The 21 Best Things to do in Vienna
Vienna is one of the most elegant, beautiful places you’ll ever see. As someone who’s been living in Austria for 4 years, I’ve been able to explore the regal Capital quite a few times. So, I’ve compiled this list of the best things to do in Vienna.
1. Take a stroll around Schloss Schönbrunn
Schloss Schönbrunn is one of the top spots to visit in Vienna – beloved by tourists, but for good reason. It is the former residence of the royal Habsburg family.
Of course, you can buy tickets to see the inside of the palace. If you’re really interested in history, it is a fantastic experience. But if you’re not, it’s really not necessary to experience the grandeur of Schloss Schönbrunn. (I grew up watching Sissi, so it made my inner child happy.)
If you choose not to take a tour of the inside, there are still plenty of things to do and see. Wandering the gardens is free, and there are a few attractions (like the Maze and Privy Garden) that you need to buy a ticket for.
Tickets can be bought in the front building of the courtyard, or you can book online ahead of time.
Schönbrunn also hosts events every now and then, which are often free to attend. Visit the website for the schedule.
2. Visit the animals at the Tiergarten Schönbrunn
The Schönbrunn zoo is home to more than 700 animal species. Founded almost 300 years ago, it is the oldest zoo in the world.
The zoo is right next to Schloss Schönbrunn, so it’s ideal to combine the two experiences. It takes about 4 hours to get through all the exhibits without rushing.
Some of the highlights at Tiergarten Schönbrunn are the giant pandas, polar bears, African wildlife, tigers, lions, cheetahs, and the petting zoo. To make the most of your experience, check the website for feeding times.
Tickets can be bought at the entrance or on the official website ahead of time. Prices for start at 15,50€ for children and 27€ for adults.
3. Visit Prater
Prater is another one of those must-visit spots in Vienna. It is an amusement park, though it is home to many different attractions.
Entry to the park is free, but the individual attractions require tickets or tokens. The attractions range from rollercoasters to indoor skydiving, and, of course, Prater is also where you’ll find the famous Wiener Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel).
Prater also has a Madame Tussauds featuring wax figures of famous people, from Johnny Depp to Sigmund Freud.
4. Go shopping at Naschmarkt
The Naschmarkt is a massive outdoor market that is a great way to experience the local culture. It is best known for its fresch produce, but you can find almost every type of food here.
You’ll come across vendors selling cheese, seafood, spices, preserves, baked goods, and much more. Of course, it’s also a great place to try some local Austrian dishes, like Tafelspitz, Schnitzel, and apple strudel.
But the Naschmarkt is known for its wide variety of international food options. They have stalls serving Japanese, Thai, Italian, Mediterranean, and A LOT of Middle Eastern food.
A flea market is held every Saturday. Here you can find vintage items, including clothes, vinyls, books, and even furniture.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to negotiate with vendors.
5. Eat Sachertorte
Sachertorte is one of the signature desserts of Vienna. It consists of a rich chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam (the Austrian’s favourite fruit!) and topped with a chocolate glaze.
Some of the best places to try Sachertorte are:
- Café Sacher: This is where the dessert originated, so it is the perfect place to try it. It is part of Hotel Sacher, which has that elegant old-timey Viennese atmosphere.
- Café Demel: This café is considered the rival of Café Sacher. It used to be the official confectioner of the Habsburg monarchs.
- Café Central: One of the most popular cafés in the city. It is a great place to try all kinds of Viennese desserts.
- Café Mozart: This spot is a bit less crowded, and is perfect if you’re visiting the Vienna State Opera on the same day.
- Aida Café Konditorei: A more modern, retro café that is more affordable than the other places on this list.
6. See the Lippizaner horses
The Lippizaner horses are beautiful white horses that whose home is the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. They are trained in dressage and are known for their performances.
The Spanish Riding School is the oldest of its kind in the world. It is a really unique experience that exudes the elegance and grace Vienna is famous for.
Performances usually take place on Sundays, and sometimes on Saturdays. They are around 70 to 90 minutes long. Ticket prices start at 26€ and can be bought online.
7. Watch an opera
The Vienna State Opera is one of the most famous and prestigious opera houses in the world. Vienna is also known as the ‘City of Music’, having been the home of famous composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert.
Performances take place almost every evening, so it’s pretty easy to fit into your sightseeing schedule.
Some other opera houses in Vienna are Volkstheater Wien and Theater an der Wien. You can watch all kinds of operas, including classics like The Magic Flute. Theater an der Wien is particularly known for more modern pieces.
