Visit Vienna: what are the best things to do and see in the Austrian capital? Discover our must-see to enjoy your stay.
You come to visit Vienna and its imperial grandeur, once the heart of the powerful monarchy of the Habsburgs? In addition to the different postmodern and contemporary architectural designs that contrast and merge with historical buildings, you can feel the splendour of the city wherever you go, especially through the sumptuous palaces such as Belvedere, Schönbrunn Castle, and the monumental Hofburg complex.
Few cities can boast of the cultural aspect present in the capital of Austria, Vienna being one of the most musical cities in the world. Visit Vienna means experimenting with Mozart's works, Haydn , Schubert, Beethoven, Johann Strauss ... What more can we say when we know that the city is animated both in the evening and in the day and that we eat there like kings?
If you are looking for the best things to do in Vienna, you will find here enough ideas to spend a weekend, 3-4 days, or more.
1. The Palace of the Hofburg
If there is one thing to do in Vienna it is to visit the Palais de la Hofburg. Nothing symbolizes the culture and heritage of Austria more than its imperial palace of the Hofburg. ♪ Habsburg lived here for more than six centuries, from the first emperor (Rodolphe I in 1273) to the last (Charles I in 1918).
The Hofburg owes its size and architectural diversity to the surge of each of its new emperors: new sections have been added over the centuries like the Baroque-style Leopold wing, the 18th century chancellery wing, the Amalia wing and the Burgkapelle (Chapelle Royale).
The oldest part of the palace is the Schweizerhof court dating from the 13th century, named after the Swiss guards who were used to protect its enclosure. The door of the Swiss Renaissance style dates from 1553. This court encloses another larger courtyard, In der Burg, with a monument to Emperor Francis I who adorns his centre. The palace now houses the offices of the Austrian president and a series of museums.
2. The Schönbrunn castle
Visit Vienna without making Schönbrunn Castle? No way. Schönbrunn Castle was the summer residence of the Royal Habsburg family for a long time. This castle whose name means "beautiful spring" is surely the greatest rival of our Palace of Versailles .
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can visit it during a guided tour . The castle gardens deserve a visit as much.
3. Hundertwasserhaus and the Hundertwasser Museum
Designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who inspired the works of Antoni Gaudi, the Hundertwasserhaus - located at 34-38 of the Kegelgasse- is a real explosion of colours and artistic details.
The Hundertwasser Museum is one of the most visited buildings in Austria and in Vienna you will find other works by Friedensreich Hundertwasser in the same style.
4. Museums of MuseumsQuartier
If you come to visit Vienna, you must absolutely go to MuseumsQuartier ! The MuseumsDuartier, once a imperial stable, is now a great place to relax and observe people, but especially to enjoy art. This fertile ground of Viennese cultural life spans more than 60,000 square meters of exhibition space, the complex being one of the most ambitious cultural spaces in the world. There is a remarkable set of museums, cafés, restaurants and bars.
Three museums stand out immediately in this place: the Leopold Museum, the Kunsthalle of Vienna, and the Museum of Modern Art Mumok (Musée d’Art moderne Fondation Ludwig Vienne). If you don’t have the time or the courage to do all of them, instead put on the visit of the Leopold Museum with its remarkable group of great Austrian names and its coffee with glass walls.
5. The Naschmarkt
What to do in Vienna when you want to visit Vienna under the eye of a local? Come on. Naschmarkt ! It is one of the most eclectic markets in Vienna and is open Monday to Saturday.
Admire the generosity on the stalls, tulip buckets with pickles, wines with golden purple figs, and stop for lunch in one of the trendy or pioneering establishments as well as at Do-An , Tewa , or at Naschmarkt Deli .
If you come on a Saturday, make sure you arrive early in the morning to do the best things. On the weekend, the place is very lively. All around the market, we find beautiful buildings.
6. Vienna coffee and Viennese gastronomy
It is impossible to visit Vienna without talking about the famous Viennese coffee. The best way to appreciate it is to visit one of the city’s iconic cafés. Order a "Melanange" coffee or a "Cappuccino" (wine) Hawelka , Sperl or Rüdigerhof . Enjoy it to accompany it with cakes such as the Sachertorte or strudel .
Also, no one can visit Vienna without eating a Schnitzel, tasted at Knödel, and other local traditional dishes.
7. Stephansdom, Saint-Étienne Cathedral of Vienna
The Gothic masterpiece of Vienna Stephansdom, the Cathedral of Saint Stephen, or Steffl ("Little Stéphane"), as it is called locally, symbolizes Vienna as no other building and is a must-see in Vienna. A church exists here since the 12th century and the Riesentor Gate as well as the two towers Heidentürme They're here to call him back. From 1359, the Stephansdom Cathedral began to be refurbished in its magnificent Gothic style that is still present today.
From the outside of the cathedral, the first thing that will strike you is its splendid roof of tiles, with its dazzling row of chevrons on one end and the Austrian eagle on the other. To admire it at best, place on the northeast side of Stephansplatz. Inside the cathedral, the magnificent Gothic stone chair is honoured in the main nave, shaped in 1515 by an unknown craftsman.
