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Vienna is a bit of a fairytale city. It feels both modern and otherworldly. The city is packed with palaces and museums. You won’t run out of amazing things to do here.
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17+ Things to do in Vienna, Austria
Vienna has some stunning things to do. Take your time and really enjoy the attractions, including these 17+ things to do in Vienna.
Austrian Parliament Building
The Austrian Parliament building was built at the end of the 19th Century. The interior and exterior are rich in architectural details.
Time Needed: 1 hour
Normal Price: free
Itineraries: 3-day *note: closed until 2021*
Visitor Tips:
- The Austrian Parliament building is closed to the public until 2021. It is undergoing renovations & updates. The government will be working out of the Democracy Quarter.
Belvedere Palace
Belvedere Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s made up of Lower Belvedere, Belvedere Gardens, and Upper Belvedere.
Time Needed: 1 to 2 hours
Normal Price: €24
Vienna Card Price: €19,50
Itineraries: 1-day*, 3-day
Visitor Tips:
- Also on site is Belvedere 21 which is a contemporary art museum.
Donauturm (Danube Tower)
The Danube Tower is the tallest structure in Austria (and one of the 75 tallest in the world).
The tower has restaurants, cafes, shops, and stunning views of Vienna.
Time Needed: 45 minutes
Normal Price: €14,50
Vienna Card Price: €11,60
Vienna Pass Price: included
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Haas Haus
Haus House is a unique building in Vienna. There’s a hotel, restaurant, and cafe in the building.
If you’re walking nearby, it’s a building that can’t be missed!
Time Needed: 5 minutes
Normal Price: free
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Hofburg Palace
Admission to Hofburg Palace includes the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments, and the Silver Collection.
There are a number of other things to do while visiting Hofburg Palace, including the Spanish Horse Riding School, the Austrian National Library, Albertina, and more. Choose one or two (in addition to the included ones) and enjoy spending a few hours here.
Time Needed: 3 hours (including one or two additional places, as below)
Normal Price: €15
Vienna Card Price: €14
Vienna Pass Price: included
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Spanish Horse Riding School (at Hofburg Palace)
The Spanish Horse Riding Schools is home to the world-famous performances by the Lipizzans.
See the morning exercises everyday between 10 and noon. You are not required to stay for the entire session and are free to come and go anytime.
Normal Price: €15
Vienna Card Price: €13
Vienna Pass Price: included
Visitor Tips:
- If you’re lucky enough to be in Vienna for a performance, grab a ticket for €27.
- A one hour guided tour of the stables is also available.
Austrian National Library (at Hofburg Palace)
The Austrian National Library is the largest library in Austria holding approximately 12 million items.
Be sure to check out the stunning state hall.
Normal Price: €8
Vienna Card Price: €7
Vienna Pass Price: included
Visitor Tips:
- There’s also a literature museum that you can visit for an additional fee.
Albertina (at Hofburg Palace)
The Albertina is a museum with one of the largest print rooms in the world (~65,000 drawings, 1 million old master prints, and more).
Normal Price: €16,90
Vienna Card Price: €14
Vienna Pass Price: included
Hundertwasser Museum
The Hundertwasser Museum houses the world’s only permanent exhibition of Freidensreich Hundertwasser. It is Vienna’s first green museum including experiments with grass roofs and planted trees in building facades. It’s also a premier destination for photography exhibitions.
Time Needed: 1 to 2 hours
Normal Price: €12
Vienna Card Price: €10
Vienna Pass Price: included
Itineraries: 3-day
Visitor Tips:
- You could also check out the nearby Hundertwasser Haus.
Karlskirche (St. Charles Church)
St. Charles Church is a unique and fascinating building in Vienna. It has a unique exterior style that combines architecture from many places and an interior that is much more conventional.
Time Needed: 30 minutes
Normal Price: €8
Vienna Card Price: €5
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Mozart Haus
Mozart Haus in Vienna is the only remaining residence of Mozart. THe lived there from 1784 to 1787 and it is now a museum dedicated to his life and work.
Time Needed: 1 to 2 hours
Normal Price: €11
Vienna Card Price: €9
Vienna Pass Price: included
Itineraries: 3-day
MuseumsQuartier
Museum Quartier is a large area that houses many museums, galleries, and restaurants.
