Vienna is a hub for all the things cultural: classical music, art museums, imperial palaces, Mozart, and drinking coffee in elegant cafes. It’s a very walkable city, where you can stroll past the gorgeous architecture between the Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral with ease. In this Vienna travel guide, I’ll cover the best things to do and share some tips on getting around and where to stay.
I visited Vienna during Christmas market season, when the city’s squares were full of cozy huts selling mulled wine and the concert halls were in full swing. BUT most of these suggestions apply year-round. Don’t worry about all the snow in the pictures.
Orientation to Vienna
Vienna is the capital of Austria and was once the center of a huge empire. A quick history lesson: Vienna became the capital of the Habsburg monarchy during the days of the Holy Roman Empire around 1400. The Habsburgs expanded their territory through war and strategic marriages until the Austrian Empire included a huge area of Central Europe by the end of the 18th century.
During that time, Vienna flourished as a center of culture and especially music. But fast forward through two World Wars, and the empire was shattered, leaving Vienna the damaged capital of a much smaller country.
Today, most of the sights are clustered within the compact city center, which you can easily navigate by subway and tram. Though Vienna is heavy on cultural sights and historical interest, you don’t have to be a classical music nerd like me to enjoy it. Anyone will appreciate a stroll down the city’s elegant streets and a trip to its cafes.
Note: the German name for the city is Wien (pronounced “veen”), so you’ll see the possessive form “Wiener” a lot of places. The jokes are only too easy for English speakers.
Things to Do in Vienna
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom)
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the heart of Vienna, geographically and spiritually. The foundations were laid way back in 1137, and architects added to the massive structure for hundreds of years. The cathedral was badly damaged by fire at the end of World War II and restored.
Today, you can visit part of St. Stephen’s cathedral for free, but it’s well worth a few euros to get a better look around all the beautiful stonework. There are so many statues!
The cathedral also has two towers that offer excellent views of the city. The south tower is tallest, an icon of Vienna’s skyline that reaches 447 feet. Be warned: it’s more than 300 stairs to the top! St. Stephen’s northern tower is only half as tall and has an elevator. Both towers have separate admission fees of around 5 euro.
Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper)
The Vienna State Opera is one of the world’s great opera houses. The hall glitters with gold decor and beautiful paintings, providing an elegant backdrop for some seriously great performances. At any given time, there are several different operas that take turns playing on the opera house’s stage. It’s impressive!
If you’re interested in the building itself, take one of the guided tours. They’re offered most days, but check the schedule and get an advance ticket to make sure.
For classical music fans, seeing a performance is a must. Tickets go on sale about 2 months in advance, with a range of prices available. If you’re feeling especially spontaneous or looking for a bargain, you can also get standing room tickets that are released on the day of the show.
Hofburg Palace
The Hofburg was the Habsburg dynasty’s main imperial palace in Vienna. Today it’s home to a vast collection of museums and more. Here are a few highlights worth a visit.
Imperial Treasury (Schatzkammer) – Home to the Austrian Crown Jewels and glittering array of imperial treasures. If seeing royal riches is on your list, stop by the treasury.
Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum – The former imperial residence was impressively decorated to suit Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, nicknamed Sisi. Part of the palace has been converted into a museum about Sisi. It’s worth noting that the summer palace at Schönbrunn is more impressive inside.
State Hall Library – The State Hall (Prunksaal) of the Austrian National Library was once the grand imperial library. With magnificent Baroque decor, the hall showcases a collection of statues and displays some of the library’s treasured manuscripts.
Augustinian Church (Augustinerkirche) – A gothic cathedral that was the site of many Habsburg weddings. It houses an impressive pipe organ and hosts great music.
The Hofburg is also home to the Spanish Riding School and several museums in the Neue Berg wing. Choose wisely or risk spending your whole trip there!
Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburg’s summer residence is a sprawling Baroque palace surrounded by extensive gardens. Think of Schönbrunn Palace as the Austrian Empire’s answer to France’s Versailles, with dozens of richly decorated rooms to admire.
Tours of the palace are by timed ticket and can sell out, so make sure to buy your tickets in advance. I visited the palace in winter, when there’s a grand Christmas market in front. Schönbrunn Palace is several subway stops outside the city center near the U4 line.
Vienna’s Famous Cafes
Coffee houses have been a tradition in Vienna since the 1700s. Many artists, writers, and intellectuals spent time in these caffeinated confines, including everyone from Ludwig van Beethoven to Leon Trotsky. To the Viennese, coffee houses are like extended living rooms, where a cup of coffee pays your way to kick back for a while.
Vienna’s cafes even have their own local names for coffee drinks. But don’t worry, you’ll figure it out. And if your want a bite to eat, the perfect pairing is slice of cake or a pastry.
Consider the venerable Cafe Central or Cafe Landtmann for classic options, but don’t be afraid to try somewhere less famous instead.
Walking Tour of the City Center
Vienna is a gorgeous city with tons of characteristic architecture, so going for a walking tour is a great way to appreciate it. There are several paid and tip-based options for organized tours.
