Vienna becomes a living, breathing Christmas card from mid-November onwards, so if you’ve picked this city as your holiday destination, you’ve chosen wisely. From my recent visit and the advice of a close friend who grew up in Vienna, I’ve curated the below guide of the best Vienna has to offer, from the best tourist spots to lesser-known gems, so you can make the most out of your trip. I’ll cover key travel tips, including how long you need, where to stay and how to get around and give you a full itinerary so you can enjoy this stunning city to its fullest.
How Long Do You Need in Vienna?
You don’t need more than 3 nights in Vienna. The city can easily be done in 2 if you wish, however, 3 nights will allow you to enjoy your trip at a more relaxed pace.
Where to Stay in Vienna
Vienna is well-connected and easy to get around, but staying in one of the following, central areas will ensure you get the full experience:
Innere Stadt (First District): Stay here to be within walking distance of landmarks like St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg Palace, and shopping on Kärntner Straße. This area is luxurious but worth it for the convenience.
Leopoldstadt (Second District): Ideal if you prefer a slightly quieter vibe but want to keep close to the city centre. This district also features the Prater park and vibrant cafés.
Neubau (Seventh District): A trendy, artistic neighbourhood known for its boutique shops, indie galleries, and the MuseumsQuartier.
How to Get Around Vienna
Once you’ve arrived at Vienna airport, you’ll want to find the red train ticket booth in Arrivals. Get an airport and 24, 48 or 72-hour Wien Ticket for about €25. Base the ticket you get on your flight time, i.e., get one extra day than you need if you know your ticket will expire before you plan to head back to the airport.
This ticket will cover all of your travel on public transport, including trains, buses, trams and the underground. The only thing it won’t cover is the City Airport Train (the CAT), which has a separate fee. We ended up getting a ticket for the CAT for our journey back to Vienna airport as we were in Vienna for over 72 hours and needed to pay for this transportation anyway. The CAT, however, is quite expensive, I recommend you learn from my mistake and get another train to the airport (of which, I later discovered, there are plenty).
If your 72-hour ticket doesn’t cover all of your time in Vienna, you can purchase additional tickets from the ticket machines in the underground and train stations. If you do end up getting the CAT for any reason (e.g., if like us it was the only journey not covered by your 72-hour ticket and you just want to do it for ease) I would recommend booking online through the CAT website, the ticket machines are quite confusing for the CAT ticket and don’t make it clear which one you need to get.
Your Vienna Itinerary
Arrival Day
Exploring your Area:
Once you’ve touched down in Vienna, head straight to your hotel or Airbnb, check-in and take a minute to unpack your things and have a post-flight refresh. Vienna is full of delightful neighbourhood coffee houses which stay open from morning to late evening, even on weekdays. Wander around your area and find somewhere to grab a coffee or even a mulled wine. We spent a few hours relaxing in Cafe Raim, a relaxed little coffee bar tucked down a charming cobbled alley near our hotel.
Tip: Familiarise yourself with where the undergrounds, trams, buses and train stations are and peruse any local shops. If your hotel doesn’t provide fresh fruit or breakfast items/snacks, I recommend grabbing a few things from the local supermarket.
Dinner at Cafe Diglas:
The atmosphere of Cafe Diglas is elegant yet relaxed, sophisticated but with an informalness. Warm service, live piano music, soft lighting and homely Christmas ornaments create the perfect backdrop to savour excellent Viennese cuisine. The helpful wait staff recommended the infamous Wiener Schnitzel, served the traditional way with cold potato salad and cranberry sauce, as well as Bernerwürstel with mustard and french fries for our first night in Vienna – and we were not disappointed.
Post Dinner Christmas Market Stroll
Having done many Christmas markets in Vienna, my two favourites were within a five-minute walk from Cafe Diglas. Weihnachtsmarkt am Hof is a small, but delightful market with lots on offer, from incredible hot chocolate to unique trinkets.
You’ll have plenty of time to peruse before making the short walk to your next destination, the Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz. This utterly stunning market is not one to miss, if not only for its spectacular location within the Rathausplatz set before Viennas City Hall (or Wiener Rathaus). The building is illuminated at night, making the huge market all the more impressive. Enjoy an evening of ice skating, shopping, riding the merry-go-round or simply sipping a hot Aperol spritz whilst soaking in the magical lights and scenery. If this market doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, then nothing will!
