LIST
1. Visit the iconic St. Stephen Cathedral and its crypt
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the most iconic structure that represents Vienna. You will find a lot of souvenirs with this cathedral on it! Climb up the 323 steps of the magnificent South Tower to the watchman’s lookout point for the best view of the city. Even if you aren’t into cathedrals, the view will be worth it!
- Just beneath this beautiful cathedral, lies the remains of 11000 people. The oldest one out of them dates back to 1365, Just imagine the feeling of seeing 700 years old bones! This crypt consists of many smaller crypts and catacombs, and as on today, it sill used as a burial spot. This place is home to the remains of the highest ranking people of Austria including bishops, famous rulers and much more.
- Price: €6 entrance to the Cathedral, €5 to climb the South Tower, €15 for the crypt. For additional information, please visit the official website.
2. Hofburg Palace
- Hofburg Palace has to be one of your top 5 best things to do in Vienna for sure! This landmark used to be the official Imperial Palace of the Habsburg dynasty rulers (hence the name). Currently, the palace is the residence and office of the President of Austria.
- It is known for its special décor and elegance dripping in the interiors.The palace has sections that will give you an insight on the history. If you are a history buff, I strongly recommend the guided tour. Staying here would be like living the Royal dream. Entrance fees is €15 per person. For additional information, please visit the official website.
3. Attend a opera at the The State Opera
- If you haven’t attended an opera before, Vienna is one of the best places to start. Honestly, I am not a fan of opera, but i have to accept the entire glitz of attending an opera in Vienna’s state Opera is something! From the time to enter till the time you leave, you are sure to be enchanted. The entire vibe, decor, audience and performers will transport you back in time when the royals came out to watch plays and operas.
- You can check up on the time table on your travel dates form the official website. Sign up for anything Mozart or Vivaldi, they are great! Price starts at approximately €40 (depends on the show and seats)
- Don’t worry if you did not book a spot beforehand, you can still see what shows are available by walking past the Vienna Opera building. There are a couple of ticket promoters that will explain all the choices to you. Remember to bargain.
- Make sure you have some appropriate clothing if you decide to go to the opera. Women have to be in dresses and men aren’t allowed in shorts.
4. Admire the majestic Schonbrunn Palace
- This is ‘The Palace’ to see. This palace is a little far from the city center but it is entirely worth the trip! Widespread palace rooms that hold a part of history, beautiful surrounding gardens, very detailed sculpted water fountains, a fun maze, and the hills that take you to the top for a different view of the palace and the city- it’s a sight to behold! There is also a great museum inside the palace.
- Apart from the beautiful architecture of the palace, the most interesting part of this palace is the history associated with it. Thus we would recommend taking the skip the line guided tour. If that is expensive for you or you will prefer to move around alone, taking the audio guide will be the best option.
- If you thought Schönbrunn Palace was impressive, you still have to see the surrounding grounds and the magic it hides – a zoo and a maze! This is a great idea for a fun walk around the Palace with the kids. Schönbrunn Zoo is the oldest one in the world and it is probably another favorite for every child that likes to see animals!
- The entrance price of the palace is €26.50, and for maze is €6 adults / €3.50 children. For additional information, please visit the official website.
5. Try the delicious Sacher Torte cake
- Originated in Austria, this is one of the most famous cakes around the world. This is a chocolate sponge cake filled with one or two layers of cherry jam or apricot, covered in dark chocolate, and is so worth the hype! If you love food or desserts in particular, you cannot miss this! Expect to have a long queue before you can taste It.
- The fact that makes it cuter is it was created by a young pastry chef to impress Prince Klemens von Metternich. If you want to go eat at Café Central (which is the best place to eat it), it might be better to make a reservation!
6. Go for an evening cruise along the Danube
Explore the city in a different way with an evening cruise on the Danube canal. Sip your drink as you soak in the views of the setting sun and the charming Vienna skyline. The cruise runs even during the day but i would strongly suggest that you ride in the evening as you can see the city all lit up. Some cruises offer dinner and drinks on board. The starting cost is about €28 per person.
7. Spend some time in Prater and ride the iconic Giant Ferris Wheel
- The Prater is a large public park in Vienna which has tons of attractions inside. From a green city park to chocolate museum, Madame Tussauds, an amusement park with over 250 attractions for the adrenaline kick with the iconic ferris wheel which is the symbol of Vienna and much more. And obviously numerous restaurants and coffee shops to keep you going! You can easily plan a day here with your family and friends.
- A very unique thing about this park is, it doesn’t have an entrance fee. You only pay for what you use!
- A very interesting thing here for the history buffs is that many of the rides are over 250-300 years old! You can opt for the guided tour to immerse yourself into the history of the whole park which was established around 1766.
- Don’t miss the ride on the iconic ferris wheel. The views of the Vienna city from the top are spectacular. Try to ride it at sunset time!
8. SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL
- This is an institute dedicated to the preservation of classical dressage(highly skilled form of riding performed in exhibition and competition) and the training of Lipizzaner horses. This famous institute dates back to the 18th century.
- The beauty in visiting this academy is being able to see how these horses are trained and their ballet style performances.
- Tickets to the popular performances sell out quickly, so be sure to book as far in advance as possible. If available, purchase a package that includes a behind-the-scenes tour and the chance to visit the stables, along with a morning training session. An on-site café ensures you can linger a little longer-you’ll certainly want to.
9. FEEL LIKE A LOCAL AT THE FRUIT AND FLOWER MARKET (NASCHMARKT)
- This is the most popular market of the city and its a paradise for the foodies. The variety of foods and colors will leave you amazed at the local diversity. This market is filled with great varieties of food and flowers, and small restaurants offering great varieties of local food.
- Nowadays, the market not only serves local residents but also tourists that stop by. You can find homemade fast meals like sandwiches or fresh fruit ready to eat, but also fresh ingredients to take home and cook on your own. It is open Monday to Friday 6AM to 7.30PM / Saturday from 6AM to 5PM. On Sundays it is closed.
10. MUSEUM QUARTER
This is gigantic cultural district. It is filled with museums and institutes of contemporary and historical art and culture. This place exhibits all art forms including dance, theater, fashion, architecture and many more. It also exhibits how the varieties of art over the centuries, how it has evolved over time, how historical art meets contemporary art. Needless to say, this place is unmissable for art lovers. This place also contains cafes and restaurants to keep you filled up while you explore this huge place. For additional information, please visit the official website.
11. Vienna City Hall
- This beautiful building is the official seat of the Vienna government. Honestly, if you have already see enough palaces in Vienna, you can skip it. But since this building is so beautiful, we had to mention it. The buildings boasts spectacular detailed exteriors and palatial interiors.
- The best and the only way to see the building to either sign up for a guided tour and hire the place for a private event.
Was this article helpful?
YesNo