You can also try a self-guided tour. Rick Steves offers an excellent audio tour for free. I also enjoy the tours on GPS My City. The basic information is free, but you can pay to unlock more features on their app.
Haus der Musik
A unique way to learn about music in Vienna is Haus der Musik (House of Music), a musical museum for kids and adults. The museum takes a playful and interactive approach, with fun exhibits like musical video games along the way.
The first part of the museum is devoted to the beloved Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. After that, there’s a floor that covers principles of sound and acoustics. The third floor was my favorite–it tells the stories of some of Vienna’s important composers like Mozart and Beethoven. Wanna see a map of all the 60 different apartments Beethoven lived in? They have that.
The gran finale is an exhibit called the Virtual Conductor, where you stand in front of a virtual orchestra and get to try your hand at conducting!
Art Museum Options in Vienna
Vienna is home to many art museums, so my advice is to pick the one that interests you. Don’t try to see all of them (unless you’re really into art, I guess). My top picks:
Art History Museum (Kunsthistoriches Museum) – home to the Habsburg’s art collection, including paintings by Renaissance and Baroque masters
Albertina Museum – a great collection of impressionist and modern art, plus an excellent program of temporary exhibitions
Belvedere Museum (Upper Belvedere) – once the home of Prince Eugene of Savoy and today houses a unique collection of art that includes Gustav Klimt’s most famous painting, The Kiss.
Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel
If you need a break from stuffy art and music, head over to the Prater, Vienna’s amusement park. Among the many rides is the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad) that’s a symbol of the city. Built in 1897, the Ferris wheel’s Eiffel Tower-era structure lifts visitors 212 ft. in the air and offers fantastic views of the city. The Ferris wheel’s enclosed gondolas are huge–they fit up to 15 people!
I visited during Christmas season, so most of the other rides were closed. However, there was a nice Christmas market with glühwein.
Concerts in Vienna
Vienna is one of the world’s great cities for classical music. If you want to step into the world of Mozart, Beethoven, or Strauss there’s really no substitute for going to a performance. The Vienna State Opera or the Vienna Philharmonic are world class in every way, but there are many other options. Check out Vienna Concerts.com to see daily event listings.
There are also incredible musical performances at many of Vienna’s churches, like St. Stephen’s cathedral, St. Peter’s church, and the Hofburg Chapel, where the Vienna Boy’s Choir sings mass.
Getting Around Vienna
Airport Transportation
It’s easy to get from the airport to the city center via the City Airport Train (CAT). The train has plenty of room for luggage and gets you to Wien Mitte station in 16 minutes. $16 one way or $27 roundtrip.
Subway System (U-Bahn)
Vienna’s subway system is affordable and easy to navigate. You can get almost everywhere with just 3 subway lines.
From the central Stephansplatz, the U3 line goes east to Wien Mitte station and west along Mariahilferstrasse to the Westbahnhof. The U1 line runs essentially north south, connecting Prater park and running near the Belvedere Palace. In between is the U4 line, which connects Wien Mitte station to Karlsplatz, the Naschmarkt, and Schönbrunn Palace.
Got it? Don’t worry, Google maps can pretty much handle all your navigational needs.
Consider buying a 24 hour pass for only $8 (48- and 72- hour passes also available at a slightly greater discount). Just make sure to validate your ticket at the blue machines to activate it.
Tram System (Strassenbahn)
Above ground, Vienna has a useful tram system that circles the city center along the Ringstrasse. The trams don’t make a continuous circle, however, so it’s best to consult Google Maps to check which one(s) will take you to your destination. The trams work with the same tickets as the subway.
As mentioned above, consider the 24-hr pass for a good value and less ticket validating.
Where to Stay in Vienna
Around Mariahilferstrasse
For a great value and easy access to the city center, find a hotel around the shopping street of Mariahilferstrasse. There are lots of restaurants and bars in the area, and you can get to the city center with a quick subway ride.
Near Naschmarkt
Another good value area is the district near the Naschmarkt. Like Mariahilferstrasse, there are plenty of dining options and quick connections to the city center.
City Center
Staying in the city center puts you right in the middle of the action and walking distance from a great many sights. It’s a beautiful place to stay, but accommodations tend to be on the pricier side.
More Tips for Visiting Vienna
- When to visit Vienna – Vienna, like most European cities, offers something different in each season. Summer is busy, with smaller crowds in the spring and fall. From mid November through December is Christmas market season, when the city gets busy again.
- Prepare to walk a lot – Vienna has great public transportation, but its easy to walk around the city center. The shopping streets and elegant architecture seem made for strolling.
- Get comfortable with the subway – For longer distances, Vienna’s subway system is convenient and cheap. You can save money buying day passes if you’re planning on more than a ride or two. Just make sure to validate your ticket before getting on the first time.
- Avoid long lines at cafes – Vienna has a lot of cafes, and some, like the Cafe Sacher, get crowds lining up just to have a piece of cake! The reality is that Vienna’s coffee house culture can be enjoyed in many places. Don’t get caught up in the hype.
- Check concert listings in advance – If you’re interested in seeing a show, check a few weeks in advance to see what’s playing. The best performances like the Vienna State Opera tend to sell out.
