart house.

The famous composer resided at No. 5 Domgasse from 1784 to 1787. It is the only residence in Vienna of Mozart still existing today, out of the dozen where he lived.

You can visit the rooms of his apartment, and enter into the intimacy of this fascinating and brilliant artist. With a little imagination, you can even imagine him in the place where, at the time, he composed one of his most beautiful operas: the Marriage of Figaro.

Tickets for the Mozart House visit can be purchased directly here if you do not have the Vienna Pass. The audioguide in French is included.

15. Vienna City Hall

If you have decided to visit Vienna on foot, I advise you to walk past the Hotel de Vienne or Rathaus. You cannot miss it, its high tower of almost 100 meters surmounted by the Rathausmann (the iron man) is an emblem of the city.

The building, due to its neogothic style, is the most important non-religious building in Vienna.

Built between 1872 and 1883, it took almost 30 million bricks and 40,000 cubic meters of stone! Its inner courtyard is one of the largest in Europe and it has a huge party room.

The Rathaus is the seat of the municipality of Vienna and therefore houses the offices of the mayor and his councillors. Guided tours are possible on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. only without reservation.

Travel Tips

Many events are organized every year on the square in front of the town hall, the Rathausplatz. Do not hesitate to pass by during your itinerary in Vienna. 

If you have decided to go to Vienna in winter, you can for example find the Christmas market there , the projection of the Vienna New Year’s concert or an ice rink in January and February.

16. The Capuchin Crypt

If you are interested in Imperial Vienna, I recommend visiting the Capuchin Crypt or Kaisergruft.

The crypt is under the Capuchin Church and houses many tombs of the Habsburg imperial family.

A total of 149 members of the family are buried there, including 19 empresses and 12 emperors. And it is here that you can admire the tomb of Sissi.

And again, your Vienna Pass will get you in for free! Otherwise, you also have the possibility to buy it in advance by clicking here!

17. Guided tour in Vienna

Why not discover the capital of Austria with a guided tour?

This is the best way to learn about the history of places and monuments!

And you’re in luck because one of the best guided tours is available with a French guide. You will have the choice of the duration, between 2h to 6h and your guide will concoct a personalized itinerary according to your desires.

He will even meet you directly in front of your accommodation!

If you don’t want to take a guided walking tour, no problem, you also have plenty of other very cool and original options to do in Vienna:

• A 3-hour tour of Vienna by Segway in a small group. No problem if you’ve never done it, you learn quickly!
• A 2-hour guided tour in a Hotrod, a small single-seater car (driver’s license required)
• A 3-hour guided bike ride
• A 60-minute guided tour by electric bike
• A cab ride in the old town to admire the architecture of the monuments. Perfect for a romantic activity in Vienna!
• A sightseeing tour of Vienna in an electric retro car. Several durations possible.

And if you prefer an unusual guided tour in Vienna, I recommend in particular:

• A Ghost Tour: A nighttime walking tour themed around ghosts, witches and vampires. You will know the detail of all the scariest stories in Vienna!
• A visit to the Vienna underground with a visit to the archaeological site of Michaelerplatz and the crypt of Saint Michael’s Church where nearly 4,000 people were buried.
• A guided tour of the Vienna Central Cemetery where many personalities are buried
• A treasure hunt through the city where you will have to follow clues and solve puzzles. Download to your phone.

18. Go shopping in Vienna

Would you like to do some shopping in Vienna?

No problem, it’s on Graben and Karntner streets.

Graben Street is the most popular for shopping with its clever mix of modern and traditional boutiques. It is Vienna’s busiest pedestrian street.

Remember to raise your nose a little from your bags to admire the magnificent architecture of the buildings that border it.

The Karnter is also a commercial pedestrian thoroughfare in Vienna. It runs from Stephansplatz to Karlsplatz. It is a must in Vienna for shopping fans.

19. Take a break in a Viennese café

And now it’s time for a snack has (finally) arrived, it’s time to go to one of the famous Viennese cafes to taste the local specialties. The Viennese café culture is even part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Among the most famous, I recommend:

• Sperl coffee for its apple strudels
• Café Sacher and its unmistakable Sachertorte, a homemade chocolate cake
• The Hawelka, one of the oldest in Vienna
• The Central café and its choice of homemade pastries.

