Two years ago, my mom and I traveled to Switzerland together, and this year she decided she wanted to see Austria. She was drawn to the beautiful architecture and scenery, and honestly, Austria had been on my own travel bucket list for years, so I was very excited to finally make the trip happen. We spent several days exploring Vienna before continuing through Salzburg, Hallstatt, Innsbruck, and ended our trip in Munich, Germany (as it was the closer airport to fly out of to return to Canada).
From grand palaces and historic churches to traditional cafés, beautiful architecture around every corner, and the deep history, Vienna has a lot to see without feeling like you have to rush from one attraction to the next.
After spending time here myself, I’ve put together this Vienna travel guide with the things I think are actually worth knowing before your trip and what’s worth your time.
A Brief History Of Vienna And Austria – The Habsburgs, Sisi, And Imperial Vienna
Before visiting Vienna, it helps to know a little about the history behind the grand palaces, elaborate churches, and imperial buildings you’ll see throughout the city. Much of Vienna’s identity today is tied to the Habsburg dynasty, one of Europe’s most influential ruling families, whose power shaped Austria and much of Central Europe for centuries.
From Roman Vienna To The Habsburgs
Vienna starts with the Romans establishing a military camp called Vindobona in the area that is now central Vienna, making the city part of the Roman frontier along the Danube. Centuries later, Vienna became an important medieval city and the seat of the Babenberg dynasty before the Habsburgs rose to power in Austria in the late 13th century.
The Habsburgs would go on to rule Austria for more than six centuries, expanding their influence through strategic marriages, political alliances, and territorial acquisitions. Their reach eventually extended far beyond modern-day Austria, and members of the dynasty also became rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, the Austrian Empire, and later, Austria-Hungary.
And this is one of the reasons Vienna feels so grand today. The city was not simply a royal residence. For centuries, it was the political and cultural center of a powerful European monarchy.
The Habsburgs And Imperial Vienna
The Hofburg Palace became the heart of Habsburg power in Vienna and the enormous palace complex expanded over centuries, beginning with a medieval castle and growing into a sprawling complex you can visit today. It served as the residence and workplace of the imperial family until the end of the monarchy in 1918. The Habsburg legacy is everywhere in Vienna and you’ll see it in multiple sites today.
Enter Sisi
Then there is Sisi, a name you’ll see everywhere as well. She is probably the most famous member of the Habsburg family in modern tourism. Her real name was Elisabeth of Bavaria and she married her cousin, Emperor Franz Joseph I, in 1854 when she was just 16 years old and became Empress of Austria. After the creation of Austria-Hungary in 1867, she was also crowned Queen of Hungary alongside Franz Joseph.
Sisi is a cultural icon today and heavily romanticized in books and films, but she was known as famously independent, intensely interested in travel and reportedly uncomfortable with the rigid expectations of court life. She spent a lot of time away from Vienna and became known for her obsession with exercise, beauty, and maintaining her famously long hair. Her story ultimately ended tragically in 1898 when she was assassinated by an Italian anarchist while in Geneva, Switzerland.
From Empire To Modern Austria
Franz Joseph’s extraordinarily long reign lasted from 1848 until he died in 1916. During those decades, Vienna became one of Europe’s major cultural and political capitals. But the imperial era eventually came to an end. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, in Sarajevo in 1914 helped trigger the First World War. Austria-Hungary was defeated and collapsed at the end of the war. In November 1918, Emperor Charles I renounced participation in government affairs, effectively ending Habsburg rule, and Austria became a republic shortly afterward.
So, when you walk through Vienna today, you’re walking through a city that has been shaped by centuries of changing empires, dynasties, wars, art, and culture. And that’s what makes the history so interesting when you’re actually there. Once you know a little of the history of Vienna and Austria, the city starts to feel less like a collection of beautiful buildings and more like one big history book you can walk through.
How Many Days Do You Need In Vienna?
I recommend spending at least 3 days in Vienna, but 4 days is ideal if you want to experience without rushing from on attraction to the next.
