Methods to Spend 3 Days in Vienna (Up to date 2023)

Posted: 7/21/23 | July twenty first, 2023

Steeped in tradition, arts, music, and historical past, Vienna is likely one of the most lovely cities in Europe. (No less than I feel so!)

Your complete historic heart of Vienna is a chosen UNESCO World Heritage Web site, 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 smart given its historical past). However, after a few visits, I grew to like 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 could easily spend a week here and never get bored.)

However, for those who solely have just a few days, right here’s my prompt three-day Vienna itinerary for those who’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 each 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 so that they know the within scoop!

Two glorious free strolling excursions are:

If you happen to’d prefer to cowl extra floor, contemplate taking a motorcycle tour. I like the tour offered by Pedal Power Vienna. It’s three hours and covers all the foremost highlights.

Admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral

In-built Romanesque and Gothic types, 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 embellished as properly, with excessive archways, vaulted ceilings, and a plethora of statues and non secular 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 happened simply after World Struggle 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 crucial distinguished in European historical past) for greater than seven centuries. At this time, it’s the official residence of the president of Austria.

You can 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 residences themselves. It’s big.

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 every day 9:30am-5pm. Admission is 16 EUR. In case you 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 touristy (don’t go grocery purchasing right here) however it has a cool vibe and it’s a pleasant place to sit down and eat. Regardless of its fame, you’ll nonetheless discover a whole lot of locals right here so don’t really feel like it is a vacationer solely place. Be sure you hit up Umarfisch for seafood and wine. The meals there’s scrumptious.

If you happen to actually need a deep dive into the market, you too can 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 Trendy Artwork, which has the most important such assortment in Central Europe. The MQ can also be house to a number of festivals all year long, together with open-air concert events and a vogue week. If you happen to love artwork, this place is a should.

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

Moreover, be sure you vist the close by Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Tremendous Arts). Created by Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1891, that is now largest artwork museum within the nation. You can simply spend a number of hours right here (if no more). Most objects are from the Hapsburgs’ previous assortment, with artifacts from historical 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 numerous marble, gold leaf, and murals.

Museum of Tremendous Arts: Maria-Theresien-Platz, +43 1525240, khm.at. Open every day 10am-6pm (9pm on Thursdays). Admission is 21 EUR (get your tickets in advance here).

Take a Meals Tour
After a morning of museums, head out on a food tour around the city to pattern a few of Vienna’s conventional eats. Vienna Meals Excursions has just a few completely different tour choices, with their hottest tour providing a go to to a espresso home, in addition to Austrian favorites like chocolate, cheese, sausage, and, after all, wine. There are often 4-8 stops on most meals excursions, which suggests you’ll need to convey an urge for food. There are additionally vegetarian excursions out there too in case you will have dietary issues.

Tour costs range however most are a minimum of 100 EUR and final 2.5-4 hours.

Admire Schönbrunn Palace

Finish your day with a go to to one in every of Vienna’s hottest websites. Initially a Seventeenth-century looking lodge, this palace later grew to become 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). Nonetheless, there’s greater than sufficient for just a few hours of wandering the exquisitely restored, extremely ornate rooms full of elaborate work, woodwork, chandeliers, and decorations. That is one in every of my favourite locations in all the 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 every day 9:30am-5pm (longer hours in the summertime). The park is open every 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. In case you have the Vienna PASS, admission is free. Skip-the-line guided tours value 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 loads 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 by way of the exquisitely embellished rooms with their gilded chandeliers, grand fireplaces, delicate furnishings, and detailed wall coverings.

For followers of extra up to date artwork, the Albertina Trendy opened in 2020. Situated just some blocks away from the Albertina itself, the museum focuses on post-1945 up to date artwork, with an enormous assortment of over 60,000 works by 5,000 artists.

Albertinaplatz 1, +43 1 53483, albertina.at. Open every 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 Trendy is 24.90 EUR. In case you 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 a hundred and fiftieth anniversary of his demise. The primary ground is the place Mozart and his household lived, though you might want to use your creativeness, as not a lot is understood about how the rooms truly appeared or have been used. However the museum has curated an attention-grabbing choice of work, artifacts, letters, and memorabilia so that you could study his life, music, household, and buddies, and have the ability to take heed to his work.

Domgasse 5, +43 1 5121791, mozarthausvienna.at. Open every 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 house 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 every day 10am-6pm. Admission is 14 EUR (get your ticket here).

Benefit from the Vienna State Opera

Wrap up your closing day on the opera. Vienna is synonymous with the style, a significant focus of life right here. Its opera home is likely one of the largest and most well-known on the earth. 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 individual.

Opernring 2, +43 151444/2250, wiener-staatsoper.at. Test 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 in case you 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 essential 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 provides an genuine take 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 advanced that homes an unimaginable artwork assortment, with works by Renoir, Monet, and Van Gogh, amongst others. Modern 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 every 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 (up to date artwork, movie, music). You may get a day ticket with admission for all three for 28.40 EUR. Admission to each the decrease and higher Belvedere is free in case you 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 greatest native wine whereas having fun with the encompassing landscapes. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a tour operator, I counsel Discover Vienna Tours, which I used once I ran excursions to Vienna. It’s a very cool factor to do however it’s a full-day tour (plan to spend 8-10 hours) so it will likely 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 way of or alongside ten nations: 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. Throughout the summer season, you possibly can absorb the solar on the river’s many “seashore golf equipment”, which have every little thing you might want to calm down: loungers, a bar/café, music, and — surprisingly — sand.
 

The place to Keep in Vienna

Right here’s my record of the most effective locations to remain in Vienna for those who’re on a finances:

Wombats City Hostel – My favourite hostel on the town is in a fantastic location proper alongside the Naschmarkt. Set in a historic Artwork Nouveau constructing, it affords 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 on the lookout for a quiet but inexpensive keep, this hostel is conveniently situated 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. In case you have HostelPass, you’ll get 10% off your reserving at Jo&Joe, and for those who don’t have HostelPass but, use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off when signing up.

Hotel Brauhof Wien – This trendy and trendy lodge is in a wonderful 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 excellent for beer lovers, as there’s a brewery on web site!
 

Cash-Saving Suggestions for Vienna

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

1. Get a Vienna PASS – With the Vienna PASS, you access over 60 sights, 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 sum of money — particularly because it has an possibility without cost public transportation.

2. Get a transit move – If you happen to plan to take the metro loads, 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 way of Sunday) can also be 17.10 EUR. The Vienna City Card affords limitless transportation, in addition to reductions on sights (beginning at 17 EUR for at some point).

3. Go to the museums without cost – Some museums have free days and evenings, providing the potential of saving some euros for those who 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. Test the web site of the museums you need to go to for present free days.

4. Journey throughout shoulder season – Personally, I feel the most effective 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 one in every of Europe’s nice cultural capitals. There’s a lot to see, do, and eat that you can simply spend over per week right here and never scratch the floor. However even for those who solely have three days, you possibly can nonetheless cowl most of the highlights. Simply be sure you 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 received’t disappoint.
 

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