Vienna

Vienna · Suggested itinerary

3-Day Vienna

Imperial palaces, art-filled museums, cathedral evenings and a wine-country escape — Vienna's essential first-timer route.

1. Day

   1

   Theme

   Imperial Vienna

   Palace gardens, imperial apartments, Sisi's world and a cathedral evening in the city's historic core.
   • Morning9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

     Schönbrunn Palace & Gardens

     • Explore the 1,441-room imperial summer palace and its formal Baroque gardens
     • Walk up to the Gloriette viewpoint for sweeping palace and city views

     Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour≈ €22GardensFree
   • Lunch12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

     Traditional Viennese café near Schönbrunn

     • Coffee and classic Viennese dishes in a historic café close to the palace grounds

     TryCafé ResidenzSchönbrunn Palace CaféZum Kaiser Franzl
   • Afternoon2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

     Empress Sisi Museum & Hofburg area

     • Empress Sisi Museum — royal apartments, personal belongings and Sisi's story inside the Hofburg
     • Wander through the Hofburg courtyards and see the Spanish Riding School exterior

     Empress Sisi Museum≈ €16Hofburg courtyardsFree
   • Evening6:00 PM onwards

     Stephansdom & Innere Stadt

     • Stephansdom — Gothic cathedral with its iconic tiled roof and soaring south tower
     • Evening stroll through the Innere Stadt, Graben and Kärntner Straße
     • Dinner in the historic centre

     StephansdomFreeTower climb≈ €6

     TryFiglmüllerPlachutta WollzeileCafé Central

   HighlightsSchönbrunn Palace & GardensEmpress Sisi MuseumHofburg courtyardsStephansdomInnere Stadt evening walk

   Walking

   ≈ 6 km · 1 hr 30 min walking

   Comfortable walking shoes — palace gardens, city centre and cathedral stairs.

   Sightseeing

   ≈ 9 hours sightseeing

   Family

   Couples

   Transport tips

   • Schönbrunn

     U-Bahn U4

     Direct line from the city centre to the palace (20 min).

   • Hofburg / Herrengasse

     U-Bahn U3

     Short walk to the Sisi Museum and imperial courtyards.

   • Stephansplatz

     U-Bahn U1, U3

     Exit directly into the cathedral square.

   Estimated daily budget

   Budget traveller

   €70–€100

   Mid-range

   €150–€210

   Luxury

   €400+

   Travel tip

   Arrive at Schönbrunn at opening to avoid the midday tour groups at the palace.

   Money saver

   Buy a combined Schönbrunn + Sisi Museum ticket online for a small discount and timed entry.

   Best photo spot

   The Gloriette terrace with the palace façade and formal gardens behind you.

   Best time to visit

   Early morning for Schönbrunn; late evening for the illuminated cathedral.

   Book ahead

   Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour and Empress Sisi Museum are the main paid stops today.

   Transport tip

   U-Bahn line U4 connects Schönbrunn to the city centre in about 20 minutes.

   Food recommendation

   Café Residenz inside the palace grounds is ideal for a classic Viennese breakfast or lunch.

   Rainy day alternative

   Swap the gardens for the full palace interior tour and the Hofburg museums.

   Alternative option

   Instead of the Empress Sisi Museum: Visit the Imperial Treasury or the Albertina for imperial art and Habsburg treasures.

   Packing tips

   • Refillable water bottle
   • Light rain jacket
   • Comfortable walking shoes
   • Portable phone charger

   Accessibility

   • Schönbrunn Palace offers step-free tours on request
   • Gardens have gravel paths and gentle slopes
   • Hofburg courtyards are mostly step-free
   • Stephansdom towers have stairs; the main church is step-free

   Today's highlights

   • 5 major attractions visited
   • ≈ 9 hours sightseeing
   • ≈ 6 km on foot
   • Mid-range budget ≈ €150–€210
   • Evening around Innere Stadt / Stephansdom

   End the day around Innere Stadt / Stephansdom

   View on Google Maps
2. Day

   2

   Theme

   Art & Culture

   Klimt and Schiele in the Belvedere, a food-market lunch, contemporary museums and a luminous church show.
   • Morning9:00 AM – 12:30 PM

     Belvedere Museum

     • Upper Belvedere — Klimt's The Kiss, Egon Schiele and Austrian Baroque masterpieces
     • Stroll the formal gardens between the Upper and Lower Belvedere palaces

     Belvedere Upper Palace≈ €16Belvedere gardensFree
   • Lunch12:30 PM – 1:45 PM

     Naschmarkt

     • Browse Vienna's biggest food market for Austrian, Turkish and Middle Eastern specialities

     TryUmarfischNeni am NaschmarktTewa
   • Afternoon2:00 PM – 5:30 PM

     MuseumsQuartier

     • Leopold Museum — the world's largest Schiele collection and works by Klimt and Kokoschka
     • mumok — contemporary art in a striking basalt building
     • Relax in the courtyard with its iconic outdoor lounges

     Leopold Museum≈ €14mumok≈ €12
   • Evening6:00 PM onwards

     Light of Creation – Votive Church

     • Immersive light and sound show inside the stunning neo-Gothic Votive Church
     • Combine art, music and architecture in one atmospheric experience

     Light of Creation≈ €25–€35

     TryBierigelCafé SperlVienna bistros near the Votive Church

   HighlightsBelvedere MuseumKlimt's The KissNaschmarktMuseumsQuartierLight of Creation at Votive Church

   Walking

   ≈ 5 km · 1 hr 15 min walking

   Comfortable trainers — short distances between Belvedere, Naschmarkt and MuseumsQuartier.

   Sightseeing

   ≈ 9 hours sightseeing

   Family

   Couples

   Transport tips

   • Belvedere

     Tram D / O or S-Bahn

     Scenic tram ride or short train to the palace.

