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Vienna

Coffee houses, flea-market finds & imperial strolls

Browse Vienna

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

Where to stay in Vienna

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Innere Stadt

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

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

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

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

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

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
$$

Wieden

A gloriously cosy “grandmas’-living-room” cafe where seniors bake the cakes and serve alongside younger staff – a social enterprise fighting old-age poverty and loneliness. Come for the famous Germ-Buchteln and a slice of Omas Kuchen.
★ 4.6
$

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

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
$

Neubau

An unassuming neighbourhood tavern a few blocks off the main drag, full of regulars rather than tourists. Straightforward, hearty Viennese comfort cooking at fair prices – the real, unpolished thing.
★ 4.6
$$

Before you go

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Book your trip to Vienna

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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.

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