Vienna has a lot to see and you can see the major highlights in a couple of days, but having an extra day gives you time to slow down and actually enjoy the city. I originally planned to stay 4 nights and 5 days in Vienna, although a missed flight connection meant I lost an entire day. That left me with roughly 4 days to explore and honestly, it turned out to be a perfect amount of time. I was able to see the major sights, spend time wandering through different parts of the city, stop for coffee and cake, try traditional Austrian food, and even meet up with a friend who had moved from Canada to Vienna. I never felt like I was constantly racing to the next attraction.
If you decide to spend 5 or more days in Vienna, you can explore at a much slower pace and have the opportunity to add more museums, experiences, and day trips.
Where To Stay In Vienna, Austria
Choosing where to stay in Vienna can make a noticeable difference to your trip. The city is very walkable, but Vienna is larger than the historic center alone, so I recommend staying somewhere central or somewhere with easy access to public transportation.
For a first visit, I’d look for a hotel that makes it easy to get around the Innere Stadt (1st district) and the surrounding central neighborhoods. That way, you can spend less time commuting and more time exploring.
Where I Stayed In Vienna
During my trip to Vienna, I stayed at Hilight Suites Hotel, and I honestly loved it more than I expected to. One of the biggest surprises was the amount of space. I booked a slightly higher room category, and the room was huge, which made a big difference when traveling with another person and luggage. I also loved how spacious the bathroom was, and there was a separation between the sink and the toilet and bathtub, which made it convenient for two people to use the spaces at the same time.
The hotel isn’t right in the middle of the busiest tourist area, so I did have to walk a little more than I would have if I’d stayed directly in the historic center. That said, I still found it central enough for my trip, and the subway was accessible within a 5-minute walk. The staff was pleasant and helpful as well, and I really enjoyed staying here.
Best Areas To Stay In Vienna
Innere Stadt (1st District)
This area is best for first-time visitors and maximum convenience. If you want to be in the heart of Vienna, the 1st district is the obvious place to start. You’ll be close to many of the city’s most famous sights, restaurants, cafés, and shopping streets as soon as you walk out of your hotel. The trade-off is that hotels here can be more expensive, especially at the luxury end. Recommendations: Park Hyatt Vienna, Boutique Hotel Am Stephansplatz
Wieden (4th District)
This area is best for central location with a slightly more residential feel. Wieden is just south of the historic center and puts you within easy reach of many central attractions. It’s a good option if you want to be close to everything without necessarily staying directly in the busiest part of the city.
Recommendations: Hotel Erzherzog Rainier, Hotel Kaiserhof Wien
Neubau (7th District)
This area is best for cafés, restaurants, independent shops, galleries, and has a more local and creative atmosphere. Neubau is a good choice if you want something a little less focused on grand imperial sights than the 1st District, but you’re still staying close enough to the center.
Recommendations: Hotel Sans Souci, Hotel Altstadt Vienna
Be sure to check out the Best Ways to Save Money On Hotels For Your Next Vacation.
How To Get To Vienna, Austria And Getting Around
Vienna is relatively easy to get around, whether you’re arriving by plane, continuing your European trip by train, or exploring the city on foot. I flew into Vienna from Toronto with SAS Airlines, but Vienna is well connected to the rest of Europe, so you have plenty of options depending on where you’re coming from.
Flying To Vienna
Vienna International Airport (VIE) is the city’s main airport, and is located outside the city center. If you’re flying from North America, you’ll find direct and connecting flights into Vienna, while travelers already in Europe have plenty of easy flight options.
Don’t forget to read on the Best Ways To Save Money On Flights For Your Next Vacation.
Getting From Vienna Airport To The City Center
You have several options for getting from Vienna Airport into the city, including public transportation, airport buses, and taxis.
Train – Vienna has rail connections between the airport and the city, but be sure to check the current schedule before your trip.
Airport Bus – Airport buses connect Vienna Airport with several locations in the city, including central areas such as Schwedenplatz and Karlsplatz.
Uber – Uber is available in Vienna, so if you already use it at home, it’s worth checking the app when you arrive. But with luggage, especially after a long travel day, I wouldn’t overthink it.
Taxi – If you have heavy luggage, are traveling with a larger party, or simply just want the convenience, a taxi can be worth it. If you’re arriving tired with multiple bags, don’t feel like you have to make your airport transfer more complicated just to save a little money.
