10 Best Things To Do in Vienna

Walking through the centre of Vienna is a privilege, and its palaces and monuments add to the charm of the Austrian capital. Few cities are as elegant as this one, but Vienna is not just about appearances: it is history, art, architecture and gastronomy. Here are my top 10 must-sees in the city.

You have probably heard stories about Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sissi. Many of them are set in Schönbrunn Palace, located somewhat away from the centre of Vienna but easily accessible from anywhere in the city by public transport.

In addition to guided tours of Schönbrunn Palace, Austria's most important palace also offers travellers more comprehensive premium experiences such as:

• Guided tour of Vienna with guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace—from S$115
• Concert at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna—from S$147
• Concert at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna with dinner and tour—from S$215

If you are someone who enjoys exploring cities after sunset, include this plan among the best things to do in Vienna at night and discover the spectacular lighting of this and other buildings.

Vienna is a large city and although walking through its streets is a pleasure, if you have limited time and want to see all its corners without walking too much, I recommend buying a ticket for the tourist bus. There are several companies operating in the city, and the two main ones are Big Bus and Vienna Sightseeing.

The Austrian capital has a lot to offer travellers, not only because of its most emblematic sites, but also because of its geographical location. Vienna is close to wonderful landscapes and other European cities that can be visited on a day trip.

Some of the best tours and excursions from Vienna are:

• Excursion to Wachau, Melk Abbey and the Danube valleys—from S$180
• Excursion to Budapest—from S$191

If you prefer to go on your own to these and other destinations around Vienna, be sure to check out these posts where I tell you the best way to get there:

• How to get from Vienna to Budapest
• How to get from Vienna to Salzburg
• How to get from Vienna to Prague

There are all kinds of guided tours of Vienna, from electric vehicle tours of the city to walking tours with a local guide. Whatever your budget and type of trip, there will be a tour to suit your preferences, and taking one is a great way to learn more about the city and its way of life.

There is an interesting variety of options, and you are sure to find one that suits your travel style, such as:

• Guided tour of Vienna with a guided visit to Schönbrunn Palace—from 115
• Private walking tour of Vienna—from S$274
• Bicycle tour of Vienna—from S$78
• Private bike tour of Vienna—from S$266
• Segway tour of Vienna—from S$130
• Private tour of Vienna by car—from S$582

This experience is the closest thing to exploring Vienna with a friend who is an expert in history, has lived there for years and is fascinated by all the secrets it hides.

Schönbrunn is not the only palace you will find in Vienna. Right in the centre is the Hofburg, the residence of most of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty. Today, the palace complex is the most visited place in the city.

If you want to focus on the essentials, I recommend buying a ticket to the Hofburg Imperial Palace, which includes access to the imperial apartments and the Sissi Museum. This is the best option for those who want to get a general impression of the palace and are not interested in more specialised visits such as the silver museum or the riding school.

It is no secret that Vienna is known by many as the city of music. If you have walked through its streets, even briefly, you will have seen that Mozart rivals Empress Sissi in popularity in all the souvenir shops. This is why the Vienna State Opera is one of the most notable and visited monuments in the Austrian capital.

If you want to attend an opera in Vienna, I recommend two things when buying tickets: search online for the cheapest prices (because you will find tickets ranging from £5 to £150) and book well in advance, as it will be very difficult to find seats just one or two days before the performance.

For lovers of this art form, the Vienna House of Music is also a must-see, where you can interactively discover historical instruments and personal objects belonging to the great classical composers, among many other things! I explain how to get your tickets in this link.

And if you are travelling to the Austrian capital in December, one of the best Christmas plans in Vienna is undoubtedly the famous New Year's Concert. It's not easy to get tickets to see the great musicians of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, but if you want to try, here's a post about the biggest musical event of the year in Vienna.

The list of palaces to visit in Vienna is quite long. The Belvedere Palace is considered a Baroque masterpiece and houses the Austrian National Gallery, where you can see works such as Klimt's The Kiss. In addition to visiting the interior of the palace, a tour of its French gardens is a must.

Depending on which areas of the complex you want to visit, you can buy different tickets to the Palace either at the ticket office or online. Pay attention to what is included in each ticket, as many of the areas to visit are located in separate pavilions away from the palace.

A must for art lovers. The Habsburgs managed to assemble a collection of world-famous masterpieces, all of which are housed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, also known as the Museum of Fine Arts. Caravaggio, Dürer and Brueghel the Elder are some of the stars of this museum. If you visit, pay special attention to the Egyptian art collection.

A tip: try to buy your tickets online and in advance to avoid, as far as possible, the long queues that form at the ticket office. Children under 18 can enter for free. But to fully understand this museum's incredible collection, I also recommend one of the guided tours, where you will learn in great detail about the history behind the main works.

Without a doubt, this is one of the best museums in Vienna, although not the only one. Admission to this museum and many more is included in the Vienna Pass.

What is it like to eat in Vienna? Austrian cuisine is characterised by tradition and international openness and is accessible to all budgets. In Vienna, you can eat at typical street sausage stands (one of the most popular varieties is the Käsekrainer, which combines pork and cheese) and also at typical Viennese restaurants known as "Beisin", which serve traditional dishes.

My advice is to go with the recommendations of the locals, but if you want to play it safe, you can order Wiener Schnitzel (breadedveal or porkescalope ) or Tafelspitz (beef stew). If you are curious about Viennese food, be sure to visit the Naschmarkt market, where you can also enjoy some great tastings.

In any other city, going to an amusement park is usually an activity reserved for locals rather than visitors. There are too many points of interest to see in a new place to spend time on things you can find anywhere else. So why do I recommend spending a day at Vienna's amusement park? Because the Prater is not just any amusement park.

The Prater is the oldest amusement park in the world, home to the largest Ferris wheel ever built and the largest disco in Austria. On top of that, it has 250 attractions open from March to October. In short, if you like amusement parks, going to the Prater during your visit to the Austrian capital is definitely not a waste of time.

It is well known to all visitors to Vienna throughout the year that it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Choosing it as your European capital for a few days' getaway is undoubtedly a good decision.

My recommendation is that you plan your trip, arrange your transfers from Vienna Airport and get yourself a tourist card, the Vienna Pass. Don't miss these tips for travelling to Vienna and getting the most out of the city.

When is the best time to visit the Austrian city?

The cold temperatures of autumn and winter in Vienna should not deter you from travelling to this beautiful city at this time of year, as even the snow has its charm there. On the other hand, spring and summer in this area, which bring warmer and more pleasant temperatures, will also attract more tourists. If you still have doubts, take a look at these posts about the best activities depending on the time of year you travel:

• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in summer
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in winter
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in spring
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in autumn

Or perhaps you'd prefer to see the options by month:

• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in January
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in February
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in March
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in August
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in September
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in October
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in November
• 10 things to see and do in Vienna in December

Now that we know when, let me tell you about the best travel plan depending on how much time you have in Vienna:

• Vienna in 1 day: what you can't miss
• Vienna in 2 days: the best itinerary
• Vienna in 3 days: everything you need to see
• Vienna in 4 days: a guide to ensure you don't miss a thing
• Vienna in 5 days: make the most of your trip