Vienna

Coffee houses, flea-market finds & imperial strolls

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Vienna is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Flea market Kettenbruckengasse, Schonbrunn Palace and Belvedere. Food lovers should not miss Glacis Beisl and Zum Holunderstrauch. Below you will find 44 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Vienna at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Flea market Kettenbruckengasse and Schonbrunn Palace
Where to stay: Innere Stadt and Wieden
Local picks: 44 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Vienna

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsWhere to Stay in Vienna: Best Neighborhoods for First-TimersWhere to stay in Vienna? A local guide to the best districts, from the elegant Innere Stadt to hip Neubau,…

Local tips3 Days in Vienna: The Perfect ItineraryA local's perfect 3-day Vienna itinerary: the imperial old town and coffeehouses, Schonbrunn and the Naschmarkt, plus art, concerts and…

Where to stay in Vienna

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Dobling

Kahlenberg

A hilltop on the edge of the Vienna Woods with a sweeping view over the city, the Danube and the surrounding vineyards. Pair it with a stroll down to a Heuriger (wine tavern) in Grinzing.

★ 4.6

Wieden

Karlskirche

A magnificent baroque church presiding over Karlsplatz, its green dome flanked by two great columns reflected in a pool. Free to admire from outside; inside, a lift takes you up under the frescoed dome.

★ 4.6

Landstrasse

Kolonitz Beisl

A deeply local eating-and-drinking joint in District 3 with a weathered bar and rustic wooden tables. Lentil stew with pork cracklings, big dumplings and schnitzel variations – about the cheapest sit-down meal in central Vienna.

★ 4.4

Innere Stadt

Kunsthistorisches Museum

The Habsburgs’ imperial art collection in a palatial museum – the world’s best hoard of Bruegels, plus Vermeer, Velazquez and Raphael. Break for coffee under the gilded cupola cafe.

★ 4.8

Neubau / Mariahilf

Mariahilfer Strasse

Vienna’s mightiest shopping street runs nearly two kilometres from the Westbahnhof down to the MuseumsQuartier, with its central stretch pedestrianised and made for slow wandering. The big flagships are all here, but locals duck into the side streets – especially Neubaugasse – for independent boutiques, vintage and coffee. Come on a Saturday morning to see half of Vienna out shopping, and finish at the MuseumsQuartier end with a break in one of the courtyard cafes.

Neubau

MuseumsQuartier

One of the world’s largest cultural complexes, but really a giant free courtyard where the city hangs out on colourful loungers between the Leopold and mumok museums, cafes and bars. Great by day and night.

★ 4.6

Wieden

Naschmarkt

Vienna’s big, buzzing market – stalls of Austrian and Middle Eastern produce, cheese, olives and street food, plus a run of lively restaurants. Come Saturday for the sprawling flea market alongside.

★ 4.5

Wieden

Naschmarkt Food Tour

Graze your way through the Naschmarkt with a local guide – Austrian cheeses and hams, Middle Eastern mezze, pickles and sweets – learning the stories behind Vienna’s most multicultural market.

★ 4.6

Wieden

Neni am Naschmarkt

A buzzy, family-run spot on the Naschmarkt serving vibrant Israeli and Middle Eastern sharing plates – hummus, sabich, shakshuka – amid the market bustle. Book for weekend brunch.

★ 4.5

Innere Stadt

Plachutta

The temple of Tafelspitz – tender boiled beef served in its copper pot with marrow bones, roast potatoes, apple-horseradish and chive sauce. A refined, quintessentially Viennese ritual of a meal.

★ 4.5

$$$

Leopoldstadt

Prater & Giant Ferris Wheel

The Prater is a sprawling park and old-school funfair, crowned by the Wiener Riesenrad – the giant 1897 Ferris wheel from The Third Man. The park is free to roam; buy a ticket to ride the wheel for city views.

★ 4.5

Alsergrund

Reznicek

A gourmet Viennese tavern in the 9th that turns sceptics into Austrian-food fans – the classics (Cordon Bleu, Zwiebelrostbraten, Backfleisch) done better than most, alongside seasonal and nose-to-tail dishes.

★ 4.6

Landstrasse

Ruby Sofie Vienna

A “lean-luxury” design hotel in a converted concert hall – compact, stylish rooms, a cool bar and self-service simplicity that keeps prices down. Great value with real character.

★ 4.5

Hietzing

Schonbrunn Palace

The Habsburgs’ vast summer palace, a rococo wonderland of state rooms where Maria Theresa and a young Mozart once held court. Book a timed Grand Tour, then wander the enormous baroque gardens and up to the Gloriette for free.

★ 4.7

Hietzing

Schonbrunn Skip-the-Line Tour

Skip the queues with a guided tour of Schonbrunn’s imperial state rooms and gardens, a guide unpacking the Habsburg soap opera as you go. Often combined with the grounds and Gloriette.

★ 4.6

Innere Stadt

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Vienna’s soaring Gothic cathedral with its patterned tiled roof, right at the city’s heart. Step into the nave for free, then climb the south tower or descend to the catacombs for a small fee.

★ 4.7

Innere Stadt

Stadtpark

Vienna’s pretty central park along the old river Wien, dotted with monuments – most famously the gilded statue of waltz king Johann Strauss. A lovely, easy green break in the centre.

★ 4.4

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Vienna travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Vienna?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Vienna at a relaxed pace. See our Vienna itinerary guide for a day-by-day plan.

Where is the best area to stay in Vienna?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit. Our where to stay in Vienna guide breaks down the best neighbourhoods.

What are the best things to do in Vienna?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay.

What is the best time to visit Vienna?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Vienna is worth visiting year-round.