Must-Dos in the City of Music
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Few cities blend history, culture, and elegance quite like Vienna. Once the heart of the powerful Habsburg Empire, Austria’s capital still radiates imperial splendor — from its grand palaces to its ornate opera house and museums. Learn about imperial life at Schönbrunn Palace, admire the famous artwork at Belvedere Palace, or simply slow down in one of the city’s famous coffee houses — there are countless ways to appreciate Vienna’s charm. Here’s a bucket list to make sure you experience all that Vienna has to offer!
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace served as the main summer residence of the Habsburg family. Built in the Baroque style, the palace has 1,441 rooms, including the Great Gallery, Hall of Ceremonies, and Hall of Mirrors. Tickets to tour the palace can be purchased at this link. Along with touring the interior of the palace, make sure to set aside some time to wander through the beautiful park and gardens. You can even visit the Schönbrunn Zoo there – the oldest continuously operating zoo in the world!
Austrian National Library
One of the most beautiful spots in Vienna is the Austrian National Library. Founded in 1368, the library is the largest library in Austria with over 12 million items in its collections. The main attraction is the State Hall with its stunning frescoes and marble statues. Entry tickets can be purchased online or at the library entrance. We suggest planning to spend about an hour here.
See a show at the Vienna State Opera House
If you’re looking for a fun evening activity, we highly recommend getting tickets for a show at the Vienna State Opera! Tickets can be purchased starting a few months in advance, or you can try to get standing room tickets the day of the performance. If you can’t add an evening performance into your Vienna itinerary, guided tours of the Opera House are offered during the day.
Augustinerkirche
Although it has a relatively modest facade, Augustinerkirche is an important building in Vienna’s long history. The church was founded in 1327 by Duke Frederick the Handsome and included a cloister for Augustian friars. Starting in 1634, Augustinerkirche served as the official court church for Habsburg monarchs and was where Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (“Sisi”) were married. The entrance to the church can be found next to the Austrian National Library. Entry is free with donations welcome.
Viennese coffee houses and cafes
Of course, no trip to Vienna would be complete without experiencing its iconic coffee house culture! Coffee houses are closely linked with the history of Vienna, serving as meeting spots for famous politicians, philosophers, and writers. There are a ton of great options in the city, including Cafe Central, Cafe Sacher, Cafe Hawelka, Cafe Demel, and Gerstner.
Belvedere
Belvedere is a Baroque complex on the southeast edge of Vienna that consists of two palaces, an orangery, and palace stables. Upper Belvedere is now an art museum that houses some famous works, including Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. Entry tickets can be purchased at this link.
St Stephen’s Cathedral
With its towering steeple and multi-colored tile roof, St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic symbols of Vienna. The main nave of the Cathedral can be viewed for free, with additional paid tour options if you’d like to see more of the interior. The towers at St. Stephen’s Cathedral offer great views of Vienna. The North Tower can be accessed via elevator, while the South Tower requires visitors to ascend over 300 steps to the top. Entry tickets for the towers are cash only.
The Hofburg and Sisi Museum
The Hofburg is the imperial palatial complex where the Habsburgs reigned from the 13th Century until 1918. Located inside of the Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg is the Sisi Museum. This museum provides insight into the life of the famous Empress Elisabeth and is home to some of her personal items. Tickets for the Sisi Museum can be purchased at this link.
Stroll through the Volksgarten
Located in the heart of the city is the beautiful Volksgarten – Vienna’s first public park. Known for its rose garden, the Volksgarten is the perfect place to relax for a bit after a day of sightseeing. Visitors can also find a monument to Empress Elisabeth as well as the Theseus Temple, a replica of an Ancient Greek temple, within the park.
Prater Park
What was originally an imperial hunting ground now serves as a large public amusement park in Vienna. The most iconic attraction in Prater is the Riesenrad, a large ferris wheel that’s over 200 feet tall and offers great views of the city. Entry to the park is free with rides and attractions paid for separately.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Kunsthistorisches Museum, also known as the Museum of Fine Arts, is the largest art museum in Austria. The museum was opened in 1891 by Emperor Franz Joseph with the intent to be a home for the art collection of the Habsburgs. Today, visitors can see works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Johannes Vermeer, and Diego Velazquez, among others. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended.
Try Viennese desserts
Calories don’t count while traveling, right? Vienna is a sweet treat paradise with plenty of pastries and desserts to try. Two of the most famous sweets are kaiserschmarrn, one of Emperor Franz Joseph’s favorite desserts, and sachertorte. Kaiserschmarrn is a fluffy shredded pancake with raisins inside that is usually served with stewed plums or applesauce. Sachertorte is a delicious chocolate cake that contains a layer of apricot jam and is coated with a chocolate glaze. We loved the sachertorte at Cafe Sacher, located near the Vienna State Opera House.
Karlskirche
Karlskirche (Church of St. Charles) is a beautiful Baroque-style church in Vienna. It has quite the backstory – in 1713, a plague had devastated the city. Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI then made a promise that he would build a church dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, the patron saint of plague sufferers, if the plague would subside. Visitors will need to purchase a ticket to enter the church.
Hundertwasser House
The colorful Hundertwasser House stands in stark contrast to the traditional architecture that you’ll see around much of Vienna. Designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, the apartment building features mosaic-inspired facades and curved floors, with no straight lines or right angles present. Hundertwasser House can be viewed from the outside, but visitors can’t go in as it still serves as a residential building.
Disclaimer: All information presented in this post was accurate at the time of our trip. Attractions, availability, circumstances, operating hours, prices, etc. are subject to change and this post may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Readers are advised to do their due diligence in researching the location prior to travel. Hyperlink content may be out-of-date and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Scenic Sites unless otherwise noted.
Visited May 2025 | Posted October 2025
