What to do in Vienna? : Best places in Vienna
📋 Key points to remember: Vienna is the most elegant city in Central Europe, with its Habsburg imperial past and its cultural scene (opera, cafés, classical music). My must-sees: Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, StephansDom, Belvedere + Klimt, MuseumsQuartier. Plan 3-4 days. Average budget: €90-130/day. Vienna remains very accessible by night train from Paris (12 h).
What to do in Vienna? 2 days in Vienna:
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Schönbrunn Palace
One of the must-see places is the former palace where the Habsburgs lived, called Schönbrunn. Access to the park is free but you pay for the various activities inside the palace and park! You can visit the palace apartments, climb to the top for a panorama of the garden and palace, go to the secret garden, take a tour of the maze, and attend a cooking show that looks like apple pie!
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Tour of the Old Town
The city tour called the city loop, the best way is to go on foot and enjoy the nice weather if you go when it’s sunny! During this city tour, you observe the magnificent architecture of the city, old churches, museums, palaces, etc.!
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What to do in Vienna? Go to the Vienna Opera
Go see the Opera (4 euros for standing places with a very good view). Ask for the standing seats! The opera lasts 1h30, you have to queue from 5 pm but the show only starts at 7 pm! It’s worth it!
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The sausage stands in Vienna
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Enjoy the nice weather by tasting a good Viennese coffee on a terrace
When the nice days are here, you will find people all over Vienna eating Italian ice cream but you can also relax in a café, there are quite a few cafés downtown near Stefanplatz or around Schwedenplatz which is right in the city center.
What to do in Vienna? : 3 days in Vienna
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Funfair in Vienna
Go see the amusement park and taste the local flavors! The langos, a kind of large pancake sprinkled with garlic sauce! Watch your breath! The funfair is located at Prater, where you find one of the oldest Ferris wheels in Europe!
🗣️ My experience: The best memory of my stay: attending a standing opera for €10 at the Wiener Staatsoper. The tradition of “Stehplätze” (standing places) allows you to listen to La Traviata or Don Giovanni for the price of a sandwich. Arrive 1h30 before curtain up, queue on the right side of the building, and standing place in the main hall. A unique experience in the world.
🌍 Did you know?
Vienna is regularly ranked the #1 city in the world for quality of life (Mercer Quality of Living, for 10 years). Criteria: safety, public services, green spaces (50% of the territory), culture, health. The city also has more than 100 museums and the longest pedestrian street in Europe (Mariahilfer Straße, 1.8 km).
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Famous cemetery in Vienna
The cemetery of great authors and musicians, located a bit further south of the city, come see the cemetery which is somewhat like the Père Lachaise of Vienna! You will find the graves of Mozart, Beethoven, and many other Austrian artists there.
🍀 Vienna
- World’s #1 quality of life
- Intact imperial heritage
- Unmatched classical cultural scene
- Paris-Vienna night train (12 h)
🔻 Limitations
- Less varied cuisine than Paris or Berlin
- High cost of living for Eastern Europe
- Quieter nightlife
- Summer crowds (July-August)
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Going to Bratislava
If you have an extra day, I recommend visiting the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava, which is 1.5 hours by boat from Vienna! These two cities are called twin sisters, they are the closest European capitals to each other! The round trip costs 60 euros!
What to do in Vienna? : Transport in Vienna
⚠️ Classic trap
Eating at Café Sacher or Demel at snack time without a reservation. 1.5-hour line, tourist prices (€8-10 per slice). Solution: book online 2-3 days in advance for 2:30 pm or go to Café Central (similar atmosphere, shorter line), or Aida (cheaper local pastry shop).
Take advantage of the transport card in Vienna, there are several versions: 24h, 48h, and 72h, which allows you not to worry too much and save time! It lets you take the bus, tram, and metro.
If you want to party in Vienna, this article is for you: party in Vienna!
To combine with another Central European capital, what to do in Berlin offers the perfect contrast. The most beautiful cities in Europe ranks Vienna in the global top. And for partying, party in Vienna covers the local nightlife.
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How many days to visit Vienna?
What is the best time to visit Vienna?
What budget for 3 days in Vienna?
| Place | To see | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Schönbrunn | Summer palace + gardens + zoo | 22-50 € depending on ticket |
| Hofburg | Imperial palace + Treasury + Sissi | 17 € |
| StephansDom | Gothic cathedral, tower view | Free / 6 € tower |
| Belvedere | Klimt (The Kiss) + gardens | 17 € |
| MuseumsQuartier | Leopold, MUMOK, courtyards | Variable |
| National Opera | Tour or performance | 10-200 € depending on seat |
| Viennese cafés (Central, Sacher, Demel) | Strudel, Sachertorte, coffee | 10-15 € per person |
