Things to Do in Vienna: 22 Top Attractions & Highlights

All Vienna Attractions on One Map

To give you a better overview of all 22 things to do in Vienna, we’ve put together a map with every sight marked. Use it to plan your route and figure out what’s close to what.

Architecture and Icons

Schönbrunn Palace

What do you need to know? Schönbrunn Palace is one of the top attractions in Vienna — and the numbers alone are staggering. The palace has 1,441 rooms, and the grounds are as large as 220 soccer fields. You could easily spend an entire day here and still not see everything.

Is Schönbrunn Palace worth it? Absolutely! Even if you’re short on time, don’t skip it. A stroll through the palace gardens and the climb up to the Gloriette on the hill behind the palace are seriously beautiful — and the view from up there is amazing.

Our tip: We also recommend the Palm House, the small maze, and the Schönbrunn Zoo. The zoo opened in 1752, making it the oldest continuously operating zoo in the world.

Getting there: A hop-on hop-off bus is a super convenient way to get here. All hop-on hop-off buses in Vienna stop at Schönbrunn Palace, so you can easily combine your sightseeing with a palace visit.

Tickets for Schönbrunn Palace

There are several ways to visit the palace. Depending on how much time you have, there are different tours that cover varying numbers of rooms.

You can buy tickets in advance on the Schönbrunn Palace website — that way you won’t have to wait in line at the ticket counter when you arrive.

You can also visit as part of a guided tour:

Guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace and the gardens: You start with a 30-minute walk through the palace gardens before heading inside. The whole tour takes about two to three hours.

City tour of Vienna & Schönbrunn Palace: This combo includes a city tour of the major highlights, plus admission and a guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace.

St. Stephen's Cathedral

What do you need to know? St. Stephen’s Cathedral, right in the heart of Vienna’s historic old town, is — alongside the Giant Ferris Wheel — the city’s most recognizable landmark. Besides the soaring towers, the roof with its zigzag tile pattern is a real eye-catcher.

Is St. Stephen’s Cathedral worth visiting? Definitely — especially for the views. The 137-meter South Tower is open daily from 9 AM to 5:30 PM. Tickets are available on-site, but bring cash.

Our tip: You can also grab a combination ticket here that covers the cathedral, the catacombs, and the Cathedral Museum. It includes both the South and North Tower, an audio guide, and a 30-minute guided tour of the catacombs — great value.

Get your ticket for St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Hofburg Palace

What do you need to know? The Hofburg was the residence of the Habsburgs from the 13th century until 1918. Today it houses the Austrian Federal President — and several of Vienna’s best museums.

Is the Hofburg worth it? It’s one of those must-sees on any city trip to Vienna — and you’ll almost certainly walk past it anyway.

Our tip: The Hofburg is made up of many sections, several of which are highlights in their own right: the Spanish Riding School, the Imperial Treasury, and the Albertina are all part of the complex. We cover each of these in more detail below.

Tickets for the Attractions at the Vienna Hofburg

You can visit the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments, and the Imperial Silver Collection with a ticket starting from €19. Tickets are available directly on the Hofburg website.

Tickets for the Imperial Treasury start from €16 and can be purchased online: Ticket for the Imperial Treasury.

For the Spanish Riding School, the cheapest option starts from €17 — for example for the morning training session.

Karlskirche

What do you need to know? This Baroque church is built entirely in white and, with its golden decorations, is a seriously striking sight. Out front there’s a large fountain — in summer it’s a perfect spot to take a break and soak in the view.

Is the Karlskirche worth visiting? Vienna has no shortage of churches, but the Karlskirche is something completely different — and that’s exactly why we love it.

Our tip: You can actually take an elevator up into the dome. From the panoramic terrace, you get a perfect view over Vienna.

Belvedere Palace

What do you need to know? Belvedere Palace is one of the most beautiful and significant Baroque buildings in Europe — and one of the real standouts on our Vienna list.

Is Belvedere Palace worth it? The palace and its stunning gardens are a feast for the eyes both inside and out. Don’t miss it!

Our tip: The palace also houses the most important collection of Austrian art and the world’s largest Klimt collection — reason enough to go inside.

Tickets for Belvedere Palace

Belvedere Palace consists of two buildings: the Upper Belvedere and the Lower Belvedere. You can buy tickets separately for each, or as a combination ticket for both — which works out cheaper overall.

Tickets are available on-site or you can purchase them online here.

