Skip to main content

Top things to do in Vienna

Attractions, tours and activities in Vienna

Recommended museums in Vienna

Where to discover culture and the arts in Vienna

Vienna: the city's best neighbourhoods

Find a great area to stay in Vienna

About Vienna

Including tips for the best time to visit Vienna

Brimming with imperial palaces, endless architectural gems and a trademark café culture, you'll never be short of things to do in Austria's charming capital.

The historic city centre is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is often referred to as an open-air museum. Ringstrasse boulevard is dotted with beautiful buildings including the Rathaus (town halll), the Spanish Riding School and the Hofburg Palace. However, the best place to take in the city's signature sights is in the MuseumsQuartier – a collection of captivating museums, cosy cafés and bars housed in former stables. Highlights include the MUMOK, Leopold Museum, Kunsthalle, Architekturzentrum and the interactive children's museum Zoom.

Take in the unique atmosphere of the city's coffee houses at Café Schwarzenberg, the oldest café on the Ringstrasse, which serves typical liver dumpling soup and apple strudel. There's also Café Central, where famous figures such as Leo Trotsky and Sigmund Freud would socialise. Afterwards, take a trip to the Riesenrad for some great views over the city. This age-old Ferris wheel rises to 65 metres and takes around 20 minutes to complete a rotation.

Vienna International Airport is situated just outside the city limits and can be reached easily by train, bus or taxi.

Tonight

From £43 per night

This weekend

From £129 per night

Next weekend

From £125 per night

Most popular time to visit October–December
Cheapest time to visit January–March
Local currency € 10 = £8.57
Language German
Average weekend price £86 per night
Average weekday price £89 per night
Typical stay 2 nights

Points of interest in Vienna

Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Vienna

Vienna reviews

What other travellers say about Vienna

10

A vibrant and historical city as well but overcrowded.

27 March 2024

A vibrant and historical city as well but overcrowded. The transportation and the historical sites are quite interesting. In that case, you are interested in visiting the city you have to act as a traveler not as a tourist.

ΚΟΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ Greece
8.0

I didn’t do much of the tourist things, as my visit was...

24 March 2024

I didn’t do much of the tourist things, as my visit was related to family history research. I could have spent more time on the research and visiting all the archives trying to discover what happened to my ancestors. The buildings and churches in Vienna are beautiful, if you like cultural events and history it should be on your bucket list. It’s worthwhile having small change in your pocket, you have to pay 50 / 60 cents to use the toilets in most public places even in McDonald’s you do get a receipt which you can use against a purchase. There all sorts of food available in Vienna. Before you go purchase a ticket to use public transport I think a weeks pass is around 17 euro’s you can get passes for shorter or longer stays. Do not travel without a ticket, you don’t have to show your ticket anywhere. However there are undercover ticket inspectors who appear from nowhere to check you have a ticket. ( I imagine it’s a big fine if you are caught without a ticket)

Peter
Peter
10

Vienna is perfect for people who are interested in art and...

23 March 2024

Vienna is perfect for people who are interested in art and music. There are numerous galleries and museums, many of which offer guided tours of their collections. I saw so many masterpieces in one city, it was quite mind-blowing. I did do my research first to pick the ones that I really wanted to see and book ahead, because there are so many. Actually, I may need to visit again to see some of the ones I didn't visit as they all seem to be of a similar very high quality. There are numerous opportunities to sit down and catch your breath, or watch the world go by in the lovely cafes. Coffee and cake daily is a must.

Anne
Anne United Kingdom
10

Vienna charmed me with its grand Imperial past.

21 March 2024

Vienna charmed me with its grand Imperial past. St. Stephen's Cathedral, with its colorful roof tiles, is a stunning landmark. The Hofburg Palace offered a glimpse into the lives of Habsburg emperors, while the Belvedere housed impressive art collections. Thankfully, excellent public transport made getting around a breeze. And for that perfect Viennese coffee and pastry fix, Café Landtmann never disappointed!

Zulfiqar
Zulfiqar United Kingdom
10

I loved listening to the stories about Kings and Queens, and...

21 March 2024

I loved listening to the stories about Kings and Queens, and history, or course. The city itself is so clean. I am not so sure about food, but simply because it is close to the cuisine I am used to. If you've never tried schnitzel or goulash, you should do it! We stayed there only for four days, which is absolutely not enough, because we visited only Schonnbrun Palace (including the zoo) and Museum of History of art and that's it. Go on a tour with a real guide, they are much better than audio guides. These places were amazing, and we are even planning to come back to Schonnbrun Palace.

Tatiana
Tatiana Hungary
6.0

Vienna is a lovely city for a short break.

21 March 2024

Vienna is a lovely city for a short break. I went for 7 days and it was too long. It is beautiful in terms of the architecture but it is overall quite boring. If you like art museums and classical music then you’ll love Vienna. If not, I don’t think you will enjoy it very much for more than 3 days. Vienna zoo is the best zoo I’ve ever been to and the natural history museum was good as well.

Christopher
Christopher United Kingdom

Popular places to stay in Vienna

Stay in some of the best accommodation Vienna has to offer

Other attractions and activities in Vienna

More things to see and do in Vienna