Planning a Perfect Vienna Holiday- Your Vienna Itinerary

Austria’s capital is one of the most iconic central European destinations. Not only is Vienna, with its vibrant modernity, declared for the ninth year in a row as the world’s most livable city, but it has also a rich historical heritage. There are so many interesting and beautiful places in Vienna, that they are impossible to count. For anyone hoping to become more acquainted with Europe, whether the modern lifestyles, or the intriguing history, a Vienna holiday is in order.  A good Vienna itinerary can be enlightening, educational, and exciting.  Our Vienna trip planner will help you include all of those qualities!

At the crossroads of roads and cultures since Roman times, when it was known as Vindobona, the city of the blue Danube has been the seat of the House of Habsburg since the 13th century. In this capacity it has served as capital of the Holy Roman Empire, a strategic point in stopping the Ottoman expansion, and the center of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. It is for its imperial legacy that Vienna is famous worldwide, monarchic figures such as Empress Maria Theresa, Kaiser Franz Josef, or Empress Sisi taking central stage.

 

 

Add to that its unmatched reputation as the capital of classical music, an original culinary legacy, a welcoming environment for avant-garde traditions such as psychoanalysis, art nouveau, and expressionism, and some of the best white wines in the world. Now close your eyes and imagine spending a Vienna holiday exploring all of these aspects!  If you are a Vienna first timer, your first trip will be unforgettable.

I am Anca, molecular biologist, bookaholic, and expat who fell in love with and in Vienna ten years ago. Our family website was born out of the desire to share our enthusiasm for this city with the world. We have made a point to welcome every single reader over hot chocolate and make their stay in Vienna feel like a visit to a friends’ place rather than a touristic sojourn. Thus, it is in the hope that you’ll be our next guest, that I put together the Vienna trip planner below to plan your own Vienna itinerary.

 

Your Vienna Trip Planner

Transportation to and in Vienna

 

The Vienna International Airport is serviced by all major airlines and it is very well connected to the city center. Some low-cost airlines do fly to neighboring Bratislava Airport, so make sure to check that option as well. There are buses, trains, as well as taxi/airport transfer services running regularly between the two capital cities which are only separated by 60 km.

The best option to reach Vienna city center from the airport are local trains, which run at half hour intervals. You can either go to Wien Hauptbahnhof (Vienna Main Train Station), or to the city center (Wien Mitte). Both locations are further on serviced by a reliable, fast, clean, and relaxed network of public transport. Whenever I talk about transport in Vienna I remember the words of Gustavo Petro – “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation”. This is absolutely true in the case of Austria’s capital, so for the duration of your stay I recommend purchasing a 24, 48, or 72 hours public transport ticket. Weekly tickets are also available for those planning to spend 2 days in Vienna, or use it as a base and take day trips, it is a smart choice.  The Vienna card is another great option to consider, depending on your itinerary .

While you can rent a car in Austria, and the Autobahn network is maintained as well as neighboring Germany,  Austrian driving is not nearly as simple as  German driving   An international driver’s license is required, and it is also advisable to purchase a Vignette toll sticker, as some stretches of the Autobahn have steep tolls.  Public transportation is the best option.

 

Where to stay in Vienna

As any European capital, Vienna offers a plethora of accommodation options for every budget. Feel free to contact us before your visit and we can assist further with finding the right one for you, but as a general guide I would focus on the best locations in the city for first-time visitors.

The area around the Main Train Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) is one of the most happening locations in the city. This modern station also functions as a shopping center, especially late at night and on Sundays when most shops are closed, and it is only two/three metro stations away from the city center. Add to that a direct airport train (see above) and close proximity to the Belvedere Palace and you’ll understand why it makes perfect sense to look for a place to stay here.

 

 

The city’s residential districts surround the historic center in a way that, as soon as you cross the main boulevard called the Ringstrasse, you find yourself in a unique neighborhood, with its characteristic vibe and charm. Book your lodging in one of the districts close to the center numbered two-nine and reserve some time in your itinerary to explore the area. We would be happy to help you with personalized suggestions and recommendations for dinner restaurants or shopping options, but to get an overview you can always refer to these small neighborhood guides put together by Metropole Vienna.

You can find a room right now, and get a great price too!

 

When to visit Vienna

 

Each season has its charm in Austria’s capital, and there are two instances that perfectly illustrate this. On the one hand, the open area in front of the City Hall hosts events representative for what is going on in the entire city at the respective time point. A Christmas market in winter, followed by a fairytale ice-skating ring; regional produce exhibitions; the circus; the international food and film festival in summer. On the other hand, the Austrian food scene is very much focused on seasonal, home-grown products, thus you should keep that in mind when planning your trip. I thus always ask what your favorite season is, and suggest you come experience it in Vienna.

 

 

As a general rule, I would avoid the high touristic season in August, that is when locals are also on holiday and the city gets an uncharacteristic deserted atmosphere. Although cold, there are many reasons why January or February is also a good time to visit, while a spring or autumn visit have their unique perks, and Christmas time is quite magical as well.

