Tips on how to Spend 3 Days in Vienna (Up to date 2023)

Posted: 7/21/2023 | July twenty first, 2023

Steeped in tradition, arts, music, and historical past, Vienna is without doubt one of the most stunning cities in Europe. (A minimum of I believe so!)

The whole historic middle of Vienna is a chosen UNESCO World Heritage Website, it’s full of numerous museums and artwork galleries, grand Baroque palaces, conventional markets, and unbelievable eating places.

I’ll admit that I didn’t love Vienna after I first visited. I discovered it a bit stuffy and imperial (which is smart given its historical past). However, after a few visits, I grew to adore it and located it a metropolis vigorous, artwork, and music. I beloved it a lot I took teams of readers right here!

There’s a lot to do right here. (In actual fact, there’s a lot that you could easily spend a week here and never get bored.)

However, in case you solely have a number of days, right here’s my urged three-day Vienna itinerary in case you’re quick on time. It hits all of the highlights.

 

Vienna itinerary: Day 1

Take a free strolling tour
I at all times take a strolling tour every time I arrive in a vacation spot. Beginning your journey with a strolling tour is a enjoyable option to get a way of town, as a style of its historical past and tradition. Plus, you’ll be able to ask your information questions on the place to eat and go since they’re at all times locals in order that they know the within scoop!

Two wonderful free strolling excursions are:

When you’d prefer to cowl extra floor, contemplate taking a motorbike tour. I like the tour offered by Pedal Power Vienna. It’s three hours and covers all the main highlights.

Admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral

In-built Romanesque and Gothic kinds, the Stephansdom has been standing for the reason that twelfth century. It’s most well-known for its colourful roof of 230,000 glazed tiles, however the inside is ornately embellished as nicely, with excessive archways, vaulted ceilings, and a plethora of statues and non secular work. There are two stunning altars inside too: the Seventeenth-century Excessive Altar and the Fifteenth-century Wiener Neustadt Altar.

The cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt through the years, with the present model largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV (1339–1365). Its most up-to-date reconstruction happened simply after World Conflict II.

Stephansplatz 3, +43 1 515523530, stephanskirche.at. Open for worship Monday-Saturday 6am-10pm and Sundays 7am-10pm. Open for guests Monday-Saturday 9am-11:30am and 1pm-4:30pm, and Sunday 1pm-4:30pm. Admission is 20 EUR, guided excursions are 3.50 EUR, and audio guides are 6 EUR. Catacomb excursions are 6 EUR; going up the towers prices 5.50 EUR for the South Tower and 6 EUR for the North Tower. Gown respectfully, as it’s a place of worship.

See the Imperial Palace

The Thirteenth-century Hofburg was the principal palace of the Habsburg dynasty (one of the vital distinguished in European historical past) for greater than seven centuries. At the moment, it’s the official residence of the president of Austria.

You can simply spend half a day right here exploring all of the points of interest, which embrace the Sisi exhibit (highlighting the lifetime of Empress Elisabeth), the Imperial Silver Assortment, and the royal residences themselves. It’s big.

My favourite part is the Imperial Treasury, with its royal artifacts, crowns, scepters, and detailed historical past of the Hapsburg household and empire. And, though it’s not free, I like to recommend getting the audio tour, which provides a ton of context to the reveals. It’s well worth the cash.

Michaelerkuppel, +43 15337570, hofburg-wien.at. Open each day 9:30am-5pm. Admission is 16 EUR. You probably have the Vienna PASS, it’s free. Skip-the-line tours begin at 48 EUR.

Wander the Naschmarkt
That is Vienna’s largest open-air meals market. It has 120 stands, together with eating places, road stalls, and grocers, and, on Saturdays, a flea market too. It’s slightly touristy (don’t go grocery purchasing right here) nevertheless it has a cool vibe and it’s a pleasant place to sit down and eat. Regardless of its fame, you’ll nonetheless discover numerous locals right here so don’t really feel like this can be a vacationer solely place. You should definitely hit up Umarfisch for seafood and wine. The meals there’s scrumptious.

When you actually need a deep dive into the market, you can even take a guided tasting tour.

 

Vienna Itinerary: Day 2

Discover the Museumsquartier
Begin day two with the Museumsquartier (MQ). As soon as the imperial stables, it now encompasses over 90,000 sq. meters and 60 cultural establishments, together with the Leopold Museum for Artwork Nouveau and Expressionism; Kunsthalle Wien, with rotating exhibitions; and the Museum of Trendy Artwork, which has the biggest such assortment in Central Europe. The MQ can also be house to a number of festivals all year long, together with open-air live shows and a trend week. When you love artwork, this place is a should.

A cross to 5 of the principle museums is 35 EUR. Guided tours of the district are additionally provided for simply 8 EUR.

Discover the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Nice Arts)

Created by Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1891, that is now largest artwork museum within the nation. You can simply spend a number of hours right here (if no more). Most gadgets are from the Hapsburgs’ outdated assortment, with artifacts from historical Egypt and Greece in addition to work by Rubens, Raphael, Rembrandt, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, and extra. The inside itself is extremely ornate too, boasting plenty of marble, gold leaf, and murals.