I consider it a great thing about Vienna. Most of the major museums are located together so you can choose the ones you want to see the most.
Time Needed: 4 to 5 hours (2 museums & wander the area)
Normal Price: €29,90
Vienna Card Price: €18 (includes your choice of 2 museums)
Price includes entry to Architekturzentrum Wien, Kunsthalle Wien, Leopold Museum, momok.
Vienna Pass: free entry to Kunsthalle, Leopold, & momok
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Visitor Tips:
- Located across the street from Museumquartier is the Art History Museum which comes highly rated. You could visit it as one of your two museums for the day.
Architekturzentrum Wien (in MuseumsQuartier)
The Austrian Museum of Architecture shows discusses and investigates how architecture and urban development shape the our daily lives.
Kunsthalle Wien (in MuseumsQuartier)
The Kunsthalle Wien focuses on international contemporary art and the current discourses around it.
Leopold Museum (in MuseumsQuartier)
The Leopold Museum houses the largest collection of works by Egon Schiele in the world (40 paintings and around 180 drawings). It also houses an exhibition of modernist Austrian art of international standing.
mumok (in MuseumsQuartier)
The Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (mumok) is the largest museum of modern and contemporary art in central Europe.
Naschmarkt
Naschmarkt is the biggest (and most popular) market in Vienna. You’ll find a large variety of food, drinks, and entertainment at the market.
Time Needed: 30 to 90 minutes
Normal Price: free
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Visitor Tips:
- Head to Naschmarkt hungry because it’s a great place to grab a bite to eat.
Rathaus (City Hall)
Vienna’s City Hall was built in the late 1800s. It is an impressive building. You can grab a free audio guide from security (leaving your ID as a deposit) and wander the building.
Time Needed: 45 minutes
Normal Price: free
Itineraries: 3-day
Visitor Tips:
- There are free guided tours offered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in German.
Schonbrunn Palace
Schonbrunn Palace was the summer residence for the Habsburg rulers. It has 1,441 rooms plus gardens and a maze.
Time Needed: 2 hours
Normal Price: €26 + €6 (for maze)
Vienna Card Price: €22,50
Vienna Pass Price: included
* Pass & Card prices include Palace access, a tour, and visits to the Maze & Labyrinth, the Privy Garden, the Orangery Garden, and the Gloriette viewing terrace.
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Sigmund Freud Museum
Everyone knows who Freud is. The Sigmund Freud Museum is dedicated to the life and work of the father of psychoanalysis.
Time Needed: 1 hour
Normal Price: €9
Vienna Card Price: €8,50
Vienna Pass Price: included
Itineraries: 3-day
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a medieval Roman Catholic church. The church is an active site of worship but allows (and welcomes) visitors. You can also access the towers (north and south) and the catacombs for a fee.
Time Needed: 2 to 3 hours
Normal Price: 16,90 (includes an audio guide visit, a catacomb tour, and a visit to the South and North Towers.)
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Time Travel Vienna
Time Travel Vienna is an interactive history museum. You’ll experience the highlights of Viennese history in an interactive and fun way.
Time Needed: 1.5 to 2 hours
Normal Price: €19,90
Vienna Card Price: €14,50
Itineraries: 3-day
Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel
The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel is 64.75-meters tall (212 feet). It was originally built in 1867 but burned down in 1944. It was rebuilt and has been running since 1945.
Time Needed: 30 to 90 minutes
Normal Price: €12
Vienna Card Price: €11
Vienna Pass Price: included
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Visitor Tips:
- The Vienna Giant Ferris wheel is located in Prater Park. There’s plenty of green space to explore and a fun amusement park.
Vienna Ring Tram
The Ring Road around Vienna’s city center is part of a World Heritage Site.
By taking a trip on the Vienna Ring Tram, you’ll get an audio tour as you pass by some famous Vienna sites (including the Opera, Votive Church, University of Vienna, and more).
Time Needed: 25 minutes
Normal Price: €12
Vienna Pass Price: included
Itineraries: 1-day, 3-day
Visitor Tips:
- You could use public transit to see the Ring Road (you’ll start on Tram 1 and switch to Tram 2). This will enable you to hop on and off the tram whenever you’d like, however, you’ll lose out on the audio tour.
Suggested Itineraries for Vienna
There’s a lot of cool stuff to do in Vienna. There’s also a lot of things to do that take a lot of time. Plan your time carefully.
