Vienna: Top 20 Things to Do

Dear lilioftheworld.com reader, here is Lili, your co-editor.

Today we are heading to the center of Europe and one of its most interesting cities – Vienna. Vienna is not only one of the best places to live in the whole world, but also an exciting place to visit. No matter if you are there for a day, a weekend or a week, there are enough things to see and do even for the most demanding visitors.

Before talking about my recommendations for places to visit in Vienna, maybe you would need some general information about coming to Vienna. There is also a guide with best things to eat in Vienna, best rooftop bars in Vienna and also best ribs places in Vienna (you definitely have to read this one).

Now that I try to narrow down the places to visit to a reasonable number, I realize how rich and diverse Vienna is. And this is only if we talk about places inside the city. There are many more points of interest nearby which you can visit for a day (I’m even considering to write a separate article with ideas about what you can do for a day around Vienna). But back to the topic.

Out of all the sightseeing places, here are our

Top 20 Things to Do and Visit in Vienna:

1. Stephansdom

This is by far one of the most famous attractions in Vienna. St Stephan’s cathedral is located in the very center of the city, i.e. the first district. The surrounding area is fully packed with tourists. The cathedral is one of the highest buildings in Vienna. If you climb the stairs to the top of the tower, you can have a nice view to the center of the city.

The access to the cathedral is free, but if you want to climb the 137 m high south tower, you have to pay 5 euro. We have never climbed, but we can recommend a place nearby which offers similar view and plus you can admire the Stephansdom cathedral from a distance. It is a rooftop bar called Lamée and you can read more about its review in the section with best rooftop bars in Vienna.

The area around Stephansdom is usually crowded with tourists. There are different events happening during the whole year. In the period around Christmas you can enjoy the Weihnachtsmarkt there. More info you can find the section with top Weihnachtsmarkts in Vienna.

2. Belvedere

Used to be the main place where the emperor was sitting. Now it is turned into a gallery where different expositions are placed. The Belvedere castle has two very big yards – one in front and the other one at the back. There is a beautiful lake in the upper section, while the lower yard offers very nice view to the city and also to the mountains around Vienna.

The access to the palace gardens is free and they are open until 21:00. The Palace is having shorter opening hours- from 9:00 to 18:00 and only on Friday until 21:00. The entrance ticket for the palace costs 16 euro, but there are different options: you can enter either the palace itself (where the famous painting “Kiss” is located), or the lower part of the castle where they have Special exhibitions, Orangery, Palace Stables.

3. Schönbrunn Palace and the whole complex around, including the zoo 

The Schloß Schönbrunn used to be the summer residence of the Habsburg family. Empress Maria-Theresia received it as a wedding present (not a bad present I would say 🙂 . Back in the days it was outside the city, but nowadays it is located in the 14th district – Hietzing. You can easily reach the palace with the U4 subway line. The closest station to the main entrance is  Schönbrunn.

Besides the enormous palace in Baroque style, the Schönbrunn complex has many attractions: the huge gardens, the Tiergarten (a zoo), an orangery and a palm house. The zoo is the oldest in the world and many times won the award for the best zoo in Europe. Other points of interest are the Gloriette and the Roman Ruins. Gloriette is located on the top of a hill where initially the palace was supposed to be. The empress Maria-Theresia wanted this monument to be built to glorify Habsburg power. It was built from the otherwise useless stone from a demolished palace nearby.

Part of the whole complex has free access- the gardens, the area around Gloriette as well. You can freely wander the beautiful gardens and admire the fish ponds or fountains. Climb to Gloriette and see an amazing view to Vienna. If you want to enter the palace, you have different ticket options.

For the current offers, you can check the link above. We would advise you to buy your tickets from the machines available on the spot and not wait at the queue (it can be a bit confusing). There are slots for entering the Palace, so plan your visit in advance.

4. Rathaus

The local city hall and the place where the local Government sits. This is my favourite building in whole Vienna. There is something special about it, something mysterious, creepy and majestic at the same time. The central tower is almost 100m in height and the building is beautifully lit in the evening.

