15 Best Things To Do In Vienna For First-Time Visitors

If you are looking for the best things to do in Vienna, you are in for a treat.

Vienna is one of those cities filled with imperial palaces, elegant coffee houses, beautiful museums, and streets that you will be desperate to explore.

Personally, I think Vienna is one of the most underrated cities in Europe.

There are so many incredible places to visit in Vienna, from exploring Schönbrunn Palace to the Hofburg.

Riding the famous Wiener Riesenrad, listening to classical music, or spending hours in one of the city’s historic cafés.

This guide covers some of the best attractions in Vienna, including famous landmarks, museums, palaces, and hidden gems.

And unique experiences that should absolutely be added to your Vienna itinerary.

15 Best Things To Do In Vienna For First-Time Visitors

Schönbrunn Palace Is Vienna’s Most Famous Imperial Palace

The Schonbrunn Palace was the summer home of the Habsburg family, who were at one point the rulers of Vienna.

It is a stunning example of Baroque architecture, and it’s one of the most visited palaces in Vienna and Europe.

The palace itself dates back to 1642 and was originally built by the wife of Emperor Ferdinand II.

Today, it’s a registered UNESCO site, thanks to its unique design, floor plan, and world-famous architecture.

There are over 1,440 rooms, and you can visit 45 of them.

They each have a different theme and house some of the most stunning Rococo-style furnishings in existence.

St. Peter’s Church Is One Of Vienna’s Most Beautiful Baroque Churches

Austria is where some of the most famous classical pieces of music were written.

So many of the unique attractions in Vienna center around the city’s musical history.

Throughout the year, St. Peter’s Church puts on a performance featuring the Vienna Quartet.

They play a variety of classical pieces by composers like Mozart and Vivaldi.

You’ll get to experience beautiful music and the natural acoustics of this stunning Baroque-era church.

This concert is likely to sell out, so make sure you purchase your tickets ahead of time!

It’s a Vienna must-see experience that you won’t forget.

The Hofburg Is Vienna’s Historic Imperial Palace Complex

The Hofburg is another Imperial palace in Vienna, and it’s actually one of the biggest palace complexes in the world.

In fact, the oldest part of the palace dates all the way back to the 13th century!

Inside the palace, you’ll find a series of museums.

The museums range in topics from historic musical instruments, a collection of armor and arms, and several antiquities museums.

You’ll also be able to tour some of the many rooms as they would have originally looked within the Imperial Palace.

So, if you plan on exploring all of the different museums and attractions, you’ll want to plan to spend a full day at The Hofburg.

The Rathaus Is Vienna’s Famous Neo-Gothic City Hall

The Rathaus, also known as the Vienna City Hall, is one of the most popular Vienna sightseeing destinations.

It is a municipal building for the city and province of Vienna.

The Rathaus is a 19th-century neo-Gothic design that has a town square in front of it.

Throughout the year, the town square hosts a variety of events.

It’s also one of the biggest and tallest buildings in the city.

So you’ll be able to see it from just about anywhere in the city.

The Haus Der Musik Is One Of Vienna’s Most Interactive Museums

The Haus Der Musik is the first museum in Austria that focuses on sound and music.

It opened in 2000 and features over 54,000 square feet of exhibits.

You’ll learn about the earliest forms of music and instruments, all the way to modern music theory.

The museum is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm, and you’ll want to buy your entry ticket ahead of time.

You’ll be able to explore exhibits on Mozart, Beethoven, and Shubert to name a few.

There is also a museum gift shop.

The Imperial Crypt Is One Of Vienna’s Most Fascinating Historic Sites

If you’re looking for something a bit more on the macabre side when you’re in Vienna, Austria, consider touring the Imperial Crypt.

Within the crypt, you’ll find the remains of over 400 years of Habsburg rulers.

During the summer months and into the fall, the crypts do offer a guided tour a few days a week.

However, at this time, the tours only take place in German.

The Imperial crypt is one of the best things to do in Vienna, Austria, that’s a bit different.

Café Gloriette Offers One Of The Most Beautiful Views In Vienna

Vienna is known for its ‘coffee culture’ and one of the best places to experience that is at Cafe Gloriette.

You’ll find the cafe in the gardens of the Schonbrunn Palace, which makes it even more of an experience.

They offer an Imperial breakfast service and a buffet.

If you want to have coffee and a Sacher-Torte, you’ll want to book a reservation at least four weeks in advance.

Naschmarkt Is Vienna’s Most Famous Food Market

The Vienna Naschmarkt is Vienna’s best-known market.

It has over 120 vendors and features culinary offerings from around the world.

