Vienna: Hidden Gems and Spots You Shouldn’t Miss!

Latest update: October 13, 2023

5 great places off the beaten path

After you’ve seen all the main sights of Vienna, it’s time to check out a few real hidden gems to get to know another side of Vienna.

We asked several Viennese locals for their favorite places and insider tips for Vienna, and we’re happy to present them to you here.

Kahlenberg

Whenever we asked people for their favorite spot for the best view of the city, we always got the same response: the Kahlenberg. The 480-meter-high summit is located to the northeast of the city and offers a great view of Vienna.

On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Carpathians in neighboring Slovakia. Especially at the weekend, many Viennese flock to the Kahlenberg.

Only a few hundred meters from the Kahlenberg lies the Cobenzl. This hill, officially called Latisberg, also offers a great view of Vienna.

How to get there: Take the U4 to the terminus at Heiligenstadt. From there, take bus number 38A, which stops at the Cobenzl first and then continues to the Kahlenberg.

Donauinsel

The Danube Island is a 21-km-long and up to 250-meter-wide artificial island on the Danube.

It was originally created in the 70s and 80s as a flood barrier and is now the most popular local recreational area in the city.

On the Danube Island, you can hike, skate, or simply escape the hustle and bustle of the city with a picnic. Or how about a guided bike tour across the Danube Island?

The Danube Island is the perfect place to take children: there’s a beach, a climbing park, a huge water playground, and the world’s largest trampoline park.

Danube Canal

The Danube Canal is the arm of the Danube that flows right through the middle of the city. It separates the 2nd district (Leopoldstadt) from the 1st and 3rd districts.

There’s lots of graffiti and street art along the Danube Canal, and in recent years many great beach bars have sprung up.

Locals are especially fond of Neni and Strandbar Hermann.

You can also explore the Danube Canal very well on a boat tour.

Franziskanerplatz

Franziskanerplatz is a small square in downtown Vienna. It’s just as beautiful as the rest of the city center, but still there’s something very special here: the Kleines Café.

At first glance, the Kleines Café – which literally means “small café” – seems very inconspicuous, and in fact it isn’t as huge an attraction as the famous Café Sacher, but that’s what makes it so special. The café is cramped and smoky and looks as if time stood still decades ago.

So if you want to visit a typical Viennese café away from the tourist crowds, then the Kleines Café on Franziskanerplatz is the right place for you.

If you want to learn even more about the Viennese coffee house culture, you can also join a guided tour:

Guidede Viennese Coffe-House Tour

The tradition of Viennese coffee experience

Das Loft

Das Loft is a great bar with an absolutely outstanding view of Vienna. The bar is located on the 18th floor of the Sofitel and is a real experience. Not only is the view great, the cocktails are really good too.

In addition to a bar, Das Loft also has a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Both the bar and the restaurant are usually pretty crowded, so it’s a good idea to make a reservation before you go.

The best Wiener Schnitzel in Vienna

The most important question of all that we asked our Vienna insiders: Where can you get the best Wiener schnitzel in Vienna?

This Austrian specialty, a breaded veal cutlet, is something everyone should try when in town. The locals gave us three hot tips where to get a tasty schnitzel:

#1 Figlmüller

OK, Figlmüller isn’t exactly a well-kept secret. Still, two out of three Viennese people we asked listed the most famous Wiener schnitzel restaurant as their absolute favorite. So clearly it lives up to its reputation.

At Figlmüller you have the choice between a traditional Wiener schnitzel made of veal and the famous Figlmüller schnitzel made of pork which is so large and flat that it often doesn’t even fit on the plate!

Figlmüller has two restaurants in Vienna which are very close to one another: The original restaurant is located in Wollzeile and the second branch that opened in 2001 with a lot more seats is located in Bäckerstrasse 6, directly in the center of Vienna.

It isn’t uncommon for Figlmüller to have a line of hungry people waiting out front. So your best bet is to book a table ahead of time.

#2 Gmoakeller

The Gmoakeller is one of the oldest restaurants in Vienna. People have been eating and drinking here since 1858 and of course the Wiener schnitzel is one of the favorites among visitors.

The Gmoakeller is located in the 3rd district at Heumarkt 25. Delicious Wiener schnitzel is available everyday from 11 am.

#3 Die Schöne Perle

Our third insider tip for the best Wiener schnitzel in Vienna is the Schöne Perle (“The Beautiful Pearl”). The Schöne Perle not only has delicious schnitzels, but also serves creative interpretations of Austrian home cooking.

The restaurant is located in the 2nd district in Grosse Pfarrgasse 2 and is open daily.

The best restaurants in Vienna

Even though Austrian classics such as Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz are really delicious, Vienna also boasts excellent international restaurants from all over the world. Here are some great restaurants we tried and loved:

#1 Neni: Creative chaos

We came across Neni at the Naschmarkt by chance and only found out afterwards that this restaurant is one of the hottest places in Vienna and about to conquer the world.

Neni is a family business run by Haya Molcho and her three sons. Haya is from Tel Aviv and so the food there is heavily influenced by Israeli cuisine. She refers to her food as balagan, which translates to chaos or confusion.

We absolutely loved Neni and can highly recommend it. In addition to the restaurant at the Naschmarkt, Neni also runs the Tel Aviv Beach by the Danube Canal and another restaurant at the Prater.

#2 Ebi: Delicious sushi in Vienna

Ebi is a sushi restaurant with a very special concept: all-you-can-eat sushi, but still à la carte.

You can use a tablet at the table to order as much as you want. The portions are small, so you can sample lots of different food. In addition to sushi, they also serve several other Asian dishes.

Ebi has six branchesand the value for money is unbeatable! It’s generally a good idea to book a table in advance.

#3 Da Capo Pizzeria

Now and again, we just can’t help ourselves and have to eat a pizza. Of course we also asked the locals for the best pizza in Vienna and the answer was: Da Capo in Schulerstrasse 18.

So we tried it and the pizza is really outstanding. We highly recommend it!

The best ice cream in Vienna

Another important question wherever we go is where to get the best ice cream in town. Our Vienna insiders gave us two answers: Eis Greissler and Veganista.

Eis Greissler has 5 parlors in Vienna, one of them in Mariahilferstrasse. Veganista has 11 parlors. We tried both of them and liked Veganista a bit better than Eis Greissler. But they’re both really great.

Veganista website
Eis Greissler website

Exciting tours through Vienna

Vienna doesn’t just have the standard city tours to offer, but there are also some very interesting offers where you can explore unknown corners of Vienna and discover some real hidden gems:

Unknown Vienna city tour: On this tour you’ll get to know Vienna from another side. We guarantee that this tour is anything but dry and boring, but rather peppered with exciting and funny anecdotes.

Private and customized tour – Want to explore Vienna competely on your own? Then we recommend a private tour without other guests. You’ll be able to decide the focus of the tour and have in-depth talks with your guide.

Bicycle tour and wine tasting in Wachau valley – This tour leads out of hectic bustle of the city and into tranquil Wachau valley. You’ll head to wineries and a historic castle by bike and of course your culinary needs will be well taken care of.

Do you have any insider tips and hidden gems for us?

Those were all our insider tips for Vienna coming straight from various locals. Do you have a Vienna insider tip of your own or a question? Then please let us know in the comments!