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Things to do in Vienna

12 places · 24 h 45 min of sightseeing · 5 days

How many days do you need in Vienna?

12 places add up to 24 h 45 min of pure sightseeing. At 6 hours a day, not counting walking and meals, that's 5 days.

The best-known places in order, as long as they fit into 6 hours of sightseeing a day. Sightseeing only, without walking and meals — build the day-by-day plan with opening hours and the route in a RouteMarket notebook.

1 day — 6 h

2 days — 11 h 30 min

3 days — 17 h 45 min

Top sights

Ordered by how well known each place is. Data: OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia.

Schönbrunn Palace — 4 h visit. A former imperial summer residence, the only one offering the opportunity to explore extensive gardens with the Gloriette and a zoo. Hours: Apr 1–Jun 30,Sep 1–Oct 31 08:00–17:30 · Jul 1–Aug 31 08:00–18:30.
Belvedere Palace — 2 h 30 min visit. Unlike Schönbrunn Palace, this is where you will see Gustav Klimt's famous painting "The Kiss".
St. Stephen's Cathedral — 1 h visit. Its characteristic 136-meter south tower, built mainly in the 14th and 15th centuries, is an architectural icon of the city. Hours: Mon–Sat 06:00–22:00 · Sun 07:00–22:00.
Hofburg — 3 h visit. The complex, expanded since the 13th century, was the center of Habsburg power for over 600 years, now housing many museums and palaces.
Vienna State Opera — 1 h visit. With over 300 performances annually, including operas and ballets, it is one of the most active theaters in the world.
Kunsthistorisches Museum — 3 h visit. It houses monumental imperial Habsburg collections, from ancient artifacts to old master paintings, surpassing other galleries in scale. Hours: Thu,Sat–Tue 10:00–18:00 · Fri 10:00–21:00.
Albertina — 2 h visit. Its collection of prints, with works by Dürer and Rembrandt, is one of the largest in the world, unlike the applied arts collections of the Museum für Angewandte Kunst. Hours: Wed,Fri 10:00–21:00.
Austrian National Library — 1 h 15 min visit. It was built between 1723 and 1735 to house approximately 200,000 volumes from the 15th to the 18th century. Hours: Tue–Sun 10:00 – 18:00 · Thu 10:00 – 21:00.
Burgtheater — 2 h 30 min visit. Unlike operas, it is a center for classical drama productions, offering tours to admire its architecture and interiors.
Natural History Museum — 2 h 30 min visit. Here you can admire the Venus of Willendorf and giant collections of fossils and minerals, completely different from interactive exhibitions or aquariums. Hours: Thu–Mon 09:00–18:30 · Wed 09:00–21:00.
St. Charles Church — 1 h visit. Its Baroque dome and two monumental columns inspired by Trajan's Column distinguish it from the Neo-Gothic Votivkirche.
Vienna City Hall — 1 h visit. Neo-Gothic city hall from 1872-1883, seat of the mayor and city council, featuring a 105-meter tower with the Rathausmann figure.
Hundertwasserhaus — 45 min visit. Its facades, covered with vegetation and devoid of straight lines, offer visual experiences completely different from classic Viennese buildings.
Musikverein — 2 h 30 min visit. This is the only place where you can listen to the Vienna Philharmonic in the famous Golden Hall, known for the New Year's Concert.
Imperial Crypt — 45 min visit. It is the resting place of over 150 Habsburgs, including 12 emperors, since 1633, making it a royal necropolis. Hours: 10:00–18:00.
Votivkirche — 45 min visit. It was built in the Neo-Gothic style as a votive offering of thanks for the salvation of Emperor Franz Joseph I, which distinguishes it from Baroque temples. Hours: Tue–Fri 10:00–16:00 · Sat 11:00–19:00 · Sun 09:00–13:00.
Theater an der Wien — 2 h 30 min visit. This is a historic venue where works by Mozart and Beethoven premiered, presenting operas in modern stagings, unlike the classical dramas of Burgtheater.
Spanish Riding School — 1 h visit. It is the only institution in the world that has cultivated the Renaissance tradition of classical horsemanship for over 450 years.
Heeresgeschichtliches Museum — 2 h visit. It presents the history of the Austrian army, offering exhibits such as Archduke Franz Ferdinand's car, which you won't find in other museums. Hours: Mon–Sun 09:00–17:00.
Secession Building — 1 h 15 min visit. An iconic flagship building for Viennese Secession, its interior houses Gustav Klimt's famous "Beethoven Frieze". Hours: Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00.
MuseumsQuartier — 4 h visit. It combines Baroque architecture with modern buildings, offering a variety of museums, theaters, and cafes in one extensive complex.
Museum für Angewandte Kunst — 1 h 30 min visit. Its collections focus on design and artistic craftsmanship, covering objects from the Middle Ages to the present, unlike the Albertina with its graphics collection.
Stadttempel — 1 h visit. Vienna's main synagogue, hidden behind a facade for protection, combining Biedermeier style with Moorish architectural elements.
Leopold Museum — 2 h visit. It specializes in Austrian art, with the largest collection of Art Nouveau and Expressionism, featuring many works by Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt. Hours: Mon–Sun 10:00–18:00.

Where to eat

Café Central — Opened in 1876, the cafe was a meeting place for Freud, Trotsky, and Altenberg, attesting to its historical significance.
Demel — As a former purveyor to the imperial court, it offers luxurious cakes and pralines that can be taken away.
Café Hawelka — It has a stark, artistic atmosphere, with an interior deliberately unchanged for years, where famous Buchteln are served in the evening.
Café Landtmann — It is famous for its elegant interior and is often visited by politicians and actors for representative meetings.
Griechenbeisl — As one of the oldest restaurants, it stands out with historical interiors featuring signatures of famous guests on the walls.
Schwarzenberg — It offers elegant interiors and is an ideal spot for afternoon coffee with a direct view of the Ringstrasse.
Café Museum — It stands out with its minimalist design by Adolf Loos, making it a focal point for design and art enthusiasts.
Café Sperl — It is one of the best-preserved cafes, where the historic decor allows you to feel the authentic spirit of Viennese bohemia.