Vienna
Temperature
14°
Time
6:50 AM
Vienna
Art and culture are embedded in the soul of Vienna: imperial splendour, world-class museums, opera and classical music heritage. Modernist legacy and a cosmopolitan flair add delicious contrast to the old-world charm. Walk down the parks and grand palace-lined Ringstrasse, experience the centuries-old cafe tradition and admire the astonishing architecture of a buzzing modern capital filled with history.Find your trip
The religious and geographical centre of Vienna is St Stephen's Cathedral. The most prominent Gothic masterpiece of the city, with its stunning tiled roof and stone interiors, actually retains many artworks from different periods: the Romanic towers, the Baroque altar and the Renaissance decorations. Book a complete tour of the cathedral, visit the deep catacombs or make your way up the 136-metre (448-foot) tower. When the Pummerin — the largest bell in Austria — rings on New Year’s Eve, it is even broadcast on TV.
The Vienna State Opera is one of the most distinguished opera houses in the world. The magnificent building on Ringstrasse was constructed between 1861 and 1869 by August Siccardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll as Hofoperntheater (Court Opera). You can catch a glimpse of what goes on backstage and admire the architectural magnificence of this neo-Renaissance masterpiece with one of the 40-minute guided tours.
Vienna’s classical concert offering is dominated by the Musikverein, the home of the Vienna Philharmonic orchestra founded in 1842. Millions of music fans around the world consider the Musikverein to be one of the most traditional concert houses, paying host to artists of the very highest calibre. From its Golden Hall, the annual New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic is broadcast to the world on television. The Vienna Mozart Orchestra regularly performs Mozart’s famous works while dressed in period costumes.
Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna was established back in 1752 by the Habsburgs and now remains the oldest operating zoo in the world. The wide areas create a comfortable space for the animals and the staff of experts make sure they are very well attended. The administration of the zoo places significant focus on conservation and animal welfare. Plan around 4–5 hours for your visit and check the feeding schedule.
Madame Tussauds is a world famous wax museum and tourist attraction. The Viennese branch is located inside the Wiener Prater amusement park. Get up-close to the biggest celebrities of past and present. Take a selfie with film stars like Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig and Robert Pattinson; meet old-time Hollywood idols like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn; pose for the camera with royals, composers and politicians from Austria and the world over.
Vienna City Hall (Rathaus) dominates the Ringstrasse with its soaring neo-Gothic silhouette, a masterpiece by Friedrich von Schmidt completed in 1883. Its 102-metre central spire, crowned by the iconic Rathausmann knight, echoes the grandeur of medieval cathedrals, while the facade’s lace-like stonework nods to Flemish civic architecture. Inside, the scale impresses: the barrel-vaulted Festsaal hosts glamorous balls, and the Arkadenhof ranks among Europe’s largest arcaded courtyards. Free guided tours (German-only, but multilingual audio guides available) reveal opulent chambers like the Stadtsenatssitzungssaal, swathed in green damask, and the Council Chamber’s 3.2-tonne floral chandelier.
The Austrian National Library is a monument to Habsburg intellectual ambition, centred around its Prunksaal (State Hall). This 80-metre-long Baroque masterpiece, crowned by a dome with Daniel Gran’s fresco of Emperor Charles VI’s apotheosis, houses over 200,000 historic volumes. Leather-bound tomes line wooden shelves and marble statues of Habsburg rulers guard the aisles. Though books are too fragile to handle, their displayed pages reveal exquisite illustrations, and two monumental Venetian globes (one celestial, one terrestrial) anchor the space. Beyond the Prunksaal, the library’s vast collections span 12 million items, with museums dedicated to papyri, maps, and Esperanto. Located in the Neue Burg Wing of the Hofburg Palace, it's not just an archive of centuries of knowledge: it’s a temple to Enlightenment ideals, where every frescoed curve and gilded bookcase whispers of imperial power and the pursuit of knowledge. Allocate time to simply gaze upward.
Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier (MQ) is one of the ten largest cultural districts in the world, combining exhibition spaces, cafes, restaurants and bars. At the edge of the Old City, in the former imperial stables, it unites facilities highlighting different fields of art with restaurants, coffeehouses and shops in an area of 90,000 square metres with a combination of Baroque buildings and modern architecture. This has created a colourful and diverse local scene against the backdrop of significant museums and collections. MuseumsQuartier houses MUMOK, Leopold Museum, Kunsthalle Wien, ZOOM Kindermuseum, Tanzquartier, Architekturzentrum Wien, Q21, monochrom and Modepalast.
The religious and geographical centre of Vienna is St Stephen's Cathedral. The most prominent Gothic masterpiece of the city, with its stunning tiled roof and stone interiors, actually retains many artworks from different periods: the Romanic towers, the Baroque altar and the Renaissance decorations. Book a complete tour of the cathedral, visit the deep catacombs or make your way up the 136-metre (448-foot) tower. When the Pummerin — the largest bell in Austria — rings on New Year’s Eve, it is even broadcast on TV.
The Vienna State Opera is one of the most distinguished opera houses in the world. The magnificent building on Ringstrasse was constructed between 1861 and 1869 by August Siccardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll as Hofoperntheater (Court Opera). You can catch a glimpse of what goes on backstage and admire the architectural magnificence of this neo-Renaissance masterpiece with one of the 40-minute guided tours.
The route along Kärntner Straße, running from the Vienna State Opera to Stephansplatz is the most popular shopping street in Vienna. This high-street mainly hosts big international brands, but on its side streets some shops of local specialities can still be found. Stop by at Steffl department store with its luxury designers and fabulous panoramic lift. Peek & Cloppenburg is another architectural highlight, while the Swarovski store offers a very special shopping experience.