Maria-Theresien-Platz, +43 1525240, khm.at. Open each day 10am-6pm (9pm on Thursdays). Admission is 21 EUR (get your tickets in advance here).

Admire Schönbrunn Palace

Finish your day with a go to to certainly one of Vienna’s hottest websites. Initially a Seventeenth-century searching lodge, this palace later turned the Hapsburgs’ summer season residence within the 18th century. There are over 1,400 rooms, however solely a handful are open to the general public (you’ll see 22 rooms on the Imperial Tour and 40 rooms on the Grand Tour). Nonetheless, there’s greater than sufficient for a number of hours of wandering the exquisitely restored, extremely ornate rooms full of elaborate work, woodwork, chandeliers, and decorations. That is certainly one of my favourite locations in the entire metropolis. Convey some meals and wine and have a picnic in backyard. Because it’s on a hill, you get a tremendous view of of Vienna.

Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, +43 1 81113239, schoenbrunn.at. The palace is open each day 9:30am-5pm (longer hours in the summertime). The park is open each day 6:30am-5:30pm (8pm in the summertime). The Imperial Tour is 22 EUR and takes round 40 minutes, whereas the Grand Tour is 26 EUR and takes over an hour; each embrace an audio information. You probably have the Vienna PASS, admission is free. Skip-the-line guided tours price 48 EUR.

 

Vienna Itinerary: Day 3

Tour the Albertina
Begin your final day on the Albertina, among the best museums on the town (which says quite a bit in a metropolis filled with nice museums)! Housed in one of many outdated personal residence wings of the Imperial Palace, it’s most well-known for its assortment of over a million prints and 60,000 drawings.

The constructing itself was a Habsburg residence, and included in your museum ticket is a self-guided tour of the 20 restored Habsburg State Rooms. You’ll get an fascinating look into Nineteenth-century aristocratic life as you stroll by the exquisitely embellished rooms with their gilded chandeliers, grand fireplaces, delicate furnishings, and detailed wall coverings.

For followers of extra modern artwork, the Albertina Trendy opened in 2020. Positioned only a few blocks away from the Albertina itself, the museum focuses on post-1945 modern artwork, with an enormous assortment of over 60,000 works by 5,000 artists.

Albertinaplatz 1, +43 1 53483, albertina.at. Open each day 10am-6pm (9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays). Admission is eighteen.90 EUR (get your tickets in advance here). A joint ticket to the Albertina and Albertina Trendy is 24.90 EUR. You probably have the Vienna PASS, admission to each is free.

Go to the Mozart Museum
Although Mozart solely lived right here for 3 years within the 1780s, that is the one house out of all of the locations he resided in Vienna that has survived. The neat little museum opened in 1941 for the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his demise. The primary ground is the place Mozart and his household lived, though that you must use your creativeness, as not a lot is understood about how the rooms truly regarded or had been used. However the museum has curated an fascinating collection of work, artifacts, letters, and memorabilia as a way to study his life, music, household, and buddies, and be capable to hearken to his work.

Domgasse 5, +43 1 5121791, mozarthausvienna.at. Open each day 10am-6pm. Tickets are 12 EUR (free for anybody underneath 19). Free admission on the primary Sunday of the month.

See the Freud Museum
One other apartment-turned-museum, this one was house to Sigmund Freud, the well-known founding father of psychoanalysis (the idea that our current is formed by our previous). He lived right here from 1891 to 1938, and the museum opened in 1971 with the assistance of Anna Freud (his youngest daughter). You’ll discover it embellished with the unique furnishings and Freud’s personal assortment of antiques. There are additionally movies from his personal life in addition to the primary editions of his works. It solely takes about an hour to go to because it’s fairly small.

Berggasse 19, +43 1 3191596, freud-museum.at. Open each day 10am-6pm. Admission is 14 EUR (get your ticket here).

Benefit from the Vienna State Opera

Wrap up your last day on the opera. Vienna is synonymous with the style, a serious focus of life right here. Its opera home is without doubt one of the largest and most well-known on the planet. The Renaissance Revival constructing was accomplished in 1869, can seat over 1,700 spectators, and is impressively grand each in and out.

I like to recommend shopping for last-minute standing-room tickets for 13-18 EUR. They go on sale beginning 80 minutes earlier than the present (you’ll be able to line up sooner than that although). It’s first-come, first-served and you’ll solely purchase one ticket per individual.

Opernring 2, +43 151444/2250, wiener-staatsoper.at. Examine the web site for essentially the most up-to-date efficiency schedule. Tickets begin at 59 EUR. A guided constructing tour prices 13 EUR (free when you’ve got the Vienna PASS).
 

Different Issues to Do in Vienna

See the Jewish Sq. (Judenplatz)
Vienna had a large Jewish inhabitants earlier than the atrocities of the Nazi regime. This neighborhood options two essential museums that present insights into its Jewish historical past and tradition. The Vienna Jewish Museum particulars the function Jews performed within the growth of metropolis life, whereas the Museum Judenplatz provides an genuine have a look at the historical past of Jewish life in Vienna.

