Things to do in Vienna

Vienna in Austria is one of the most visually stunning cities in Europe.

The fact that the city lies on the banks of the Danube River gives it an additional charm.

The city was once the seat of the Hapsburg dynasty, because of which today it has beautiful palaces, museums full of art, and other stunning architectural marvels.

During your holiday in Vienna, don’t missout on attending a concert, for the city is synonymous with famous composers such as Beethoven, Strauss, and Schoenberg.

Discover the top tourist attractions in this classy city with our list of the things to do in Vienna.

Schonbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn Palace is a 1441-room Palace and former Imperial Residence of the Hapsburg Monarchs.

With a history spanning over 300 years, it is one of the most important historical monuments in Vienna.

Belvedere Palace

Tourists visit Belvedere Palace to see famous paintings of Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt and to stroll along the Baroque gardens.

It consists of two buildings – Upper Belvedere, Lower Belvedere, and the Orangery, and Palace Stables.

Vienna Zoo

Vienna Zoo is the oldest existing zoo in the world and is also known as Tiergarten Schonbrunn.

In 2018, it was voted Europe’s best Zoo for the fifth time.

Albertina Museum

The Albertina Museum in Vienna flaunts one of the largest and most precious graphic art collections in the world.

It has more than 50,000 drawings and one million prints from all periods of history.

St Stephen’s Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral has watched over the city of Vienna for more than 700 years.

It is a magnificent monument, reflecting the history and intricate architectural capabilities of Austrians.

Spanish Riding School

Spanish Riding School has preserved the city’s traditions through the art of horse riding.

Tourists get to experience the famous Lipizzan horse acts practiced to perfection.

Kunsthistorisches

The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna is one of the finest art Museums in the World. It is home to the largest collection of paintings by 16th-century Dutch master Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

The Museum is beautiful both from inside and outside – the building’s impeccable architecture itself draws a massive crowd.

Madame Tussauds Vienna

If you want to add glamour to your vacation in the Austrian capital, look no further than Madame Tussauds Vienna.

You see centuries-old waxwork techniques at Vienna’s wax Museum and rub shoulders with world leaders, royal families, politicians, movie stars, sportspersons, etc. 

Danube Tower

Danube Tower is Austria’s tallest building and an iconic landmark in Vienna.

The 826 feet (252 meters) tall tower offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city, such as the old city, Danube Park, and Vienna Woods.

Locally known as the Donauturm, the tower is located near the north bank of the Danube River and offers in the district of Donaustadt.

Giant Ferris Wheel

Giant Ferris Wheel is an iconic sight in Vienna that serves as the Wurstelprater’s emblem. 

Every year, thousands of visitors from around the world gather here to see its distant silhouette.

The Giant Ferris Wheel was built in 1896 by Englishmen Basset and Hitchins to celebrate the 50th jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Leopold Museum

Leopold Museum, with around 6,000 exhibits, is one of the world’s most important collections of Austrian art from the second half of the nineteenth century and Modernism.

A couple called Rudolf, and Elisabeth Leopold created this unique collection, and the masterpieces include works of artists like Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, etc.

Golden Hall

Golden Hall is locally known as Wiener Musikverein. This 150-year-old concert hall in Vienna is regarded as the crown jewel among the world’s concert halls.

It can seat 2000 music lovers and transmutes architecture into music and music into architecture.

Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera is an opera house offering a diverse program of operas and ballet works.

Its first-class productions are of the very highest caliber, and they primarily focus on Mozart, Wagner, and classic operas of the 20th century.

St. Charles Church

St. Charles’ Church is locally known as Karlskirche and is considered the most outstanding baroque church in Vienna.

Finished in 1739, it is the last work of the eminent baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach.

Tourists visit St. Charles’ Church for its classical concert with a period-instrument ensemble.

Esterházy Palace

Esterházy Palace is one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Austria and displays the Austrian royalty’s splendid life once lived.

Tourists visit to see the rooms, furnishings, artworks and tour the palace’s extensive grounds. Guided tours are available, as well as concerts in Haydnsaal, the elaborate banquet room.

Naschmarkt

Naschmarkt in Vienna is a 100-year-old market with around 120 open stalls selling food, to eat, and takeaway.

The colorful culinary ranges from Viennese to Indian, from Vietnamese to Italian.

The weekend Flea Market is a cult event, and it becomes difficult to get back to your hotel empty-handed.

World Museum

The World Museum is an ethnographic museum and has more than 400,000 exhibits from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and America.

Its most famous exhibit is a feathered headdress that belonged to Moctezuma II, the Aztec emperor from the 16th century. It is also known as Weltmuseum Wien.

Mozart Museum

The Mozarthaus Vienna was Mozart’s residence for three years, from 1784 to 1787, and is now a tribute to the legendary composer.

The Museum was inaugurated on January 27, 2006 – the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth and occupies 1,000 square meters on six levels.

Mozarthaus is a 2-minutes walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

City Hall, Vienna

Vienna City Hall is locally known as Wiener Rathaus, and the city’s government sits in the building.

Tourists visit the city hall to enjoy an Austrian 3-course dinner and cultural performances by local artists.

The musical journey starts from the mountains of Tirol to Salzburg, the Salzkammergut, and the Wachau to the grand final in Vienna.

House of Music

The House of Music is a Museum where you explore the world of sound and noise phenomena.

At the Museum, you can see, feel and even create the sounds and noises yourself.

Check out incredible interactive sound illustrations, which are both entertaining and educational.

Locals refer to this Museum as Haus der Musik.

Vienna Central Cemetery

The Vienna Central Cemetery is the second-largest cemetery in Europe.