Vienna State Opera

What do you need to know? Vienna and the opera simply go hand in hand. It was actually Mozart who inaugurated the opera house in 1869 with a performance of Don Giovanni — and the building has been dazzling visitors ever since.

Is the State Opera worth visiting? Yes! The building is an architectural showpiece. Everything glitters and shimmers, and at night the whole facade is bathed in light.

Our tip: Attending a performance is, of course, quite expensive. But if you’d still like to see the building from the inside, a guided tour is a great option — tours start from €13. You can book online here. The tour is also included with the Vienna Pass.

Vienna Ringstrasse

What do you need to know? The Ringstrasse runs in an almost complete circle and stretches about five kilometers, encircling Vienna’s historic old quarter. The boulevard was built between 1860 and 1890 and sparked a veritable competition among Vienna’s wealthy upper class to see who could build the most impressive palace.

Is a walk along the Ringstrasse worth it? A stroll along the famous Vienna Ringstrasse is an absolute must on any trip to Vienna. Honestly, you’ll end up walking along it anyway — many of the city’s top points of interest line the boulevard, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the State Opera.

Our tip: The Vienna Ringstrasse is actually divided into nine different sections, including the Opernring, Burgring, and Universitätsring — each with its own character.

The Hundertwasserhaus

What do you need to know? The Hundertwasserhaus is Vienna’s most extraordinary residential building. The wild, colorful facade immediately grabs your attention — and there’s even an entire forest planted on the roof, right in the middle of the city! The apartments are social housing today, so you can only see the Hundertwasserhaus from the outside.

Is the Hundertwasserhaus worth seeing? Even if you’re not into art — and honestly, we’d include ourselves in that category — Hundertwasser’s work is simply not to be missed. His creations burst with vivid colors and have no straight lines anywhere. In short: it looks wonderfully, gloriously crazy.

Our tip: If you want to learn more about the artist, there’s a dedicated Hundertwasser museum just a few hundred meters away — the Kunst Haus Wien. Admission starts from €15, and tickets are available online.

Get your ticket for the Kunst Haus Wien – Museum Hundertwasser

Art and Culture

Kunsthistorisches Museum

What do you need to know? The Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the most important museums in the world. Around 2,200 works by renowned artists like Rubens, Rembrandt, and Vermeer are on display here, spanning everything from ancient Egypt through to the late 18th century.

Is the Kunsthistorisches Museum worth it? Even if art history isn’t really your thing, this museum is genuinely interesting — you can simply take in the different styles without needing any background knowledge.

Our tip: If you’re interested in both the Imperial Treasury and the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the combination ticket is the smarter choice financially.

Ticket for the Kunsthistorisches Museum

Combination ticket: Kunsthistorisches Museum and Imperial Treasury

MuseumsQuartier Vienna

What do you need to know? The MuseumsQuartier is a remarkable complex of nine cultural institutions. The most popular are the Leopold Museum, featuring works by Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, and the mumok, which showcases major figures of modern art.

Is the MuseumsQuartier worth it? Art lovers will be in their element here. But even without a passion for art, the area is totally worth a relaxed stroll — or just hanging out on the cool outdoor furniture.

Our tip for families: Kids will have a great time here too. The family highlight is the ZOOM Children’s Museum.

Get your ticket for the Leopold Museum

Get your ticket for the mumok

Haus des Meeres

What do you need to know? The Haus des Meeres is a huge aquarium-zoo hybrid — it has over 10,000 marine creatures, from fish and sea turtles to sharks, plus flying foxes, various birds, and monkeys.

Is the Haus des Meeres worth it? To be completely honest, we’re not big zoo fans — but that’s for everyone to decide. What’s undeniable is that it’s one of the most popular attractions in Vienna, and kids will absolutely love it.

Our tip: From the rooftop terrace of the 360° Ocean Sky Restaurant, you get a fantastic panorama over Vienna.

Albertina

What do you need to know? The Albertina is an art museum right in the heart of Vienna. Duke Albert acquired over 14,000 drawings and 200,000 prints, and since these eventually passed into state ownership, the entire collection has been preserved intact.

Is the Albertina worth it? Definitely! This is no ordinary art museum. From Michelangelo to Dürer and Rubens, you’ll find just about every major artist represented here.

Our tip: Not an art expert? Just grab an audio guide — it takes you on a journey through art history at your own pace. There’s also a special puzzle trail for kids.

Get your ticket for the Albertina

Natural History Museum

What do you need to know? The Natural History Museum is one of the largest and most popular museums in Vienna. A total of 30 million artifacts are on display, including a dedicated dinosaur exhibit with life-size replicas and a meteorite hall featuring over 1,000 rocks from Mars and the Moon.

