17 Incredibly Magical Things to Do in Vienna Austria

This post is about things to do in Vienna.

Looking for the best things to do in Vienna for your upcoming trip? I’m here to make sure you don’t miss a single part of Vienna. Vienna, Austria is one of the most beautiful and most popular European destinations which makes it the perfect city to add to your travel list!

Whether you’re visiting Vienna during Christmas or during the height of summertime, there are so many amazing things to do in Vienna that you simply can’t skip! This post is all about the top sights in Vienna. 

GETTING AROUND VIENNA

The best and cheapest way to get around Vienna is with public transportation. As with most of Europe, the public buses and metros are very well organized and safe for tourists. Simply go to the nearest metro station, buy whichever ticket you need (single ride, day pass, 48- or 36-hour pass) and VALIDATE! Very important. Don’t forget to validate your ticket! 

You can also use their Vienna Metro app (WeinMobile) and validate on the app if paper tickets aren’t your thing. As long as you have Google Maps, you’ll never have a problem getting around Vienna!

WHERE TO STAY IN VIENNA

Depending on your budget, there are hundreds of options to choose from. Hotels, Airbnbs, you name it. Since I was working on a strict budget, I chose to stay in one of Vienna’s hostels. 

Hostels are great ways to save money, stay in the city center, and even meet fellow travelers. I loved the hostel in Vienna that I stayed in! The rooms were clean, the workers were incredibly nice, and the atmosphere was relaxed and casual.

It’s right next to the Naschmarkt which is full of restaurants, produce stands, and souvenir shops. There is also a metro stop a short walk away.

THE VIENNA PASS

If you are planning on doing anything at all in Vienna, I highly recommend you buy the Vienna Pass! The Vienna Pass is a ticket that allows you access to almost all of the museums and attractions in the city. 

Whether you’re doing a day trip or spending a few days in the city, the Vienna Pass saves you so much money no matter how many activities you plan on doing in Vienna. There are tons of different tiers in the Vienna Pass, so you can pick the one that works the best for you.

Instead of booking each museum individually, you can buy the Vienna Pass which bundles dozens of attractions into one ticket. This not only saves you money on individual tickets but it also helps you keep all of your tickets in one place.

TOURS – Best Way to See Vienna

If you are looking for a more guided experience in Vienna, here are two tours I booked that were both really fun and really enlightening.

Free Vienna Walking Tour

Walking tours are the best way to discover a new city in my personal opinion. When trying to find a walking tour to choose from, I like to look at the free options because of the low stakes involved. Not sure you’ll feel up to it or even want make the tour? Cancel without worrying about a refund. 

But the best is that these tours are priced at what you believe the tour is worth or what you can personally afford. If the tour wasn’t that great, you only have to give as much money as you believe the tour was worth. If the tour was amazing, then you can price it out as you wish!

I highly recommend searching on Guru Walk for your next free walking tour. Linked here is the tour I took in Vienna.

Chocolate Making Class in Vienna

 Ever wanted to make your own chocolate? Here is a family friendly way to get your hands a little dirty and experiment with some Viennese chocolate! Learn the history of chocolate making, where the chocolate come from, and more! But of course, the best part is making your own chocolate bars! I’d say if you have some extra time in your day to check this place out!

Best Activities in Vienna:

Ballet – One of the Most Unique Things to Do in Vienna

If you are going to listen to any advice in this post, this is the one piece I want you to listen closely to. Go see a show at the Opera House.

It was seriously one of the best ways to not only experience some amazing culture and entertainment, but it is a great budget way of touring the opera house itself! 

I reserved a seat in one of the boxes along the back of the theater for only 12 EUROS!! My view was unobstructed, the seats were comfortable, and there was plenty of space to hang my coat.

The ballet itself was an absolute dream. The performances were some of the best I’ve ever seen, so much so, that I even debated going back to see the ballet a second time while I was visiting Vienna.

Such a fun way to see a different side of Vienna!

Vienna’s Palaces:

Wander around Schönbrunn Palace – My Favorite Palace in Vienna

A short metro ride away from the city center stands the Schönbrunn Palace. This palace was used as the “summer home” of the Austrian Royalty. So of course, the palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Austria, but the interior is really where the palace shines.

To enter, you have free tickets with your Vienna pass! The self-guided or guided tours take you room to room throughout the majority of the palace. Honestly, this was one of the most stunning and interesting royal palaces I have ever been in. The audio guide of the self-guided tour is done very well, and they really allow you to take the time to look at the finer details.

The Schönbrunn Palace has so much more to offer besides the palace itself. There are hundreds of acres of gardens to roam, greenhouses, reptile rooms, and an entire zoo! You can easily spend an entire day wandering around these palace grounds. I loved the bleakness of winter, but I would love to come back and see what the gardens look like in full bloom!

Belvedere Palaces

Looking for some palaces more centrally located? Steps away from the city center are the Upper and Lower Belvedere Palaces! Another lovely place to visit, but for slightly different reasons. The Belvedere Palaces are known for the Baroque architecture. Some of the most beautiful in the entire city. 

Additionally, you can visit the interiors of the Palaces and discover one of Austria’s most valuable art collections! Of course this is free for those holding the Vienna Pass. I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary if you have the time.