Getting Around Vienna
Walking – Walking was my main way of getting around Vienna, especially around the historic center. Walking is definitely the best way to experience a city, as you can stop whenever you want without looking for parking, or waiting for other transportation. You get to see everything at your pace – the architecture, cafés, shops, and little details you’d probably miss if you were constantly taking transportation. That said, Vienna is a big enough city that you’ll probably want to use public transportation at least occasionally, especially for attractions that are farther from the center.
U-Bahn – Vienna’s underground system is fast and convenient, with five main subway lines connecting the city. I used public transportation a few times during my stay and found it extremely easy to navigate.
Trams And Buses – Vienna also has an extensive network of trams and buses. And here’s a fun tip: some tram routes are basically a mini sightseeing tour. Routes 1 and 2 travel along the Ringstrasse, passing landmarks including the State Opera, Hofburg, Parliament, and City Hall. If you’re already heading somewhere along the route, grab a window seat and enjoy the views.
Biking – One thing I noticed pretty quickly in Vienna, and actually throughout the cities I visited in Austria, is how much people bike. Cycling is a big part of getting around, and you’ll see people using bikes for everyday transportation rather than just recreational riding. Vienna has a large network of cycling routes, so it’s another option if you’d rather explore the city slightly faster than walking.
Vienna Travel Tips
1 – Do You Need A Vienna City Card?
This is one of those things I would check based on your itinerary, rather than automatically buying. The Vienna City Card includes unlimited public transportation within Vienna’s core zone during its validity period, along with discounts at museums, attractions, restaurants, and other participating businesses. It’s currently available for durations of 24, 48, and 72 hours, and 7 days.
If you plan to visit several attractions and use public transportation frequently, the discounts may make the card worthwhile. If you’re staying centrally, walking most of the time and only taking public transportation occasionally, you may be better off simply buying individual tickets.
I didn’t use a Vienna City Card during my trip as I only took the U-Bahn twice for a round trip to visit the palace, so I wouldn’t tell you that you need one if you are able to walk to most places.
There are also City Card options that include an airport transfer, which can be used for transportation between Vienna Airport and the city using options including the CAT, ÖBB Railjet, S7, and Vienna Airport Bus.
One thing to check before buying one is whether your hotel already has a Vienna City Card offer. Some participating hotels sell the card or offer discounts to City Card holders, while individual hotels may also run their own packages that include a card with certain stays.
2 – Sunday Is Not The Best Day For Shopping
Most regular shops are closed Sundays and holidays, with exceptions such as shops at major train stations, the airport, and museum shops. Our luggage was actually left behind in Berlin and there was nowhere we could go to buy extra clothes – the most we could get was some toiletries from the one grocery store that was still open. We didn’t get our belongings until the next day, but luckily I did pack an extra outfit in my Beis Mini Weekender so I had something to new to wear besides my airport outfit.
3 – Drink The Tap Water
Vienna’s tap water comes from Alpine spring sources and is safe to drink straight from the tap – at most restaurants, you can also ask for tap water if you don’t want to pay for a drink. There are also public drinking fountains around the city so you can even bring your own water bottle to refill.
4 – Tipping Culture Is Different Here
Tipping around 5 to 10% is customary in many service situations, but it isn’t mandatory, and you should check whether a tip has already been included. You can simply tell the serve the total amount you want to pay, including your tip rather than pressing a button for a percentage (you probably can’t read the machine anyway most times). I also found that across many restaurants in Austria we visited, a lot of them didn’t charge any tip either.
5 – No Need To Carry A Lot Of Cash
Vienna is very card-friendly, although having a small amount of euros is still handy for smaller purchases. But we rarely needed it at all.
What To Eat In Vienna, Austria
One thing I noticed when traveling through Austria is that each city and region seemed to have its own specialties. Vienna is no exception, and if you’re visiting for the first time, I would make a point of trying a few dishes that are particularly tied to Viennese cuisine.