I know that operas are generally considered to be super elite and exlusive to rich people, but you can find standing tickets from 10€ even at the Vienna State Opera.
Tickets can be bought at the box offices of the theatres, or online.
8. See the Schmetterlingshaus
The Butterfly House is one of the more unique experiences you can have in Vienna. It has a really magical atmosphere, where you can immerse yourself in a world of colourful, exotic butterflies.
The Butterfly House is a glasshouse in which a tropical climate is carefully maintained to help the butterflies thrive. Make sure to wear comfortable, cool clothes, because temperatures are kept between 26-28°C (79-82°C) and 80% humidity.
I recommend visiting in the morning, because the butterflies are at their most active and it is generally less crowded earlier in the day.
9. Visit the Clock Museum
One of the more unique museums to visit in Vienna is definitely the Clock Museum. It houses over 3000 different clocks from various time periods, ranging from the middle ages to the present day.
The museum is situated in an old palace, so it has a really elegant atmosphere.
And no, you don’t have to be super interested in clocks to enjoy this exhibit. There are so many different types of clocks (or actually, ‘timepieces’) to see here, from 600-year-old grandfather clocks to the giant solid iron clock from the tower of St. Stephan’s Cathedral.
Standard tickets cost 8€ and can be bought at the museum entrance or online. If you’re in Vienna on the first Sunday of the month, though, you can visit the museum for free.
10. Eat Schnitzel
Everybody seems to think that Schnitzel is German, but the dish actually originates in Austria. It’s one of my favourite Austrian foods and obviously, a must-try for anyone visiting Vienna.
The Wiener Schnitzel is made by flattening, breading, and frying veal. Of course, most restaurants make Schnitzel from various meats, often chicken, pork, or turkey.
Traditionally, a Wiener Schnitzel is served with parsley potatoes and cranberry sauce.
11. Try escargot at the Schneckenmanufaktur
The Gugumuck Schneckenmanufaktur is a farm that is focused on creating a sustainable food source in the form of snails.
It is a family-owned business that was founded in 2014. They have now expanded their business to a garden bar and market garden, where you can eat snails and also see some of the farming process.
You can also take a guided tour of the farm, on which you can learn more about the farming practices, as well as view the snail habitat. The tour includes a gourmet tasting of all sorts of snail-based dishes.
The food on the farm is developed and cooked by highly trained chefs. It is incredibly innovative and interesting, including dishes like snail caviar and snail soup.
They also have a shop, where you can buy snail products, most of which are canned or preserved.
Visit the website to book your tour or reserve a table at the Garden Bar.
12. See the Narrenturm
The Narrenturm in Wien is a former insane asylum, so it’s definitely one of the more unique places to visit. The building is now a museum that showcases the history of medical practices from the past 200 years.
It is part of the Museum of Natural History in Vienna, so it’s a great idea to combine the two. The exhibits can be a bit graphic, so it might not be the best place to visit with children, although entrance is free to anyone under the age of 19.
But if you’re interested in medical advancements and history, it’s a great place to visit.
Tickets cost 8€, or 12€ if you want to take a guided tour. I’d recommend getting the combination ticket with both the Narrenturm and the Natural History Museum for 22€. You can buy tickets at the entrance or online.
13. Attend an event at the Gasometer
The Gasometer in Vienna is one of the most unique spots to go shopping. It consists of four massive cylindrical gasholder buildings.
The buildings were constructed in the late 1800s and because they aren’t needed anymore, the city has found other ways to use them.
A big part of the Gasometer has been turned into a shopping mall, while other parts are now student dorms and an event venue.
Check out the official website to see the event schedule and to buy tickets.
14. Have breakfast at Palmenhaus
If there’s one really unique restaurant in Vienna, it’s probably the Palmenhaus. Situated near Hofburg Palace, it’s the ideal place to start your day and do some sightseeing right afterwards.
The Palmenhaus is basically a huge greenhouse. It is home to all kinds of plants, so it has a really relaxed atmosphere.
The types of breakfast served at the Palmenhaus range from traditional Viennese-style breakfast to continental and sweet pastry breakfasts.
Due to its popularity, it’s advised to make a reservation online ahead of time. You can do this on the official website of the Palmenhaus.
15. See the Habsburg Imperial Crypts
If you’re interested in history or the Habsburg royal family, this one’s for you. The Imperial Crypt is the final resting place for many of the most famous European rulers, like Maria Theresa, Franz Joseph, and Elisabeth (Sisi).