Both tourists and locals visit the cemetery to discover the graves of Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Johann Strauss Johannes Brahms, etc., see fantastic Art Nouveau architecture and enjoy the lush greenery.

The attraction is perfect for long walks.

Imperial Treasury

The Imperial Treasury is on display at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna.

The 10th century Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire and the 16th century’s Austrian imperial crown are the two highlights of the collection.

Also on display are the Burgundian treasure from the 15th century and the Order of the Golden Fleece (the Habsburg dynastic order).

Time Travel Vienna

Time Travel Vienna is a  5D cinema experience in the vaulted ceilings of St. Michael’s monastery on Habsburgergasse.

The movie takes tourists through Vienna’s history, where they learn about the black death plague, the Turkish siege of Vienna, legendary composers, the two world wars, etc.

The 50 minutes movie ends with a flying carriage ride over historic Vienna.

Museum of Applied Arts

The MAK is home to an unparalleled collection of applied arts, design, architecture, and contemporary art developed in the last 150 years.

The museum showcases furniture, glass, china, silver, and textiles from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The building that houses the MAK Museum is one of the most awe-inspiring works of architecture on Vienna’s Ringstraße.

Madame Tussauds Vienna

Madame Tussauds is on Riesenradplatz and showcases 80 wax figures, including local figures such as Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Sisi, Mozart, Falco, Maria Theresia, Gustav Klimt, etc.

Other interactive exhibits include an intelligence test against Albert Einstein, ‘Blue Danube’ waltz with Johann Strauss, and a penalty shoot-out with football legend Hans Krankl.

Klosterneuburg Monastery

Klosterneuburg Monastery is a twelfth-century Augustinian monastery just outside of Vienna.

It was founded in 1114 and has been one of Austria’s most important religious and cultural centers for more than 900 years.

The combination of religion, wonderful art treasures such as Verdun Altar, and the oldest vineyard in Austria make the monastery an excellent tourist attraction.

Vienna Hofburg Orchestra

Vienna Hofburg Orchestra is an Austrian classical orchestra that presents concerts at the Vienna Hofburg Palace’s historical halls, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and the Garden Palace Liechtenstein.

Since the orchestra’s objective is to ‘cultivate Viennese waltz and operetta music’ they focus on Johann Strauss, Franz Lehár and Emmerich Kalman and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Sigmund Freud Museum

The Sigmund Freud Museum is housed in the apartment where Freud lived and worked from 1891 until 1938 when he was forced to flee Vienna due to the rise of the Nazi regime.

The museum provides a comprehensive overview of Freud’s life and his contributions to psychology. 

Visitors can explore the rooms where Freud conducted his psychoanalytic sessions and see his personal belongings, including his extensive library, furniture, and collection of antiquities.

Austrian Dinner Show

The Austrian Dinner Show is a must-visit destination for any music and food enthusiast. 

Located in Vienna, this unique event combines the best regional delicacies with popular melodies, providing a unique cultural experience. 

The show takes place in the vaults of the famous Vienna City Hall, adding to the historical and cultural ambiance.

Haus der Musik

Haus der Musik is the house of music that uniquely celebrates Vienna’s musical history and offers a platform for guests to learn everything about sound. 

The museum, spread across four floors, takes you on a journey where you can hear the stories of great musicians and create your own waltz by rolling four virtual dice. 

Only when you come here will you understand the difference between sound, noise, and music. 

Weltmuseum

The Weltmuseum Vienna is in the Hofburg Imperial Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

It is a great place to learn about different cultures and their history and traditions. 

Weltmuseum Vienna houses over 400,000 objects from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, spanning from prehistoric period to the present day.

Familypark

Familypark Neusiedlersee is Austria’s largest amusement park in Sankt Margarethen im Burgenland. 

The park has over 80 rides and attractions, including water rides, roller coasters, and family-friendly rides. 

Mauthausen Concentration Camp

The Mauthausen Concentration Camp traces its origin to 1938 when it was founded as a Nazi concentration camp by Hitler.

This site transports you back to when Austria was in the clutches of dictatorship and slavery, and forced labor became very common.

Ghosts and Legends Tour

On Vienna’s Ghosts and Legends Tour, lift the lid on the city’s unrevealed and bizarre facts.

Learn about the great personalities on whose dead remains you’ll be walking.

Walk across Hofburg Palace, Augustinian Church, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral pathways with your tour guides. 

Sisi Museum

The Sisi Museum in Vienna is a fascinating place to learn about the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, aka Sisi. 

The museum opened in 2004, is in the Hofburg Palace, and it houses a collection of personal belongings, letters, and photographs that offer a glimpse into Sisi’s life.

Born into a royal family in Bavaria, she married Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria in 1854. 

Technical Museum Vienna

The Technical Museum Vienna, founded in 1908, is a great place to learn about the evolution of technology and innovation. 

The museum’s exhibits are interactive and engaging, offering a unique approach to the development of modern technology.

Capuchins Crypt Vienna

The Capuchin Crypt in Vienna, Austria, is a fascinating historical site that holds the final resting place of members of the Habsburg dynasty, one of the most influential royal families in European history.

The Capuchin Crypt has been the official burial site for members of the Habsburg family since the 17th century. 

The Crypt consists of several chambers and burial vaults, each dedicated to a specific member or branch of the family. 

Things to do in other cities

Atlanta	Amsterdam	Barcelona
Berlin	Boston	Budapest
Chicago	Dubai	Dublin
Edinburgh	Granada	Hamburg
Hong Kong	Las Vegas	Lisbon
London	Los Angeles	Madrid
Melbourne	Miami	Milan
Munich	New York	Orlando
Paris	Prague	Rome
San Diego	San Francisco	Singapore
Sydney	Vienna