Vienna is a very special place to me, because my mother dreamed of visiting this town since she was a kid. I was happy enough to spend a weekend with her in this incredible city! Vienna is a gem in the heart of Europe, offering not only stunning landscapes and beautiful architecture, but also an insanely rich culture, interesting history and many places to visit.
With this post, I will make sure you get all the information you need for your perfect weekend in Vienna, including what to see, where to eat, what to experience, where to stay and so much more!
A weekend in Vienna, Austria
There are some cities that you could never ever see in a weekend, because the main points of interest are far away from each other and you simply struggle with planning your days accordingly. Vienna, Austria definitely isn’t. It’s easy to experience Vienna in a weekend, especially when you visited another Austrian city beforehand and already know parts of their culture.
With this itinerary, I want to help you to get the best out of your weekend in the beautiful capital city of Austria. Let’s start!
Here’s how to get the most out of a weekend in Vienna.
DAY 1 AM / Being wowed by the beauty of Vienna State Opera
DAY 1 PM / Exploring Vienna’s Innere Stadt
DAY 2 AM / Enjoying the beauty of Vienna’s architecture
DAY 2 PM / Enjoying a piece of Sachertorte
DAY 3 AM / Learning about Franz and Sissi at Schloss Schönbrunn
DAY 3 PM / Uncovering the baroque palace complex of Schloss Belvedere
So dive in with my weekend in Vienna Itinerary and find you marveling of Vienna’s imperial past in no time.
Why go to Vienna?
- Tasting the world’s most famous cake: Sachertorte
- Learning about Vienna’s imperial past, the Habsburger and their famous emperor and empress Franz and Sissi
- Marveling of Vienna State Opera
- Having fun at the historic Prater
- Exploring Schloss Schönbrunn and Schloss Belvedere
DAY 1 AM / Vienna State Opera, St. Charles Church, Town Hall
Breakfast
You definitely would want to start your day with a delicious breakfast. Usually, in Germany or Austria this means: bread, croissants, butter, jam, nut-nougat cream, curd, fruit salad and so much more. We really love to breakfast.
If you’re more into a quick breakfast on the go, including a coffee and a croissant, bakeries {Bäckereien} will help you out. Since my time in Italy, I’m totally into a quick breakfast. You can find some delicious croissants in the Parémi Boulangerie or simply in any supermarket {yes, believe me – they are really good}. You will much likely find a „Billa“, an Austrian supermarket, nearby. They have delicious croissants and other pastries.
Vienna State Opera
Built between 1861 and 1869, the Vienna State Opera has turned into one of the most impressive and recognizable buildings in Vienna. Home to the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Ballet, and it hosts the annual Vienna Opera Ball.
Vienna State Opera | Location | More info on concerts 2020 on their website.
Related: Watch my story highlight for more insights.
Hofburg Imperial Palace
Not far from the Opera you will find the Hofburg Imperial Palace – the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty rulers. The building dates back to the 13th century and definitely is one of the most impressive attractions in Vienna. Nowadays, the Imperial Palace serves as the official residence and workplace of Austria’s President.
Hofburg Palace | 09:00-18:00 Mon-Sun | Ticket price to see the jewels of the Habsburgs: €12 | Location
Maria-Theresien Platz
Maria-Theresien Platz is located just next to the Hofburg Palace. Here, the two big twin museums are located. You will find the Natural History Museum and the Art History Museum. Bear in mind that a visit to any of these museums takes at least a couple of hours.
Maria-Theresien Platz | Location
Karlskirche / St. Charles Church
Not far from the Secession building you will find Karlskirche – easily one of the most stunning churches in Vienna. St. Charles Church is a baroque church named after Saint Charles Borromeo. It’s right next to the Technical University of Vienna.
Karlskirche | 09:00-18:00 Mon-Sat; 12:00-18:00 Sun | €8 to visit the church | Location
Parliament
The Parliament building was built between the years 1873 and 1883 in a Greek architecture style. Even though there is regularly construction work going on around the building, it is certainly a must-see place in Vienna. You might even get lucky and see it without any construction containers around.
Parliament | 08:00-16:00 Mon-Fr | Location | please check if its open beforehand. They’ve been massive renovations in 2019-2020.
Rathaus / City Hall
Continuing along the Ringstrasse in just a few minutes you will end up in front of the city hall. The so-called Rathaus is one of the most important buildings of Neo-Gothic style in Vienna, and it is the official seat of the Mayor.
