12 Best Things To Do In Vienna: Symphony Of The Past And Present

Vienna is the capital, the largest city, the most populous city, and one of the nine provinces of Austria. In this travel guide, you will get to know the most wondrous things to do in Vienna. 

The city that inspired the revolutionary opera of Mozart and the subversive portraits of Klimt is alive for both tourists and locals to explore. Vienna may be renowned for its magnificent Baroque domes and spires, but more than these thrive today, in its kitchens and performance spaces. A whole lot fresher than Paris and less raunchy than Berlin, exploring Vienna is like whisking yourself to a fairy tale. What are the best things to do in Vienna?

Here Are 12 Of The Best Things To Do In Vienna

As you enjoy these best things to do in Vienna, things will never be the same. 

1. Visit Innere Stadt, Vienna’s Historic Jewel

Like many other cities in the world, Vienna also has an old town to be proud of. The Old Town of Vienna is brimming with historic jewels. While you are here, there are so many things to do in Vienna. 

First, you can visit the Hofburg Palace, this old town’s crowning glory with ornate interiors. Then, you can head to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a place that harkens back to the Middle Ages, hiding catacombs beneath. 

From there, there’s the Kärntner Strasse which you can visit for a contemporary shopping break, as you continue on to Graben to see more Baroque beauties like the Pestsäule Column. Don’t miss the Parliament and the Burgtheater with some murals by Klimt, a famous Austrian painter. 

2. Delve Into The Past Of St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Towering above the streets of Innere Stadt, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Stephansdom, is Vienna’s true centerpiece. Stephansdom is the city’s heart and soul. As you visit this place to enjoy the things to do in Vienna, you will learn about this structure’s past. 

It was in the early 14th century when it was built. In 1791, it was here where mourners gathered to pay their respects to Mozart. In 1805, Napoleon used the cathedral’s doors to post his farewell edit. During World War II, it withstood attacks from both German and Russian armies. Today, St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a tourism marvel.

This awe-inspiring cathedral lords over Vienna, topped with an intricately-tiled roof, as well as its distinctive row and chevrons and the Austrian eagle. Underneath the cathedral are catacombs with their eerie collection of the deceased. Inside, there’s a stately Gothic stone pulpit that presides over the main nave. Rising about this is the South Tower that offers dazzling views of the town.

3. Marvel At Schönbrunn Palace 

In Vienna, palaces are quite a normal sight around. One of the most glorious of them is Schönbrunn Palace. This palace was once the Imperial Summer residence of Emperor Leopold I, a Holy Roman Emperor. Today, it is among the most treasured architectural, cultural, and historic monuments not just in Vienna but throughout Austria. 

Overflowing with artistic gems and nature’s gifts, the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace boast stunning gardens, numerous ornate fountains, glasshouses of otherworldly plants, and artificial Roman ruins. Its Gloriette centerpiece is the perfect place to lounge over coffee or tea.

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4. Head To Schloss Belvedere Where You Are Transported To An Art Lover’s Dream

Vienna is just teeming with palaces. Another palace to visit while you are enjoying the things to do in Vienna is Schloss Belvedere, a 17th-century palace touted as an art lover’s dream. 

Aside from its grandeur, this Baroque building also houses Austrian art from the Medieval era to the present day. It also highlights a collection of Klimt’s works. The contrast between its traditional interior and contemporary aesthetics will be well-loved by anybody visiting this place.

5. Salute Modern Art At MuseumsQuartier

Aside from palaces, your visit to Vienna will also take you to various museums. But you don’t have to be in places apart from each other to experience the city’s museums. Vienna is quite generous to gather the greatest museums in town in MuseumsQuartier.

This art district features museums like the Mumok which displays over 10,000 works of art, including those by Picasso, Warhol and Lichtenstein. If you wish to view more modern masterpieces, visit the Leopold Museum nearby, and for a display of works of art from up and coming artists, visit Kunsthalle Wien. Other museums here at MuseumsQuartier are the ZOOM Kindermuseum and Architekturzentrum Wien.

6. Partake In This Fastest Tour Around Vienna

If you are looking for unique and fun things to do in Vienna that can get your adrenaline pumping, you can sign up for a hot rod tour around Vienna, the fastest tour in town. 

Spanning two hours, this self-drive tour brings you to Vienna’s wide streets and historic neighborhoods. But before you grab the wheel, you will meet with a team of drivers and guides for a bringing, as they instruct you to put on your helmet and headset, and start your engine. With an experienced team leader and guide, things will surely be fun here.

Exploring the things to do in central Europe, like the things to do in Vienna, is the best. Continue your journey to Zurich, another amazing city in central Europe. Click here for the guide.

7. Say ‘Guten Appetit!’ As You Savor Vienna’s Recipes

Thinking about Vienna, you will recall your favorite Vienna sausage. But there are definitely more things to do in Vienna than just eating Vienna sausages. Whether it’s local dining, coffee houses, or a pub crawl, there are various food tours in the city that will take you to the best places to eat and drink.

For instance, this Christmas season, there are Christmas market foodie tours being offered, showing off the best gastronomic treats the city has to offer. There are also food tours where participants can sample appetizers, sausages, mains, and desserts to cap it all off. It’s bon appétit in France, but in Austria, they greet you, “Guten appetit!”