Tafelspitz
If you only try one traditional dish in Vienna, make it Tafelspitz. It is a cut of beef that is gently simmered in broth and traditionally served with accompaniments like apple-horseradish sauce, chive sauce, and potatoes. It was famously a favorite of Emperor Franz Joseph I and has become one of the defining dishes of Viennese cuisine. I had mine at Plachutta, which I found through the Michelin Guide, and there are specialty Viennese beef cuts for you to choose from here – and their beef comes from cattle born in Austria that are naturally raised. And it ended up being my favorite meal – I was still dreaming of this meal throughout my trip in Austria. Not to mention, multiple celebrities think the same – from Anthony Bourdain to Kate Hudson, Bon Jovi to Mel Gibson, and more have visited.
Sachertorte
Vienna is also famous for its desserts, and Sachertorte is probably the city’s most famous cake. It’s a dense chocolate cake made with a layer of apricot jam and served with whipped cream. The cake was created by pastry chef Franz Sacher in the 19th century and became one of Vienna’s signature desserts. The best places to try it are at Café Sacher (beware of long lines!) and Café Gerstner (absolutely loved this café as it was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the staff were extremely friendly).
I’ll be honest though, Sachertorte wasn’t our favorite as personally, we like a more sponge-type of cake, and I’m not particularly a fan of jam in cake unless it’s strawberry. If I’m ordering a chocolate cake, I generally just want it to taste like chocolate, but I am very glad to have tried it for myself. It’s one of those foods that’s so closely tied to the city that I’d rather try it and decide than wonder what it’s like.
Palatschinken
These are thin Austrian/Viennese crêpes, usually served sweet with things like jam, sugar, or chocolate. They are softer and thicker, and the batter is a little more robust.
Frittatensuppe
A traditional Austrian soup made with clear beef broth and thin strips of savory crêpe-like pancakes, usually finished with fresh herbs. It’s a classic comfort food found throughout Austria and has roots in the country’s traditional home cooking.
Würstelstände
Sausages are part of Austrian food culture, but Vienna has its own tradition built around them. The city’s Würstelstände are small street-side sausage stands where you can grab everything from Frankfurter and Käsekrainer to other sausage specialties. Their tradition is so ingrained in the city’s culture that it was added to Austria’s UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2024.
Viennese Coffeehouse Culture
Viennese coffeehouse is part of the city’s culture, and sitting down for coffee and something sweet is one of those experiences that I think is worth making time for. Order a traditional Viennese coffee, take your time and enjoy the surroundings. Vienna’s historic cafés range from grand and elaborate to much smaller neighborhood spots. Café Sperl is a traditional Viennese coffee and pastry house from 1880 with live music and a garden.
Austrian Classics You’ll Find Throughout The Country
While Vienna has its own specialties, there are a few Austrian dishes you’ll see on menus all over the country. I noticed this while traveling through Austria because the food started changing from city to city, but there were still a few familiar classics that followed us everywhere.
Wiener Schnitzel
You can’t come to Vienna and not at least consider ordering a schnitzel. The original Wiener Schnitzel is made with veal, which is thinly pounded, coated in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, then fried until the coating becomes light and crisp. It’s traditionally served with lemon and a potato salad or parsley potatoes. You’ll find schnitzel everywhere in Vienna, from traditional restaurants to more casual spots. If it’s your first time trying it, look for “Wiener Schnitzel” rather than simply ordering a generic schnitzel, since the name refers to the traditional veal version.
Apfelstrudel
Now, apfelstrudel was much more my thing and I gladly tried it everywhere I went. One of the things I found really interesting was how different they tasted from one café to the next. The pastry, filling, sweetness, and texture varied enough that it never felt like I was eating exactly the same dessert twice.
My favorite was at Café Demel. If you love apple desserts, I would absolutely put this dessert on your Vienna food list and try it more than once.
Kaiserschmarrn
Also broadly Austrian, you’ll especially encounter this dish in Alpine areas – I first tried it in Hallstatt. It’s a fluffy, torn-up pancake-like dessert that’s typically dusted with powdered sugar and served with a fruit compote. There’s a fun story behind Kaiserschmarrn – supposedly, a chef was making a delicate pancake for Sisi when it went completely wrong and fell apart. Rather than serve it, the chef tried to hide it, but Emperor Franz Joseph ended up trying it anyway and apparently he liked the messy, shredded pancake so much that it became known as a dish fit for an emperor.
