The right way 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 likely one of the most stunning cities in Europe. (Not less than I believe so!)

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

I’ll admit that I didn’t love Vienna once 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 energetic, 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, if you happen to solely have just a few days, right here’s my prompt three-day Vienna itinerary if you happen to’re brief on time. It hits all of the highlights.

Vienna itinerary: Day 1

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

Two wonderful free strolling excursions are:

When you’d wish to cowl extra floor, take into account taking a motorcycle tour. I like the tour offered by Pedal Power Vienna. It’s three hours and covers all the key highlights.

Admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral

In-built Romanesque and Gothic types, 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 properly, with excessive archways, vaulted ceilings, and a plethora of statues and spiritual 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 occurred simply after World Battle 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 outstanding in European historical past) for greater than seven centuries. At present, it’s the official residence of the president of Austria.

You might simply spend half a day right here exploring all of the sights, which embody the Sisi exhibit (highlighting the lifetime of Empress Elisabeth), the Imperial Silver Assortment, and the royal flats themselves. It’s enormous.

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 displays. 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, avenue stalls, and grocers, and, on Saturdays, a flea market too. It’s a bit of touristy (don’t go grocery buying right here) but it surely has a cool vibe and it’s a pleasant place to take a seat and eat. Regardless of its fame, you’ll nonetheless discover loads of locals right here so don’t really feel like this can be a vacationer solely place. Remember to hit up Umarfisch for seafood and wine. The meals there may be scrumptious.

When you actually desire a deep dive into the market, you may also 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 Fashionable Artwork, which has the biggest such assortment in Central Europe. The MQ can be dwelling to a number of festivals all year long, together with open-air concert events and a trend week. When you love artwork, this place is a should.

A cross to 5 of the primary museums is 35 EUR. Guided tours of the district are additionally supplied 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 might simply spend a number of hours right here (if no more). Most objects are from the Hapsburgs’ previous assortment, with artifacts from historic 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 a number 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 considered one of Vienna’s hottest websites. Initially a Seventeenth-century looking 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). Nevertheless, there’s greater than sufficient for just a few hours of wandering the exquisitely restored, extremely ornate rooms stuffed with elaborate work, woodwork, chandeliers, and decorations. That is considered one of my favourite locations in the entire metropolis. Deliver 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 embody 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 finest museums on the town (which says rather a lot in a metropolis filled with nice museums)! Housed in one of many previous 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 once 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 attention-grabbing look into Nineteenth-century aristocratic life as you stroll via the exquisitely embellished rooms with their gilded chandeliers, grand fireplaces, delicate furnishings, and detailed wall coverings.

For followers of extra modern artwork, the Albertina Fashionable opened in 2020. Situated just some 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 Fashionable 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 residence out of all of the locations he resided in Vienna that has survived. The neat little museum opened in 1941 for the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his demise. The primary ground is the place Mozart and his household lived, though you should use your creativeness, as not a lot is understood about how the rooms truly regarded or have been used. However the museum has curated an attention-grabbing collection of work, artifacts, letters, and memorabilia so as to find out about his life, music, household, and mates, and be capable of hearken to his work.

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

See the Freud Museum
One other apartment-turned-museum, this one was dwelling to Sigmund Freud, the well-known founding father of psychoanalysis (the speculation 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 ultimate day on the opera. Vienna is synonymous with the style, a serious point of interest of life right here. Its opera home is likely 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 inside and outside.

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 possibly can line up sooner than that although). It’s first-come, first-served and you’ll solely purchase one ticket per particular person.

Opernring 2, +43 151444/2250, wiener-staatsoper.at. Examine the web site for probably the most up-to-date efficiency schedule. Tickets begin at 59 EUR. A guided constructing tour prices 13 EUR (free you probably have 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 necessary 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 offers 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 (consists of each museums).

Go to Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere is a Baroque palace complicated that homes an unimaginable 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, crops, 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 will get a day ticket with admission for all three for 28.40 EUR. Admission to each the decrease and higher Belvedere is free you probably have the Vienna PASS.

Take a wine tour
Take a motorcycle tour of the gorgeous close by Wachau Valley. You’ll get to style among the finest native wine whereas having fun with the encircling landscapes. When you’re searching for a tour operator, I counsel Discover Vienna Tours, which I used once I ran excursions to Vienna. It’s a extremely cool factor to do but it surely’s a full-day tour (plan to spend 8-10 hours) so will probably be the one factor you try this day! Anticipate 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 via or alongside ten nations: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. Strolling alongside the banks is an effective way to spend a day, and there are many bars, shops, and cafés alongside the water to pop into. Through the summer season, you possibly can absorb the solar on the river’s many “seashore golf equipment”, which have every part you should 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 if you happen to’re on a funds:

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

Jo&Joe Vienna – Nice for vacationers searching for a quiet but reasonably priced keep, this hostel is conveniently positioned subsequent to the Westbahnhof. It has trendy 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 if you happen to don’t have HostelPass but, use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off when signing up.

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

Cash-Saving Ideas for Vienna

To make sure you don’t break the financial institution, listed below are just a few useful money-saving suggestions for Vienna:

1. Get a Vienna PASS – With the Vienna PASS, you get right of entry to over 60 sights, 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 may prevent a good sum of money — particularly because it has an possibility at no cost public transportation.

2. Get a transit cross – When you plan to take the metro rather a lot, 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 via Sunday) can be 17.10 EUR. The Vienna City Card presents limitless transportation, in addition to reductions on sights (beginning at 17 EUR for sooner or later).

3. Go to the museums at no cost – Some museums have free days and evenings, providing the potential of saving some euros if you happen to 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 prepare into Vienna – Until you might be in a rush to get downtown, skip the Metropolis Airport Prepare. It’s 11 EUR, in comparison with the common prepare (which is 4.30 EUR). The time distinction is negligible.

Vienna is considered one of Europe’s nice cultural capitals. There’s a lot to see, do, and eat that you could possibly simply spend over per week right here and never scratch the floor. However even if you happen to solely have three days, you possibly can nonetheless cowl most of the highlights. Simply you should definitely construct in a while hanging out at among the nice coffeehouses — a cultural establishment all their very own — and take within the tempo of metropolis life. It gained’t disappoint.
 

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