Vienna, Austria is one of Europe’s most historically significant cities. Known for being the home of the Habsburg Empire for over 600 years, this city has no shortage of royal history, palaces, and unbelievable museums. Another major theme of this beautiful city is music. Some of the greatest composers including Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, and Strauss created their best works Vienna. Of course, there is no shortage of dark history here from the significant role that Austria played in WWI and WWII. I’ll touch on all of these topics throughout this blog so that you can experience Vienna to the fullest during your next visit.
There is so much to see in Vienna! During my visit to this city, I was blown away and wish I had more time to explore. Aside from the history and the sights, there is such a unique culture here. I loved slipping into different coffee shops, boutiques, and restaurants while being surrounded by the jaw-dropping architecture. Let’s dive into some of the best things to see and do in Vienna, Austria.
The Best Time to Visit Vienna
I visited Vienna in August and felt that it was a great time to be there.
When to Visit?
Vienna, Austria
Contrary to other European locations in August, Vienna wasn’t too hot. I was actually wearing cardigans each evening. The spring months (April and May) and the fall months (September and October) are also wonderful times to be in Vienna.
You may also consider traveling here during Christmas time to see the infamous Christmas markets that take place throughout Austria and Germany. The main thing to keep in mind when visiting in the winter is that there are more travel restrictions due to snow and ice. In many cases, trains will close or cancel routes due to snow. Other than that, I’m sure its magical to be in Vienna during the holiday!
Museums in Vienna
As a history nerd myself, I’m always looking for the best museums when in Europe. Vienna has some of the best art and history museums in the world! Here are a few that you need to hit during your next visit.
Belvedere Museum
Home to Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”, this museum is located in a palace and houses some of the most incredible art. Allow for about 3 hours at this museum and try to get there early to see the gardens and to avoid the large tour groups. Personally, this is one of my favorite art museums I’ve ever been to.
Albertina Museum
The Albertina Museum is located in the former staterooms of the Habsburgs and is one of the most impressive museums in Vienna. Give yourself about 2-3 hours to visit this museum and enjoy the stunning architecture and design inside of the building that surrounds the artwork. The Albertina Museum is in the first district of Vienna next to the Hofburg Palace, so you should plan to explore the first district in the same day or two. More on that later!
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History)
This is another world-famous museum located in the first district. Here, you can see works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens, and Klimt. This art history museum is always in the list of top museums to visit in Vienna. If you’re into art museums, you’ll have no shortage of options in Vienna!
Sights to See in Vienna
My time in Vienna reminded me of what it felt like to wander through Paris. There is truly so many landmarks, historical buildings, and old cathedrals scattered throughout the city. You could spend an entire day just walking and exploring in order to cross everything off your list.
I’m not always a fan of tours, but I did wish. I had a tour guide while I was walking around Vienna. There is an overwhelming amount of history here and I felt like I didn’t always know exactly what I was looking at or what the significance was. If that’s something you care about, try scheduling a walking tour! I’m definitely going to do that on my next visit.
Palaces of Vienna
Schönbrunn Palace
This is probably the most iconic landmark in Vienna. The Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence for the Habsburgs and is one of the largest palaces in the world. This palace is located on the edge of the city and typically takes a half-day to visit. Don’t miss this one!
Hofburg Palace
This is one of the spots in Vienna that has some darkness hanging over it from WWII. The Hofburg Palace is located in the first district (Inner City) of Vienna right next to The Abertina Museum. This was originally the main imperial palace for the Habsburgs and is another one of the largest palaces in the world coming in at over two million square feet!
There is a section of this palace dedicated to Empress Sisi, which was fascinating to see and learn about. In certain areas, you can even smell the horses since there is a riding show that takes place in the palace to hark back to the traditions of Austria.
In more recent years, the Hofburg Palace was taken over by Hitler and the Nazis. The main balcony that faces the square was the location of one of Hitler’s most infamous speeches. I stood in the square and tried to imagine the Nazi flags waving from the balconies and the massive crowds who stood there to listen to him. It’s quite chilling. The balcony is now called “Hitler’s Balcony” and is closed to the public.
Underneath the balcony is the entrance to the Austrian National Library. During my time in Vienna, I was working remotely and spent a few afternoons working in this library alongside Austrian students. It was a very cool experience!
Cathedrals of Vienna
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Along with the Schönbrunn Palace, this cathedral is a symbol of Vienna. Built in the 1500s, this cathedral stands tall in the first district as the tallest church in Austria. This church is free to enter and I highly recommend going inside.
St. Charles church
This is an incredibly beautiful baroque church that was built after a devastating plague in the 1700s. If you’re hoping to see a classical music performance, there are many opportunities to see a show inside of this iconic church.
St. Peter’s Church
This church is located fairly close to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It’s pretty small, but the interior is stunning. I stumbled into this church and was lucky enough to see a violinist performing for a small group. Hearing that traditional Viennese music in one of their most famous churches was a moment I’ll never forget. Pop your head into this church while you’re in Vienna, you never know what you might find.
Honorable Mentions
Vienna State Opera
I did go inside of this opera house during my time in Vienna, but it’s at the top of my list for next time. Located right next to the Hofburg Palace and The Albertina, this is one of the world’s leading opera houses. If you have the opportunity to see a show here, do it!
Café Central
This can be a quick stop on your itinerary, but I recommend walking by Café Central. You have to have a reservation here to go inside, which I plan on doing next time, but it’s pretty cool to see the outside of this stunning coffee shop. This cafe is famous for the people who would spend their time here in the 1930’s and beyond. In 2011, Café Central was added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Vienna’s Vineyards
Unbeknownst to me, Vienna is surrounded by beautiful vineyards. There are over 400 vineyards surrounding the city that are easily accessible by public transport! Schedule a happy hour or a dinner in these vineyards that lie in the hills overlooking the valley that Vienna sits in.
Vienna Waits For You
Vienna was a city that was never at the top of my list, but completely blew my expectations out of the water. I could have spent weeks exploring this city. Whether you’re a history buff, art lover, or a walking tour fanatic, I hope this guide gave you some insight on what to see and how to plan your time. I hope you enjoy this wonderful city!