Tips:

To taste 3 kinds of Viennese coffee accompanied by several pastries, you can choose to take a tour of the best coffees with a guide. Drinks and pastries are of course included!

20. Saint-Charles-Borromée Church

During your trip to Vienna, I recommend that you take a tour of the Karksplatz where the Saint-Charles-Borromée Church (also called Karlskirche in German) is located .

Built from 1713 by Emperor Charles VI to symbolize the end of the plague epidemic, the church is a very fine example of Baroque architecture and personally I find it very photogenic.

Amazingly, inside the church, a panoramic elevator takes you up close to the magnificent frescoes on the ceiling to admire the smallest details. Feel free to try the experiment, I’m not sure it exists elsewhere.

The church is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday and during the holidays from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

You can also attend a requiem by Mozart in the church on certain winter evenings. Info and reservations right here!

21. La Hundertwasser House

The Hundertwasserhaus is an unusual place of interest to visit in Vienna.

The building was built by architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who admittedly had quite special tastes.

With its multicolored facade, its bizarre floors and its plant walls, the whole is not really describable, you will have to go and see for yourself!

You won’t be able to go inside, but a café on the ground floor offers a film where the architect himself shows his work.

The building is located at 37-39 Kekelgasse Street.

Travel Tips

Near Hundertwasserhaus, you can also visit the Kunst Haus Wien, Hundertwasser’s museum which exhibits several of his works and whose building is also special.

Admission is included in the Vienna PASS but you can also buy the single ticket directly here!

22. The Austrian National Library

The Austrian National Library is the largest Baroque library in Europe. So I recommend you to go and check it out during your stay in Vienna.

In total the library has more than 7 million works, books and papyri!

In addition to being the largest, the library can also boast of having one of the most beautiful rooms in the world, the ceremonial room.

With its 80 meters long and 20 meters high, its frescoed cupola and its collection of 200,000 ancient volumes, the room is truly impressive.

Admission is free with your Vienna Pass.

23. The Museum of Art History

The Museum of Art History or Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the most prestigious in the city.

Built at the request of Emperor François Joseph in order to bring together his personal collections, the museum now houses a very rich collection of works by Rubens, Vermeer and Rembrandt.

The Kunstkammer, the cabinet of art and curiosities also located inside the museum presents a collection of precious objects that belonged to the Habsburgs, among the richest in the world.

And to avoid hours of waiting, consider taking your skip-the-line tickets right here  or buying the Vienna Pass.

What to do around Vienna?

If you have decided to  go to Vienna for a few days, you can also take the opportunity to  visit the surroundings. 

Here are the  best things to do around Vienna.

24. Day trips from Vienna

From  Vienna, the choice is vast if you wish to make a day trip  to the surroundings.

Convenient, they all include return transport to Vienna  and  the guide  for 1 day.

I have selected the best for you below. Simply  click on the links in orange  to access information, prices and  proceed with the reservation:

• From Vienna: Excursion to the Wachau and Danube Valleys – Bus tour of the valleys around Vienna + 1 hour cruise on the Danube + Visit to the famous Melk Abbey
• Visit of the Salzkammergut lake region + Guided tour of the picturesque village of Hallstatt. The day also includes a visit to the Abbaye d’Admont.
• From Vienna: Salzburg Tour – Discover Mozart’s birthplace on a guided tour of the main places of interest.
• A day in Hallstatt with a climb to the observation deck
• Visit to 3 family wine estates with wine tastings + 1 traditional lunch or dinner
• Excursion to Bratislava, Slovakia. The 2 cities are only 60 km apart, which is a very good idea for a visit around Vienna. The outward journey is by bus and the return by catamaran. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the old town on a guided tour.
• Budapest Day Trip from Vienna – Spend the day exploring the capital of Hungary.
• Excursion to Prague from Vienna – Enjoy a day to visit the Czech capital!

25. Graz

From Vienna you can also reach Graz in 2h15 by car.