The square in front of it is used for different events during the whole year. For example in the period from the end of November until the beginning of January the square hosts one of the most beautiful Weihnachtsmarkts (Christmas markets– more about them you can read in the special article dedicated to the topic) in Vienna. At the beginning of January the Christmas market is being replaced by an ice-skating facility. Various concerts, food or wine festivals are organized in the area throughout the whole year.

5. The Parliament

The building on the left hand side of Rathaus is the Parliament. For the last couple of years the Parliament is under reconstruction, so you cannot see the building properly (soon to be finished). The building has Greek Revival style and was designed by a Danish architect who received the title Baron after the completion of the project.

6. Maria Theresien Platz and the two museums

If you pass by the Parliament and you continue walking by the Ring, after 200m you will see Maria Theresien Platz on your right. It is a huge area with a monument of a woman in the middle. Facing each other from the sides of the square are two near identical buildings, the Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum) and the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum).

The buildings are near identical, except for the statuary on their facades. The Naturhistorisches’ facade has statues depicting personifications of Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The Kunsthistorisches facade features famous European artists, such as the Dutch Bruegel, among others.

7. Museumsquartier

Museumsquartier is huge area located close to Maria Theresien Platz, just across the street. This place used to be former court stables. The MQ is home to a range of installations from large art museums like the Leopold Museum and the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna) to contemporary exhibition spaces like the Kunsthalle Wien and festivals like the Wiener Festwochen, an annual summer event that is headquartered in the MuseumsQuartier Wien.

The square inside also hosts many different events throughout the whole year. In winter there is a hipster type of Weihnachtsmarkt, while in the summer, the yard is gathering point and place for hanging out for the youngsters.

8. Donau park with Donauturm

I would first start with the fact that not many locals are aware of the fact that there is a revolving cafe and restaurant in the Danube tower.

Both, the tower and the park, are located a outside of the city center. In order to reach them, you have to pass through Vienna Business City and then through the park. Unfortunately the closest subway station is 15-20 mins walk away.

9. Karlsplatz & Karlskirche 

This is my favourite church in Vienna. It is a baroque church, which is widely considered as one of the city’s greatest buildings. It is dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo, one of the great counter-reformers of the sixteenth century. In 1713, one year after the last great plague epidemic, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, pledged to build a church for his namesake patron saint, Charles Borromeo, who was revered as a healer for plague sufferers.

Similarly to the square in front of the Rathaus, the place in front of Karlskirche is being used for different events. One of the cutest Weihnachtsmarkts is located there. The small fountain/ pond in front of it creates a peaceful atmosphere.

10. The Opera Haus

One thing I regret is that for the four years we lived in Vienna, we never went to an opera performance. However, we had the chance to admire the building from the outside. Located on the Ringstraße, the Viennese Opera is a world famous landmark. It has a 150-year history and every year it hosts more than 60 performances.

It is not necessary that you attend an opera in order to enter a building. You can pay the ticket of 9 euro and join the guided tour. It takes approximately 40-minute, and you will learn many interesting facts about the building’s history, its architecture and how an opera house is run. The tour starts from the foyer, then via the grand staircase to the state rooms (Tea Salon, Marble Hall, Schwind Foyer, Gustav Mahler Hall) and it finished at  the auditorium (where you can catching a look at the stage).

11. Hundertwasser Haus

This building located close to Prater is actually an apartment house designed by the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The house was built between 1983 and 1985 according to the ideas and concepts of Hundertwasser with architect Univ.-Prof. Joseph Krawina as a co-author.

The Hundertwasserhaus features undulating floors, a roof covered with earth and grass, and large trees growing from inside the rooms, with limbs extending from windows. Hundertwasser took no payment for the design of the house, declaring that he wanted to prevent something ugly from showing up in its place. Within the house there are 53 apartments, four offices, 16 private terraces and three communal terraces, and a total of 250 trees and bushes.

12. Prater 

This world famous attraction does not need any presentation. This is the oldest amusement park in Europe. The area that makes up the modern Prater was first mentioned in 1162, when Emperor Friedrich I gave the land to a noble family called de Prato (from where most probably the name of the place comes).

