See Schönbrunn PalaceMust-See SightsPaidThe main Habsburg summer palace is a half-day stop: the state rooms are ticketed and the gardens are free. Go early to beat tour groups; the upper garden terrace gives a good view back over the city.0 Add to listSee Schönbrunn PalaceMust-See SightsPaidThe main Habsburg summer palace is a half-day stop: the state rooms are ticketed and the gardens are free. Go early to beat tour groups; the upper garden terrace gives a good view back over the city.0 Add to list
Visit St. Stephen's CathedralMust-See SightsSt Stephen's Cathedral is hard to miss at the centre of the old city. Entry to the main nave is free; the catacombs, towers and treasury are ticketed separately.0 Add to listVisit St. Stephen's CathedralMust-See SightsSt Stephen's Cathedral is hard to miss at the centre of the old city. Entry to the main nave is free; the catacombs, towers and treasury are ticketed separately.0 Add to list
Visit the Hofburg Imperial RoomsMust-See SightsPaidThe Hofburg complex covers several blocks of the old centre with imperial apartments, the Spanish Riding School and multiple museums. Tickets are sold per section; the Sisi Museum and imperial apartments are the most visited.0 Add to listVisit the Hofburg Imperial RoomsMust-See SightsPaidThe Hofburg complex covers several blocks of the old centre with imperial apartments, the Spanish Riding School and multiple museums. Tickets are sold per section; the Sisi Museum and imperial apartments are the most visited.0 Add to list
Visit Belvedere PalaceMust-See SightsPaidThe Upper Belvedere houses Klimt's 'The Kiss' along with a solid collection of Austrian art. The baroque garden between the two palace buildings is free to walk through; the interior is ticketed.0 Add to listVisit Belvedere PalaceMust-See SightsPaidThe Upper Belvedere houses Klimt's 'The Kiss' along with a solid collection of Austrian art. The baroque garden between the two palace buildings is free to walk through; the interior is ticketed.0 Add to list
See the Vienna State OperaMust-See SightsPaidThe State Opera is one of the most important opera houses in Europe. You can see the grand exterior for free; guided tours of the interior run daily, and standing tickets for performances are very cheap if you book online in time.0 Add to listSee the Vienna State OperaMust-See SightsPaidThe State Opera is one of the most important opera houses in Europe. You can see the grand exterior for free; guided tours of the interior run daily, and standing tickets for performances are very cheap if you book online in time.0 Add to list
Ride the Wiener RiesenradMust-See SightsWith KidsPaidThe 1897 Riesenrad giant Ferris wheel is one of the oldest still operating in the world. The ride is short and ticketed; the Prater park itself is free and good for a walk.0 Add to listRide the Wiener RiesenradMust-See SightsWith KidsPaidThe 1897 Riesenrad giant Ferris wheel is one of the oldest still operating in the world. The ride is short and ticketed; the Prater park itself is free and good for a walk.0 Add to list
Admire the Neo-Gothic Vienna RathausMust-See SightsSummer · WinterThe neo-Gothic city hall faces a wide square that hosts an ice rink in winter and a film festival in summer. The exterior is free to see anytime; check the square's calendar for seasonal events.0 Add to listAdmire the Neo-Gothic Vienna RathausMust-See SightsSummer · WinterThe neo-Gothic city hall faces a wide square that hosts an ice rink in winter and a film festival in summer. The exterior is free to see anytime; check the square's calendar for seasonal events.0 Add to list
Visit the Kunsthistorisches MuseumMust-See SightsPaidOne of the great European art museums, with old masters from Vermeer to Velazquez in a grand imperial building. Allow at least two hours; ticketed, and worth it.0 Add to listVisit the Kunsthistorisches MuseumMust-See SightsPaidOne of the great European art museums, with old masters from Vermeer to Velazquez in a grand imperial building. Allow at least two hours; ticketed, and worth it.0 Add to list
