Destinations Europe Austria Vienna 20 Best Things to Do in Vienna, From Palace Strolls to Sachertorte Here's how locals recommend exploring Austria's capital city. By Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a freelance writer with over eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 19, 2024 Close Photo: StockFrame/Getty Images Vienna (or “Wien” in German) is Austria's culture-rich capital, boasting world-class museums, Baroque architecture, and an impressive classical music legacy that nurtured greats like Mozart and Beethoven. Iconic experiences include exploring magnificent palaces, an evening at the Vienna State Opera, and tapping into Viennese coffeehouse culture. Tina Haselbacher, the owner of Almanac Hotels, describes Vienna as “a place where tradition meets the contemporary.” While the city is visually defined by its historic structures, as Haselbacher explains, behind these traditional facades you'll find modern art and cutting-edge culinary innovations. To discover both sides of Vienna, fill your itinerary with a combination of old and new — a stop at Hofburg Palace followed by an afternoon exploring Kunsthalle Wien in the MuseumsQuartier, for example. Read on to discover the best things to do in Vienna, according to locals. Top 5 Can’t Miss Schöenbrunn Palace is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site and perhaps the most famous attraction in Vienna.The MuseumsQuartier showcases the city's contemporary creativity through music, theater, dance, street art, literature, photography, and more.Meat eaters shouldn't leave Vienna without tasting Wiener schnitzel, the city's signature dish.Vienna is the "City of Music," and the grand State Opera is the best place to see classical performances.The Ringstrasse is a boulevard packed with historical sites and museums. Visit the famed Schönbrunn Palace. Alisha McDarris/Travel + Leisure According to Julija and Wolfgang Rigon of Good Vienna Tours, you can't visit Vienna without seeing Schönbrunn. The former summer residence of the Habsburgs, Schönbrunn Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. While you’ll inevitably experience lines, particularly if you’re there during the weekend, there’s still plenty to do while you wait. “You get [your ticket] relatively quickly and see what time you are allowed into the castle," they explain. "While you're waiting, you can grab a bite to eat or visit the gardens.” Spend a few hours in the MuseumsQuartier. Ursula Schmitz/Travel + Leisure Home to 60 cultural institutions, the MuseumsQuartier is a vast hub of Viennese creativity. Here, you’ll find the Leopold Museum, the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna), and the contemporary exhibition space Kunsthalle Wien. If you’re interested in architecture, music, theater, dance, street art, literature, photography, or all of the above, you’ll find something interesting in the MuseumsQuartier. Fill up on Wiener schnitzel. bhofack2/Getty Images “Without having eaten [Wiener schnitzel] in its hometown, you have not been to Vienna,” says Julija Rigon. Made of thinly pounded veal, dipped in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and fried until golden brown, Wiener schnitzel is said to have been introduced in Vienna in the 1850s. It’s not hard to find the dish here; a few restaurant options include Schnitzelwirt, Skopik & Lohn, and Salzamt. Attend a performance at the Vienna State Opera. Ursula Schmitz/Travel + Leisure “About 10,000 people enjoy a classical music performance somewhere in the city every day, so go grab a ticket to the opera or a concert performance,” says Michael Gigl, head of the Austrian Tourist Office's U.S. market. The Vienna State Opera hosts 350 performances each season — both operas and ballets — and tickets can be purchased online. To learn more about Vienna’s musical history and tradition, Gigl suggests visiting the Haus der Musik (House of Music) “for an engaging interactive experience.” Walk along the Ringstrasse. StockFrame/Getty Images In 1857, Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the construction of a boulevard around Vienna’s city center. Down came the historic city walls, and the Ringstrasse (or Vienna Ring Road) took its place, although it took a few decades to complete. “The State Opera, the Hofburg, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural History, the Burgtheater, the City Hall, and the Parliament are just a few sights on Ringstrasse,” says Wolfgang Rigon. He suggests walking the three-mile route or taking a streetcar. Enjoy a slow morning at a coffeehouse. Mathias Kniepeiss/Getty Images “Coffeehouse culture is an integral part of the Viennese lifestyle, so much so that UNESCO placed it on its intangible cultural heritage list,” Gigl says. Don’t expect a fast-paced, Starbucks-like morning, though. “The true secret to the Vienna coffeehouse experience is the lack of time pressure. No one will bat an eye if you decide to read every single newspaper and magazine on hand," he says. "Opening a laptop, however, is rather frowned upon.” Gigl’s coffeehouse recommendations include Café Sperl, Café Hawelka, Café Korb, Café Ritter, and Café Schwarzenberg. Stop by St. Stephen's Cathedral. Viktor/Getty Images At its tallest point, St. Stephen’s Cathedral reaches about 450 feet, making it the tallest church in Austria and one of the most recognizable sights in Vienna. Visiting the main entrance is free, but you’ll need to purchase a ticket to see the cathedral in its entirety. You can take the stairs or an elevator to the top, where Wolfgang Rigon says the view "is highly recommended in good weather." This Iconic