Vienna

Vienna is truly unique: only in the Austrian capital does it seem as if the 19th century never ended. Mozart ‘s music and waltzes are still the big hitsplayed by prestigious orchestras in sumptuous palaces and halls. The elegant cafés are always full but never rowdy. Sissithe empress made immortal by a famous film sagaseems likely to appear before you at any moment. The beautiful blue Danube continues to flowplacid and inexorable.

This magical fairytale atmosphere reaches its peak at Christmas timewhen the traditional Christmas markets open and young and old flock to the atmospheric ice-skating rink in the heart of the old town.

Imperial Vienna will not disappoint your expectationsbut what tourists are generally not prepared for is the modernity of Vienna: trendy clubs make the Austrian capital a must-see destination for lovers of electronic musictrendy cafés vie for customers with historic cafésand public transport is highly efficient.

Whether it’s the nostalgic charm or the exciting dynamism of this city that brings you hereour online guide to Vienna will help you experience the holiday of your dreams.

Things to do in Vienna

Vienna offers an extraordinary artistic and architectural heritage that takes several days to fully appreciate: you could fill an entire weekend just visiting the royal palaces of the Habsburg court. If you’re short on timeconcentrate on the two most opulent: Hofburgthe Imperial Palaceand Schönbrunn Palacethe summer residence (perhaps with a stop at the zoo); to these you can add Belvedere Castle and the Rathausa town hall with sumptuous rooms.

It’s hard not to notice the neo-Gothic St Stephen’s Cathedral on the central Stephanplatz: its towers and spires soar high into the Vienna sky and the roof is decorated with thousands of coloured tiles forming two iconic images of the city and nation.

For a complete change of atmospheretake in the liveliness of the Naschmarkt and the flea marketstroll through the picturesque Spittelberg quarter or get your fill of art and culture in the MuseumsQuartier.

Art lovers should not miss the Kunsthistorisches Museumone of the world’s most important art galleriesand the Albertinawith its collection of over one million graphic works.

To find out all the must-see attractions visit the Things to do in Vienna section.

Best-selling attraction tickets

Due to the amount of tourists who visit these attractions on a daily basiswe recommend that you book tickets to the top attractions online well in advance.

What to do in Vienna

One of the symbols of Vienna is the Ferris wheel in the Prater: a ride on the romantic Wiener Riesenrad is a thrilling experiencenot to be missed.

For an authentic Viennese experiencestep into one of the city’s historic cafésbut know in advance that in front of such mouth-watering cakesyou should forget your diet and good intentions.

Whether or not you are a fan of symphony concerts and operasduring a holiday in Viennadon’t miss the opportunity to attend a classical music concert. The exclusive locations in which they are performedsuch as castlesimperial palaces or historical caféswill enhance the magic created by the music.

If you have some timetreat yourself to a cruise on the DanubeEurope’s most romantic riverwhich inspired Johann Strauss’ famous waltz.

Active holidaymakers will find fascinating cycling and hiking routes in and around Viennaincluding the famous Ringstrasse cycle path; if you come in winter you can try your hand at sports such as ice skating and curling.

For more ideas on what to do on your holiday visit Vienna Tours and Activities.

Guided and free tours of Vienna

Discover Vienna through the eyes of expert guides who will take you on a tour of the city's hidden treasures. Participating in a guided visit or a free tour will allow you to capture the true essence of Vienna.

Free tour of Vienna

The free tours are a viable alternative to traditional guided tours. They work like this: participation is free and at the end of the visit you can leave a tip at your discretion. Below you will find our favourite free tourotherwise you can see the full list by visiting this page.

Save money in Vienna with City Cards

Vienna offers various city cards that allow you to save significantly on transport and entrance fees to attractions. The Vienna City Card includes unlimited public transport and discounts of up to 25% at over 210 museumsattractionstheatresconcertsrestaurants and shops. It is available in different durations (2448 and 72 hours) and is ideal for those visiting Vienna for the first time and concentrating on several paid attractions.

The Vienna Passon the other handoffers unlimited free entry to over 70 attractionsincluding SchönbrunnBelvedereHofburgAlbertina and the Prater Wheelas well as hop-on hop-off bus tours. The pass pays for itself by visiting 3-4 main attractions per day and is available for 123 or 6 consecutive days. It also includes fast track to skip the queuesespecially useful in high season when queues at Schönbrunn Palace can exceed 60 minutes.

Those travelling with children under the age of 19 save even more: most state museums offer free admission for minorswhile many attractions such as Schönbrunn Zoo apply advantageous family rates. Buying tickets online at least 24 hours in advance guarantees discounts compared to physical ticketing.

Where to stay in Vienna

Hotels in the centre of Vienna tend to be expensivewhich can be a bit disconcerting for tourists who want to organise their own holiday. Fear not: there are solutions to suit all budgetsfrom luxury hotels in the Innere Stadt and the Ringstrasse to budget hotels in the neighbouring districts.

Don’t disdain quality hotels and B&Bs just because they are located in the suburbs: public transport in Vienna works very wellso getting to the centre is quick and easy.

For more in-depth advice on how to choose the best areavisit Where to stay in Vienna.

Recommended hotels in Vienna