A Travel Guide to the Best 20 Attractions in Vienna, Austria

A Travel Guide to the Best 20 Attractions in Vienna, Austria

I think this is the dream of all travel lovers to visit Vienna, at least once in a lifetime ,but more times it would be even better. At least we hope to return someday. The city has completely conquered us.

Vienna

Table of Contents

Austria Map

General Informations

Vienna is the national capital, largest city, and one of nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria’s most populous city, with about 2 million inhabitants (2.6 million within the metropolitan area, nearly one third of the country’s population), and its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 6th-largest city by population within city limits in the European Union.

Quick Tips

Temperature: July and August are the peak months for summer vacation in Austria. The months from December to March are ideal for winter vacation.

Language: The official language is German.

Currency: Euro

Food Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=12 EUR, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=50 EUR

You can find more information about the visa here.

Things to do in Vienna

That night we stayed quiet at the hotel, to rest, because we knew that the next day, after breakfast, it would be quite tiring. Vienna has so much to offer, but we have in the morning and in the afternoon to visit it, because then we had to go home to Munich and we had to drive 4 hours.

For this reason, we drew a map with the attractions of the city, which helped us a lot to think exactly where we are going and what we have to do. It was very useful.

After breakfast we went to the city center and the first tourist attraction we saw was Anchor clock.

Anchor clock

The Ankeruhr is a large music box at the Helvetia Insurance House at Hohen Markt 10–11 in the old town of Vienna. The anchor clock is considered one of the outstanding works of Art Nouveau and is a popular tourist attraction.

Anchor clock

Then we walked the beautiful streets of Vienna until we reached St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Here are some pictures we have taken in our way to the cathedral:

Vienna streets

St. Stephen's Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral on Vienna’s Stephansplatz has been a cathedral church since 1365, a cathedral since 1469/1479 and the Metropolitan Church of the Archbishop of Vienna since 1723. The Roman Catholic cathedral, known as Steffl for short by the Viennese, is a symbol of Vienna and is sometimes also referred to as the Austrian national shrine.

Vienna St. Stephen's Cathedral

Vienna Plague Column

Then we headed for the Vienna Plague Column, that is a Holy Trinity column on the Graben in downtown Vienna. It was built after the plague epidemic of 1679 and was consecrated on October 29, 1693. The 21 meter high baroque column is one of the most famous and distinctive sculptural works of art in the city.

Vienna Plague Column

Hofburg

From here we went to Hofburg, a place very visited by tourists.

The Hofburg was the residence of the Habsburgs in Vienna from the 13th century until 1918. Since the end of 1946 it has been the official residence of the Austrian Federal President. Most of the Austrian National Library as well as various museums and the Federal Monuments Office are housed in it.

Vienna Hofburg

Heldenplatz

Heldenplatz is a historic square in Vienna that is part of the Hofburg grounds. The Federal President resides in the adjacent part of the Hofburg, the Federal Chancellor on Ballhausplatz, which is connected to Heldenplatz. Austrian National Library is located behind us!
Vienna Heldenplatz

Volksgarten

Then we headed to the Volksgarten, that is an official park on the Ringstraße in 1. Wiener Gemeindebezirk Innere Stadt. It was great to visit it, because you can see wonderful trees and plants and the park offers you wonderful views of the many tourist attractions around it:

Vienna Volksgarten

Karlskirche

The Karlskirche built in the first half of the 18th century, is a listed building. It is located on the south side of the central Karlsplatz and is one of the most important baroque church buildings north of the Alps and one of the landmarks of Vienna.

Vienna Karlskirche

Rathausplatz

Rathausplatz is located in Vienna‘s 1st district, the Inner City. It is named after the Vienna City Hall built here. Due to its size, its design and the architecture of the buildings bordering the square, it is considered to be one of the most important squares in the center of Vienna.

Belvedere

From here, we went back to the car and went to Belvedere, which was simply magnificent. Only when you see these tourist attractions do you really feel immense happiness that you have the opportunity to be there.

The Belvedere Palace is a palace complex built by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt between 1714 and 1723 for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The Upper Belvedere and the Lower Belvedere form a baroque ensemble with the connecting gardens.

Vienna Belvedere

After visiting the wonderful Belvedere, we drove to Schönbrunn. Unfortunately we arrived here quite late and it was very crowded, you could barely take pictures, but we still enjoyed the view and the fact that we got there.