Goulash
Austrian goulash is influenced by Hungarian cuisine and tends to be a rich, slow-cooked stew, often served with bread, potatoes or dumplings depending on the restaurant and region.
Käsespätzle
This is another dish you’ll find especially if you’re traveling through the Alpine regions. It’s essentially small pieces of egg noodle or dumpling-like pasta mixed with melted cheese and topped with crispy onions. It’s the kind of hearty, comforting food that makes a lot of sense after a day in the mountains.
Mozartkugeln
You’ll see little chocolate-covered balls called Mozartkugeln while exploring Austria and I definitely recommend trying them at least once. They’re traditionally made with marzipan, pistachio, nougat, and chocolate, and they’re one of the country’s most recognizable sweets. I first tried the Heindl Mozartkugeln in Vienna, and then tried the Mirabell Mozartkugeln, so of course I had to compare the two. Personally, I preferred Mirabell and I also came across quite a few reviews from other people who also thought the same. There are actually several different versions of Mozartkugeln throughout Austria. Mirabell is one of the most widely available commercial versions and has a pistachio marzipan and nougat center covered in chocolate. It is now owned by the American company Mondelez International. Its Mozartkugel is perfectly round, which sets it apart from traditional handmade versions. Heindl, another Austrian chocolate maker, also produces its own version with a similar combination of marzipan, nougat, and chocolate, but the proportions and flavor differ – and while it is round, it has a flat bottom.
One interesting detail is that the Original Salzburger Mozartkugel by Fürst cannot be perfectly round because of how it is handmade. It is traditionally formed around a wooden stick, coated in chocolate, and then the stick is removed, leaving the characteristic small opening that is filled with chocolate – and you will only find this in Salzburg.
Best Things To Do In Vienna, Austria
Vienna is one of those cities where you can spend days simply walking around and looking at the buildings. The city’s history is everywhere and I found that the best way to experience Vienna was a mix of major attractions and smaller stops. Vienna also has an overwhelming number of museums and you don’t need to visit all of them. If you’re short on time, I’d choose based on your interests rather than trying to visit them all. The same applies to Vienna’s churches and palaces – pick a few that genuinely interest you and leave time to wander. Some places deserve several hours, while others are worth popping into for 10 minutes. Here are the places I’d put on your Vienna itinerary:
St. Charles Church (Karlskirche)
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Why You Should Visit – Karlskirche is one of Vienna’s most impressive Baroque churches, and its enormous green dome makes it hard to miss. The church was commissioned by Emperor Charles VI after a plague epidemic and completed in 1739. The two enormous columns outside the church are decorated with scenes from the saint’s life, while the interior is covered with elaborate marble, gold details, and a huge ceiling fresco. You can also go up to the viewing terrace above the entrance for views of the surrounding area.
Vienna State Opera
Time Spent – 5 minutes for exterior, longer if you attend a performance or take a tour
Why You Should Visit – Even if you aren’t attending an opera, the opera house is worth seeing from the outside. The building is one of the most recognizable landmarks along the Ringstrasse and is part of Vienna’s long-standing reputation as one of the world’s great music cities.
Burggarten
Time Spent – 15 to 20 minutes
Why You Should Visit – This garden is an easy stop to add while exploring the Hofburg area. It was originally created as a private garden for Emperor Franz I after the destruction of the city fortifications by Napoleon and was designed in the English landscape style. It then opened to the public in 1919.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Time Spent – 45 minutes to 1 hour
Why You Should Visit – The KHM, is one if Vienna’s major art museums and houses an enormous collection built around the former Habsburg imperial collections. And the building is just as impressive, and don’t skip the museum’s café. The grand staircase and café make this one of those places where the setting is part of the experience.
Naturhistorisches Museum
Time Spent – 1 to 1.5 hours
Why You Should Visit – I was actually more impressed with the Natural History Museum than the Kunsthistorisches Museum and ended up enjoying it way more. The museum houses more than 30 million scientific specimens across 39 exhibition areas, covering everything from dinosaurs, meteorites, and prehistoric artifacts to animals, minerals, and other natural history collections. The building itself is also beautiful, with an ornate historic interior that feels just as impressive as the collections inside. Even if you’re not a museum person, I think this is one worth adding to your Vienna itinerary. And if you had to just pick one museum, I’d choose this one over the KHM – and there’s also café here too.
