The Imperial City! Another stunning place in Europe full of diverse culture, multiple ethnicities and a vast history dating back to the 11th-Century.
There is an endless list of reasons on why you should visit Vienna, even if only for a short weekend break. Some of the fantastic things that attract millions of other tourists and me to this city are the imperial sights, cosy wine taverns, local cuisine, famous high streets, and exceptional Viennese charm.
In this article you'll find some of the most amazing places that you should visit in the city, you'll find everything from hotels to hostels, fine dining to street food, traditional bars to sleek trendy cocktail bars, your visit to this fantastic city should be an amazing one! Let me Help You!
Arriving at the City Centre
Vienna city centre is located 19 km away from the city airport, it's roughly between a 20 and 25 minute drive by car, however, if you are arriving in Vienna by train, you have the convenience of arriving at Vienna Main Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) which is located only 5 minutes away from the city centre.
If you are travelling around Europe to and exploring different cities, I highly recommend that you consider travelling by train, it will depend on which cities you are going to visit, but if you are travelling to cities very near one and other (Less than 6 hours by train) I think this is a much more convenient option than flying.
You have some different choices to choose from when trying to arrive at the city centre from the airport, you can find each of them below with the cost and travel time associated with them.
Train
There are a series of different trains available that pass through the airport and arrive in the city centre, you can choose between, the city airport train (CAT), OBB Railjet and Express train s7.
Cost = 4 - 8 Euro
Duration = 15 Minutes
Bus
There are 3 Vienna Airport Lines with routes which serve all of Vienna's underground railway lines. You can expect busses every 30 minutes to take you from the airport to Wien Westbahnhof, Wien Hauptbahnhof transfer hubs and the city centre (Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz).
Cost = 8 Euro
Duration = 20 Minutes
Taxi
I never recommend anyone take a taxi from any airport in the world, unless it's necessary to do so. Taxis will always provide the most convenient and comfortable services but at a substantially higher cost!
If need be always choose a Vienna airport taxi from the official taxi rank outside the terminal and never accept transfer services from strange individuals in the airport.
Cost = 30 - 40 Euro
Duration = 20 Minutes
Where to Stay
Whatever kind of accommodation you are looking for, you can be sure you will find it here in Vienna! One of the most visited cities in Europe this Imperial metropolis caters to all kinds of people, you can find really cheap budget hostels all the way up to high-end, boutique hotels, or stunning first class apartments with a view! There are hundreds of amazing stays in Vienna!
Hostel Ruthensteiner is a great place to stay for two nights, it's competitive prices and hospitality are the main reasons I love this place, with privates starting from 60 euro and 80 being the most expensive. The city centre is easily accessible, being only 20 minutes away by public transport. The metro is just a 5-minute walk from the hostel.
Hotel Zeitgeist is ideally located in the city centre, very near Vienna central station. This hotel provides modern rooms, decent food and a rooftop terrace all for a fair cost, rooms usually go for around 100 euros per night, and you really can't go wrong with this option, be it for a family stay, romantic couple getaway or solo traveller, it's one fits all situation!
How to Get Around
Vienna is a massive city and has a well-developed public transport network. There are tons of different attractions, landmarks, museums, restaurants, parks all spread throughout the city, and you can depend on four main methods of transport to get around, buses, trains, trams and the underground metro system will take you almost any place in the city in a very convenient and fast manner.
You are more than likely going to be using the public transport system more than once throughout your stay, so a metro pass is the best way to go if you want to save a little bit of cash!
The city tram (Strassenbahn) passes in some areas of Vienna where the Metro (U-bahn) does not go, as a tourist myself I can recommend that you stick to the metro and tram networks, they go to almost every place you can imagine in the city and I found them to be the most convenient for what I intended to see and do in Vienna.
Ticket Cost
Tickets bearing the VOR logo can be used across most of the public transport system in Vienna, so if you have any of the passes you can hop from metro to tram to bus without a problem!
24 hours = €8 48 hours = €14.10 72 hours = €17.10
Where to Eat
Vienna has some of the most excellent restaurants in all of Europe, with some vastly different offerings, for now, I will only be recommending some of the cheaper establishments in the city that serve up delicious local cuisine!