Schönbrunn

The Schönbrunn Palace, built in its current form in the 18th century as a summer residence for Archduchess Maria Theresa, has been in the 13th district of Vienna, Hietzing, since 1892. Its name goes back to a saying attributed to Emperor Matthias. He is said to have “discovered” an artesian spring here while hunting in 1619 and exclaimed: “What a beautiful well”.

Vienna Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Zoo

Schönbrunn Zoo in the park of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna’s 13th district of Hietzing was founded by the Habsburgs in 1752 and is the oldest existing zoo in the world. Zoologist Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck has been director of the zoo since 2020. Since 2006, the zoo has had over 2 million visitors each year. Around 7,800 animals from 700 species can be seen on an area of ​​17 hectares. In Anthony Sheridan’s zoo ranking, the zoo was awarded the “Best European Zoo Award” in group A six times in a row as the best European zoo.

Schönbrunn Zoo

Votive Church

From here, we drove to Votivkirche. The Vienna Votive Church, a Roman Catholic church located next to the Ringstrasse in the Alsergrund district in the immediate vicinity of the main building of the University of Vienna, is one of the most important neo-Gothic sacred buildings in the world.

Vienna Votive Church

Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera, the “First House on the Ring”, is one of the most famous opera houses in the world and is located in Vienna’s 1st district, Inner City. It was opened on May 25, 1869 with Don Juan by Mozart. Among the members of the State Opera Orchestra are recruited e.g. the Vienna Philharmonic. The chorus of the Vienna State Opera performs externally as the Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus.

Vienna State Opera

MuseumsQuartier

The MuseumsQuartier, MQ for short, is an area in Vienna’s 7th district, new building, near the center of the city. The offer ranges from visual and performing arts, architecture, music, fashion, theatre, dance, literature and children’s culture to the new media. At the time of its completion, it was the eighth-largest cultural complex in the world

MuseumsQuartier

Albertina

The Albertina is an art museum in the 1st district of Vienna, the inner city. Among other things, it houses one of the most important graphic collections in the world.

Albertina

Maria Theresien Platz

Maria Theresien Platz is located in Vienna, in the 1st district, on the Ringstrasse, opposite Heldenplatz and the Hofburg. It is framed by the two largest historical museum buildings in the city, the former court museums Kunsthistorisches Museum and Naturhistorisches Museum.

Maria Theresien Platz

Natural History Museum

With around 30 million collection objects, the Natural History Museum in Vienna is one of the most important natural history museums in the world and one of the largest museums in Austria. That as k.k. natural history court museum, which houses the large imperial collections of the k.k. Hof-Naturalenkabinette, was commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph I. by the court ruler according to the designs of Gottfried Semper and Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer .

Natural History Museum Vienna

Hundertwasserhaus

The Hundertwasserhaus is a residential complex built by the municipality of Vienna between 1983 and 1985 and is located on the corner of Kegelgasse 34-38 and Löwengasse 41-43 in Vienna’s 3rd district, Landstrasse.

Hundertwasserhaus

Prater

Our last stop in Vienna was at the Prater. The Vienna Prater is an extensive, approximately 6 km², largely public area in the 2nd district of Vienna, Leopoldstadt, which still today consists largely of floodplains originally shaped by the Danube.

Vienna Prater

These were the wonders we saw in Vienna. There would be a few more to see, but we failed to reach them, because we had no more time. These are: Vienna State Opera, Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Albertina, MuseumsQuartier, Hundertwasserhaus, Natural History Museum Vienna, Parliament, City Park, Catholic Church of St. Peter, Burggarten, Army History Museum, Maria-Theresien-Platz, Café Gloriette.Maybe you will be able to visit them and send us some pictures.

I you liked this travel guide, read about our trip to Bratislava 2021-things to do, hotels ,activities and tours.

On our way home, we deviated 3 km from the highway to visit Melk Abbey. It was a wonderful experience. If you have the opportunity to visit it do it! You will be happy that you chose to visit this amazing place!

Melk

Melk Abbey is a Benedictine abbey above the town of Melk, Lower Austria, Austria, on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube river, adjoining the Wachau valley. The abbey contains the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria’s first ruling dynasty.

Melk

Where to stay

A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Vienna offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.

Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Vienna’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.

We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.comTrip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation.

The day before, we had visited Bratislava and we were extremely happy to have managed to visit everything we set out in a relatively short time. We left around 5 PM from Bratislava, and after an hour we arrived at our hotel in Vienna – Hotel Caroline. The hotel was very nice and the breakfast was delicious.