Hofburg
Time Spent – 2 to 3 hours if you only visit one place, otherwise half a day or more depending on your pace
Why You Should Visit – If you want to understand Vienna’s imperial history, the Hofburg is one of the most important places to visit. The Hofburg was the principal residence of the Habsburgs for more than seven centuries and grew over time into one of the world’s largest integrated palace complexes. Today, the enormous complex contains museums, former imperial apartments, the Imperial Treasury, the Austrian National Library and other institutions.
One particularly fascinating stop is the Imperial Treasury, which contains some of the most important objects associated with the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburgs monarchy. Among them is the so-called Holy Lance, a relic traditionally identified with the lance said to have pierced Jesus.
Austrian National Library, State Hall
Time Spent – 20 to 30 minutes
Why You Should Visit – This is one of the places in Vienna where the inside is dramatically more impressive than you might expect from the outside. The State Hall of the Austrian National Library is a magnificent Baroque library almost 80 meters long and 30 meters high, with more than 200,000 historic books lining its richly decorated shelves. A huge fresco fills the central dome, and the room is filled with statues, globes, marble, and elaborate ornamentation. It’s regularly described as one of the world’s most beautiful library rooms, and after seeing it in person, I completely understood why.
Maria-Theresien-Platz
Time Spent – 10 minutes
Why You Should Visit – Maria-Theresien-Platz sits between KHM and the Natural History Museum, with a large monument to Empress Maria Theresa in the center. Even if you aren’t visiting either museum, it’s worth walking through the square because the architecture surrounding it is spectacular. It’s also a great example of the monumental urban planning that transformed Vienna during the Ringstrasse era.
Imperial Crypt
Time Spent – 45 minutes
Why You Should Visit – Located beneath the Capuchin Church, the Imperial Crypt is the burial place of generations of Habsburgs. More than 140 members of the dynasty are buried here, including Emperor Franz Joseph I, Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), and Crown Prince Rudolf. The tombs range from relatively simple to incredibly elaborate, making this a fascinating stop if you’re interested in the Habsburg family and Vienna’s imperial history. One person I didn’t expect to find buried here was Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico. Maximilian was the younger brother of Franz Joseph and ruled as Emperor of Mexico from 1864 until his execution in 1867. His body was eventually returned to Vienna and buried here. I had actually visited Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City earlier this year, where Maximilian and his wife Carlota lived, so seeing his tomb in Vienna felt like an unexpected connection between two of my trips.
Volksgarten
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Why You Should Visit – Volksgarten is another beautiful historic park in the center of Vienna, right beside the Hofburg. It was originally part of the city’s fortifications before being transformed into a public garden. Today, it’s particularly known for its rose garden, monuments and views of the surrounding imperial architecture.
Vienna City Hall
Time Spent – 15 to 20 minutes for the exterior, longer for a tour
Why You Should Visit – Vienna City Hall, or Rathaus, is one of the most impressive buildings along the Ringstrasse. Built between 1872 and 1883, it is Vienna’s most important secular Neo-Gothic building and remains the official residence of the city’s mayor and the meeting place of Vienna’s municipal government. Free guided tours are available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1 PM, but be sure to check their schedule in case it changes.
Austrian Parliament
Time Spent – 30 to 60 minutes
Why You Should Visit – This building was extensively renovated and reopened with a new visitor center, the Demokratikum, which explains Austria’s parliamentary system and history through interactive exhibits. Guided tours are free, although registration is required.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Why You Should Visit – St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Stephansdom, is arguably Vienna’s most recognizable church and sits at the heart of the historic city center. The cathedral has stood here for centuries, with its origins going back to the 12th century, although the building was expanded and rebuilt over different periods. Its enormous South Tower makes it one of Vienna’s defining landmarks.
St. Peter’s Church
Time Spent – 10 minutes
Why You Should Visit – St. Peter’s Church is smaller than St. Stephen’s, but it has an incredibly ornate Baroque interior. The church sits just off the Graben and is easy to combine with walk through the historic center. The exterior may look like the typical church, but the interior is worth stepping inside to see.