8. Riesenrad, La Grande Roue de Vienne
Are you still wondering what to do in Vienna? The Grande Roue de Vienne, known locally as Riesenrad, is 64.75 metres tall and dates from the end of the 19th century. It is the same wheel that appears in the British film The Third Man released in 1949. This is the only still standing work of Walter Basset who also built wheels for Blackpool, London and Paris .
It was completed in 1897 to commemorate Franz Josef’s Golden Jubilee. A complete circle in one of the 15 wooden cabins takes about 20 minutes, so enjoy the panoramic view over the entire city.
9. The operas
In which other city of the world can you attend a world-class opera for only a few euros? Yes you will be standing and at the bottom of the room, but it’s so affordable! So if you go to Vienna, enjoy it! In addition, you will have the opportunity to see the inside of an opera, which are all beautiful here. This type of ticket is available only on the same day, about 80 minutes before the start of the show. Be on time because many people queue for these tickets.
Otherwise, you can attend an opera almost all year round, from September to June. For example, go to Staatsoper (National Opera) Volksoper (Popular Opera) Kammeroper (Vienna Opera-Comique) Musikverein ("Maison de l’Union Musicale de Vienne") or Theater an der Wien . You can also attend a classical music concert at the Kursalon de Vienne !
10. The Palace of Belvedere
If you are visiting Vienna and you are not sure that you have had your Art dose during your stay with the MuseumsQuartier and the Kunsthistorisches Museum, you will be sure to find satisfaction in Belvedere. There are actually two palaces here, separated by a 17th century French-style flowery garden, some of which say they are among the best examples of baroque architecture in the world.
Formerly the home of key figures in the history of Austria such as Eugène de Savoie-Carignan and François-Ferdinand, the buildings now house an impressive range of Austrian art with renowned artists such as Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka.
11. The Karlskirche, the Church of Saint Charles-Borromée
Saint-Charles-Borromée church – Karlskirche in German- is one of the most beautiful examples of baroque architecture of the 18th century in Central Europe. This building, built between 1713 and 1737 at the request of Emperor Charles VI, symbolizes the extinction of the plague. You will find it on the Karlsplatz.
If you like classical music, know that you can attending a representation of the Four Seasons Vivaldi!
12. Haus der Musik, the House of Music
What do we do in Vienna if we love music? Vienna is the world capital of music, everyone knows. Haus der Musik is an interesting and unusual museum because it manages to explain the world of sounds in a fun and very interactive way (in English and German) for children and adults.
The exhibitions are spread over six floors and examine how the sound is created through the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the noises of the street. The music is not only made to be listened to: at the Maison de la musique, you can also see, feel and even create sounds and tones.
13. Vienna Nightlife
If you’re planning to visit Vienna, it’s a great city to enjoy nightlife through its bars, cafés and clubs. You can start your evening at Naschmarkt, why not, and end at night in one of the city’s nightclubs.
14. The Kunsthistorisches Museum, Art History Museum
The Museum of Art History of Vienna is considered one of the first museums of ancient art in the world. The gallery of paintings welcomes many major works of Western art, such as the "Madone in the greenery" of Raphael, the "Ars pictoria" of Vermeer, and the masterpieces of Rubens, Rembrandt, Dürer, Titien and Tintoret.
15. L’École Spanishe d’Équitation
If you’re still wondering what to do in Vienna, you have to go to the Spanish School of Horse riding! It’s in the Spanische Hofreitschule that one can discover his illustrious ballet of lipizzans, in flesh and in bone in the baroque decor of the Imperial Palace. A well-known equestrian training centre, the Spanish riding school is also one of the main tourist attractions to visit in Vienna.
It is the only institution in the world that preserves and cultivates the classical equestrian art of the High School, from the Renaissance to the present day. The school is visiting from the Michaelerplatz.
16. Other ideas for visits to Vienna and its surroundings
If you plan to visit Vienna more than 3 or 4 days, then you may have time to discover other places. Here are some ideas for additional visits to Vienna or its surroundings.
- The Austrian National Library
- Shopping on Kärntner Straße and Graben
- Take a tram on the Ring, one of the most beautiful boulevards that ride the city
- Walk by the Danube or make a Danube cruise
- Visit the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the oldest zoo in the world
- The Hoher Markt market square and its clock
- Take a train and go visit Bratislava, the nearby Slovak capital
- Visit Time Travel Vienna to live a virtual journey in time through the history of Vienna
- Visit the famous museum Madame Tussauds
- Visit the Mozart’s house (Mozarthaus) in Vienna
- Go to the Vienna Central Cemetery – City of the Dead
How to get to Vienna?
It is said that Vienna is a city where the cost of living is high. But as in all major capitals, there is always a cheap way to travel. First of all, to visit Vienna, take a low-cost flight from Paris, Nice, Lyon (and other French cities). Don’t forget to watch the prices for Bratislava, which is only 1 hour by train. Whatever the choice of your itinerary, think to take a look at the site our partner Ulysses , flight specialist at the best prices.
Where to stay in Vienna?
Concerning your housing in Vienna , make sure you have a quiet stay by finding a youth hostel, an apartment or a hotel in the city centre. Everything will be easier for you. To find the ideal hotel in Vienna, you can search for this Compare hotels .
If you want a total immersion by staying at home or staying in a typical Viennese accommodation, you can find your happiness on the rental platform Airbnb .
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