Things to See in Vienna:

Karlskirche

I walked past Karlskirche every single time I left or arrived back at my hostel, so the sight of the famous church, St Charles cathedral, became a common part of my routine.

Karlskirche is a great place to situate yourself in the city because it is right on the border of the hustle and bustle. But there’s still plenty nearby to keep you entertained while also being slightly hidden from the crowds.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

If you’ve looked into traveling to Vienna at all, then you will already know that stopping by Vienna’s main Cathedral is a must. Honestly you’re bound to run into it eventually even if you aren’t a big cathedral gal. Sitting directly in the center of Vienna, the city simply morphed around it.

One fun thing to do is climb the gazillion steps to the top of Stephansdom’s North Tower for a bird’s eye view of the city. I’d say it’s worth it!

Austrian National Library – My Favorite Part of Vienna

This library took my breath away. Seriously. I have been to so many different libraries especially on this Eastern European trip, but this one might just take the cake.

This library holds not only one of the largest book collections I have ever seen, but also there are tons of antiques, sculptures, and art around the entirety of this massive building. No matter which way you look, there is something new to admire!

Did I mention that you can enter for free with the Vienna Pass?

Heldenplatz

Heldenplatz or “Hero’s Square” is the area leading you to the Imperial Palace Hofburg! This is the perfect spot for a photo of the palace, the square, and the surrounding buildings! 

Mozart Monument

My personal favorite spot in Vienna’s city center is in the Burggarten. It also just so happens to be where the Mozart Monument is located. The Burggarten is the garden directly behind the Imperial Palace and is usually less crowded than Heldenplatz. Also, there’s a butterfly house that you can walk through (for free with the Vienna Pass). It was the perfect escape from the January cold.

Rathausplatz

On the opposite side of the Imperial Palace is where the actual government buildings are. But don’t let that fool you. The buildings along the Rathausplatz are all beautifully unique in their own way. I mean how many times do you see a building copying the Roman Pantheon beside a Neo-Gothic-cathedral-looking city hall?

Peterskirche on Graben

Let’s finish off this section with one last church, shall we? St Peter’s cathedral is on the quieter side compared to St Stephens, but it is still worth the visit. The newer buildings surrounding the cathedral keep it pretty hidden. Even if you’re just looking for some relief from the wintery weather, take a look inside this one.

Museums in Vienna: 

There are so many museums in Vienna that it would actually be impossible to see them all without spending weeks in the city. Unfortunately, I do not have that kind of time or money, so I had to choose which ones to prioritize. But guess what! All of these are free to enter with the Vienna Pass!

Mythos Mozart

To be completely honest about this one I don’t think I would’ve gone to Mythos Mozart if I didn’t have free tickets with my Vienna Pass. Set up kind of like the Van Gogh immersive experience, Mythos Mozart is targeted towards the family friendly visitors. You get a brief history on Mozart from a guide, and then you enter a series of rooms which immerse you in his music and some of his background. If you don’t feel like standing and reading or listening to Mozart’s history, then this is a great alternative for you.

Sisi Museum

You will hear A LOT about Sisi when you visit Vienna. So, it only makes sense to mention her museum! I really enjoyed this museum because you get a much more personal look into this influential woman’s life. Many other museums will boast about giving the history of Sisi, but none of them come close to diving as deep as the Sisi Museum. 

Kunsthistorisches Museum

Without a doubt, this is my favorite museum in Vienna. But that’s because I am a nerd about geology and paleontology! I have never seen so many different types of rocks, stones, gems, jewels in my entire life! There were entire wings dedicated to geology, and I just nerded out. I was literally in this museum for hours! Not only one of the best museums in Vienna but one of the best natural history museums in the world. At least in my humble opinion.

Albertina Museum: My Favorite Museum in Vienna

The Albertina Museum is infamous in name and for good reason. The art exhibits inside this museum are top notch. I have honestly never had a more enjoyable time in an art museum. Not only the thematic nature of the collections, but the layout of the entire museum really ties the most beautiful bow on this place. I highly recommend taking an hour or two out of your day to wander through the history of the arts.

Markets in Vienna: Christmas and NYE

If you are planning on coming around Christmas or New Years, I couldn’t recommend the holiday markets more! Unfortunately, I was hitting Vienna pretty late in the holiday season and only got to visit a few markets, but they were absolutely wonderful! 

The highlights are always going to be the little cabin shaped booths, the glühwein, and unique to Eastern Europe, the Trdelnik or more commonly known, the chimney cakes!

• Prater
• Riesenradplatz
• Michaelerplatz New Year’s Market

The Best Food in Vienna

Of course. We can’t wrap this post up without talking about food! Here are some of the best places to eat in Vienna!

Breakfast in Vienna

Naschmarkt (Drechsler Café)

Zina’s 

Adlerhof

Café Demel

Lunch or Dinner in Vienna

Dinner in Naschmarkt (Tolstoy)

Dinner at Heindl’s Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl (pancake house!)

Landia for Veggie Schnitzel 

Things to Do in Vienna

And there is everything I accomplished in my five days exploring Vienna! I hope you found some fun things to add to your own personal itinerary. I loved wandering around this beautiful city in the winter, but I know that I’ll have to come back and see it all again in the warmer weather. Enjoy your adventure to Vienna!

This post is all about the things to do in Vienna.

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