As there are so many facets to this city, from historic landmarks and culinary traditions to third wave coffee culture and a progressive art scene, I recommend to visit for at least three days, especially for your first trip to Vienna.  To see the main sights and beautiful places in Vienna, during a European tour, even a day or two can cover a lot, but there are enough things to do to fill a longer stay as well, including a few charming day trips.

Planning your First Trip to Vienna – What to do in Vienna

To help put together your Vienna itinerary, we will give more information on all of those “must do” things when visiting Vienna.  Each of those suggestions below is meant to take about half a day. Mix and match according to preferences and time, and do not forget to take time for a coffee break in between (best places to do this are suggested below).  If you are a Vienna first timer, you want to take the time to enjoy the essence of the city!

A Vienna City Card will cover your admission prices for many of the top sites, so consider purchasing one that is valid for the number of days you plan to spend in the city.  If you are spending more than a day or two, and you want to do some really special things that are unique to Vienna, you can find something that really suits your interests.  Horse lovers should see the Lipizzaner stallions at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, as there are only a handful of places around the world to admire this rare breed.  Music lovers who want even more may want to visit St. Peter’s Catholic Church for the ornate architecture and daily organ recitals, or the Mozart Apartment and Museum.  History lovers can visit the Austrian parliament building, or the Vienna Imperial Treasury to see a millennia of collected treasures, or the Austrian National library, featured in our cover photo, for the incredible Baroque hall and the globe museum.  But lets get on with the things first time visitors should do to get to know the city!

 

Wander the pedestrian area around St Stephen’s Cathedral

I like to call St Stephen’s Square the beating heart of Vienna. It is not only where the majestic medieval cathedral stands, but also a great starting point for your visit. Two main pedestrian streets start here – the Graben and the Kärntner Straße. The first one will take you to the Vienna State Opera, the second one will take you, via the Kohlmarkt luxury shopping area, to the Hofburg Imperial Palace, and eventually to the Ringstrasse.

 

Take a tram ride along the Ringstrasse

 

The Ringstrasse is the boulevard that surrounds Vienna’s historic center. Its construction in the second half of the 19th century dramatically changed the face of the city, and many landmarks are located along this 5 km long avenue. The Votive Church, the City Hall, Europe’s largest theater (Burgtheater), the Austrian Parliament, the Vienna State Opera, to name a few. Traditionally, the best way to enjoy it is by tram. You can either use your public transport day card and hop on and off at leisure, or take a round trip with the famous Vienna Ring Tram.

 

Visit a mind-blowing museum

 

When you think of the beautiful places in Vienna, palaces and cathedrals come to mind, but even the museums are impressive.  No Vienna trip planner would be complete without suggesting at least one museum, and the city boasts several museums of world-wide importance.  The top five of them worth mentioning being:

• The Albertina, with a great temporary exhibition and a permanent collection of masterpieces from Monet to Picasso.
• The Kunsthistorischesmuseum, the Art History Museum.
• The Naturhistorischesmuseum , the Natural History Museum. 
• The Museums Quarter complex of modern art museums. 
• The Belvedere, an imposing Baroque palace that hosts the famous Klimt collection.

Beyond that, Austria’s capital features museums dedicated to music, chocolate, cinematography, death, and furniture, among many other interesting options.  You can perform in your own opera, revisit the prenatal sounds of the womb, make your own candy bar, discover off beat filming techniques, see the mechanics of a community coffin, or wonder at the personal furnishings of Marie Antionette or Maria Theresa, and so much more.  We have linked their websites if you want to get an idea what a museum exhibits for these topics.

• Music: https://www.hausdermusik.com/
• Chocolate: https://www.chocolate-museum.wien/
• Cinematography: https://www.filmmuseum.at/
• Death: http://www.bestattungsmuseum.at/
• Furniture: https://www.hofmobiliendepot.at/en/

Delve in Vienna’s imperial past at the Schönbrunn Palace

 

Originally conceived as a hunting lodge near the end of the 1600s, Schoenbrunn grew into the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers.  Besides the Baroque palace,  there is an amazing garden, the Gloriette coffee-house and panorama point, the world’s oldest zoo, a maze, and a carriage museum. Little visitors would enjoy the children museum here, as well as the apple strudel making workshop. If you can afford to, spend the whole day here, as there are plenty of things to do to keep you occupied.

 

Attend a concert

 

You don’t have to necessarily be a classical music aficionado to enjoy a concert in Vienna. Musicals, operettas, and jazz concerts each have dedicated venues.  Music is part of what makes the city special, and if you it is your first trip to Vienna, you want to take some of that in.  If you do want to attend an opera or a classical music concert, my advice is to book well ahead and directly from the provider’s website. There are tickets for every pocket, at the Vienna State Opera, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, or the Vienna Concert House.

 

Take a culinary trip around the world at Nashmarkt

 

Neighborhood markets are very much happening at the moment, especially since they offer authentic ethnic dining options. For your first trip to Vienna, head to the most famous of them all, the Nashmarkt. You can find here great restaurants, original souvenirs, and many fresh foods and ingredients from all over the world. The flea market on Saturdays is a highlight for many locals.

