There are many awesome things to do in Vienna. But which one to choose when you don’t have a lot of time? Start with this top 5.
Explore the world of Sisi
Vienna is the city of Elisabeth of Beieren, well-known as Sisi. You can find her portrait everywhere in the city. I can highly recommend visiting Hofburg, this is the palace she used to live in. The chambers of her and her husband look exactly as if they still live there. In Sisi’s chambers, you will see some equipment for gymnastics, she tried to stay as slim as possible. It’s also recommended to visit the Hofburg if you’re interested in the history of Vienna because you will hear about it a lot with the free audio guide. All the names and the people you hear about will be everywhere you look in Vienna.
Do you feel like learning more about Sisi? Visit Schönbrunn Palace (her summerresidence). The gardens are incredible beautiful. You can also visit her grave at the Kapuzinergruft.
Visit the churces
One of my best Vienna travel tips is to discover a couple of churches. There are so many beautiful churches in Vienna! St. Stephen’s Cathedral is probably the most famous. This cathedral has a roof filled with small and colorful tiles. It’s also a great church to wander around in.
Close to St. Stephen’s Cathedral you can find the smaller Peterskirche. From the outside, it doesn’t look like anything special, but on the inside, it’s one of the most beautiful churches you’ll ever visit. Besides those, there are many more gorgeous churches to visit in Vienna, so make sure to walk in when you pass one.
Discover the Hundertwasserhaus
Are you into interesting architecture? Then you just have to take a look at the Hundertwasserhaus! This is an apartment complex for social housing, designed by the Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. You might compare it to the buildings designed by Gaudí in Barcelona, with wavy forms and bright colors. It’s really cool to look at it for a while and discover the great details.
Go to the Anchor Clock at noon
The Anchor clock was designed at the beginning 20th century and looks a bit like the famous Prague Astronomical Clock. There are twelve different historic figurines (like emperor Maximilian and the composer Joseph Haydn) and when the clock strikes at the hour, you’ll see one of them. If you’d like to see them all, you have to make sure to get to the Anchor Clock at noon, because that’s when all the figures will show themselves.
Would you like to read an in-depth travel guide for a visit to Vienna? Check out this post: 2 days in Vienna: itinerary & tips
Enjoy the cafes and restaurants
You can get some amazing food and drinks in Vienna, there are many many awesome restaurants and cafes. It might be smart to reserve a table before you go (for lunch or dinner) because most restaurants are fully booked most of the time.
My favorite places: BEAULIEU (Bistrot for lunch), Needle Vinyl Bar (for drinks), and WEIN & CO (a great wine bar).
Vienna is famous for its pastries, so if you need a break from wandering the city, make sure to stop at one of the many coffee places. AIDA is one of those places, very pink, and has great pastries. They have venues all over the city.
If you prefer to eat vegan, Omas Backstube has some of the best Vegan food in Vienna.
One extra tip if you visit Vienna in winter: visit a Christmas market!
Are you visiting Vienna during wintertime? Then you just have to visit one of the many Christmas markets in Vienna! Especially the Christmas market in front of the Rathaus is gorgeous, with a skating rink and lots of places to drink some delicious glühwein. Most of the Christmas markets in Vienna are open from November 15th.
These were my favorite things to do in Vienna! To visit all the gorgeous places you need at least 3 days in Vienna. Do you have more great tips? Share them in the comment section underneath this article.
Where to stay?
There are lots of great places to stay in Vienna. Check out all the possibilities and prices at Booking.com. Is it your first time visiting Vienna? Try to get a hotel in or very close to the city center, so you can walk everywhere. I’ve stayed in Hotel Pension Museum, which has a great location. The Hofburg is just a 10-minute walk away.
Do you want to visit Vienna soon? Also check my article 2 days in Vienna.
Best Travel Guides for Vienna
I used these travel guides to prepare for my trip to Vienna:
Lonely Planet's Vienna is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you.
Whether you want to explore the stunning gardens of Schönbrunn Palace, gaze at Gustav Klimt's masterpieces at the Belvedere or cycle along the Danube embankment, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Vienna has to offer.
Would you like to read more about Austrian and European cities?
Check out these articles:
- What to do in Salzburg? 18 tips!
- 25 Best things to do in Bucharest Romania
- 12 fun things to do in Luxembourg City
Great suggestions. I so love Vienna. One of my favourite places to visit. I love sitting in one of the Kaffeehauses and just let the day go past and people watch.
It’s such a beautiful city! I barely had time to sit and relax in a coffeehouse when I was there, but I would definitely take some time to do that the next time I’m visiting Vienna :)
Vienna looks like a fascinating city! That church looks beautiful and I’m intrigued by the architecture of the Hundertwasserhaus! Thanks for the great guide!
Hannah | https://getlost.blog/
You’re welcome! It’s a great city to explore :)
Great post! Vienna is actually my favorite city I’ve ever visited. I’d love to explore more of Austria.
Yes, me too!