You can try Italian, Indian, Vietnamese, and everything in between at the Nashmarkt.

It’s also a spot where more adventurous and unique pop-up restaurants in Vienna are finding a home too.

So if you want to try some of Vienna’s up-and-coming chefs, this is a great place to visit.

Every Saturday, the Naschmarkt hosts a Flea Market that has garnered a huge following.

The Danube Tower Offers Some Of The Best Panoramic Views In Vienna

One of the coolest things to do in Vienna is to visit the Danube Tower.

The Danube Tower is the highest landmark in Vienna at over 252 meters high.

The tower originally opened in 1964 along the north bank of the Danube River.

When you visit the tower, you’ll ride the elevator up 150 meters to the 360-degree viewing platform.

Higher up the tower, you’ll find the Turm Restaurant, which is a revolving restaurant 170 meters in the air.

The Albertina Museum Houses Some Of Vienna’s Most Famous Artworks

The Albertina Museum has one of the largest and most important print rooms in the world.

Inside, there are over 65,000 drawings and approximately 1 million old master prints.

There is also a branch of the Albertina, the Albertina Modern, that houses more modern pieces of art.

You can visit the Albertina daily, and there is an entrance fee.

In their collection, you’ll find works by Monet, Picasso, and Rembrandt.

The museum also has pieces by Austrian artists like Gustav Klimt, Otto Wagner, and Egon Schiele.

All of them lived in Vienna at some point during their lives and careers.

The Volksoper Is One Of Vienna’s Best Places To Experience Classical Music

Volksoper is one of the many opera houses in Vienna.

The opera season runs from September through June.

During that time, the opera house puts on over 300 performances of 25 different German-language productions.

Every week, they typically perform two to three different productions.

So if you’re visiting during their season, you’ll have a variety of productions to choose from.

The Wiener Riesenrad Offers One Of The Best Views In Vienna

Wiener Riesenrad is a giant Ferris wheel at the entrance of the Prater amusement park.

The Ferris wheel is 212 feet tall.

As you make your way to the top, you’ll get to experience one of the best views in the city.

To many, it’s a symbol of the city, especially since you can see it from just about anywhere.

You can ride the Ferris wheel daily, and tickets are 13 euros for adults and 9 euros for kids.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum Is One Of Vienna’s Most Impressive Art Museums

Art lovers have to visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of the best things to do in Vienna.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum is a huge art museum in Vienna’s city center.

It’s a huge palatial building with stunning architecture and is full of some of Europe’s most famous artwork.

You’ll be able to see the dazzling Imperial crown and works by van Dyck, van Rijn, and Vermeer.

Vienna’s Historic Center Is A UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Historic Center of Vienna is a World UNESCO site, for a variety of reasons.

Vienna was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and played a crucial role in the development of the surrounding area.

From stunning architecture, like Baroque castles and gardens, and a late 19th-century Ringstrasse with beautiful parks and buildings, it’s hard not to visit the City Center of Vienna.

The Belvedere Palace Houses Some Of Vienna’s Most Famous Art

Vienna has always been one of the most popular cities for artists and musicians.

The Belvedere Museum is a set of two Baroque palaces that now contains an extensive art collection.

The Upper Belvedere is where you’ll find the permanent exhibit highlighting Viennese Modernism.

There, you’ll get to see Gustav Klimt’s most famous work, Kiss, along with others.

In the Lower Belvedere, you’ll find the museum’s changing special exhibits.

Things To Do In Vienna: Essentials Packing List

Here are my tips on how to pack lightly. using a carry-on when traveling. And WHY it is almost a necessity!

This unisex RFID-blocking concealed travel pouch is lightweight and comes in several colors.

These RFID sleeves are another solution.

This Anker high-speed phone charging battery is the exact one I carry on all my trips.

Don’t forget Apple AirTags to track your luggage. (Whether you fly or drive.)

My daughter gifted me this FugeTek selfie stick and tripod setup for my birthday.

It is made of lightweight aluminum and is so easy to use.

I never leave home on a trip without a non-disposable water bottle. 

Then this collapsible silicone foldable water bottle would work well for you as well.

This foldable water-resistant backpack would be great for a daily go-pack.

These quick-dry slip-on Aqua shoes will be useful at pools or spas you happen to visit along the way.

These men’s quick-dry trunks are essential.

For women, this one-strap one-piece bathing suit is amazing.

Consider bringing along quick-dry super-absorbent microfiber towels.

This wet-dry bag with handles is a good option.

These unisex polarized sunglasses come in many lens colors and frame designs and are extremely affordable, too.

If you like aviator-style sunglasses, these polarized aviators may interest you.

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