Day Two
Schönbrunn Palace
After a good night’s sleep, you’ll want to kick off day two by visiting the Schönbrunn Palace. If you only have time to visit one, visit Schönbrunn over Belvedere Palace; it’s infinitely more impressive. This historical site is one to hit during the day before it gets dark, so you get the most out of the experience. Wander the scenic palace park grounds for free or spend the whole morning visiting the palace’s special attractions, whether that be enjoying breakfast with stunning views of Vienna at Cafe Gloriette, visiting the Schönbrunn Zoo or getting lost in the Schönbrunn Maze.
Here you will also find yet another Christmas market, and now would be a great opportunity to grab a Bratwurst and maybe some Spiral Kartoffen for lunch. If you don’t get a chance to eat here, however, you’ll find several stands, carts and markets offering similar foods throughout the city.
Austrian National Library
Once you’ve explored to your heart’s content, you’ll want to head back into the city centre to visit the Austrian National Library. If you’ve browsed Pinterest at all for “Things to do in Vienna”, snaps of the library’s centrepiece, the stunning Prunksaal State Hall will be familiar to you. Decked from floor to 65ft tall ceiling in warm wooden bookcases and capped by an intricate fresco-painted dome ceiling, the State Hall is rich with history, architecturally exquisite and most importantly, a great place to get photos.
Loos American Bar
If you’re feeling hungry, you’ll be overwhelmed with places to eat, but the main event now you’re back in the city centre is capping off the evening at the Loos American Bar. The bar is small and usually crammed, but the impressive art deco design, buzzing atmosphere and delicious signature cocktails make visiting this iconic drink spot well worthwhile.
Day Three
Brunch at Ulrich
Spend your second to last morning in Vienna relaxing over Brunch at Ulrich, a tucked-away contemporary restaurant serving unfussy Modern European and American food. The breakfast menu is served until 11:45 AM and includes all of your regular favourites, like pancakes, avocado toast and pastries. If you miss the boat for breakfast, lunch is equally delicious (I was craving something a bit lighter by this point in the trip, and the Caesar salad flatbread hit the spot). Ulrich also has a great selection of drinks: choose from healthy smoothies or opt for the other end of the spectrum and quench your thirst with one of the many brunchtime cocktails on offer. Once the bill is settled, take a walk around the area where you’ll find quirky independent books, clothes and antique stores.
The Albertina Museum
Continuing the theme of relaxation now is the perfect point in your trip to visit one of the many museums in Vienna. If you’re particularly interested in a certain kind of art, I recommend doing some research around your museum visit, however, if you’re open to suggestions, The Albertina Museum is the perfect spot to indulge in a spot of art and culture. Previously the residence of royals during the Habsburg monarchy, this impressive building houses a vast collection of modern art and exhibitions showcasing the works of Monet and Picasso.
Vis-A-Vis
Central but tucked just off the beaten path in a cobbled alley, you’ll find an intimate, unpretentious wine bar called Vis-a-Vis. Sip on delicious, authentic Austrian wines in an atmosphere which creates the feeling you’ve simply found yourself in a Viennese woman’s kitchen. You barely register that people are working here, as the warm, friendly staff at Vis-a-Vis float easily between customers. Charming, quirky and presumably authentic, since you won’t hear a lick of English spoken here, Vis-a-Vis is a true hidden gem in busy central Vienna.
Departure Day
Cafe Central is a popular tourist spot for good reason. You can book to visit the cafe very far in advance, or, do what most people do: bundle up and wait an hour in the queue (the queue moves faster than you think it will, and if it helps, you’re almost guaranteed to see horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping by). Once you’re in the grand Cafe Central, you’re pretty much free to stay as long as you like. Marvel at the impressive vaulted ceilings and chandeliers in this traditional cafe, whilst listening to live piano music and enjoying a sweet treat. The food, to be completely honest, is nothing to write home about, but the sweets, on the other hand, are insanely good (be sure to order the Shokozauber – you can take my word for it here). A great spot to catch your breath, chat, read your book and simply enjoy your last moments in Vienna.
And that’s 72 hours in Vienna well spent! Have I missed anything off of the itinerary? Be sure to share your best recommendations below!