In Graz, I advise you to visit:

• The Schlossberg, the highest point of the city which offers a superb panorama
• The Hauptplatz, the main square from which all the main shopping streets start
• The Landeszeughaus, a museum whose collection of weapons and armor is one of the most impressive in the world
• Graz Cathedral.

To learn more about places to visit in Graz, I recommend reading my detailed article: What to do and see in Graz?

How many days to visit Vienna?

As you have seen, there are a lot of things to see in Vienna. Most tours can easily take you 2-3 hours, which very quickly limits the number of places to visit in the day.

I therefore advise you to stay at least 4 days in Vienna if you want to go around the essentials without rushing and giving yourself a few Viennese coffee breaks!

If you plan to leave 5, 6 or even a week in Vienna, you can make day trips to the surroundings.

Tips:

Here are 2 tips to save money during your stay in Vienna:

To visit Vienna by public transport, I recommend that you get the Vienna City Card (you can find it right here), from €13.90 for one day, but there are also 48h and 72h packages. You can travel for free by metro, bus and tram!

Another card that may be useful to you and which I have already mentioned: the Vienna Pass, which, in addition to unlimited access to hop-on hop-off buses, includes access to around 60 things to see in Vienna.

1 day in Vienna

If you want to visit Vienna in 1 day, I suggest the following itinerary:

• Visit to Schönbrunn Palace
• Lunch break at the Naschmarkt
• Passage through the Church of Saint-Charles-Borromée
• Walk through the historic center to admire landmarks like the Opera House and the Rathaus
• At the end of the day, climb to the tower of Saint-Etienne cathedral to admire the sunset over the whole city.

Tips:

To visit Vienna in 1 day, you can also opt for a hop-on hop-off bus if you don’t want to walk too much. Some tours even offer an extra boat ride, which can be a really fun activity to do in Vienna.

2 days in Vienna

To visit Vienna in 2 days, take the one-day itinerary and add:

• Training at the Vienna Riding School
• Visit to the Hofburg Palace
• Lunch break
• Discovery of the impressive National Library of Vienna
• Albertina Museum
• Attend an opera or a classical music concert.

3 days in Vienna

To visit Vienna in 3 days, I advise you to take the 2-day itinerary and add:

• Discover the MuseumsQuartier with a choice of visiting the MUMOK or the Léopold Museum
• Lunch break in one of the many restaurants in the area
• Descent into the Capuchin crypt to admire the tombs of the emperors and Sissi the Empress
• Passage by the Hundertwasser House
• Late afternoon at the Prater with a Ferris wheel ride at sunset.

What to do in Vienna in 4 days?

To visit Vienna in 4 days, take the tour itineraries in 1, 2 and 3 days then add:

• Visit to the Museum of Art History
• Shopping on Karnten and Graben streets
• Lunch break
• Discovery of Mozart’s house
• Cruise on the Danube and climb to the Danube Tower.

Visit Vienna in 5 days or more

If you want to stay 5 days or more in Vienna, you will have time to discover the surroundings.

For example, you can opt for one of the day trips I told you about in point 23 of this article.

Accommodation in Vienna

• Wombat’s CITY Hostels Vienna – Naschmarkt : Hostel located next to the Naschmarkt. Bed in dormitory from 25€. Most: the ideal location to reach the main points of interest on foot, cleanliness, spacious rooms.
• Leonardo Hotel Vienna: located 100 meters from a shopping street with restaurants and shops, and 5 minutes by metro from the historic center. Comfortable and spacious double room from €80, breakfast at €13. Most: good breakfast, close to the metro, cleanliness.
• Motel One Wien-Staatsoper:  located in the heart of the old town, within walking distance of all sights and major museums. Warm and modern double room from €130 per night, breakfast at €11. Most: great location, excellent bedding, very good breakfast, the decor of the rooms. It is our favorite in Vienna for its price/performance ratio!
• Hilton Vienna Danube Waterfront: located on the banks of the Danube, not far from the Prater and 5 minutes by metro from the historic center. Spacious double room with lounge area and some with a view of the river from €150, breakfast €26. Most: the outdoor swimming pool, the very friendly staff, the geographical location, the calm.
• Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof: located next to the Hofburg Palace, this 5* hotel offers warm and contemporary rooms from €230, breakfast at €32. Most: the Spa, the calm, the friendliness of the staff, the perfect location. This is our recommendation for an upscale stay in Vienna!
• Grand Hotel Wien  : 5* hotel located 3 minutes walk from the Vienna Opera. Spacious and comfortable room with classic style furniture, from €300 per night, breakfast included. The pluses: the Spa, the excellent 1* restaurant in the Michelin Guide, the atmosphere and calm of the hotel.
• Hotel Sacher Wien: this is Vienna’s mythical hotel, located just opposite the Opera. It welcomes you in superb and luxurious rooms with heated floors, marble bathrooms and a perfect combination of modernity and period furniture. From 430€. Most: the little touches, the attentive staff, the central location. This is our recommendation for a luxury stay in Vienna!