1-Day in Vienna Itinerary
It’s really hard to choose what to do if you only have one day in Vienna! Choose one or two things at Hofburg palace that interest you and one or two museums at MuseumsQuartier.
Then, if you have time you can choose to visit one or more of the optional places. Another palace (Belvedere or Schonbrunn)? Or check out the Danube Tower or the Giant Ferris Wheel.
Total Normal Price: €140+
Total Vienna Card Price: €132+ (includes €17 for a 24-hour card)
Total Vienna Pass Price: €104+ (includes €79 for a 1-day pass)
*optional **alternative
- Belvedere Palace*
- Danube Tower
- Haas Haus
- Hofburg Palace
- Spanish Horse Riding School*
- Austrian National Library*
- Albertina*
- St Charles Church
- MuseumsQuartier
- Architejtyrzentrum Wien*
- Kunsthalle Wien*
- mumok*
- Leopold Museum*
- Art History Museum**
- Naschmarkt
- Schonbrunn Palace*
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral
- Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel*
- Vienna Ring Tram
3-Days in Vienna Itinerary
A three-day itinerary of Vienna includes all the things you’d do in one day (although not on the same day) plus a whole bunch more!
Total Normal Price: €256,10
Total Vienna Card Price: €235,50 (includes €29 for a 72-hour card)
Total Vienna Pass Price: €173,80 (includes €129 for a 3-day pass)
Day 1:
- The Hofburg
- Spanish Riding School
- Albertina
- Austrian National Library
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral
- Vienna Ring Tram
- Haas Haus
- Time Travel Vienna
- Mozart Museum
Day 2:
- Belvedere Palace
- Sigmund Freud Museum
- Danube Tower
- Hundertwasser Museum
- Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel
Day 3:
- Austrian Parliament Building
- Karlskirche
- Schonbrunn Palace
- Naaschmarkt
- Rathaus
- Museums Quartier
- Architekturzentrum Wien
- Kunsthalle Wien
- Leopold Museum
- mumok
- Art History Museum**
Have More Time?
If you have more than 3 days, check out some more of the museums in the city or take a day trip to:
Buy a Vienna Card or Vienna Pass?
Every place on this list gave you the regular price plus prices if you have a Vienna Card or a Vienna Pass.
Ultimately, it’s up to you if you want to purchase a Vienna Card or a Vienna Pass. Check them out and do some math before you decide.
The Vienna Card
The Vienna Card includes free transit around the city center. It also includes discounted access to many attractions in the city.
If you plan on taking public transit a lot, the Vienna Card is a good deal but the Vienna Pass is probably better for most people.
The Vienna Pass
The Vienna Pass includes free entry to over 60 of the top attractions in Vienna (some include Fast Track Entry). It also comes with unlimited use of the HOP ON HOP OFF buses and the option to add on a transit pass.
Honestly, the Vienna Pass is a great deal. Learn more about it.
Things to Know About Vienna, Austria
All the things you need to know to make your time in Vienna easy!
Money in Vienna
Austria uses the Euro.
Tipping is customary in Vienna.
For restaurant staff anywhere from 5% (dissatisfied) to 15% (great service). Tips are given with the first payment, not left behind after receiving change. If you require change, tell the service how much you’re paying when you hand them money.
You should also tip taxi drivers and hotel staff.
Language in Vienna
The national language of Austria is German.
Most people in Vienna will speak some level of English. Tourists who speak English will encounter few (if any) language barriers.
How to Get Around Vienna
Vienna is a very walkable city. Where something is too far to walk, the public transit system is fabulous.
Things to Eat in Vienna
Vienna offers many delicious dishes. Here are two that you shouldn’t miss.
Wiener Schnitzel
Wiener schnitzel is a breaded and deep-fried thin veal cutlet. You’ll find wiener schnitzel on pretty much every menu in Vienna.
Apple Strudel
Apple strudel is a pastry stuffed with cinnamon-flavored apples and raisins. It’s the most popular dessert in Vienna.
Enjoy Vienna!
Vienna is a great city! Even if you only have a few days, you can still see a lot of the highlights.
Ready for more? Let’s head over to Asia and check out 19+ things to do in Bangkok, Thailand next.
Have you been to Vienna? What was your favorite thing in the city? Let me know in the comments below!
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