Is the Natural History Museum worth it? It’s the perfect Vienna attraction for families with kids — but adults can easily spend an interesting afternoon here too.

Our tip: Don’t miss the meteorite hall. Over 1,000 rocks from Mars and the Moon — it’s genuinely mind-blowing.

Mozart Concert at the Kursalon

What do you need to know? Waltzes, Mozart, and Vienna — this trio just belongs together. The Kursalon, located right next to the Stadtpark, has been a venue for concerts and celebrations since the 19th century.

Is a visit to the Kursalon worth it? The Italian Renaissance-style building is an architectural gem in its own right — and the concerts are a real experience.

Our tip: Classical concerts featuring works by Mozart and Strauss are held regularly, and you can book tickets in advance.

Ticket for a concert at the Kursalon

Out in the Open

Vienna Stadtpark

What do you need to know? Spanning over 65,000 square meters, the Stadtpark is packed with monuments, fountains, and sculptures — including the famous gilded statue of Johann Strauss. It’s a great spot for an evening stroll after a day of sightseeing.

Is the Stadtpark worth visiting? If you want to unwind after a full day of exploring Vienna’s highlights, there’s no better place.

Our tip: The park regularly features street performers and musicians, colorful flower beds, and even a gourmet restaurant nearby.

Danube Canal

What do you need to know? Along the Danube Canal you’ll find everything from laid-back beach bars to upscale dinner cruises. At night, the area transforms into a lively strip with various clubs and bars.

Is the Danube Canal worth it? For us, the Danube Canal is one of the real highlights of Vienna — beautiful any time of year. During the day you can take a wonderful stroll along the promenade or watch the boats passing by.

Our tip: The best way to explore the canal is on a boat trip through Vienna.

Take a short boat trip on the Danube Canal

Markets and Entertainment

Prater

What do you need to know? The Prater is actually a large nature and park area — the famous amusement park is just a small part of the whole grounds. That said, the name Prater is often used as a synonym for the amusement park itself, which is officially called the Wurstelprater.

Is the Prater worth visiting? A visit to the Prater is a must on any city trip to Vienna, because one of the city’s most iconic sights — its landmark — is located right here: the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel.

Our tip: Give yourself plenty of time. Not only is the amusement park worth exploring, but the vast park area with its walking paths, playgrounds, sports facilities, and restaurants is also a lot of fun.

Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel

What do you need to know? The Giant Ferris Wheel has been standing in the Prater since 1897 and was at the time one of the largest in the world. Today, a ride on it is one of the most popular activities in Vienna.

Is a ride on the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel worth it? Yes, it is. It’s not exactly spectacular, but since it’s one of the city’s true landmarks, we think the ride is worth your time. Just don’t expect too much.

Our tip: One ticket gets you exactly one full rotation — the wheel moves very slowly, and the actual ride time is about 4.5 minutes. With boarding, exiting, and the line, it takes considerably longer. Book your ticket online in advance to skip the wait.

Tickets for the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel

It’s worth buying tickets online in advance — you can go straight through the turnstile without waiting in line. The best prices are here:

Tickets for the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel

Naschmarkt

What do you need to know? The Naschmarkt has been a Vienna institution since the 18th century. At its roughly 100 market stalls, vendors sell fruit, vegetables, spices, fish, and meat — it’s the real deal.

Is the Naschmarkt worth visiting? It’s one of the most important sights in Vienna, so it’s always buzzing. Locals do their shopping here while tourists browse the many restaurants and grab a quick bite.

Our tip: You can also explore the Naschmarkt on a guided tour with tastings — a really fun way to experience it.

Join a guided Naschmarkt tour with tastings

Special Attractions

Central Cemetery

What do you need to know? At 2.5 square kilometers, this cemetery is simply enormous — one of the largest in all of Europe. It’s so big that a bus line runs right through it. Inside you’ll find 330,000 graves, including the grand mausoleums of Beethoven, Strauss, Schubert, and Brahms, as well as pop icon Falco.

Is the Central Cemetery worth it? A cemetery as a special Vienna attraction? It might sound strange at first — but once you see it, you’ll quickly understand why we’ve included it here.

Our tip: You can easily explore the cemetery on your own, but booking a guided tour adds a lot of fascinating context.

Join a guided tour of the Central Cemetery

Spanish Riding School

What do you need to know? The Spanish Riding School is one of Vienna’s great cultural highlights. Beautiful white horses — Lipizzaners — are trained here. After six years of training, the horses take part in performances showcasing traditional equestrian art.