Order an Eitrige at a Viennese WürstelstandLocal FoodLocal RitualsA Wurstelstand is a Viennese sausage stand, and the Eitrige ('the pus-filled one') is the cheese sausage. Bite carefully - it spits hot molten cheese. A quick, cheap, late-night staple.0 Add to listOrder an Eitrige at a Viennese WürstelstandLocal FoodLocal RitualsA Wurstelstand is a Viennese sausage stand, and the Eitrige ('the pus-filled one') is the cheese sausage. Bite carefully - it spits hot molten cheese. A quick, cheap, late-night staple.0 Add to list
Watch the Ankeruhr Noon Parade on Hoher MarktFun Side QuestsThe Ankeruhr on Hoher Markt is an art nouveau clock that runs through twelve historical figures over the course of a day, with all twelve parading at noon. Arrive a few minutes early for a clear view.0 Add to listWatch the Ankeruhr Noon Parade on Hoher MarktFun Side QuestsThe Ankeruhr on Hoher Markt is an art nouveau clock that runs through twelve historical figures over the course of a day, with all twelve parading at noon. Arrive a few minutes early for a clear view.0 Add to list
Crawl the Donaukanal Street-Art WallFun Side QuestsThe Donaukanal embankment has a long stretch of street art that gets repainted regularly. An easy walk from the city centre, and a good contrast to the imperial architecture a few streets away.0 Add to listCrawl the Donaukanal Street-Art WallFun Side QuestsThe Donaukanal embankment has a long stretch of street art that gets repainted regularly. An easy walk from the city centre, and a good contrast to the imperial architecture a few streets away.0 Add to list
Try Escargot at Gugumuck's Snail FarmLocal FoodGugumuck's farm-bistro on the southern edge of the city serves escargot and snail-based dishes - a revival of an old Viennese tradition. Worth a trip if you're curious; it's about 7km from the centre.0 Add to listTry Escargot at Gugumuck's Snail FarmLocal FoodGugumuck's farm-bistro on the southern edge of the city serves escargot and snail-based dishes - a revival of an old Viennese tradition. Worth a trip if you're curious; it's about 7km from the centre.0 Add to list
Visit the Fälschermuseum Art Forgery MuseumFun Side QuestsPaidThe Falschermuseum is a small museum dedicated to art forgery, with copies and convicted fakes across several rooms. It's across from the Hundertwasserhaus and a good alternative to the major museums on a second day.0 Add to listVisit the Fälschermuseum Art Forgery MuseumFun Side QuestsPaidThe Falschermuseum is a small museum dedicated to art forgery, with copies and convicted fakes across several rooms. It's across from the Hundertwasserhaus and a good alternative to the major museums on a second day.0 Add to list
Haggle at the Saturday FlohmarktFun Side QuestsThe Naschmarkt flea market runs every Saturday morning next to the regular food market. Get there before 9am for the better finds; it winds down by early afternoon.0 Add to listHaggle at the Saturday FlohmarktFun Side QuestsThe Naschmarkt flea market runs every Saturday morning next to the regular food market. Get there before 9am for the better finds; it winds down by early afternoon.0 Add to list
Walk Through Spittelberg's Cobbled LanesFun Side QuestsSpittelberg is a small grid of 18th-century lanes behind the MuseumsQuartier with independent shops, galleries and restaurants. Quieter than the main tourist areas; a good evening wander.0 Add to listWalk Through Spittelberg's Cobbled LanesFun Side QuestsSpittelberg is a small grid of 18th-century lanes behind the MuseumsQuartier with independent shops, galleries and restaurants. Quieter than the main tourist areas; a good evening wander.0 Add to list
Ring the Doorbell of a Secret BarFun Side QuestsTur 7 is a cocktail bar at Buchfeldgasse 7 with no sign outside - just an unmarked door and a bell. Ring it, wait, go in. A small, well-run bar that feels like a find.0 Add to listRing the Doorbell of a Secret BarFun Side QuestsTur 7 is a cocktail bar at Buchfeldgasse 7 with no sign outside - just an unmarked door and a bell. Ring it, wait, go in. A small, well-run bar that feels like a find.0 Add to list