Neighborhood in Vienna Might Actually Be the Coolest Spot in the City Snap a photo of the Majolikahaus. BrendanHunter/Getty Images “Otto Wagner’s Majolikahaus is a Viennese art nouveau-styled building famous for its colorful tiles with a floral motif," says Haselbacher. "It is such a special place to see an icon of the art nouveau style." Designed by the Austrian architect in 1898 and 1899, the Majolikahaus (Majolica House) can be found at Linke Wienzeile 40 in the Laimgrube neighborhood. Take a dip in the Krapfenwaldlbad swimming pool. If you grow tired of walking around Vienna and find yourself in need of a refreshing swim, make your way out of the city center. “Krapfenwaldlbad is an outdoor swimming area in the woods of Vienna, overlooking the entire city," says Haselbacher. "Head there in the summertime to cool off and mix with locals and families." Get an insider’s view of the city on a walking tour. kolderal/Getty Images Unless someone in your party already has a solid understanding of the city — including its layout, history, and lesser-known facts — a walking tour is a great way to get your bearings. Good Vienna Tours offers free tours in English every day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Learn about Vienna’s Jewish history. Courtesy of the Jewish Museum Vienna With an emphasis on the time period encompassing the two World Wars, the Jewish Museum Vienna educates visitors on Jewish history, culture, and religion. The institution's two locations, Museum Dorotheergasse and Museum Judenplatz, are within a 10-minute walk of each other and a single ticket grants you access to both. The latter is home to the Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial, designed by British artist Rachel Whiteread and honoring the Austrian victims of the Holocaust. Indulge in a slice of Sachertorte. tupungato/Getty Images Sachertorte, which Gigl calls “the world’s most storied cake," should be on your must-try list while in Vienna. Invented in the 19th century by pastry chef Franz Sacher, Sachertorte is a rich chocolate sponge cake made with layers of apricot jam and a chocolate ganache topping. Café Demel and Café Sacher have had a rivalry over the treat for centuries, so you may need to try both and see which one you prefer. Relax in Vienna’s green spaces. Creativemarc/Getty Images “One of the reasons Vienna is consistently named as one, if not the, best place to live, is the city’s abundance of green spaces, parks, and recreational opportunities,” says Gigl. “Try the Prater for a leisurely stroll, or head to the ‘Alte Donau’ (Old Danube) for a swim or a paddleboard session.” Explore the art collection at the Belvedere Museum. Deanna Mazzola/Travel + Leisure There’s a good chance art aficionados will already be familiar with the Belvedere Museum, which the Rigons describe as a “beautiful Baroque palace with an even more impressive garden.” It has the biggest collection of Gustav Klimt works, and Haselbacher adds that "the architecture is really special." The Klimt collection includes the artist's most famous piece, “The Kiss.” Eat lunch at a würstelstand. Lauren Breedlove/Travel + Leisure Würstelstands (sausage stands) are a longtime fixture of the Vienna street scene, serving a variety of sausages, beer, and other snacks. You’ll find them all over Vienna, but Würstelstand Leo is said to be the city’s oldest, established in the late 1920s. Order the käsekrainer — a sausage filled with small chunks of cheese. Shop in Vienna’s two remaining street markets. Ursula Schmitz/Travel + Leisure Hasselbacher notes that if you make your way to Währing, the 18th district, you’ll find Kutschkermarkt, one of “the last remaining street markets in Vienna.” The other street market, Brunnenmarkt, is in Ottakring, the 16th district. Both offer a variety of produce, meats, breads, spices, flowers, and more. On Saturdays, Kutschkermarkt also has a farmer’s market, where regional fruits and vegetables join the lineup. Dive into Habsburg history at Hofburg Palace. TomasSereda/Getty Images Hofburg Palace once served as the Habsburgs’ winter residence, but today it’s the workplace and home of the president of Austria. Visitors are allowed to explore the palace, which houses three museums: the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and the Imperial Silver Collection (although the latter is expected to be closed until 2026). Round out your meal with a Punschkrapfen. A_Lein/Getty Images “Punschkrapfen is a local delicacy made of nougat and jam-filled sponge cake soaked with rum,” says Haselbacher. Translated to "punch cake," the dessert can be found in numerous places across the city, and you’ll recognize it immediately thanks to its bright pink color. Make a reservation at Palmenhaus. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images You’ll find Palmenhaus in Vienna’s 1st district, next to the Albertina Museum. “With over 400 butterflies flying in the palm house year-round, it is a lovely spot to be immersed in nature,” says Haselbacher, who adds that it’s also a “very nice spot to have a drink, overlooking the Park Burggarten.” Visit the history-filled Kunsthistorisches Museum. rusm/Getty Images “If you are even a little interested in art, a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum is a must,” says Julija Rigon. "It is one of the largest and most important museums in the world." Also referred to as the Museum of Fine Arts, it has collections that span five millennia and include works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Rubens, Michelangelo, Vermeer, and more. How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Vienna