Vienna is a city that’s brimming with history, culture, and breathtaking architecture, making it one of Europe’s most iconic destinations. A visit to Vienna is like stepping back in time to a world of grandeur and elegance, where every corner has a story to tell. From the vibrant Naschmarkt to the stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna has an endless array of experiences waiting to be discovered. So if you’re ready to visit Vienna and explore its many wonders, then read on and discover everything you need to know about this enchanting city!
Table of Contents
- How to get to Vienna
- Where to stay in Vienna
- What to see in Vienna
- Day Trip from Vienna to Bratislava
- Where to Next?
How to get to Vienna
Prague to Vienna
I took a Flixbus from Prague to Vienna for about $20 USD. I went from the Florenc bus stop in Prague to the Vienna Erdberg station. From here, I took a couple buses using Google Maps to my hostel on the other side of town.
In addition, Blablacar can also be a great and cheaper option to travel from Prague to Vienna.
Fly into Vienna
There are several non-stop flights from New York City, Chicago, LA or Washington DC to Vienna with Austrian Airlines and United Airways.
Where to stay in Vienna
During my visit to Vienna, I decided to stay at the Meininger Hostel in Vienna. Meininger is a trusty hostel chain that I can always rely on to have clean and comfortable beds and rooms. In addition, the hostel also had a small kitchen allowing me to save some money and cook food for lunch and dinner. There is a breakfast daily for an additional $10 USD per day, or a breakfast to go for $7 USD. There is also laundry available in the hostel that is managed online.
The hostel itself is located a bit away from the central historic part of town. It takes about 25 minutes to walk to Rathausplatz and the Hofburg. And about 50 minutes to walk to Belvedere Palace. However, there are buses and metros that can be taken easily to visit any place around the city.
For those looking for a unique hotel stay in Vienna close to the city center, consider checking out the hotels featured in this informative blog. From their beautiful designs to their stunnning views, each hotel in this list offers an enhanced experience of Vienna.
What to see in Vienna
Schönbrunn Palace
This former imperial summer residence is one of Vienna’s most popular attractions, with stunning Baroque architecture, beautifully landscaped gardens, and a fascinating history. The palace park covers a large area of palace and gardens. Therefore, you can buy tickets online for various sections of the palace. Tickets for the Grand Tour, which covers the palace, costs 29 euros. Classic tickets, which covers the palace and 4 other special attractions, costs 34 euros. For all ticketing information, check out their website here: https://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/tickets-and-prices/all-tickets-tours.
Getting to Schönbrunn Palace from Vienna city is very easy with public transportation. There are metros, trams and buses that can bring you here. From the Meininger Hostel, the U4 metro is the easiest and fastest way to get here.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
This iconic cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and is one of Vienna’s most recognizable landmarks, with a stunning multicolored tile roof and ornate interiors.
Belvedere Palace
This magnificent Baroque palace is home to a world-renowned art collection, including works by Gustav Klimt, and boasts stunning views of Vienna from its hilltop location. The palace property is split into 3 main buildings: Lower Belvedere, Upper Belvedere, Belvedere 21. Upper Belvedere is the bigger palace building that you often see in photos. They sell tickets for each building as well as a combination ticket. To visit all 3 buildings, the ticket costs 24.90 euros. You can buy tickets online here: https://www.belvedere.at/tickets. Belvedere Palace was a 50 minute walk from the Meininger Hostel, but it was a nice walk exploring the other historical buildings along the way.
Hofburg Palace
This grand palace complex served as the residence of the Habsburg emperors and now houses a variety of museums, including the Imperial Treasury and the Sisi Museum. You can buy tickets online for 17.50 euros.
Naschmarkt
Vienna’s largest outdoor market is a foodie’s paradise, offering everything from fresh produce to international street food and vintage antiques.
Vienna State Opera
One of the world’s most renowned opera houses, the Vienna State Opera hosts over 300 performances each year and features stunning Art Nouveau architecture. They do offer guided tours here for about 13 euros per person. In addition, concerts are also held here and the tickets can be found on their website: https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/season-tickets/events-tickets/.
Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Museum of Natural History
Kunsthistorisches is an impressive museum that houses an extensive collection of fine art, including works by Raphael, Rembrandt, and Vermeer, as well as ancient artifacts and decorative arts. Tickets are 21 euros and can be bought online here: https://www.khm.at/en/visit/besucherinformation/hours-admission/.
The Museum of Natural History in Vienna is one of the world’s leading natural history museums, featuring an extensive collection of fossils, minerals, and preserved specimens of animals, plants, and insects from around the globe. The museum is housed in a stunning 19th-century neo-Renaissance building and features numerous exhibitions and interactive displays, including a life-sized dinosaur skeleton and the world’s largest collection of meteorites.
Rathaus (City Hall) and Rathausplatz
Rathaus is an impressive Gothic Revival building serves as the seat of Vienna’s city government and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains. Rathausplatz is a large public square located in the heart of Vienna, adjacent to the Rathaus. The square is a hub of activity throughout the year, hosting various festivals, markets, and events, including the popular Christmas market, which features a giant ice-skating rink and festive decorations. The square is surrounded by historic buildings and monuments, making it a great spot for a stroll and to take in the sights and sounds of Vienna.
Karlskirche
Karlskirche is one of Vienna’s most important Baroque landmarks, known for its impressive dome and columns inspired by ancient Roman architecture. Visitors can marvel at the ornate interiors, climb to the top of the dome for panoramic views of Vienna, and attend classical music concerts in the stunning setting of Karlskirche.
Day Trip from Vienna to Bratislava
Bratislava makes a perfect day trip from Vienna. Only 1 hour by driving, visiting Bratislava from Vienna is very easy. The easiest way to get to Bratislava is by bus, either Flixbus or RegioJet. Bratislava is a historic town with wonderful architecture and hidden gems to explore. While it may not be on everyone’s travel list, there are some interesting things to do in Bratislava.
Where to Next?
Now that you have explored Vienna, the capital of Austria, consider visiting a few more cities around this beautiful country. I’d highly recommend visiting Salzburg and Innsbruck in the Austrian Alps. Both cities provide a multitude of outdoor experiences and scenics views.
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