The city hall is open and free for visitors to visit, so take advantage and take a peek at this stunning building also from the inside.
Rathaus | 07:30-18:00 Mon-Fr; Closed on Sat & Sun | Location
DAY 1 PM / Innere Stadt
Burgtheater
The Burgtheater is a beautiful building constructed between the years 1874 to 1888.
Burgtheater | Location | visit their website for information regarding their program
Votivkirche
Votivkirche is considered one of the oldest and artistically most valuable churches in all of Vienna. Situated in the heart of Vienna, the church stands tall in its beautiful French Gothic style.
Votivkirche | Location
Albertina Museum
Albertina is one of the most valuable art museums in Vienna as it is home to some of the greatest graphic collections worldwide.
Here you will find around 65.000 drawings and approximately 1 million old master prints. If you plan to visit the Albertina Museum, you can take advantage of the online tickets.
Albertina Museum | 10:00-19:00 Mon-Sun | €17.90 | Location
Burggarten
Burggarten is a beautiful garden and one of the top places for young people to hang out in summer. Here, you will also find the Palm House. A beautiful glasshouse which houses one of the most beautiful cafes in Vienna on one side, and the Butterfly house on the other.
Even though we traveled to Vienna in January, we enjoyed this place.
Burggarten | 06:00-22:00 Mon-Sun | Location
Dinner
After a long day, it’s now time for dinner. Go to a traditional restaurant to find Wiener Schnitzel and Kaiserschmarren. We went to Heindl’s Schmarren & Palatschinkenkuchl. It was very delicious!
DAY 2 AM / Stephan’s Cathedral, Church of St. Peter, Golden Quartier
Breakfast
On our second day, we woke up early to be able to see the St. Stephan’s Cathedral without the crowds. Again, we picked up breakfast at one of the bakeries. It’s one of the best decisions for a quick breakfast.
St. Stephan’s Cathedral
The so-called Stephansdom is the symbol of Vienna. The entrance is free of charge, so make use of this and check out the beautiful interior of this spectacular building.
For a small fee of €5, you will be able to climb the South tower by taking the stairs or the North tower by taking the elevator (€6).
St. Stephan’s Cathedral | Location
Graben
The Graben Vienna is an upscale and trendy shopping street in the heart of the inner city. Did you know that the origin of this street dates back to the old Romans?
Due to its close proximity to St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg palace, this street has served as a shopping district since the ancient times. There are 5 divisions/shopping areas. They include Stephansplatz, Kohlmarkt, Naglergasse, Tuchlauben and Petersplatz.
Graben | Shopping area | Location
St. Peter’s Church
Now, let’s admire the wonderful baroque St. Peter’s Church. Built in 1703 by Hildebrandt, the St. Peter’s Church was inspired by the famous Basilica at the Vatican City.
The inside of the church makes a stunning impression with its rich interior filled with golden stucco.
St. Peter’s Church | 07:00-20:00 Mon-Fr; 09:00-21:00 Sat & Sun | free entry | Location
Golden Quartier
The Golden Quartier is another shopping area in Vienna, featuring brands like Valentino.
Golden Quartier | Location
Jewish Square
Judenplatz, or the Jewish square, was the center of Jewish life in Vienna. Nowadays it serves as a memorial and a place of remembrance.
Jewish Square | Location
Maria am Gestade Church
Maria am Gestade is one of the oldest churches in Vienna. It is one of the surviving examples of Gothic architecture. Built in 1414, this one is definitely a journey into the past.
Maria am Gestade | 07:00-18:00 Mon-Sun | Location
Greeks Alley
Griechengasse (Greek lane), named after the wave of immigrant merchants who settled in the quarter in the 18th century.
Greeks Alley | Location
DAY 2 PM / Sachertorte at Café Sacher
Optional: Spanish Riding School
The Spanish Riding School is a unique experience, where you can see the highest standard horse-riding art in the atmosphere of the Imperial Palace.
In the morning, you can watch the training (between 10am and 12pm) which will set you back €15. You can also get a ticket to watch one of the mesmerizing shows with classic music in the background. The tickets start from €30, going up to €200. You can also check their website for more information.
Spanish Riding School | Location
Prater
The Prater is an amusement park in the middle of Vienna. You will find the giant ferry wheel that takes you on a ride over the rooftops of the city, offering a beautiful view from the top.