The access to the park is free of charge. You pay for the attractions separately. There is entertainment for adults and children. The most famous one is the Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel. We advise all our guests to take a ride with it. It is not high, neither fast, but you cannot visit Vienna and not take a ride with the Riesenrad. The ticket costs 10 euro. There might be a queue depending on which day you go there. The ride takes around 15 mins and rewards with a nice city view.

If you have a special occasion, you can book one of the wagons. They are elegantly equipped to offer a 5-star experience. We haven’t tried, but it looks very romantic.

13. Donau canal (only in summer)

Located within the city, the Donau canal area is popular among the youngsters. It is main meeting spot with possibilities for riding bikes, rollers or just visiting one of the many cafes. My favourite place there is Tel Aviv beach where you can put your feet in the sand and have the feeling that you are at the seaside. Besides cocktails, they also serve food. Try the hummus there- the best in town.

14. Alte Donau (only in summer)

This is the old Danube canal which is nowadays closed on one side. The locals have made an artificial natural pool. The place is used for city beach during the summer and many water sport activities. You can hire a small boat and have a romantic lunch there.

The area is especially beautiful during the summer. There are several areas where you can swim. The main arrival point is U1 subway station Alte Donau. From there you can either start your exploration going left or right. Go at late afternoon to view one of the most beautiful sunsets in Vienna.

15. Mozart Haus

Although Mozart comes originally from Salzburg, the whole country of Austria is celebrating this wonderchild. Located near Stephansdom, Mozarthaus is a building turned into a museum where you can find interesting facts about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. As the official website says “Mozart and his family lived there from 1784 to 1787, during which time he wrote the world-famous opera “Le Nozze di Figaro” and three of the six Haydn Quartets. It is the largest, most elegant and expensive apartment ever occupied by Mozart and the only one that is still intact today.”

The entrance ticket is €11 (also group and family tickets are available) and you can visit it between 10:00. and 19:00 (the last admission is at 18:30).

16. Kärtnerstraße

This is a pedestrian street which leads from the Opera House to Stephansdom. Many shops, cafes and benches are what you can expect there. The street is quite touristic and despite the day of the week and the time of the day there are many people. One landmark that you can find there is Sacher hotel where people queue in order to try the famous sacher torte.

17. Mariahilferstraße

This together with Kärtnerstrasse is the other popular shopping street in Vienna. The street is about two kilometers long, starting from Museumsquartier till Westbahnhof. Shopping, shopping and shopping- this is what you can do there. Mainly big international brands, but also a few local ones.

18. Ring Boulevard (Ringstraße)

This is the central boulevard which circles the first district in Vienna. If you take a stroll on it, you will see landmarks like the Opera House, the Parliament, Rathaus, Volksgarden and many others. There is a tram called Ring Tram which makes a tourist ride only on the Ring. You will be explained the main facts about Vienna. The tour ride takes 25 mins and costs 9 euro.

19. Stadtpark

The city park (which is the translation of Stadtpark) is also located next to the Ring  boulevard. It is a small peaceful park, divided into two sections by the Wienfluss (Vienna River). Throughout the park there are statues of famous Viennese artists, writers, and composers, including Johann Strauss II and Franz Schubert. The opulent Kursalon building on Johannesgasse, with its broad terrace that reaches into the park, is the site of popular waltz concerts. The closest subway station is line U4 Stadtpark.

20. Naschmarkt   

This area located close to Karlsplatz and used to be (and still is) a fish market. A glimpse on the official website says the following: “A market has been operating near this location since the 1780s when it was a dairy farmer’s market.”

Originally it was named Kärntnertormarkt (named after the bridge Kärntnertorbrücke), but is now Elisabethbrücke. During the decades it spread along to reach Karlsplatz at the area, where the Vienna University of Technology is located.

Later this market was the official fruit and vegetable market for imported goods not arriving along the Donaukanal (“Danube Canal”).

When the city’s second river was roofed over more than 100 years ago it was on top of it, where the present day market was formed.

We used to go there in the evenings and enjoy the lively vibe of the many restaurants in the area. This is the only such area in Vienna where you can see a lot of people and many restaurants. Have in mind that all the restaurants are closed on Sunday.

Sunset over Alte Donau

We hope you enjoy Vienna as much as we do. Do not miss to ready our other tips for Austria and Vienna.