Sit in a Viennese Kaffeehaus for HoursFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsA Viennese Kaffeehaus runs at its own pace - you order a melange and nobody rushes you to leave. Pick a non-touristy one, bring something to read, and treat it as a two-hour stop rather than a coffee break.0 Add to listSit in a Viennese Kaffeehaus for HoursFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsA Viennese Kaffeehaus runs at its own pace - you order a melange and nobody rushes you to leave. Pick a non-touristy one, bring something to read, and treat it as a two-hour stop rather than a coffee break.0 Add to list
Picnic Beneath a Flak TowerActiveThe Augarten is a large baroque garden in the 2nd district favoured by locals over tourists. A good picnic spot, and the two giant WWII flak towers still standing in the park are a striking and sobering detail.0 Add to listPicnic Beneath a Flak TowerActiveThe Augarten is a large baroque garden in the 2nd district favoured by locals over tourists. A good picnic spot, and the two giant WWII flak towers still standing in the park are a striking and sobering detail.0 Add to list
Run the Prater Hauptallee at SunriseActiveLocal RitualsSpringThe Prater Hauptallee is a straight 4.5km chestnut-lined avenue - flat, shaded and popular with local runners, especially early morning. One of the better running routes in central Vienna.0 Add to listRun the Prater Hauptallee at SunriseActiveLocal RitualsSpringThe Prater Hauptallee is a straight 4.5km chestnut-lined avenue - flat, shaded and popular with local runners, especially early morning. One of the better running routes in central Vienna.0 Add to list
Jog the Augarten Beneath a WWII Flak TowerActiveLocal RitualsThe Augarten has a network of gravel paths good for an early morning jog in a park that's almost entirely locals. The two massive WWII flak towers looming over the lawn are hard to ignore.0 Add to listJog the Augarten Beneath a WWII Flak TowerActiveLocal RitualsThe Augarten has a network of gravel paths good for an early morning jog in a park that's almost entirely locals. The two massive WWII flak towers looming over the lawn are hard to ignore.0 Add to list
Dam a Stream at the Donauinsel Water PlaygroundActiveWith KidsSummerThe Danube Island has a free water playground where kids can redirect shallow streams and cross a suspension bridge. Bring a change of clothes and a towel - everyone gets wet.0 Add to listDam a Stream at the Donauinsel Water PlaygroundActiveWith KidsSummerThe Danube Island has a free water playground where kids can redirect shallow streams and cross a suspension bridge. Bring a change of clothes and a towel - everyone gets wet.0 Add to list
Ride the Grottenbahn Dwarf Train at the PraterFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidThe Grottenbahn is a slow, kitschy train ride through caves full of glowing gnomes and fairy-tale scenes at the Prater fairground. It's been running since the 1930s and very little has changed. Kids enjoy it; adults find it charmingly strange.0 Add to listRide the Grottenbahn Dwarf Train at the PraterFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidThe Grottenbahn is a slow, kitschy train ride through caves full of glowing gnomes and fairy-tale scenes at the Prater fairground. It's been running since the 1930s and very little has changed. Kids enjoy it; adults find it charmingly strange.0 Add to list
Conquer the Wild-West Slide at JesuitenwieseFun Side QuestsWith KidsThe Jesuitenwiese is a big meadow in the green Prater with a wild-west themed playground and plenty of space to spread out. Free, easy to combine with a picnic, and much quieter than the main Prater fairground.0 Add to listConquer the Wild-West Slide at JesuitenwieseFun Side QuestsWith KidsThe Jesuitenwiese is a big meadow in the green Prater with a wild-west themed playground and plenty of space to spread out. Free, easy to combine with a picnic, and much quieter than the main Prater fairground.0 Add to list