It takes about 30 minutes to get through the crypts and see everything. If you want to know more about the historical figures buried here, you can book a tour, which usually takes about an hour. The tours are offered in German, English, and Italian, but they only take place on certain days. Check out the website for the schedule.
Entry tickets start at 5€ for children and 8,50€ for adults and can be bought on the website. Alternatively, you can book on Get Your Guide.
16. Have a Supersense experience
Supersense in Vienna is a creative space that is perfect for anyone interested in art, photography, or music. It is also situated in an old Venetian-style palace, which makes the experience all the more special.
The store consists of different interactive exhibits and a quirky café.
The photography rooms include lots of Polaroids, as well as vintage cameras. There is also a darkroom in which you can develop your own photos! You can even book to have your portrait taken by one of the biggest Polaroid cameras worldwide – the perfect souvenir.
The vinyl and music section has a vinyl recording studio (yes, you can record your own music onto a vinyl here). You can also browse through hundreds of rare and limited-edition vinyl records.
There is also a vintage letterpress exhibit, where you can print cutom items like cards, posters, and stationery. They even offer workshops to learn about letterpress printing.
Check out the official website to find out more about the exhibits and to book workshops.
17. See Hundertwasser House
Hundertwasser House is one of the most interesting buildings I’ve ever seen. Named after its architect, Friedrich Hundertwasser, it is a very colourful, silly-looking building.
It is a residential building, so you can’t see the inside, but I think just seeing the outside is worth it.
Luckily, you can visit the Hundertwasser Village across from the building, which houses a café and lots of shops. The Kunst Haus Wien is also nearby and features some of the architect/artist’s best work.
18. Try some wine at a Heuriger
A Heuriger is a traditional Austrian wine tavern, where you can try the wine from vineyards in the area. Obviously, they aren’t situated right in the city, but rather in the countryside surrounding Vienna.
It’s also a great place to try some traditional Austrian food surrounded by stunning scenery.
Here are some of the best areas to visit a Heuriger:
- Grinzing: This is one of the most well-known places for Heuriger, so it’s always very busy. It can feel a bit touristy, but it’s gorgeous and definitely worth the visit.
- Nussdorf: This small village is a bit further away from Vienna than Grinzing, but it’s far less crowded with tourists, and more popular among locals.
- Neustift am Walde: A less touristy area that is still close to Vienna. It is known for serving great, authentic local dishes.
19. Visit Café Vollpension
Vollpension is a café in Vienna with a very particular charm. It employs mostly retired people whose pension is too low to support them. That includes the bakers, cooks, and waiters!
It is meant to be a place where you can enjoy traditional Austrian food made by ‘Austrian grannies’. Vollpension is one of the greatest places to chat with locals about their culture, because, trust me, they LOVE to talk. Many of the employees are looking for a sense of community just as much as a bit of extra money.
One of the greatest experiences in Vienna you can have is to take a baking class at Café Vollpension. Join their Baking Academy to learn about the culture, and learn to bake Austrian pastries and cakes, including Sachertorte, Kardinalschnitte, and Apfelstrudel.
20. Take a Carriage Ride around the City
This one’s a bit cliché, but there’s something really charming about seeing Vienna from the back of a horse-drawn carriage. And what better place for it than the regal, old-timey capital of Austria?
Most of the carriages offer tours of the Altstadt (Old Town), starting from 60€. Some of the operators offer special tours, including food tours or tours of Schönbrunn Palace.
You’ll find horse-drawn carriages all over the city, but particularly around the squares near tourist attractions – Stephansplatz, Albertinaplatz, Petersplatz. You can also book a tour ahead of time on operators’ websites or on Get Your Guide.
The experience is especially magical and cozy during the winter, on a snowy day. It’s fantastic when you combine it with a Christmas Market hopping experience.
21. Have Glühwein at a Christmas Market
Last but not least, visit a Christmas market. I think December is the most magical time to visit Vienna, if only to experience the joy of the holidays.
And if you’re looking for great Christmas markets, Vienna is the place to go! You can walk from one market to another and try different foods, drinks, and find amazing souvenirs.
Some must-try foods include:
- Kaiserschmarrn with Zwetschgenröster: cut-up pancakes with stewed plums
- Käsespätzle with Röstzwiebeln (cheesy egg noodles with fried onions)
- Glühwein (mulled wine)
- Bratapfel Punsch (a warm punch that tastes like apple pie)
- Maroni (roasted chestnuts)
- Bauernkrapfen (‘doughnuts’ with a filling, usually apricot jam)
Many of the major attractions in Vienna have their own Christmas markets, including Prater, Schönbrunn, and the Museum of Natural History.