Erich is the perfect place to stop by and get one of the most delicious breakfasts in all of Vienna! The food is fresh and really tasty, to top it off the staff are very friendly and helpful. Great service, delicious food and a fantastic atmosphere, it's hard not to like!
Cafe Phil is easily one of the quirkiest/unique cafes that I have ever visited anywhere! To say the food, coffee and service were excellent would be an understatement! They have a variety of choices with everything from Austrian cured meats to burrito bowls that are sure to keep you going all day long.
Esterhazykeller is a fantastic wine tavern serving up traditional Viennese food and dry wine with excellent service and hospitality for a very cheap cost, located right in the heart of the city, Esterhazykeller is not one to miss!
Puerstner is another great option for you to consider, this restaurant also serves up traditional food with a slightly higher cost to the later, nothing too drastic only slight, but what impresses most about this restaurant is its interior decor, there is a real charm about the traditional Viennese design.
Things to Do
A city full of cosy wine taverns, traditional Viennese charm and world-famous Christmas markets that would make you want to stay forever! Vienna is terrific come the months of November/December, I had visited Vienna, Budapest and Prague in one trip specifically for the Christmas markets, but more about that another time! I'm here to tell you what you can do in Vienna all year round!
Vienna State Opera
It is considered to be one of the best Opera Houses in the world! This beautiful Opera house is steeped with a colourful and tragic history. It's a truly Iconic landmark in Vienna! Stop by and admire this fantastic architectural design, pop inside and learn a little history about the tragic, untimely deaths of Eduard van der Nüll and August von Siccardsburge, the two original architects of the State Opera House.
Stephansplatz
This is the place to be, the whole area is full of life and culture, the atmosphere does be buzzing, all day, every day! If there is any place you could spend the day this would be it, you can find endless amounts of traditional bars, restaurants and cosy cafes all within walking distance of each other.
The highlight of Stephansplatz is St. Stephens Cathedral, this is a real standout, it's impossible to miss, with its beautiful gothic architecture towering over most of the city, you can climb to the top of the tower or take an elevator, to see some of the most amazing scenic views in all of Vienna.
Wine tasting in the historic Villion
This is a historically significant wine cellar right in the heart of the city, which was used as a shelter for the public during the second world war, you should visit and try the amazing wine and delicious food offerings, all while you listen to the terrible histories that befell this beautiful city.
Moazathaus
What was once the home of the famous composer Mozart during the 17th century is now a museum for you to visit and enjoy. Some might argue the cost is expensive at 8 euros per person as the home itself is mostly empty, and you'll only be given an audio tour of the house, if you are going to skip on the tour, I recommend you at least stop by to have a look and snap some pictures.
Rathaus
Vienna's city hall and one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Europe, you can take guided tours throughout the week or choose to observe this magnificent architectural feat from the outside. Visiting during the months of winter are amazing, all of the surrounding areas becomes one of the most charming and beautiful Christmas markets in all of Europe.
There is also an ice rink during the festivities that's sure to impress, skate through it's winding lanes and take in the views of the magically lit up Christmas market that is all throughout the area! This really is one of those things a person never forgets, I know I won't.
Schonbrunn Palace
A giant palace with a staggering 1441 room structure and complex that is usually one of the main tourist attractions in the city, this is also one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historical monuments in all of Vienna.
Located on the grounds of the palace are some wonderful gardens with interesting walk-ways that house hundreds of beautiful flowers that light up the whole area, this is a great place to have lunch, relax and enjoy the beautiful fresh air and summer flower aromas.
Prater Amusement Park
This is definitely something different to do, but if you like amusement parks, why don't check this place out, it's an excellent way to spend a few hours if you are tired of the museums and tours.
Wiener Riesenrad is an absolute must! Take the journey to the top of this fantastic Ferris wheel and take in some of the most amazing views of the city, it's like stepping into a time machine, this attraction is quite the iconic piece of history with it existing for more than 120 years now.