Learn 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 lovely cities in Europe. (At the least I feel so!)

The whole historic middle of Vienna is a delegated UNESCO World Heritage Website, it’s full of numerous museums and artwork galleries, grand Baroque palaces, conventional markets, and implausible 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 sensible given its historical past). However, after a few visits, I grew to adore it and located it a metropolis energetic, artwork, and music. I cherished it a lot I took teams of readers right here!

There’s a lot to do right here. (In truth, there’s a lot that you may simply spend every week right here and never get bored.)

However, in the event you solely have a number of days, right here’s my urged three-day Vienna itinerary in the event you’re brief 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 method to get a way of 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 at all times locals in order that they know the within scoop!

Two wonderful free strolling excursions are:

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

Admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral

In-built Romanesque and Gothic kinds, the Stephansdom has been standing because the twelfth century. It’s most well-known for its colourful roof of 230,000 glazed tiles, however the inside is ornately adorned as nicely, with excessive archways, vaulted ceilings, and a plethora of statues and spiritual work. There are two lovely 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 befell 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. Costume 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 outstanding in European historical past) for greater than seven centuries. At this time, it’s the official residence of the president of Austria.

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

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 definitely worth the cash.

Michaelerkuppel, +43 15337570, hofburg-wien.at. Open day by day 9:30am-5pm. Admission is 16 EUR. When you’ve got the Vienna PASS, it’s free. Skip-the-line excursions 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 procuring right here) but it surely has a cool vibe and it’s a pleasant place to sit down and eat. Regardless of its fame, you’ll nonetheless discover lots of locals right here so don’t really feel like this can be a vacationer solely place. Make sure you hit up Umarfisch for seafood and wine. The meals there’s scrumptious.

If you happen to actually desire a deep dive into the market, it’s also possible to 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 also be residence to a number of festivals all year long, together with open-air live shows and a trend week. If you happen to love artwork, this place is a should.

A move to 5 of the primary museums is 35 EUR. Guided excursions of the district are additionally supplied for simply 8 EUR.

Discover the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Wonderful 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 plenty of marble, gold leaf, and murals.

Maria-Theresien-Platz, +43 1525240, khm.at. Open day by day 10am-6pm (9pm on Thursdays). Admission is 21 EUR (get your tickets prematurely right 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 time 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 considered one of my favourite locations in all the 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 day by day 9:30am-5pm (longer hours in the summertime). The park is open day by 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. When you’ve got the Vienna PASS, admission is free. Skip-the-line guided excursions value 48 EUR.

 

Vienna Itinerary: Day 3

Tour the Albertina
Begin your final day on the Albertina, probably the greatest museums on the town (which says quite a bit in a metropolis full of 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 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 adorned 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. Positioned 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 day by day 10am-6pm (9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays). Admission is eighteen.90 EUR (get your tickets prematurely right here). A joint ticket to the Albertina and Albertina Fashionable is 24.90 EUR. When you’ve got 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 condo 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 flooring is the place Mozart and his household lived, though it’s essential to use your creativeness, as not a lot is understood about how the rooms really appeared or had been used. However the museum has curated an fascinating choice of work, artifacts, letters, and memorabilia to be able to study his life, music, household, and mates, and have the ability to take heed to his work.

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

See the Freud Museum
One other apartment-turned-museum, this one was residence 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 adorned 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 day by day 10am-6pm. Admission is 14 EUR (get your ticket right here).

Benefit from the Vienna State Opera

Wrap up your closing 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 this 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. Test 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 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 position Jews performed within the improvement 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 (contains each museums).

Go to Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere is a Baroque palace complicated 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 known as the Belvedere 21. The free grounds characteristic lovely fountains, gravel walkways, ponds, statues, crops, and flowers.

Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, +43 1 795570, belvedere.at. Open day by 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 beautiful close by Wachau Valley. You’ll get to style a number of the greatest native wine whereas having fun with the encompassing landscapes. If you happen to’re searching for a tour operator, I counsel Uncover Vienna Excursions, which I used once I ran excursions to Vienna. It’s a very cool factor to do but it surely’s a full-day tour (plan to spend 8-10 hours) so it is going to be the one factor you try 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 nearly 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) because it passes by or alongside ten international locations: 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. In the course of the summer time, you possibly can take in the solar on the river’s many “seashore golf equipment”, which have every thing it’s essential to chill out: loungers, a bar/café, music, and — surprisingly — sand.
 

The place to Keep in Vienna

Right here’s my listing of the very best locations to remain in Vienna in the event you’re on a price range:

Wombats Metropolis Hostel – My favourite hostel on the town is in an incredible location proper alongside the Naschmarkt. Set in a historic Artwork Nouveau constructing, it presents all the trendy facilities, together with a café/bar, visitor kitchen, and en suite loos (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. When you’ve got HostelPass, you’ll get 10% off your reserving at Jo&Joe, and in the event you don’t have HostelPass but, use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off when signing up.

Lodge Brauhof Wien – This fashionable and trendy resort is in a superb 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 Suggestions for Vienna

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

1. Get a Vienna PASS – With the Vienna PASS, you get admission to over 60 points of interest, museums, and monuments all through Vienna. It prices 78 EUR for a one-day move, 110 EUR for a two-day move, after which all the way in which as much as 170 EUR for six days. If you happen to’re planning to go to a number of of Vienna’s hottest museums, getting the move might prevent a good amount of cash — particularly because it has an choice totally free public transportation.

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

3. Go to the museums totally free – Some museums have free days and evenings, providing the potential of saving some euros in the event you time it proper. Kunsthalle Wein has free admission each Thursday from 5pm-9pm, and plenty of museums have free admission the primary Sunday of the month. Test the web site of the museums you wish to go to for present free days.

4. Journey throughout shoulder season – Personally, I feel the very best 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 – Except you’re in a rush to get downtown, skip the Metropolis Airport Practice. It’s 11 EUR, in comparison with the common practice (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 may simply spend over every week right here and never scratch the floor. However even in the event you solely have three days, you possibly can nonetheless cowl lots of the highlights. Simply remember to construct in a while hanging out at a number of the nice coffeehouses — a cultural establishment all their very own — and take within the tempo of metropolis life. It received’t disappoint.
 

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