Top hotels we recommend in Melk: Pension Babenberger ,Madar Café Central Melk ,Hotel Wachau .

Where to eat

Traditional dishes to try in Austria

Wiener Schnitzel, Tiroler Speck-traditional bacon, Knödel: Flavorful Dumpling  

Tafelspitz (Beef or Veal Boiled in Broth With Vegetables)

Wiener Wurstel (Viennese Sausages) 

Wiener Schnitzel, Tiroler Speck, Knödel: Tafelspitz,Wiener Wurstel

Zwiebelrostbraten is a traditional dish that’s served in most German and Austrian restaurants in Bavaria and Vienna, respectively. 

Regarded as the Austrian answer to Hungarian-style goulash, Wiener saftgulasch is a hearty stew that consists of diced lean beef drenched in a thick, flavorful gravy.

Kürbis suppe or pumpkin soup is a simple dish typical of the traditional Burgenland cuisine. 

Zwiebelrostbraten Wiener saftgulasch pumpkin soup

A typical specialty of Austrian cuisine, faschierte laibchen ( ground meat patty), is made with a combination of ground meat (typically a mixture of ground beef and ground pork), milk-soaked bread, eggs, fried onions, fried garlic, spices, and seasonings.

Tiroler gröstl is a traditional dish from Tirol, an Austrian region famous for its skiing and hiking courses. Like most Alpine dishes, gröstl is simple, yet rich, consisting of fried potatoes, onions, and bacon. Traditionally, the dish is served with a fried egg on top.

Käsekrainer is a quintessential Austrian gourmet delicacy, a type of sausage filled with small chunks of cheese. It is usually prepared with pork or a mixture of pork, beef, and a variety of spices 

faschierte laibchen Tiroler gröstl Käsekrainer

Desserts: The Sachertorte , apple strudel, Powidltascherl (Plum Jam Turnovers)-The delicate pastries, made with a distinctive potato dough, are filled with a combination of plum jam, rum or plum schnapps

Topfentorte is an Austrian-style cheesecake made with topfen or quark cheese as the main ingredient.

Linzer Augen, also known as a mini version of the Linzer torte, are made by gluing together two pieces of already baked shortbread cookies with redcurrant jam sandwiched in between.

Germknödel is a famous Austrian steamed yeast dumpling.

desserts Sachertorte Apple Strudel, Powidltascherl Topfentorte Linzer Augen Germknödel

Restaurants

The best restaurants in Vienna: Mamamon, Cafe Ansari, Neni Am Naschmarkt, Restaurant Wiener, Kornat Restaurant, Cuisino Restaurant, Mochi, IMLAUER Sky – Bar & Restaurant, Blue Mustard.

restaurant Austria Graz Linz Innsbruck Salzburg Vienna

Saving Tips

  • Booking your flights and your hotel in advance can save you a lot of money. Use our hotel search engine to find the best offers. Most hotels allow you to cancel up to a day before your arrival, and many let you pay when you get there. If you’re just visiting the major cities and don’t require a car, you might save money by purchasing Austrian train tickets in advance.

  • Lots of the museums in the city have free opening hours.

  • If you really want to visit a lot of Vienna’s sights, then buying the Vienna Card can be worthwhile. 

  • Free Highlights & Sights: Top Places in Vienna on a Budget : Gloriette in Schönbrunn Palace Park, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Nussberg, Ringstrasse, Vienesse parks, Live Opera: In April, May, June and September, many performances are screened live on a huge screen right in front of the State Opera.

  • Individual entrance fees for museums are costly. Get a Vienna Pass to save money. With the Vienna Pass, you get free admission to all the major sights in Vienna. If you want to see all the main highlights and do the full sightseeing program, then the Vienna Pass could be for you. Important: The Vienna Pass does not include a ticket for public transport in Vienna 

  •  You can also try Hop-on, Hop-off tours or Big Bus tours and spare some money. As we are presenting a lot of good options you just have to pick the perfect one for you!

If you do not go by car and need to know more informations about the tours, things to see and do in Vienna, we recommend this two companies that are offering tours for any kind of activity you want to do and where you can buy trips much cheaper than if you buy them when you arrive at your destination. It is always good to be able to save some money!

Viator and Get Your Guide : the best activities in town!