Find your perfect treat in the Prater Amusement Park

There are so many facets to the Prater experience, that I end up recommending it to everybody who visits Vienna. There’s of course the oldest amusement park in the world. Then, there is the Giant Ferris Wheel showcasing panoramic views of the city and even the option to have a romantic dinner there. My favorite Viennese museum dedicated to chocolate (linked above), is located in the Prater and offers daily workshops by very passionate and knowledgeable specialists. There’s even a Madam Tussaud’s museum and for outdoors lovers the Green Prater, a six million square meters area of lawns and woods traversed by a 4,5 km long straight boulevard, the Prater Hauptalle. Walk at leisure or take the small trains for a round trip through the park.

 

What and where to eat in Vienna

Both Austrians and expats take food very seriously here, so let’s get the tourist book recommendations out of the way.

For your typical schnitzel go to the Zwölf-Apostelkeller, a fantastic tavern with live music and good cheer. In the proximity of the Belvedere palace is the Salm Bräu a traditional bier house with an 85-years-old tradition.

 

Any Vienna trip planner worth its words will tell you that more authentic Austrian dining should be part of your Vienna holiday, and we recommend either The Lugeck or The Griechenbeisl, Vienna’s oldest restaurant. Nowadays a high-end establishment, it used to be the preferred spot of Beethoven, Schubert, Wagner, Strauss, Brahms, Mark Twain, and Karl Lueger. Try emperor’s Franz Josef favorite dish the Tafelspitz (beef stew boiled with vegetables and herbs), dumplings in any form (Knödel), or Käsespätzle (egg noodles with cheese topped with fried onions).

 

 

Beyond the Apple strudel and the Sacher cake, the characteristic coffee-house tradition, which is listed as an intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO, includes the choice of several delicious pastries with your coffee (ask for Wiener Melange if in need of a Cappuccino, and a Brauner if you want Espresso) – invariably accompanied by a glass of water – and a newspaper/book. Our favorite places to enjoy this are the Café Central  and the Hofzuckerbäcker L. Heiner. Always ask for seasonal specialties (apricot and strawberry in spring, chestnut, pumpkin, and plum in autumn), as there is no end to creativity and variations in this respect.

 

 

Once you’ve had your fair share of grumpy waiters (yes, they are supposed to be like that), head off the book and enjoy an artisanal coffee. The third wave coffee culture has hit Vienna hard, to the delight of the aficionados. Jonas Reindl at Schottentor, Fenster Café at Schwedenplatz, CaffèCouture next to the Café Central are a few recommendations centrally located.

On your first trip to Vienna, getting an amazing view of the city gives a better understanding.  The best way to do this may be to enjoy dinner/brunch/or cocktails with a view, and there are three locations to keep in mind.

 

 

Motto am Fluss  is located on a Danube Canal in a glass building designed to resemble a ship. Das Loft displays a panoramic view in all directions from the top floor of the Sofitel Hotel.  The Danube Tower is Austria’s highest landmark and showcases a restaurant on a rotating platform such that you can have a changing 360° scenic view over the city during dinner.

For restaurants with a unique setting, worth mentioning is the Salonplafond  in the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Art (MAK), which offers modern interpretation of traditional dishes, original cocktails, and a beautiful outdoor garden in summer.

Day trips from Vienna

If you are making Vienna your base, there are a number of great day trip options.  It is essential to share a few options in a Vienna trip planner, as there are many.  If you want a full list of detailed suggestions, you can find it in our article of 10 amazing Vienna day trips.  But here is a small piece of what you will find.

 

Bratislava

The capital of neighboring Slovakia is only 60 km from Vienna, making it an ideal destination for a day trip. The nicest way to reach it is with the Twin City Liner, a boat that runs regular services between the two capitals on the Danube. There are plenty of great sightseeing and shopping opportunities in and around Bratislava, as well as some great restaurants and beer pubs.

 

Vienna Woods and wine-making villages

 

The Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) are the green lung of the area, a UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserve at the foothill of the Alps, easily reachable from the city by public transportation. There are walking and hiking trails of different lengths and difficulty that are clearly marked, as well as some very well-maintained parks in the area.

 

Need more things to do in Vienna?

If you are planning your Vienna holiday to be more than a few days, here are more quick suggestions to add to your trip.

To see more beautiful places in Vienna, try the Hofburg for the ornate Baroque interior and the silver museum, the Karlskirche for the dome and frescoes.  For some quirkier, more offbeat history, you may be interested in the Sigmund Freud Museum, the Kaisergruft, (the crypt beneath the Capuchin Church where you can see the tombs of the Hapsberg royalty), or the Seegrotte, where you can tour the abandoned gypsum mine and underground WWII aircraft factory by boat on an underground lake.  Need we go on?

 

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Anca is only the voice of Dream, Book, and Travel, a family travel blog started together with her husband Sinan. They are a Romanian/Turkish couple who call Vienna their home for ten years, but who have lived and studied abroad for most of their adult life. They believe that travel is part of one’s journey and not a break from it, and that every destination/holiday can be made special if approached from the right angle. To convince you of this, they offer personalized itineraries in Vienna and Europe, as well as book suggestions, and family travel ideas. You can find them on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram.