Visit Vienna: what to do in the Austrian capital?
In December, we were able to visit Vienna for a long weekend to enjoy both the Christmas markets and the city’s iconic attractions. So welcome to Vienna, Austria’s capital, rich in history and culture!
During our 3-day visit to Vienna, we discovered historic buildings such as City Hall and the Imperial Hofburg Palace. But that’s not all…Vienna is a fascinating city brimming with historical, artistic and gastronomic wonders.
So what can you visit in Vienna in 3 days? Whether you’re a history buff, an art enthusiast or simply curious to discover a new destination, Vienna will seduce you with its unique charm. And, of course, don’t miss the opinion of Kiki, the Schnitzel specialist, at the end of this article.
Introducing Vienna, the Austrian capital
Vienna, population 1.9 million, is the capital of Austria. It is located in the northeast of the country, along the Danube River.
After this quick introduction, let’s find out what you can do in Vienna.
Visit Vienna city center
During our weekend in Vienna, we took part in an English-language free tour of Vienna’s city center. Our passionate guide revealed fascinating stories and anecdotes about the history, culture and architecture of the Austrian capital. We discovered the Imperial Palace of the Hofburg. Inside, you can visit the museum dedicated to Sissi.
We also crossed Heldenplatz, one of Vienna’s most historic squares.
We really recommend taking part in a Vienna free tour to get a first impression of the city. At the end of the tour, you can tip your guide according to your satisfaction.
Visit Vienna’s historic monuments
Vienna is a city rich in history and architectural splendor. Don’t hesitate to lose yourself in its streets to discover it.
Saint-Etienne Cathedral
Don’t miss Saint-Étienne Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that dominates the city center.
You can also visit the cathedral’s magnificent interior, with its colorful stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings.
Visit Vienna and the Schönbrunn Palace
On a weekend in Vienna, don’t miss a visit to Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburgs. In summer, you can stroll through the formal gardens and admire the superb fountains. Unfortunately for us, we were there at the wrong time of year.
However, we did attend a guided tour in English. So we were able to explore the interior of the castle with our guide. She gave us lots of details about the history of this place and the Austrian royal family. We highly recommend it! By the way, this visit was included in the Go City Explorer Pass we had on this weekend in Vienna, but I’ll come back to that later in the article.
Belvedere Palace
You can also visit the Belvedere Palace, home to an impressive collection of works of art, including Gustav Klimt’s famous painting “The Kiss”.
We recommend that you book a slot, because even with a reservation you’ll have to wait.
A visit to the Belvedere Palace is a must in Vienna for all painting enthusiasts!
Austrian National Library
The Austrian National Library in Vienna is a cultural and intellectual treasure trove, housing an impressive collection of documents and books.
It is the guardian of Austria’s national memory. Founded in the 18th century, the library houses rare works, historical manuscripts and a vast collection of books. You can explore its majestic halls, admire the magnificent architecture and immerse yourself in Austria’s literary and intellectual history.
We visited this incredible library because it was included in the Explorer Pass we had (I’ll talk about it later in the article). We didn’t regret it, as the library is magnificent.
Visit Vienna and its parks
Vienna offers many green spaces where you can relax and marvel at the beauty of nature. In fact, the Prater is one of the city’s most emblematic parks, famous for its Ferris wheel and lively atmosphere. You can also stroll along the Danube and take advantage of the bathing areas in summer.
Since we spent a weekend in Vienna in winter, we weren’t able to enjoy it. However, the quick glimpse we got made us want to return in summer.
Vienna’s cultural scene
Vienna is renowned for its vibrant cultural scene. Take in a performance at the Vienna State Opera. For classical music fans, a concert at the Mozart Hall or Musikverein is a must. And if you’re a dance fan, don’t miss the opportunity to attend a ballet performance at the State Opera.
Visit Vienna’s museums and art galleries
Vienna is home to a multitude of museums and art galleries that will delight history and art lovers alike. You can visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum to admire a vast collection of works of art from Antiquity to the present day. The Albertina Museum is another must-see in Vienna, with its collection of drawings and prints. Last but not least, the Leopold Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of works by Gustav Klimt.
Shopping in Vienna
Vienna is an ideal destination for shopping enthusiasts. Stroll down Mariahilfer Strasse, the city’s largest shopping street, where you’ll find fashion boutiques, department stores and trendy cafés. And don’t miss the Graben, an elegant street lined with luxury boutiques and high-end restaurants.
The best way to visit Vienna
For our activities in Vienna, we opted for Go City’s Explorer Pass with 3 activities. We chose a tour of Vienna by imperial bus, a guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace and a visit to the Austrian National Library.
Go City’s Explorer Pass saves you money. Indeed, if we had booked our activities independently, we would have paid €93, whereas the pass costs €69. A great saving! What’s more, the pass is refunded if it doesn’t pay off. So no risks!
What’s more, it’s very easy to use. All you have to do is download the application and import your pass. Depending on the activities you choose, you may have to make reservations (as for the guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace), but everything is clearly explained on the site. Then simply scan your pass at the entrance to your activity.
We highly recommend this Vienna pass! We really appreciated the quality of the activities offered by the pass. Perfect for a weekend in Vienna!
Viennese gastronomy
During your stay in Vienna, don’t miss the opportunity to sample the delicious Viennese cuisine.
Viennese schnitzel
It’s impossible to miss the famous Viennese schnitzel, breaded and fried meat cutlets served with a slice of lemon. The best place in Vienna to eat a schnitzel? The Figlmüller restaurant! But then, we really recommend that you make a reservation in advance of your visit. Otherwise, you’ll have to be patient.
For the record, we tried to book 3 days in advance but it was already too late. So we arrived at 5pm and got a table at 5:30pm. We were not disappointed and enjoyed our enormous Viennese schnitzel. Beware: in Vienna’s restaurants, you have to pay for the bread and even the ketchup!
Viennese cafés
Viennese cafés are an institution in their own right in Austria. Take the time to relax (or warm up) in one of the city’s many historic cafés. You can enjoy a delicious Viennese coffee accompanied by a typical pastry, such as the famous Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel.
During our weekend in Austria, we went to Café Central, a Vienna institution.
As with the Figlmüller restaurant, remember to make a reservation if you want to go to Café Central. And if you do have a reservation, don’t worry, there’s no specific queue. Just walk past everyone and tell the waiter you have a reservation. It’s pretty stressful, but it’s very satisfying to walk in front of everyone!
You can choose your own drinks and pastries, and even pick up Sissi’s favourite dessert!
The coffee was very good, as were the pastries. Definitely a must during your stay in Vienna!
Hard rock café
So, no Viennese gastronomy at the Hard Rock café, but a little nostalgia for the USA.
The atmosphere is always very friendly in Hard Rock cafés, and the food is decent.
How to get to Vienna in Austria
There are direct flights from all major French and Swiss cities to Vienna. In less than 2 hours, I was in Vienna from Lyon.
Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien-Schwechat) is well connected to the city center. You can opt for the City Airport Train (CAT) for a fast, direct journey to the city center in just 16 minutes. Or you can take a regional train. The journey to the center of Vienna is a little longer, but cheaper. That’s what we did, and we didn’t regret it.
Getting around Vienna
Getting around Vienna is easy thanks to its efficient public transport network.
Public transport in Vienna
You can get around by streetcar, metro and bus. During our weekend in Vienna, we took out a 24-hour card to get around. Our hotel was well located, so we didn’t need to use public transport every day to get into the city center.
You can also take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage!
Vienna by imperial bus
We also opted for the Vienna Big Bus tour (included in the Go City explorer pass). It’s a convenient way to explore the Austrian capital. Aboard this bus, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Vienna’s main sights while listening to informative commentary in French. With multiple stops, you can hop off and on as you please to explore the attractions that interest you, such as Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Belvedere.
We took the two routes offered by the Big Bus, giving us a complete overview of the Austrian capital.
It’s an ideal option if you want to get your first taste of Vienna while learning about its history.
When to visit Vienna?
If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit Vienna, December presents itself as a month with a number of advantages. Indeed, visiting Vienna in December offers an enchanting atmosphere, especially in the run-up to Christmas. The Austrian capital is transformed into a fairytale setting, with glittering Christmas markets and festively decorated streets. Vienna at Christmas is an unforgettable experience, where you can sample seasonal delicacies, discover local crafts and enjoy traditional Christmas concerts.
However, visiting Vienna in winter can be frustrating. It’s hard to enjoy a walk in the Prater Park, which is completely icy. Similarly, it’s impossible to enjoy a walk along the Danube. And what can we say about visiting the city center in the cold, snow and ice? We’d really like to go back to Vienna, but at a different time of year to enjoy the Austrian capital more.
How long does it take to visit Vienna?
We arrived in Vienna on a Saturday afternoon and left on Tuesday afternoon. So we spent 2 full days, an afternoon and a morning in Vienna, for a total of 3 days.
This Austrian weekend gave us the opportunity to discover the must-sees, such as Schönbrunn Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and to wander through the streets of the city center.
However, these three days in Vienna did not seem long enough to really enjoy the Austrian capital. Therefore, the ideal length of time to visit Vienna depends on your interests and the level of detail you wish to explore. However, we recommend a minimum stay of 4 days to give you time to discover the main attractions, sample the local cuisine and feel the city’s unique ambience.
You can find more information on the Vienna tourist office website.
Where to stay in Vienna?
In Vienna, your choice of accommodation depends on your preferences in terms of neighborhood, budget and style.
Where to stay in Vienna
Here are the different districts of Vienna where you can also choose accommodation:
- Leopoldstadt: near Prater Park
- Neubau: a trendy, artistic district brimming with vintage boutiques, art galleries and alternative cafés.
- Mariahilf: an eclectic mix of stores, restaurants and lively nightlife, including the famous Mariahilfer Strasse shopping street.
- Landstraße: an elegant district close to the Belvedere.
Hotel Post Wien
We chose a hotel in the center of Vienna , the Hotel Post Wien. We were a 10-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and 3 minutes from a streetcar stop. Perfect location!
The room was comfortable and the breakfast was very good. The choice was vast and the products of good quality. It has to be said that in Vienna, the bread and pastries are very good. We recommend this hotel.
Kiki’s opinion
Kiki is almost ashamed of it, but he’ll let you in on a secret: he’s seen all three films about Sissi, played by the charming and unforgettable Romy Schneider. And Elisabeth, Empress of Austria and Hungary, better known as Sissi, was at least as pretty as the actress herself. What a tragic end Sissi met. By the way, Kiki secretly wiped away a tear in Vienna during a documentary screening.
Of course, the famous Viennese schnitzel is also a must in Vienna. For you, dear readers, Kiki felt obliged to intensively test various restaurants in order to be able to make a recommendation. And unfortunately, he has to admit that the best schnitzel is to be found in St. Gallen. The schnitzels in Vienna all had one thing in common: they weren’t particularly rich in flavor. As a gourmet, he would say: a little more salt, please!
If you’re interested in history, Vienna is a paradise. The city has a rich history spanning many centuries. When Kiki stood in front of the balcony of the Heldenplatz, where the annexation of Austria to the German Reich was announced in front of a quarter of a million people, his blood ran cold. A dark time, but what a historic place!
Kiki would like to spend more time here, but next time, please, in summer.