Kohlmarkt
Time Spent – 1 to 2 hours
Why You Should Visit – Kohlmarkt is one of Vienna’s premier luxury shopping streets and runs from the Graben toward the Hofburg. I loved shopping in Austria, and if you’re visiting from outside the EU, remember to look into the VAT refund process – you get about 12% refund bac (but there may be refund fees taken off). I shared more about how to save on shopping in Austria in this Instagram post, including the important details to know before making a purchase.
Cosmotheca
Time Spent – 45 minutes
Why You Should Visit – I always like making my own perfume whenever I get the chance (such as in South Korea), so this was a must for me in Vienna. You can create your own personalized fragrance by doing a survey online, and then three will be created for you through their automated machine. After smelling the finished product, you have the option to tweak two of them to create two more – so you get a total of five perfumes at 10ml each. You can either customize it yourself with each ingredient or use their AI chat to help you really narrow down what you want. I used the AI chat, and while it was detailed, the next two scents that were created were still not as good as the first three that were created based on my survey responses. It costs €45 for this experience, and it was quite fun. If you like what you created, you can always repurchase it, as your profile is always saved in their system and you can ship it to your location.
Palace of Justice
Time Spent – 30 to 45 minutes
Why You Should Visit – The Palace of Justice is one of Vienna’s most unusual sightseeing stops because it is still a functioning court building rather than a museum. The Neo-Renaissance interior has a grand staircase, an enormous central hall, and the statue of Justitia. Tourists can visit the public areas between 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM on weekdays, with limited access to certain areas of the building.
Votive Church
Time Spent – 30 minutes
Why You Should Visit – The Votive Church is an impressive Neo-Gothic building and the second tallest church in Vienna, with towers reaching 99 meters. Construction began after an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Emperor Franz Joseph in 1853, and the church was created as a thanksgiving for his survival. It was consecrated in 1879 on the silver wedding anniversary of Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
Schönbrunn Palace
Time Spent – 3 to 4 hours
Why You Should Visit – Schönbrunn is one of the places I’d prioritize on a first trip to Vienna. The palace was the former summer residence of the Habsburg imperial family, and the complex includes the palace itself, extensive gardens, fountains, monuments, and the Gloriette. Maria Theresa, Franz Joseph, and Sisi are all closely connected to its history. The grounds are enormous and part of the experience is wandering through the gardens and taking in the scale of the imperial estate. You do need timed tickets for this attraction.
Belvedere Palace
Time Spent – 2 to 3 hours
Why You Should Visit – Belvedere is both a spectacular Baroque palace complex and one of Vienna’s most important art museums. It was built as the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, and today the Upper and Lower Belvedere house Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum holds 24 Klimt paintings – the world’s largest Klimt collection. The Upper and Lower Belvedere do require timed tickets, so book ahead if this is on your itinerary.
Minoritenkirche
Time Spent – 15 to 20 minutes
Why You Should Visit – This church is one of the oldest and most artistically significant churches in Vienna, but there’s one very unusual reason I think it’s worth adding to your itinerary: it contains a huge mosaic replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. It is more than nine meters wide and weighs around 20 tons. It was commissioned during the Napoleonic era and was eventually brought to Vienna after the original plan to install it elsewhere changed. It was installed in this church in the 19th church and is such an underrated place to visit.
Maria am Gestade
Time Spent – 15 to 20 minutes
Why You Should Visit – Maria am Gestade is one of Vienna’s oldest Gothic churches and stands out for its tall, narrow architecture. It’s a quieter stop, but if you enjoy historic churches, it’s worth stepping inside. It’s also easy to combine with a walk through the older parts of Vienna.
Servitenviertel And Servitengasse
Time Spent – 30 to 60 minutes
Why You Should Visit – If you want to see a different side of Vienna, spend some time wandering through the Servitenviertel in the 9th district. Servitengasse is the heart of the neighborhood, with beautiful historic buildings, small shops, restaurants and cafés. It has a distinct French influence and locals even call it “Little Paris”.
Planning more than just Vienna? I have more Austria travel guides coming from this trip. Read more Austria travel guides and get inspired for your next destination.