Vienna, Austria is an amazing city to visit in Europe with so much to see! If you are looking for what to do in Vienna, I have put together a list of the 15 best things to do so you can start building your Vienna Bucket List!
The Historic Centre of Vienna is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is absolutely stunning. I have been lucky enough to visit Vienna twice and I would love to go back!
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Vienna Bucket List: Top Things to do in Vienna!
Vienna has a ton of amazing things to see and do, and one of the best ways to see the highlights without a lot of work on your end is to join a walking tour of the city!
I always join a walking tour when arriving to a new place in Europe to first get a nice layout of the city, and then I can re-visit places later for more photos or at different times of the day to avoid crowds.
You can join a Free Walking Tour (I like Sandemans New Europe Walking Tours!) or sign up for a Paid Walking Tour of Vienna.
1. St. Stephens Cathedral
Located right in the city center and dating back to 1147, St. Stephens Cathedral is one of the best things to see on your next trip to Vienna. If you’re on a budget, you can marvel at the cathedral outside & just enjoy the architecture. If you want to take a closer look, there are guided tours of the church and the catacombs!
Check availability of entrance tickets in advance to St Stephens Cathedral + Don Museum Wien Here!
2. The Vienna Riesenrad & Prater
Prater is an amusement park that is located in the city of Vienna, and such a cool and unique thing to do on your next visit. If you’re looking to have a little fun, hop on the different rides that are offered, or enjoy some snacks as you wander the park. The Vienna Risenrad is an amazing Ferris wheel pictured above, and was once the world’s tallest ferris wheel! We had the whole booth to ourselves when we rode, and it was an awesome experience!
Check availability for Skip The Line Tickets Here!
3. Naschmarkt
Naschmarkt is the best market in Vienna. You can stop here if you’re looking for souvenirs, a snack, or even an entire meal. My hostel was located right by Naschmarkt, which made shopping and snacking a breeze!
4. Zanoni & Zanoni Ice Cream
If you are in Europe you have to get ice cream. If you are in Vienna, Zanoni & Zanoni is the best place to get it! They offer other desserts & meals too, but a good old fashioned ice cream cone is the perfect snack while exploring the city on a summers day.
5. Schönbrunn Palace – One of the Best Things in Vienna
If you’re looking to explore the summer home of the past rulers of Austria, Schönbrunn Palace is the place for you! The palace itself is magnificent inside, but the grounds also offer so much to explore.
Make sure to leave enough time in your visit to explore the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens, as they are beautifully maintained and a pretty way to spend a day in Vienna.
Check availability for a Skip The Line Guided Tour of Schonbrunn Palace + Gardens here!
SCHONBRUNN PALM HOUSE
The Palm House is one of the many treasures you’ll find on the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace. If you are interested in greenhouses & palms, check this place out while exploring Vienna.
THE OLDEST ZOO IN THE WORLD
Schönbrunn Palace is also home to the oldest zoo in the world, dating back to 1752. If you’re interested in zoos or even history, you can tour this zoo or just peer at it through the fence.
6. Visit Vienna’s Museums
Vienna has a ton of museums that are available to explore. If you are interested in museums, do your research and make sure to budget time in order to ensure you get your museum fix on your trip to Vienna!
A few museums you could look into are:
- The Sigmund Freud Museum
- Natural History Museum
- Kunsthistorisches Museum
- The Albertina
- Belvedere Palace and Museum (see Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” in person!)
7. Hundertwasser House
Hundertwasser House is SO UNIQUE. Just looking at it is so incredible, I knew I wanted to see it with my own eyes when I visited Vienna. Although (in my opinion) it isn’t “jaw-dropping”, I’m still happy I was able to see it while I was there!
8. Hofburg Palace
If you’re looking for typical European architecture, Hofburg Palace is the place to see. This is another sight located pretty central in Vienna, so it’s easy to make a stop here while you’re touring around the city.
Hofburg Palace was the winter residence of the Imperial Royal Family and is one of the biggest palace complexes in the world.
Also make sure to check out Volksgarten, a beautiful park located at the grounds of Hofburg Palace
9. Schmetterlinghaus – The Butterfly House
Vienna’s butterfly house is actually a place I have never been to, but one of my friends has and recommended it to me on my next visit. It’s located right near Hofburg Palace, so if you’re interested in butterflies or looking for some unique photo opportunities while in Vienna, check out Schmetterlinghaus!
10. The Spanish Riding School
Also located near Hofburg Palace, the Spanish Riding School is a historical building that trains the famous Lipizzaner horses. Stop here if you’re interested in a tour of the building, watching a training session, or if you’re interested in catching one of the shows they put on.
11. The Austrian Parliament Building
I love to visit the different parliament buildings around Europe, as they are all unique and usually pretty cool. The Austrian parliament has incredible statues around the front of the building, the main one being the Greek Goddess Athena.
12. Vienna Opera House
The Vienna State Opera House is a large part of European culture and is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. If you’re interested in attending a show, I have seen tickets for as low as 10 euros, and as high as 300 euros.
13. Rathaus
Rathaus is Vienna’s City Hall and is another incredible piece of architecture this city has to offer. Different events are held throughout the year out front of Rathaus in the square, and this is also where one of Vienna’s largest Christmas markets is held at the end of the year. Wandering through the square or having a picnic with Rathaus in the background is one of the best things to do in Vienna.
14. Wander The Christmas Markets
It’s a dream of mine to visit the European Christmas Markets, and the markets in Vienna look amazing. If you happen to be in the city at the end of November or December, stop by the markets to take in all things European Christmas.
15. Austrian National Library
A unique thing to do in Vienna is visit the Austrian National Library. The library is absolutely stunning inside and is thought of as one of the most beautiful libraries in the world! There are more than 12 million books and objects inside which will keep you busy. There is an admission fee to get in, so make sure to take this into consideration before you visit!
16. Continue on to Hallstatt, Innsbruck, or Salzburg!
One of the best things to do in Vienna is to use it as a base to explore surrounding areas! There are so many amazing day trips to explore from Vienna. Salzburg is one of the places The Sound of Music was filmed and is also the birthplace of Mozart. Innsbruck is a cute and picturesque town nestled into the Austrian Alps, and Hallstatt is just straight up stunning. Be sure to budget in time to visit these amazing towns on your next trip to Vienna!
Vienna Bucketlist Summary
Vienna is a beautiful city with a bunch of fun things to see and do! You absolutely cannot miss visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, and if you’re interested in photography then make sure to visit Hundertwasser House as well.
There are also quite a few museums to visit in Vienna, and the Spanish Riding School is such a unique place to go! If you’re lucky enough to visit during the Christmas season, don’t forget to budget time for the Christmas Markets as well.
There are so many amazing places to visit close by Vienna too, that you can visit on a daytrip or to continue on if you’re backpacking around Europe!
Hopefully, this Vienna Bucket List helped you plan your trip to Austria’s capital city, or gave you some inspiration for your future travels! Message me on Instagram with any questions!
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Keep Reading:
- 12 Best Things to do in Dresden, Germany
- Your Prague Bucketlist: 15 Things to See & Do in Prague
- A 2 Week European Itinerary: Berlin to Vienna
Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
