Vienna, the capital of Austria, is one of the most impressive cities in Europe where great composers such as Mozart, Beethoven or Strauss lived. There are a lot of things to do in Vienna; monumental palaces, museums and architecture that will leave you speechless. And let’s not forget about its wonderful cuisine. Did you know that the Sácher cake comes from this city? In this post we will tell you about the best place to try it as well as the main tourist attractions of the city.
What are the best places to visit in Vienna
Vienna is one of those captivating cities. Its impressive avenues and monumental facades transport you to another era of empresses and palaces. In addition, the city offers a wide variety of activities for all ages and interests. History, museums, parks, music and gastronomy, what more could you ask for? Here are some suggestions of places to see in Vienna, so you can make the most of your trip.
1. The palaces in Vienna
One of the main tourist attractions of the city are its monumental castles. There are three palaces to see in Vienna: Hofburg Palace, Schönbrun Palace and Belvedere Palace.
The most famous palace is the Hofburg Palace, also known as the Empress Sisi Palace. It was home to the Hamburg family for more than 6 centuries and currently hosts the national library and the office of the president. Admission fee is 8€ and the palace is open daily from 8:00h to 18:00h.
Schönbrun Palace was the second residence of the Hamburg family. Inside we will find rooms with the original furnishings such as the Circular Chinese Room, the Breakfast Room or the Ceremonial Room. It is open daily from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm and the entrance fee is 13€.
The Belvedere Palace is currently an art gallery where you will find works by Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. Admission costs are 9€ and it is open daily from 10:00h to 18:00h.
2. Prater
This is an amusement park built at the end of the 19th century and it is still full of its original charm. The park is located in a large green area and in addition to attractions there are restaurants and stalls to eat. The Ferris wheel is the oldest attraction, and the views of the city are spectacular from the top of it. It is definitely something to see in Vienna. This park, the oldest in the world, is located 3 kilometers from the center, so the best option is to arrive by subway, using lines U1 and U2. Admission is free but each attraction costs between €1 and €5.
3. Museums to visit in Vienna
Like the vast majority of European capitals, Vienna has a myriad of museums. On the one hand, we have the Mozart and Freud museum houses, where you can find out their stories and have a look at the way they lived. Tickets cost €11 and €14 respectively.
On the other hand, you have the Weltmuseum, an archaeological museum that shows the cultures of all continents. It is open every day from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm except Wednesdays, and the entrance fee is 16 euros. There are also other museums such as the Natural History Museum, the History of Art, the Albertina Museum, the Imperial Carriage Museum, the Balloon Museum, and the Museum of Illusions, perfect to go with children.
4. Stadtpark
It is the best place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city. This park, located in the heart of Vienna, has many attractive sites and charming corners. For example, the monument to Johann Strauss or the Kursalon and Wienflussportal buildings. The gardens, opened in 1862, have the English style, and the best thing of all is that the Wien river runs through the center, creating harmony in the park.
The Kursalon building is the concert hall where Johann Strauss gave his first concert, and where to this day, classical music concerts take place.
5. The Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. It was inaugurated in 1862 with a work by Mozart and is still a landmark to this day. Admission costs 7.5€, and it can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday. But if you have the opportunity, do not miss the chance to see an opera. At the last minute, just before the performance is going to start, you can find tickets at 15 €.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see around Vienna
There is so much to see in Vienna, but if you are lucky enough to have a lot of time in the city, you should know that there are plenty of places to visit in the surrounding area. On a day trip you can immerse yourself in the nature that surrounds the city, or choose to visit other nearby European capitals. Whatever your preferences, here are some ideas.
1. Eisenstadt
It is the closest excursion from Vienna. In this small town 40km away we will find a 15th-century Gothic castle known as the Esterházy Palace. It can be visited and inside there are exhibitions of art and military equipment, as well as other temporary exhibitions that change throughout the year. The entrance fee is 18 € and the audio guide costs 2 €. The palace can be visited every day for free, or with a guided tour.
In the village there are also many buildings that refer to the composer Haydyn: his house, a mausoleum and a church. Eisenstadt can be reached by both bus and direct train from Vienna in about half an hour.
2. Wachau Valley
This is a valley that extends 30km along the Danube and was named a World Heritage Site for the set of medieval buildings, villages, castles and monasteries that we find in our path. Among them are the village of Krems an der Donau, the Abbey of Melk, the castle of Dürnstein and Spitz. The valley is 80km from Vienna and can be reached by public transport, but you have to transfer. Another option is to go by private vehicle or hire a tour for €80 that also includes the Danube and Nachau valleys.
3. Bratislava
Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is less than an hour away by train and it is the perfect day trip. The city has a lot to offer and one day will be too little time for sure, but you can always stroll around, take a tour and visit the main tourist attractions. If you go to Bratislava you can’t miss the castle, the Blue Church and walk through the old town, where you will find St. Michael’s Gate.
