How to Spend 1 Day in Vienna: Itinerary for First Time Visitors
While I had far more than 1 day in Vienna, I had a visitor come and meet up with me during my stay there, and we did a whirlwind tour of central Vienna in one day. If you only have 24 hours, you can do the same! However, there is far more to see in the city, so it’s best to try and plan about 3 days to take in the highlights of Vienna.
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About Vienna, Austria
Vienna is the capital and largest city in Austria. It is also the most populous with almost two million inhabitants and over 2.9 million in the metro area which is about 1/3 of Austria’s population! Vienna is also the 6th largest city in the European Union by population and the largest of all of the cities along the Danube River.
What makes Vienna famous is its musical legacy. It is known by some as the “City of Music” as many classical musicians, like Beethoven and Mozart, lived in Vienna. Another nickname for the city is the “City of Dreams”. This comes from it being home to one of the world’s first psychoanalysts, Sigmund Freud. Vienna has a very rich history to explore and learn about!
What to See with One Day in Vienna
With limited time in Vienna, you’re going to want to strategize where you go and what you see and do. I always recommend starting with the things you can’t miss or are lookin the most forward to. Alternatively, you can start in the most densely populated tourist sites to knock out a lot all at one time. In many cases, these two areas likely overlap.
In Vienna, for me, that was the city center which houses many of the top sights in Vienna. So let’s start there!
Explore the City Center
The city center of Vienna was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Spend the morning and afternoon exploring all of the sights. You won’t want to miss:
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral
A city icon for Vienna, St. Stephen’s is the main Roman Catholic church of the Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna. This central medieval church and place of worship sits in the center of Vienna. Stop in to admire the beauty of the church, take the elevator up the tower for stunning views, and visit the catacombs.
- The Hofburg
This ornate Baroque building was the former imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. It’s located in central Vienna and is packed with history and exhibits. You could easily spend a full day in Vienna just exploring the Hofburg. Experience the highlights of it on a 2.5 hour guided tour.
Visit the Sisi Museum, Silberkammer or Imperial Silver Collection, and Kaiserappartements or Imperial Apartments. These three are covered by one ticket. Or opt to visit the Spanish Riding School where you can take a guided tour, watch a lesson, or watch a performance of the Lipizzans. Additionally, you can visit the Imperial Treasury – which is home to the crown jewels, or the NeueBurg palace.
The Neue Burg palace includes the National Library, the Ephesos Museum, the Weltmuseum, the House of Austrian History, the Arms & Armor collection, and the Historical Musical Instruments collection. Last but not least, admire the external part of the Hofburg including the Burggarten park and Volksgarten.
- Belvedere Palace
This stately Baroque palace complex includes two palaces, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. Opt to visit the gardens for free, or purchase a ticket to explore the Upper or Lower Belvedere. The Upper includes the famous Klimt’s Kiss and a permanent collection while the Lower Belvedere includes temporary exhibitions.
- Vienna Opera House
This stunning building inside and out is home to the Vienna Opera. It was built in the Renaissance Revival style and features 1,709 seats. Opt to take a guided tour of the Opera House or catch an opera while you’re in town.
- Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
An architecturally beautiful building, the Kunsthistorisces Museum is an art museum. Here you’ll see Klimt murals, along with art from Duhrer, Rebens, Bruegel, and Bosch. It’s a must visit for art lovers. However, if art isn’t your thing, you may just want to admire the exterior if you’re exploring Vienna in one day.
- Prater
Wurstelprater is a public amusement park that is nicknamed as Prater. It is also home to the Wiener Riesenrad Ferris Wheel. Take a ride on this city icon to get spectacular views from 65 meters above Vienna. A full rotation typically takes 12 – 15 minutes depending on stops to load and unload passengers. Purchase your ticket ahead to skip the line!
- Naschmarkt
A can’t miss destination in Vienna is Naschmarkt. This market is located over the Wien River at the Wienzeile and is almost a mile long! You’ll find fruits and vegetables, baked goods, cheeses, meats, and even a variety of small restaurants. Go on a food tasting tour to really make the most of this market!
- Albertina
Another popular art museum in Vienna is the Albertina. This fabulous museum houses about 65,000 drawings and 1 million old master prints. It’s also home to modern graphic works, photographs, and architectural drawings. Another awesome option for art lovers in Vienna!
Treat Yourself to Some Classic Viennese Foods
After trekking the city, hunt down the best Wienerschnitzel you can find and enjoy a meal in true Viennese style. This popular Vienna dish is typically made with a veal cutlet pounded thin by a meat tenderizer and then dipped in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs and deep friend.
While it is hotly debated where to get the best Wienerschnitzel in Vienna, a few popular places include: Schnitzelwirt, Figlmuller, and Plachutta.
If you’re up to it, you can also opt for a food tour of Vienna, a real culinary experience at Restaurant Stefanie, or take a romantic dinner cruise to see Vienna lit up at night. Alternatively, if music is really more your jam attend a traditional dinner show at the Wiener Rathauskeller. You’ll get to taste the best regional delicacies while enjoying popular songs in Vienna’s famous City Hall!
Attend a Concert in Vienna
Being the “City of Music” one of the most popular things to do in Vienna is to take in a classical concert. Whether this is on your Vienna itinerary or not, you’ll still want to check out the location for many of these concerts as they are truly stunning and offer amazing acoustics.
