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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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

Wieden (4th)

The Breakfast Club

Innere Stadt

The Guesthouse Vienna

A warm, design-led boutique steps from the Albertina and Opera, with Conran-designed rooms and a beloved ground-floor bakery-cafe. Central, stylish and personable.

★ 4.6

Innere Stadt

Vienna Historic Centre Walking Tour

A guided stroll through the imperial old town – St Stephen’s, the Hofburg, the Graben and the stories of Habsburg Vienna a map won’t tell you. The perfect first-day orientation.

★ 4.7

Innere Stadt

Vienna State Opera

One of the world’s great opera houses, all red velvet and gold. Take a guided backstage tour by day, or grab a famously cheap standing-room ticket on the night for a taste of Viennese high culture.

★ 4.7

Innere Stadt

Vienna State Opera Guided Tour

Go behind the red velvet with a guided tour of the State Opera – the grand staircase, auditorium and backstage machinery, with the stories of one of the world’s busiest opera houses.

★ 4.6

Day trip

Vienna Woods & Mayerling Tour

A half-day escape into the green Vienna Woods – the Heiligenkreuz abbey, the Mayerling hunting-lodge legend and the eerie Seegrotte underground lake. A refreshing break from the imperial city.

★ 4.5

Innere Stadt

Viennese Coffeehouse & Cake Tour

A delicious guided crawl through Vienna’s legendary coffeehouses – Melange, Sachertorte, apple strudel and the UNESCO-listed coffee culture that turned cafes into the city’s living rooms.

★ 4.7

Day trip

Wachau Valley Danube Day Trip

A scenic day trip up the Danube to the terraced-vineyard Wachau valley – the golden Melk Abbey, storybook villages like Durnstein and a tasting of the region’s crisp Gruner Veltliner.

★ 4.7

Various

wombat’s City Hostel Vienna

A well-run, sociable hostel chain with bright dorms and privates, an in-house bar and free walking tours – the easy, affordable base for younger travellers and anyone counting euros.

★ 4.4

Before you go

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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.