The cheapest way to go from one city to another is by bus, which costs 5€. The train is another good option as it departs from the central station and costs 11€. You can also opt for taking the Bratislava-ticket, which for 16€ includes the round-trip ticket and discounts at the main points of interest.
Things to do in Vienna in 1 day
It is generally recommended to spend between 2 and 3 days in the city. But if you don’t have that much time, you can always do a 1-day express tour with the must-sees in Vienna. This is an itinerary you can follow.
To start the day you can take a tour of the city center to listen to its history and visit the main points of interest, such as the opera house, the Gloriette, the town hall, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This will take up most of the morning. The rest of the day can be used to see the museums that interest you the most or stroll through the parks of the city. We recommend you to buy your tickets online for the museums to save queues. And if you go with children, the best option is to go to Prater.
How to get to Vienna
The best way to get to Vienna is by plane. The city has its own airport 19 km away and there are several ways to get to the center.
- the City Airport Train (CAT): it departs every half hour to Wien Mitte/Landstrasse. The ticket costs 10€ and the journey takes 15 minutes.
- the public Schnellbahn S7 train: the journey takes 25 minutes but is much more affordable. The ticket costs €3.6.
- Bus: there are also several buses from the airport to the center that cost between 7€ and 16€.
- Taxi: you can take a cab from the airport to the center for 36€. It takes about 20 minutes
Another option to get to Vienna, other than by private vehicle, is by train. In fact, many people fly to nearby capitals such as Bratislava and from there they take a direct train to Vienna. It takes 1.5 hours from Bratislava to Vienna by train, and there are also direct buses.
Where and what to eat in Vienna
The most typical Austrian dishes are Schnitzel (breaded steak) and Würstel sausages. In general, Austrian cuisine has many similarities with German cuisine, so we will find many hearty dishes with lots of meat and carbohydrates. And for dessert, the most famous is undoubtedly the Sácher cake. Eating cheaply in Vienna can be a real challenge, so we have created a list with some of the best restaurants at an affordable price, so you can enjoy the local gastronomy.
- Vienna Sausage: is a small place specializing in sausages. For less than 10€ you can have a hot dog with toppings and a beer.
- Pürstner: is an Austrian tavern very famous in Vienna for its affordable prices and friendly service. For less than 20 € you can have a hearty meat stew accompanied with salad. The portions are huge and for dessert the best is the apple strudel.
- Zum Weissen Rauchfangkehrer: located near the cathedral, it is a little more expensive than the previous ones, but it’s worth it. For about 30€ you can taste some typical dishes in the heart of the city.
- Café Sacher Wien: Just a must for everyone who wants to try the Sácher cake. The cafe has been open since the late 19th century and although it’s a bit pricey, the interior decor is worth seeing.
Where to stay in Vienna
Not to miss out on anything in Vienna, the best option is to stay in the center or the surrounding neighborhoods such as Leopoldstadt or Landstrasse. Here we leave you some suggestions for accommodations at different price ranges so you can choose.
- Boutique Hotel Das Tigra: is a four-star hotel in the heart of the city. The rooms are spacious and modern, and they also have a breakfast buffet with typical Austrian dishes. The room costs about 130€ per night.
- The Student Hotel Vienna: is a curious 4-star hotel with very modern and youthful decor. You could say that it is a luxury youth hostel, as it has recreational areas, a fitness room, and computers available to customers. The night costs about 70€.
- Hotel Goldene Spinne: is a family-run three-star hotel located between the city park and the station Wien-Mitte. It offers breakfast and rooms for around €70 per night.
- Hostels: there are also many youth hostels where you can sleep paying from 18€ a night. Some recommendations are A&O Wien Hauptbahnhof Hostel or MEININGER Vienna Downtown Franz Hostel.
Travel tips for Vienna
- The official currency in Austria is the euro, so you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency if you are traveling from Europe.
- As European citizens, you don’t need a visa to enter the country; an ID card or passport is enough.
- If you are traveling from a country with another currency, we recommend that you make the currency exchange in advance.
- The best time to travel to Vienna is in spring and autumn, when there are still fewer tourists and temperatures are mild.
- Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
- There is no roaming in Austria (for European citizens), so you can use the Internet on your cell phone without any problems.
- The city is safe, but as in any tourist place, you’d better be careful with your belongings.
- Hedge yourself against any possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
Organize your trip to Vienna
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need, and you’re all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers what to see in Vienna Austria.
If you have questions on how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions on a trip to Vienna
The best time is in spring or autumn when the weather is mild and there are not as many tourists as there can be during the summer. It is also true that the high season is in summer and more places are open and you get to feel the atmosphere of the city.
It is normal to spend at least 2 or 3 days in Vienna, but if you want to make the most of it and go on some tours around the city it is best to spend a week. The city has plenty of museums and sights of interest, and we also recommended going to the opera or a concert.
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