- Kursalon: Experience a memorable evening of Mozart and Strauss music performed by the renowned Orchestra of Old Vienna.
- Karlskirche: Book a ticket to attend Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Concert at this beautiful Baroque Church.
- St. Peter’s Church: Catch a classic ensemble at the stunning St. Peter’s Church to enjoy timeless classics from famous composers.
- Golden Hall: Enjoy a Mozart Concert at one of Vienna’s finest concert halls, the Golden Hall of the Musikverein.
- St. Anne’s Church: Attend a classical concert by the renowned Viennese String Ensemble at this architectural masterpiece.
- Mozarthaus: Visit Mozart’s first house in Vienna for a Mozart Ensemble concert.
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral: Be amazed at the music of Mozart, Bach, and other classical artists in one of the world’s most beautiful churches.
Stay Overnight in Vienna
After a long day exploring Vienna, you’ll want someplace comfortable to sleep for the night. I recommend booking accommodations in advance so you can hit the ground running when you arrive. After all, there is a lot to take in with just 24 hours in Vienna!
Here are some of the best hotels for each budget:
- Luxury Hotel: Palais Coburg Hotel Residenz or Hotel Sacher Wien
- Mid-range Hotel: The Guesthouse Vienna or Hotel Kaiserhof Wien
- Budget Hotel: Hotel Erzherzog Rainer or Hotel Stefanie
- Cheap Hostel: Vienna Hostel Ruthensteiner or Vienna Boutique Hostel
What to Do with More than One Day in Vienna
If you have two or more days to spend in Vienna, there’s a lot you can do with that time. Opt to explore the city further. Take in the museums. Go off the beaten path. There is plenty to explore in Vienna. And if you have two days in Vienna, start your additional exploration at Schonbrunn Palace.
Visit Schonbrunn Palace
his beautiful Baroque palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers stunning gardens and opulent interiors. It’s considered a must visit in the area but has enough to see and do that it can easily take a full day. Because of this, trying to squeeze it into your 24 hours in Vienna will be tight. A few options for visiting it include:
- Taking a tour of the Palace and the Gardens – the most classic way to visit Schonbrunn Palace
Learn all about it: Visiting Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna: Highlights & Tips for Your Trip
Take a Day Trip from Vienna
One of the best part’s of Vienna is its location. It sits right in the middle of Europe with tons of wonderfully accessible cities nearby. Additionally, the train and bus systems in Europe are easy to use to do day trips on your own, or you can book pre-booked day trips. Here are the top 10 day trips from Vienna you will want to consider.
- Bratislava, Slovakia: Explore this nearby European capital via bus and boat to see what Bratislava is all about. After all, it’s only an hour away!
- Hallstatt, Austria & Alpine Peaks: Visit this picturesque mountain town situated beautifully on a serene lake.
- Salzburg, Austria: Discover Mozart’s birthplace and the famous setting of “The Sound of Music” in the beautiful city of Salzburg.
- Wachau Valley, Austria: Take a river cruise and tour of the wineries in Wachau Valley. Alternatively, you can also do a bike tour through the wineries!
- Mauthausen Concentration Camp Memorial, Austria: While not the same cheerful destination as most of the other Vienna day trips, it is a historically significant one to learn about lief in this WWII camp.
- Prague, Czech Republic: Prague certainly deserves more than a day trip from Vienna, but if that’s all the time you have, it’s still worth the journey. Going with a group – take a private tour!
- Budapest, Hungary: Similar to Prague, Budapest deserves more than one day, but it is a possible day trip from Vienna.
- Ljubljana & Bled, Slovenia: Explore the highlights of Slovenia on a day trip from Vienna, including Ljubljana and Lake Bled.
- Zagreb, Croatia: Visit the capital city of Croatia on a day rip where you’ll get to explore the top sights with a local guide!
- Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic: Take the bus or opt for a private transfer to get to this stunning town in the Czech Republic.
Learn how to Plan a Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov: Hidden Gem of the Czech Republic
Top Takeaways from Visiting Vienna
Having spent multiple days in Vienna, it’s safe to say there are a few noticeable differences about the city versus its neighboring countries. Unlike many other parts of Europe, Vienna is spotless and almost like a dream you walk into.
Here are some other takeaways to help you know what to expect when visiting Vienna.
- The age range of tourists tends to be a bit higher here. This may be simply due to the cost of the city as compared to some other areas of Europe.
- Vienna is so clean! The streets are washed. The buildings are clean. The people are polished. It’s a beautiful (and safe) place to explore solo or with friends.
- It’s quiet. Even on the highly trafficked main roads, Vienna was so quiet that you can hear others whispering. This is incredibly different than many other thriving European cities. It struck me as very strange!
Plan More of Your Time in Austria
If you’re only spending one day in Vienna, you’ll likely be headed to nearby cities and places to explore further. Here are some of my personal favorites to consider adding to your itinerary.
- Visiting Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna: Highlights & Tips for Your Trip
- Plan a Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov: Hidden Gem of the Czech Republic
- 1 Day in Budapest: Itinerary on the Fast Track
- Finding the Bratislava of Eurotrip: “I open my own hotel!”
- How to Spend One Day in Innsbruck: Itinerary for First Time Visitors
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