Vienna Travel Guide

1. See St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Stephansdom is a 12th-century Romanesque and Gothic cathedral in Viennanoted for its colorful roof. The cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt over the yearswith the current version of the cathedral largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV (1339–1365). Its most recent reconstruction took place just after World War II. You can take a tour of the cathedralthe catacombsand climb the north and south towers (which offer excellent views of the city).

2. Go to the Naschmarkt

This is Vienna’s largest open-air food market. It’s been operating for hundreds of years and has more than 100 stalls with a variety of international restaurantsstreet stallsand grocers. It’s a little touristy (don’t go food shopping here) but it has a cool vibe andon a warm sunny dayit’s nice to sit out with a meal and a glass of wine. Despite its famethere are still a lot of locals here. Be sure to hit up Umarfisch for seafood and wine. On Saturdaysthere’s a flea market here.

3. See the Art in the Museumsquartier

Once the imperial stablesthe Museumsquartier is home to all kinds of art and cultural institutions and events. Three museums worth checking out in the MQ are the Leopold Museum for Art Nouveau and Expressionism; Kunsthalle Wienan exhibition center with rotating exhibitions; and the Museum of Modern Artwhich has the largest collection of modern art in central Europe. A pass to all three museums is 27.50 EUR. The Museumsquartier is also home to many festivals throughout the year (including open-air concerts and a fashion week). A variety of tours are run on some Saturdaysincluding a backstage tour offering the chance to see behind the studio doors of the guest artists.

4. Visit the House of Music

This is a small but fascinating museum that features four floors of exhibits on some of the world’s most well-known Austrian composersincluding MozartSchubertStraussand Schoenberg. You can view manuscripts and artifactsand there’s also a virtual stage where you can conduct your own symphony. It’s funinteractiveand educational.

5. See a Classical Performance

Austria has contributed its fair share of composers to the worldso it’s no surprise that you can find plenty of opportunities to indulge in the classics here. Just going to one of the many theaters and concert halls in Vienna is an experience in and of itself as the buildings are so historic and beautifully decorated. If you’ve ever considered taking in an operasymphonyor ballet (the Vienna State Ballet is one of the best in the world)this is the place to do it. Prices vary depending on the performance but expect to pay at least 40 EUR for standard tickets. For operaI recommend buying last-minute standing-room tickets for 4-18 EUR the day of a show. It’s first comefirst serve and you can only buy one ticket per person but it’s the cheapest way to see a performance!

6. Visit the Museum of Art History

This is the largest art museum in the countrywith works from ancient Egypt and Greece through to the 18th century. There are over 700,000 items in the collections so it’s worth taking the time to explore (especially if you’re a history buff like me). Opened in 1891the primary collection originally belonged to the Habsburgswhich includes tons of portraits and armor.

7. Hang out in the Jewish Square

For centuriesVienna was home to a sizable Jewish population. Then the Nazis came. This area of town features two important museums: the Vienna Jewish Museumwhich details the role Viennese Jews played in the development of city life; and the Medieval Synagogue (Misrachi-Haus)which highlights the history of Jewish life in Vienna. Admission is 12 EUR and includes entry to both sites within four days of issue. There is also the sobering Holocaust memorial nearbydesigned by British artist Rachel Whiteread.

8. Walk the Ring Road

This historic loop is brimming with beautiful architecture. It’s here where you can find the Parliament buildingCity Hallboth the Museum of Fine Art and the National History Museumas well as the State Opera. It’s a relaxing (and free) way to spend some time soaking up the city and admiring its history.

9. Visit the Freud Museum

Sigmund Freudthe famous founder of psychoanalysislived in this apartment-turned-museum from 1891 to 1938. The museum was opened in 1971 with the help of Anna Freud (his youngest daughter) and is home to the original furnitureFreud’s private collection of antiquesand first editions of his works. There are also films from his private life. It’s small and only takes about an hour to visit.

10. Visit the Albertina

The Albertina is one of the best museums in the city (which says a lot because this is a city of museums). It’s housed in one of the private residence wings of the Imperial Palace. It’s most famous for its print collectionwhich comprises over one million prints and 60,000 drawings. Howeverthey have a lot of temporary exhibits that rotate through here toowhich I found to be the highlight (I saw an excellent one on Raphaelthe famous Italian Renaissance painter).

11. Visit the National History Museum

Home to a detailed anthropology exhibitas well as a planetarium and prehistoric exhibitthe National History Museum is worth the time if you’re a museum buff. Their collection boasts over 100,000 itemsincluding a huge collection of meteorites. It’s also home to the 25,000-year-old Venus of Willendorf statuewhich was discovered in Austria. There’s also a planetarium that offers shows in German and English (the live shows are only available in German).

12. Day trip to Bratislava

Slovakia’s capitalBratislavamakes for a great day trip from Vienna. Located just one hour awayyou can easily head there for a day to explore its charming medieval centersee its several castlesdrink at the historic beer hallsand stroll along the Danube. Bratislava is a relatively small capital so it’s easy to get around on foot. Trains depart regularly from Vienna for as little as 11 EURwhile Flixbus runs a regular bus service with tickets starting at around 6 EUR.

13. Explore Vienna Woods

This beautiful woodland (known as Wienerwald) is located on the outskirts of the city and is filled with a lot of hiking paths. It’s located around 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the cityextremely popular with locals (few tourists get out there). If you don’t have a vehicleyou can take public transportation or try the ride-sharing service BlaBlaCar. It’s a nice place to relax with a bookstrolland enjoy the laid-back pace of life.