8. Spend Your Summer At Copa Cagrana Beach

Amidst the city’s beautiful palaces and museums, would you believe that Vienna also has a beach where you can bask in the sun? Just beyond the city center, nestled by the Donauinsel island, is Copa Cagrana Beach, a stretch of sandy beach bars, pop-up food stalls, and a sizable open-air TV viewing area that locals and tourists flock to during the summer season. 

The beach is only open between June and September, but once they do, there are lots of things to do in Vienna here. There are volleyball courts, trampolines, and green spaces beside the water. Some of the best experiences here include nibbling on delicate Trześniewski sandwiches or open finger sandwiches, and satisfying your summertime cravings with a fresh spritzer while taking in the stunning views.

9. Hike The Vineyards

Vienna’s surrounding hills are fortunately blessed with vineyards and views, ripe for hiking and tippling. Every autumn, these places conduct a wine hiking day that sees over 190 winemakers put up small wooden huts along the walking spots where hikers can try fresh wine harvests of the year. If Vienna’s palaces are too trivial or common for you while you are in the city, hiking the vineyards is one of the things to do in Vienna that will give a breath of fresh air for your trip. 

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10. Stop By Kunsthistorisches Museum, The Jewel In Vienna’s Artistic Crown

Another museum that deserves your visit while you’re in Vienna is Kunsthistorisches Museum. This museum is touted as the jewel in Vienna’s artistic crown. 

The pieces displayed here range from ancient Egyptian and Greek objects to masterpieces crafted by numerous notable European masters like Titian, van Dyke, Velasquez, and Rubens. As a matter of fact, the collection here at the Museum of Fine Arts is so vast that many travelers say the walls of Hofburg Palace look bare when compared side-by-side with this museum. Be sure to add this on your things to do in Vienna itinerary.

11. Celebrate Music! Catch A Concert Performance While You’re In The City

Vienna is nicknamed “the City of Music,” the home of celebrated musicians like Mozart and Beethoven, so you are definitely missing a lot if your things to do in Vienna itinerary does not have you watching a concert performance. 

You can’t walk far in this city without seeing ads of music concerts, particularly for those organized for tourists that feature Mozart and Strauss – and Beethoven, Haydn, and Schubert, occasionally.

Some of the best classical concerts in Vienna are the Mozart concert at the Golden Hall, the after-hours palace concert at Schönbrunn, the Mozart and Strauss concert at Kursalon Vienna, the classical Vienna concert at Palais Eschenbach, Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” at Karlskirche, and more. Treat yourself to something remarkable. 

12. Or, Watch A Classical Concert At St. Peter’s Church

Or, you can head to St. Peter’s Church for a mesmerizing experience listening to a classical music concert. Not only will you be amazed by its Baroque beauty, but you will also give your ears a treat. Simply take a seat in the church vaults, and immerse yourself in a musical program that features pieces from world-renowned classical composers like Mozart, Bach, Vivaldi, Schubert, and Beethoven. This is one of the things to do in Vienna that you shouldn’t miss. 

Loving the things to do in Vienna? Continue your trip to other nearby destinations, like Berlin in Germany. 

Best Things To Do In Vienna: Know These Travel Tips 

Before you pack your bags and have fun with the best things to do in Vienna, there are important travel tips that you should know. 

• Do try eating some Wiener Schnitzel, a kind of schnitzel made of a thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet.
• Don’t be late. German-speaking folks are unbelievably punctual. If you are meeting with friends in Vienna or watching a concert, show up on time. 
• Do be polite. Locals in Vienna are known for their extreme politeness. 
• Do learn to dance Viennese waltz. Did you know that over 450 Viennese balls occur in Vienna every year?
• Don’t compare Austrians with Germans. 
• Do learn to classify water. In Vienna, there’s sparkling water, still water, and mild water. Austrians prefer drinking sparkling water.
• Don’t expect to see shops open on Sundays. Quite weird, but true. 

As much as possible, while you travel, you’d want to immerse yourself with the locals, or be like a local, so you want not to look like a tourist. With these travel tips, you can do this with flying colors.

Visit The City Of Music

For those who haven’t been to Vienna, they mostly associated this city in Austria with the Vienna sausage. True, this type of sausage is made in Vienna, but if you wish to go deeper, there is more to this city than just sausages. 

Vienna has been deemed the “City of Music” because of its imprint to the world of music. Many famous classical musicians like Beethoven and Mozart called Vienna their home. It is also the “City of Dreams” as this place is where the world’s first psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, is from. 

It also has quite a story. Vienna’s ancestral roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements before transforming into a Medieval and Baroque city. Being the “city of music,” it is quite well-known for having played an enormous role as a leading music center in Europe, from the age of Viennese Classicism until the early 1900s. 

Come and visit Vienna. There are so many things to do in Vienna. In the heart of this city, timeless elegance meets vibrant modernity, and a world of enchantment is revealed before your eyes. In Vienna, you just don’t visit. You are transported to a realm where the past and present waltz harmoniously, where you listen to a symphony you will never ever forget.