Is the Spanish Riding School worth it? The school is housed in a magnificent Renaissance building, and the performances are simply breathtaking. The art taught here is even recognized as an intangible UNESCO cultural heritage.

By the way: The school owes its name to the Spanish origins of the horses.

Tickets for the Spanish Riding School

You have several options for visiting the Spanish Riding School: you can watch a training session, take a guided tour, or attend a full performance.

Watch the morning training session

Guided tour of the riding school

Ticket for a performance at the riding school

Donauturm

What do you need to know? The Donauturm is Vienna’s highest observation point. In just 35 seconds, the elevator whisks you up to a platform at 150 meters, with a 360-degree panoramic view. On a clear day you can even see as far as Bratislava.

Is the Donauturm worth it? Absolutely! If you really want to see as much of Vienna as possible from above, this is your best bet. At 252 meters total, it’s the tallest building in all of Austria.

Our tip: Above the observation platform there are two restaurants — the food is excellent and the views are, naturally, unbeatable.

Skip-the-line ticket for the Donauturm

Vienna in a Weekend

Vienna is a city trip destination in Europe that’s worth visiting whether you have a long weekend or a full week.

You obviously can’t see everything in two days, but it’s more than enough for a solid overview of what makes this city so special.

Top Vienna Attractions in Two Days

If you only have two days in Vienna, plan to go inside just one or two attractions — otherwise you won’t make it through the rest. Here are the things to do in Vienna that you can comfortably cover in a weekend:

• Schönbrunn Palace (get tickets)
• St. Stephen’s Cathedral (get tickets)
• Hofburg Palace (get tickets)
• MuseumsQuartier
• Ringstrasse
• Prater
• Danube Canal
• Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel (get tickets)
• Naschmarkt

That might look like a lot, but most of these places are close to each other in the old town and easy to reach on foot. Only Schönbrunn Palace and the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Prater are a bit further out.

Top Vienna Attractions in Two Days

The longer you stay in Vienna, the better. There’s so much to see here — you could easily fill an entire week. Or just come back, as we love to do.

Here are the Vienna highlights worth adding if you have more time:

• Belvedere Palace
• Spanish Riding School (get tickets)
• Donauturm (get tickets)
• Danube Island
• Kursalon

Vienna Sights You Should Book in Advance

Vienna is a popular destination, and at the most sought-after attractions, lines can build up fast. Buying your ticket in advance is the easiest way to avoid them.

Here’s a table of all the Vienna sights where it’s worth booking ahead:

General Tips for Visiting the Sights in Vienna

Before we get into what you absolutely shouldn’t miss, here are a few practical pointers to make your visit run smoothly.

#1 Get a Vienna Pass

If you’re visiting Vienna for the first time and want to see many of the classic attractions, a city pass can really pay off. It saves you money and often gets you priority entry too.

We’d recommend the Vienna Pass — it’s available for different numbers of days and covers all the major highlights.

In our detailed Vienna pass comparison, you’ll find a full breakdown of the pros and cons:

#2 Book a Guided Tour of Vienna

Vienna is easy to explore on your own — there’s no language barrier, so it’s genuinely manageable for anyone.

That said, a guided tour always adds something. A real local can bring the stories of a place to life in a way no guidebook can. Here’s a selection of tours and experiences we’d recommend:

Private walking tour of the city’s highlights: On this private tour — just you and your guide — a real Viennese local shows you their city and shares a wealth of insider knowledge. Highly recommended!

Bike tour through classic Vienna: Vienna is a fantastic city to explore on two wheels. You’ll cover more ground in the same amount of time — and burn off some calories you can make up for later with a Wiener Schnitzel.

4-hour food tour: Food is always a good idea, and Vienna has a lot to offer on that front. This tour takes you through markets and a traditional coffeehouse, with excellent food and drink at every stop.

Nothing that suits you? In this article we share even more exciting tours and guided experiences in Vienna:

#3 Our Hotel Recommendations in Vienna

If you’re only in Vienna for a short time and want quick access to all the highlights, stay in the 1st district — Vienna’s historic old town. Hotels there aren’t cheap, but you’ll be within walking distance of most of the city’s best attractions.

Here are our hotel picks in the 1st district:

Boutique Hotel Das Tigra

Motel One Wien-Staatsoper

Hollmann Beletage (luxury hotel)

You’ll find even more accommodation recommendations across the different Vienna districts in our detailed articles.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Sightseeing in Vienna