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Visiting Vienna: tips on what to see, best time to go and what to eat
Vienna has a lot to offer, including elegant palaces and residences, a vibrant musical and artistic scene, and attractions that make it a cosmopolitan European capital. It is a city for every season and an excellent starting and finishing point for cyclists traveling along the Danube Cycle Path. This simple guide will help you decide when to go, what to see, and where to eat in Vienna.
The best time to visit Vienna
Spring and autumn are undoubtedly two of the best seasons to visit the Austrian capital, as the pleasant weather makes for a comfortable experience, and popular tourist attractions are less crowded. However, summer is also an excellent time to explore Vienna due to its vibrant lineup of events. Highlights include ImPulsTanz, Europe’s largest dance festival featuring free outdoor performances, workshops, and dance classes. Additionally, visitors can enjoy the Jazz Festival, known as Jazz à Vienne, Calle Libre, the Street Art Festival, and the Film Festival at Rathausplatz. Moreover, the city’s green parks and the large benches in the MuseumQuartier—Vienna’s extensive cultural space—provide perfect spots to relax outdoors.
Vienna City Card, is it worth it?
A good idea for those who want to visit Vienna is to purchase the Vienna City Card, which includes a ticket for public transport and around 200 discounts. It also allows you to take advantage of flexible airport shuttle and Hop-On Hop-Off options. The City Card is therefore an excellent choice for getting around the city in a flexible and sustainable way, as well as making all the places you want to visit more accessible. You can choose between a 24-, 48-, 72-hour, or 7-day card, which can be easily purchased online here.
Top places to see in Vienna
Vienna is a vibrant city filled with many attractions that are essential for anyone looking to truly understand its charm. One of the main highlights is St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which serves as the city’s symbol and is the most important Gothic building in Austria, showcasing numerous artistic treasures.
Another must-visit is the Hofburg, the imperial palace complex and former residence of the Habsburgs, located in the historic center. The beautiful Burggarten, an English-style park, is perfect for relaxation and features the stunning Palm House, an exquisite Art Nouveau greenhouse designed by Friedrich Ohmann. Belvedere Castle is also noteworthy; not only is it a magnificent Baroque structure, but it also houses a museum displaying works by renowned artists such as Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Oskar Kokoschka. Klimt’s “The Kiss” is particularly significant, making the Upper Belvedere a pilgrimage site for art lovers—similar to how the Mona Lisa is revered at the Louvre. It’s important to note that you’ll need a ticket to access the Upper Belvedere, although the nearby Lower Belvedere, with its beautiful Baroque garden, is worth a visit as well. Additionally, don’t miss the colorful Hundertwasserhaus, crafted by artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and the Mozart House, which provides insight into the life of the famous Austrian composer. For fans of modern architecture, the University Campus of the Vienna Faculty of Economics is a highlight, especially the library complex designed by Zaha Hadid, featuring a striking futuristic design that catches the eye.
Top museums to visit
There is no shortage of museums in Vienna, but if you have to choose, here are our favorites. The first is the famous Kunsthistorisches Museum, which houses thousands of works of art ranging from antiquity to the late Baroque period, all from the imperial collection of the Habsburg dynasty. Then there are the museums of the Schönbrunn Group, which is responsible for the preservation of Austria’s most important cultural assets and imperial heritage: Schönbrunn Palace, the Sisi Museum (Elisabeth of Austria, known in film as Sissi) and the Möbelmuseum Wien, which together transport you to an imperial and fairy-tale world. Then there is a very young museum, recently opened in 2022, which is a must-see for its unusual location: the Heidi Horten Collection with its spectacular works of art, from classical modernism to the present day, in a renovated building in the city center, which houses one of the most impressive private collections in Europe, that of art patron Heidi Goëss-Horten. The beauty of this museum is that, if you want to visit other iconic places in the city, it is close to the Vienna State Opera, the Albertina, and the Burggarten.
Vienna with kids
The city is ideal for a family trip, offering a variety of attractions. Start with Schönbrunn Palace, which features magnificent gardens. Then, visit the Tiergarten, the oldest Baroque-style zoo in the world, where you can find a pair of giant pandas named “He Feng” and “Lan Yun.” Don’t miss a ride on the Prater Ferris wheel, which reaches 65 meters; it’s said that anyone who hasn’t experienced this ride hasn’t truly visited the city. For a more interactive experience, check out the Museum of Technology, which engages children with games and hands-on activities, or Zoom, a museum dedicated entirely to children and experimentation. Additionally, the House of Music, located in the city center, offers great fun with its interactive exhibits. Here, on the top floor, both children and adults can virtually conduct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and receive feedback on their conducting skills from professional musicians. Lastly, consider exploring the city by bike. With an extensive network of bike paths and plenty of green spaces to relax and recharge, it’s a fantastic way for the whole family to enjoy the sights. The children will have a great time!
Typical dishes to try
It may seem trivial, but you can’t leave Vienna without trying Sachertorte, the famous chocolate cake featuring a thin layer of apricot jam in the middle and covered with a dark chocolate glaze. This dessert is one of the city’s symbols. The competition for the title of the best Sachertorte is between Café Sacher, where the cake was originally created and which has maintained the original recipe since 1832, and Café Demel, where you can also indulge in delicious Kaiserschmarrn.
Another classic Viennese dish is Wiener Schnitzel, a breaded and fried veal cutlet that is emblematic of Viennese cuisine. However, there are other lesser-known but equally traditional dishes worth trying. These include Tafelspitz, which is veal boiled in broth with aromatic vegetables such as carrots, celery, and parsley—a dish said to be Emperor Franz Joseph I’s favorite. Frittaten Soup, a delicious beef broth with strips of egg crepes, is also a must-try.
Dining in Vienna also means taking the time to enjoy breakfast or taking a break in one of its beautiful cafés. Near Belvedere Castle, you can enjoy a good coffee in the unique train carriage at Aufzug Cafè. Before exploring the central Innere Stadt district, consider a delicious sweet and savory breakfast at Die Kafeterie—don’t forget to try the cheese toast!
If you’re looking for something off the beaten tourist track, head to the Karmelitermarkt market in the Karmeliterviertel district. This market is notable for being the first market in Europe to be energy self-sufficient. You’ll find plenty of places to eat, along with kosher shops, restaurants, bakeries, and butchers!