There may be additionally the close by Holocaust Memorial, designed by British artist Rachel Whiteread, which commemorates the 65,000 Jewish Austrians that the Nazis murdered.

Dorotheergasse 11, +43 1 5350431, jmw.at. Open Sunday-Thursday 10am-6pm and Fridays 10am-2pm. Admission is 15 EUR (contains each museums).

Go to Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere is a Baroque palace advanced that homes an unbelievable artwork assortment, with works by Renoir, Monet, and Van Gogh, amongst others. Up to date artwork, movie, and music are featured within the constructing referred to as the Belvedere 21. The free grounds function stunning fountains, gravel walkways, ponds, statues, vegetation, and flowers.

Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, +43 1 795570, belvedere.at. Open each day 10am-6pm. Admission is 15.60 EUR for decrease Belvedere tickets, 17.70 EUR for higher Belvedere tickets, and 9.30 EUR for Belvedere 21 (modern artwork, movie, music). You may get a day ticket with admission for all three for 28.40 EUR. Admission to each the decrease and higher Belvedere is free when you’ve got the Vienna PASS.

Take a wine tour
Take a motorbike tour of the gorgeous close by Wachau Valley. You’ll get to style a few of the greatest native wine whereas having fun with the encircling landscapes. When you’re in search of a tour operator, I recommend Discover Vienna Tours, which I used after I ran excursions to Vienna. It’s a very cool factor to do nevertheless it’s a full-day tour (plan to spend 8-10 hours) so it is going to be the one factor you do this day! Count on to pay round 85 EUR for a full-day wine tour.

Stroll alongside the Danube
The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river (the Volga is the longest), stretches virtually 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) because it passes by or alongside ten nations: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. Strolling alongside the banks is a good way to spend a day, and there are many bars, shops, and cafés alongside the water to pop into. Throughout the summer season, you’ll be able to take in the solar on the river’s many “seashore golf equipment”, which have every little thing that you must loosen up: loungers, a bar/café, music, and — surprisingly — sand.
 

The place to Keep in Vienna

Right here’s my record of the perfect locations to remain in Vienna in case you’re on a finances:

Wombats City Hostel – My favourite hostel on the town is in an incredible location proper alongside the Naschmarkt. Set in a historic Artwork Nouveau constructing, it affords all the trendy facilities, together with a café/bar, visitor kitchen, and en suite bogs (even in dorm rooms).

Jo&Joe Vienna – Nice for vacationers in search of a quiet but reasonably priced keep, this hostel is conveniently situated subsequent to the Westbahnhof. It has fashionable facilities like pod beds, a cinema room, a bar/restaurant, an enormous rooftop terrace, laundry services, and extra. You probably have HostelPass, you’ll get 10% off your reserving at Jo&Joe, and in case you don’t have HostelPass but, use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off when signing up.

Hotel Brauhof Wien – This trendy and fashionable lodge is in a wonderful location close to the Westbahnhof railway station, a brief distance from Schönbrunn Palace, and only a fast U-bahn trip away from historic Vienna. It’s particularly good for beer lovers, as there’s a brewery on website!
 

Cash-Saving Ideas for Vienna

To make sure you don’t break the financial institution, listed below are a number of useful money-saving ideas for Vienna:

1. Get a Vienna PASS – With the Vienna PASS, you access over 60 points of interest, museums, and monuments all through Vienna. It prices 78 EUR for a one-day cross, 110 EUR for a two-day cross, after which all the best way as much as 170 EUR for six days. When you’re planning to go to a number of of Vienna’s hottest museums, getting the cross might prevent a good sum of money — particularly because it has an possibility free of charge public transportation.

2. Get a transit cross – When you plan to take the metro quite a bit, get a cross. A 24-hour cross is 8 EUR, a 48-hour cross is 14.10 EUR, and a 72-hour cross is 17.10 EUR. The weekly cross (legitimate from Monday by Sunday) can also be 17.10 EUR. The Vienna City Card affords limitless transportation, in addition to reductions on points of interest (beginning at 17 EUR for in the future).

3. Go to the museums free of charge – Some museums have free days and evenings, providing the opportunity of saving some euros in case you time it proper. Kunsthalle Wein has free admission each Thursday from 5pm-9pm, and lots of museums have free admission the primary Sunday of the month. Examine the web site of the museums you need to go to for present free days.

4. Journey throughout shoulder season – Personally, I believe the perfect time to go to Vienna is April-June and/or September-October. It’s nonetheless heat throughout this time, however there aren’t as many different vacationers and costs aren’t as excessive as in the summertime.

5. Skip the quick practice into Vienna – Until you’re in a rush to get downtown, skip the Metropolis Airport Prepare. It’s 11 EUR, in comparison with the common practice (which is 4.30 EUR). The time distinction is negligible.

***

Vienna is certainly one of Europe’s nice cultural capitals. There’s a lot to see, do, and eat that you can simply spend over every week right here and never scratch the floor. However even in case you solely have three days, you’ll be able to nonetheless cowl most of the highlights. Simply make sure to construct in a while hanging out at a few of the nice coffeehouses — a cultural establishment all their very own — and take within the tempo of metropolis life. It received’t disappoint.