Things you must do in Vienna
Vienna is a grand and opulent city with impressive architecture, imperial palaces, and rich artistic culture. It’s setting looks as if it were out of a fairytale. The Austrian capital has so much to offer any time of year. The city is very walkable, with many historical sites within walking distance of each other. Public transportation is very accessible and user friendly as a nice alternative.
If you plan to visit a lot of the city’s attractions, the Vienna Card is well worth it. You can purchase a one day pass up to multiple days. It will give you access to unlimited public transportations as-well-as discounts to many attractions and museums. Vienna has a great system of subway, trams, and buses.
Start your day at a Viennese cafe
Vienna is known for amazing coffee and pastries. There are so many great cafes and with all these options, it is hard to choose where to go. Cafe Central established in 1876 is known for specialty coffees, pastries, and cakes as well as Viennese cuisine and its striking interior architecture. It was also a favorite neighborhood spot for Sigmund Freud. The cafe opens at 7:30 (except Sunday it opens at 10:00). I would recommend getting there early because it gets busy fast. If you decide to sleep in and forgo breakfast, these spots are equally amazing for lunch or a coffee and dessert break.
Some other great cafes…
Cafe Mozart has specialty coffees, pastry, cakes and a full menu. It is centrally located near the Vienna Opera House.
Cafe Sperl is another great spot for delicious coffee and pastries as well as breakfast, brunch and lunch.
Cafe Landtmann is another gorgeous and delicious traditional Viennese cafe. It opens at 7:30 but gets busy fast!
Cafe Phil is a hip, trendy and less traditional spot than the above. It also doubles as a bookstore!
Schonbrunn Palace
The 1441-room Schonbrunn Palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty. Some of its most famous inhabitants were Franz Joseph I (1837-1898) and his nonconforming wife Empress Elizabeth “Sisi.” There are many tour options. whether you do the Grand Tour or Imperial Tour (audio tours), which determines how many rooms out of 45 you can see, including gardens, maze, Gloriette, and even the zoo (the zoo was unavailable when I was there). The garden is breathtaking. I could spend hours just strolling through. Schonbrunn is off the beaten path and not walking distance from the city center. It can be reached on tram lines 10 and 58, bus route 10A or subway (U-Bahn) route U4.
Explore Naschmarkt and Karlsplatz
Naschmarkt is Vienna’s largest and most famous outdoor market. It’s the perfect place to end up on time for lunch or when you’re in the mood to eat! Naschmarkt is a culinary utopia featuring food from all over the world. There are rows and rows of open stalls and even has sit-down restaurants. If you’re lucky to be here on the weekend, there is a flea market to explore as well. After exploring the market, head to nearby Karlsplatz Square and admire the beautiful baroque-style church Karlskirche.
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera House is an impressive 1861 built Renaissance Revival. It was the first major building on the famous Vienna Ring Road. The opera seats 1709. It is magnificent inside as well as out.
Stroll down Ringstrasse
Ringstrasse (aka Vienna Ring Road) is Vienna’s most grand and beautiful boulevard, home to many of Vienna’s best known and impressive sights, parks, and bike trails. You can also explore it by tram but I recommend by foot so you can stop and marvel along the way.
Burggarten is one of the parks along the boulevard which is home to a Mozart statue. Volksgarten is another beautiful park on Ringstrasse which serves as part of Hofburg Palace. Some other must-sees on Ringstrasse are Rathaus, Museums Quarter, and Votive Church. If you’re in Vienna in the winter, there is a Christmas market and ice skating rink in front of Rathaus.
Visit one of Vienna’s many museums
Museums Quarter is a series of several Baroque and modern buildings with an array of different compilations, including a large art museum (Leopold), Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation and contemporary exhibits. The complex is also home to several festivals. Additionally, Museums Quarter has an international center for dance and production and media studios.
Tours and day trips
The city offers a free guided tour at starting at Rathaus Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Another fun way to see the city is a hot rod tour. These mini cars can be seen exploring the city, along with the rest of Vienna’s traffic.
Day trips to Bratislava, Slovakia are available on a mini Danube cruise or train for just a little over 1 hour each way.