Prater | 11:00-22:00 Mon-Sun | Location
Hundertwasserhaus
The Hundertwasserhaus is an architectural gem constructed in 1983. It draws visitors‘ attention with its colorful facades. The house was designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
Nowadays this is a residential building, so visiting it on the inside is not possible.
Hundertwasserhaus | Location
Café Sacher at Hotel Sacher Wien
A trip to Vienna wouldn’t be complete without a piece of Sachertorte, would it? Spend the afternoon at Café Sacher and taste their delicious cake that’s renowned worldwide. I’d say it’s the most famous cake. Especially since it’s only served in Vienna and in Salzburg. Be sure to grab an original Sacher cake from Hotel Sacher.
For those who don’t know Sachertorte; it is a delicate chocolate cake with apricot jam. I promise, you’ll love it.
DAY 3 AM / Franz and Sissi at Schloss Schönbrunn
Unluckily, this is the last day of this itinerary. Let’s see how we can make the best out of it.
Schloss Schönbrunn
The former Habsburg residence was once home to rulers of the Habsburg Monarchy. For example, Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth used to live there. It is one of the top place to visit in Vienna.
The stunning Baroque castle consists of 1,441 rooms, 45 of them are open for tourists to visit.
The gardens of the castle are free to visit, but if you want to see the rooms inside you’d have to pay an entry fee. The entrance fee depends on the rooms you’d like to see.
Schloss Schönbrunn | 08:00-17:00 Mon-Sun | Location
Naschmarkt
Naschmarkt is the biggest local food market, offering food from all over the world on more than 100 stands.
Bear in mind that this is not a place to sit down and have full-on meals. It’s more like a roam-around-and-try-different-foods type of place.
Naschmarkt | 06:00-21:00 Mon-Sat; Closed on Sun | Location
DAY 3 PM / Schloss Belvedere
The Belvedere Palace is a stunning Baroque complex, consisting of the Upper and Lower Belvedere, the Orangery and the Stables.
Just like Schönbrunn, visiting the palace’s gardens is free of charge. If you want to see the rich art collection in the museum, then you’d have to pay a fee.
Schloss Belvedere | 09:00-19:00 Mon-Sun | Location
All the information you need to help plan your own Day in Munich itinerary
I believe that a little pre-planning, research, and understanding what you are looking for in a destination, will help make your travels far more successful. Here’s some further information I think you might need to plan your own Day in Munich itinerary.
Best time to go to Vienna
Vienna is, actually, beautiful year-round. It’s especially popular during Christmas time and definitely is worth visiting during winter. No matter when you will decide to visit Vienna, you won’t be disappointed here.
I’d recommend to visit during Christmas time to experience the beautiful Christmas markets, during January to get a feeling of what winter is in Vienna or during spring/fall due to less expensive prices.
How to get to Vienna
If you are already in Austria or Bavaria, it makes sense to look for train connections to Vienna.
By train
But if you’re flying into Vienna, you can easily take the train to Vienna’s city centre. The train station is called Wien Mitte and there are two different trains that head there from the airport.
First, there is the City Airport Train (CAT). It is the direct line to Wien Mitte {means that’s the only stop} and the journey takes only 16 minutes. Standard tickets cost €12 though.
Second, the Schnellbahn S7 has an average time of 25 minutes, including multiple other stops. Regular tickets cost only €3.90 – for a group of three it’s €6.90 for the whole group.
Of course, you could also use the bus to get to Vienna’s city centre.
By bus
The buses of Vienna Airport Lines run 24 hours a day to Schwedenplatz bus station, which is located right at the heart of the downtown area of Vienna.
The journey with a bus takes approx. 25 minutes, including multiple stops and will set you back €8. Tickets can be purchased from the bus driver or online.
By taxi
Just like in every country, you will find an endless amount of taxis at Vienna Airport, too. Keep in mind that you might have to wait in line for a taxi during rush hour.
Here, the journey will take around 25 minutes and it will much likely cost around €35.
Getting around in Vienna
Vienna is very walkable. Just in case you’re having issues with that, be sure that Vienna has a good public transportation system. You can see the best connections in Google Maps.
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You’re pictures always look so good! Was it snowy in Vienna?
Thank you 🙂 Yes, it was 🙂
A very beautiful post! 🙂
Thank you, Susan! 🙂