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Shopping

Renowned high streets include: 

Kärntner Straße, Mariahilfer Straße,Naschmarkt Vienna which is located between Kettenbrückengasse and Karlsplatz is a premier open-air fruit and vegetable market that should be on everyone’s itinerary. 

Brunnenmarkt, located between Thaliastrasse and Ottakringer Strasse, is best described as an oriental bazaar.

An especially authentic market in Wien Favoriten is the 125-year old Viktor-Adler-Markt, offering a great variety of culinary delights including fruits and vegetables and selected wines.

shopping Austria

Getting Around

Austria has a well-developed public transport system. Within cities there are buses and tramways, only the capital Vienna has a metro. Austria is well-connected with trains and buses. However, if you prefer to drive, Austrian motorways are a pleasure to road trip through. That said, trains are the main way to get around the country. 

In Austria, rail transport is run by the national rail company, ÖBB. The company operates many international and national routes. However, a second company – Westbahn – offers other routes within the country, many of which go to smaller towns.

transport getting around Austria

Vienna Airport- With a journey time of only 16 minutes, the City Airport Train is the fastest way to travel to Vienna city center. The 3 Vienna Airport Line routes serve all of Vienna’s underground railway lines. Every 30 minutes there are connections to the airport from Vienna West station (Westbahnhof) and Vienna main station (Hauptbahnhof).

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Getting Here

Austrian Airlines & United Airlines fly the most frequently from the United States to Austria. Austria’s three major airports in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck ensure the country is well connected both national and international. 

Thanks to its favorable location in the center of Europe, Vienna International is an important hub for a number of European destinations. Information desks are located in the departure halls of terminals 1 and 3 and in the arrivals hall of terminal 3. Flight information is also available online. The airport is not far from Vienna city center and can be reached in less than a half-hour by train.

Innsbruck Airport – a busy transport hub, particularly in the winter season when it serves popular ski resorts in this area. 

Salzburg Airport – Austria’s largest regional airport is situated near the city center of Salzburg and can easily be reached thanks to excellent connections to the public transport system as well as its own motorway exit. It is the perfect starting point to continue your journey to the surrounding summer & winter holiday resorts.

Getting to Austria

Austria’s Largest Airports: Vienna Airport, Graz Airport, Linz Airport, Salzburg Airport, Innsbruck Airport. 

Nearby Airports in Other Countries: 

the western regions of Austria, such as Tirol, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg, flying into Zurich (Switzerland) or Munich (Germany) are great alternatives. eastern Austria- Bratislava Airport in Slovakia, which is only 50 km / 30 mi from Vienna.

southern Austria – Ljubljana Airport in Slovenia. 

Airlines Flying To Austria Austrian Airlines- Is Austria’s Largest Carrier And Operates A Global Route Network Of Round 130 Destinations. 

Austria’s, Aer Lingus, Eurowings, EasyJet, Jet2.Com, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Swiss, TUI Airways.

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Austrian Airlines is Austria’s largest carrier and operates a global route network of round 130 destinations. That route network is particularly dense in Central and Eastern Europe with 37 destinations. Thanks to its favourable geographical location at the heart of Europe, the company’s hub at Vienna International Airport is the ideal gateway between East and West. Austrian Airlines is part of the Lufthansa Group, Europe’s largest airline group, and a member of the Star Alliance, the first global alliance of international airlines.

Getting here by train

The ÖBB runs several international train services. These run from Austria to cities all over Europe on either Eurocity or Nightjet trains. In some cases, you may need to connect to a train run by a local company in another country. In general, though, you can expect a similar level of service as on ÖBB’s Austrian trains. These trains offer a direct connection to countries such as: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary. There are also connections that allow you to reach Denmark, Croatia and Luxembourg easily.

Getting here by car or bus

Buses are an important part of the Austrian transport system. This is because they often operate night services and routes to small towns and complement the national train network. Many international bus services also operate through Austria. These connect with many other major European cities in Germany, France, Slovenia, Italy, and more. The most common international bus line is Eurolines. The main companies running international bus routes are Flixbus and Eurolines. Both run journeys to cities all over Europe, linking Austria to thousands of destinations across the continent. You can book your train or bus ticket if you click the widgets bellow:

Vienna is located at the intersection of major highways allowing for fast traveling times to other parts of Austria.  With Busbud you travel cheaply from Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Milan, Turin, Rome, Paris, Zagreb, Bratislava, Prague and other cities to Vienna.

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2 thoughts on “A Travel Guide to the Best 20 Attractions in Vienna, Austria”

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