I then offer you a small selection of apartments that I could not decide between since they are quite similar both in terms of characteristics and in terms of budget. Prices vary between 110 and 140€ per night, cleaning costs included. They are all modern, fully equipped and very well located.

• Vienna Mariahilfer Apartment  : 70m² for just €110 per night.
• Apartments Spittelberg Gardegasse : from €120 per night.
• HeyMi Apartments in City Center : several apartments, each more magnificent than the next, from €130 per night. Big crush for their performance / price ratio!
• HeyMi Apartments Opernring : same chain as before, but in a different area.

Where to eat in Vienna

• Plachutta : This restaurant is located a hundred meters from the Mozart house (but there are several others in Vienna). I highly recommend it to taste typical Austrian cuisine in a really pleasant setting. The tafelspitz, a kind of slow-simmered stew served with a multitude of accompaniments is the specialty of the house. A very hearty dish! Reservation recommended.
• Zum Alten FassL : Located at Ziegelofengasse 37. This typical Viennese restaurant offers very good traditional dishes for a really reasonable price. In addition to that, you can taste your dishes in a magnificent interior courtyard.
• The burger : Located at Mariahilfer Strasse 114. No local specialties but a very good burger for really cheap! The quality of the burgers is excellent, the meat is tender, the fries are homemade and the setting is super warm. Ideal for a midday meal on the go.

The Stefanie restaurant is also a Vienna institution, it is located in the oldest hotel in the city open since the 17th century! The restaurant only offers traditional dishes such as goulash, Viennese schnitzel and the unmissable apple strudel or Austrian crepes for dessert.

A word of advice: make sure you have an empty stomach because it’s super filling!

Reservations are imperative and that’s good because you can directly book your meal of 7 specialties + 3 drinks by clicking here.

The Hard Rock Café is also an institution in Vienna, and you should eat there once during your stay! The only problem is the long queue at the entrance…

But that was before.

And yes, it is now possible to reserve your place in advance by prepaying a menu. You will therefore have the privilege of passing with a small smile in front of all the other customers who have not read Travel Tips and are queuing!

How to go to Vienna?

Vienna is about 2 hours flight from France. Many European national companies and low cost companies offer several round trips per day.

A good plan: I also advise you to look at the prices to land in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, which is only 60 km from Vienna. The 2 cities are connected by a bus, so it is very easy to reach Vienna while saving on the price of the flight!

And even nicer than the bus, there are also transfers between Vienna and Bratislava by catamaran. Info and reservations here!

Vienna tourist map

To help you visualize the city a little better, I made you a tourist map of Vienna listing the places to visit that I talk about in this top 25 things to do. You can display the map legend by clicking on the top left button with a small arrow.

And you, what are you planning to visit in Vienna?

Are you going to Austria? Read also:

• Discover all our articles about Austria: all articles about Austria are listed here.

• What to do in Austria? The TOP 20 things to do and see in Austria

• Itinerary: A week in Austria: Itinerary to prepare your trip to Austria

• Graz: Top 10 must-see places
• Hallstatt: The 6 things to do during your stay
• Innsbruck: Top 15 places to visit
• Linz: The 10 places to see
• Salzburg: The 17 must-sees to visit