   • Naschmarkt

     U-Bahn U1, U2, U4

     Central food market with a metro station underneath.

   • MuseumsQuartier

     U-Bahn U2

     Volkstheater stop is directly at the museum complex.

   • Votive Church

     U-Bahn U2

     Schottentor station is a short walk away.

   Estimated daily budget

   Budget traveller

   €50–€80

   Mid-range

   €120–€170

   Luxury

   €320+

   Travel tip

   Book Belvedere tickets online for a timed entry slot, especially on weekends.

   Money saver

   Combined Belvedere + Leopold Museum tickets are often cheaper than separate entries.

   Best photo spot

   The Belvedere Palace reflected in the upper fountain with The Kiss inside.

   Best time to visit

   Belvedere at opening; Votive Church show in the evening for the best atmosphere.

   Book ahead

   Belvedere, Leopold Museum / mumok and Light of Creation are today's main paid stops.

   Transport tip

   Tram D or O to Belvedere, then U2 to MuseumsQuartier and the Votive Church.

   Food recommendation

   Naschmarkt is best at lunch — arrive before 14:00 when stalls are busiest.

   Rainy day alternative

   All three main stops today are indoors or under cover — ideal for wet weather.

   Alternative option

   Instead of Light of Creation at the Votive Church: Attend a classical concert at the nearby Vienna State Opera or Musikverein.

   Packing tips

   • Refillable water bottle
   • Light jacket
   • Comfortable walking shoes
   • Portable charger

   Accessibility

   • Belvedere main floors are step-free
   • Naschmarkt is flat and paved
   • MuseumsQuartier buildings are fully accessible
   • Votive Church has step-free access

   Today's highlights

   • 5 major attractions visited
   • ≈ 9 hours sightseeing
   • ≈ 5 km on foot
   • Mid-range budget ≈ €120–€170
   • Evening around Votive Church / Alsergrund

   End the day around Votive Church / Alsergrund

   View on Google Maps
3. Day

   3

   Theme

   Wine & Local Vienna

   A half-day escape to Vienna's wine villages, a Heuriger lunch and a relaxed evening in the city.
   • Morning9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

     Vienna Countryside Half-Day Wine Tour

     • Visit vineyards and traditional wine taverns in the hills around Vienna
     • Enjoy guided tastings of local Grüner Veltliner and Riesling with countryside views

     Wine tour & tastings≈ €85–€120
   • Lunch1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

     Traditional wine tavern (Heuriger)

     • Lunch in a classic Heuriger with cold cuts, Brettljause and new wine straight from the cellar

     TryHeuriger SirbuHeuriger WolffWeingut Mayer am Nussberg
   • Afternoon2:30 PM – 5:00 PM

     Free time exploring local neighbourhoods

     • Wander the village lanes of Grinzing or the Nussberg vineyards
     • Optional short walk up Kahlenberg for panoramic views over Vienna

     Neighbourhood explorationFree
   • Evening6:00 PM onwards

     Classical dinner or riverside stroll

     • Evening of Viennese classical music or a relaxed walk along the Danube Canal
     • Dinner in a historic concert venue or a casual canal-side restaurant

     Classical concert≈ €40–€80

     TrySchönbrunn Palace concertsKursalon Hübner Mozart & StraussDanube Canal riverside bars

   HighlightsVienna wine regionHeuriger tavern lunchGrinzing & KahlenbergClassical eveningDanube Canal stroll

   Walking

   ≈ 4 km · 1 hr walking

   Comfortable walking shoes — vineyard paths may be uneven and sloped.

   Sightseeing

   ≈ 7 hours sightseeing

   Family

   Couples

   Transport tips

   • Grinzing / Nussberg

     Bus 38A / Tram D

     Tour transport or public bus to the wine villages.

   • Kahlenberg

     Bus 38A

     Scenic ride or short walk from Nussberg.

   • Danube Canal

     U-Bahn U1, U4

     Easy return to the city centre for the evening.

   Estimated daily budget

   Budget traveller

   €100–€140

   Mid-range

   €180–€250

   Luxury

   €450+

   Travel tip

   Book the wine tour ahead to secure a small-group spot, especially at weekends.

   Money saver

   Many Heuriger offer fixed-price lunch platters that are great value.

   Best photo spot

   Vineyard terraces with Vienna's skyline and the Danube visible from Kahlenberg.

   Best time to visit

   Spring and autumn harvest season; Thursday to Sunday for lively Heuriger atmospheres.

   Book ahead

   Vienna Countryside Half-Day Wine Tour is the main paid experience today.

   Transport tip

   Use the tour transfer, or take tram D to Nussdorf and bus 38A into the vineyards.

   Food recommendation

   Try a classic Brettljause with a glass of young wine (Sturm) in a traditional Heuriger.

   Rainy day alternative

   Move to an indoor Heuriger and swap the vineyard walk for a Kursalon concert.

   Alternative option

   Instead of the wine tour: Take tram D to the Vienna Woods and enjoy a scenic forest walk with city views.

   Packing tips

   • Refillable water bottle
   • Light jacket
   • Comfortable walking shoes
   • Sunscreen

   Accessibility

   • Most organised tours offer accessible transfers on request
   • Vineyard paths can be steep and uneven
   • Heuriger taverns are generally ground-floor accessible

   Today's highlights

   • 5 major attractions visited
   • ≈ 7 hours sightseeing
   • ≈ 4 km on foot
   • Mid-range budget ≈ €180–€250
   • Evening around Danube Canal / Kursalon

   End the day around Danube Canal / Kursalon

   View on Google Maps

Travel times and prices are approximate. Please check the official airport and transport websites for the latest schedules and fares before travelling.