The longest shopping street in Vienna, Mariahilfer starts close to the Ringstraße and goes up until Westbahnhof railway station. In between, department stores, large branches of the European clothing chains, home decor stores and street cafes can be found. There are plenty of small boutiques in the side streets which offer some great, more traditional products.
Vienna Naschmarkt, on the plateau above the Wien River, is an absolute must for any visitor to Vienna. Shoppers can find a huge selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, spices and exotic specialties from many countries, such as Italy, Greece and Turkey in the 123 fixed stands along a 1.5-kilometre walk. Stop by for some of the best kebab and falafel wraps to be found in town.
Around 50 types of the finest pralines have been on offer here since 1928, making ideal souvenirs for any visitor to Vienna. The Viennese confectioner’s handmade specialty is known as Liliput confectionery and it is still made according to an original recipe.
The luxury shopping area Kohlmarkt offers flagship stores for major brands. Having once housed the Royal Court's appointed jewellers, Kohlmarkt still sticks to the legacy with shimmering windows by famous brands and traditional Viennese jewellers. The neighbouring Goldenes Quartier is a modern shopping area located at the core of Vienna Old Town and packed with stores of international luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada and Miu Miu.
A flea market takes place every Saturday between 6:30am and 3pm at Vienna’s Naschmarkt. This is the largest market of this type in Vienna and one of the best in Europe. Surrounded by stunning Art Nouveau buildings, you can browse for hours, exploring stalls that sell everything from valuable antiques, furniture and china to second-hand clothing, books and records.
Founded in 1718, the Vienna Porcelain Manufactory is the second oldest in Europe. Now, as then, porcelain is made and painted by hand. This makes each piece unique. You can buy one of the artworks that are on display or ask for luxury, personalised porcelain items. The Porcelain Museum is located in a wing of Schloss Augarten, amidst the former imperial gardens. Permanent and temporary exhibitions walk visitors through the history of porcelain making in Vienna since 1718.
Mühlbauer is a world-famous family-run factory creating premium-quality design hats since 1903. All pieces are unique and handmade: new collections come out every season and they ship customised hats worldwide. Their trendy headgear includes gems such as feather pillbox hats made of satin and extraordinary palm fibre creations.
The route along Kärntner Straße, running from the Vienna State Opera to Stephansplatz is the most popular shopping street in Vienna. This high-street mainly hosts big international brands, but on its side streets some shops of local specialities can still be found. Stop by at Steffl department store with its luxury designers and fabulous panoramic lift. Peek & Cloppenburg is another architectural highlight, while the Swarovski store offers a very special shopping experience.
The longest shopping street in Vienna, Mariahilfer starts close to the Ringstraße and goes up until Westbahnhof railway station. In between, department stores, large branches of the European clothing chains, home decor stores and street cafes can be found. There are plenty of small boutiques in the side streets which offer some great, more traditional products.
Vienna’s International Airport is at Schwechat, 20 kilometres from the centre of Vienna. There different options to reach the city: – The city airport train, CAT, takes 16 minutes to the centre and departs from the airport every half hour. – The buses of Vienna Airport Lines link the airport with the main transport hubs in the city. It takes 20 minutes to get to the centre, and departures are every half hour. – The fast train (S7 or REX7 S-Bahn) is the cheapest option and takes 25 minutes to the centre. Trains leave every 30 minutes, with additional services at peak time. – The taxi stand is located just outside of the arrival building. For information about the different taxi companies ask at the City Transfer counter in the arrival hall.
Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter Austria, only a valid ID. Many other countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand, benefit from visa-free entry for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid passport and, starting in late 2025, will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation online before travelling. For those requiring a visa, such as travellers from some Middle-East, African or Asian nations, a Schengen visa must be obtained prior to arrival. All travellers should ensure their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay.
The best time to visit Vienna is around April–May in the spring and September to mid-October in the autumn. The weather is mild and the low-peak tourist season means that you can expect lower prices on average. The warmer summer months are very popular with tourists. Consequently, expect prices to be higher. Many travellers will make their way to Vienna in the winter to visit Christmas markets, wander the streets and spend time with loved ones in the famous Viennese cafes.
The public transport company Wiener Linien provides a broad network of tram, underground (U-Bahn) and bus lines, which make getting anywhere in and around Vienna very easy. There are single, 24- and 48-hour tickets, as well as passes for longer periods. The same ticket is valid everywhere and can be bought at tobacconists (Vienna’s 850 Tabaktrafik), at the vending machines available in any underground station, via the online shop or ticket app of Wiener Linien or at one of their ticket offices. Tickets must be validated before boarding. To validate your ticket, stamp it using the blue machines located at the entrance of underground stations, on buses and trams.
Taxis are easy to find at the taxi stands and train stations and are relatively cheap compared to other European destinations. Some reliable companies are: Taxi 401 00 +43 1 401 00 www.taxi40100.at Taxi 313 00 +43 1 313 00 www.taxi31300.at/en Both companies have their own smartphone apps. You can pay for your taxi ride using card or cash. You can use Uber, Bolt or Freeride (powered by Lyft) to hail a ride.
There are many branches of the Austria's Postal Service in Vienna, as well as many of the bright-yellow postboxes.
Pharmacies in Vienna usually have the same opening hours as most shops. However, there are always 24/7 pharmacies operating at night and weekends located throughout the city: a list of the nearest ones is posted outside of each pharmacy.
The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Power plugs and sockets are of type F common in Continental Europe.
Vienna’s International Airport is at Schwechat, 20 kilometres from the centre of Vienna. There different options to reach the city: – The city airport train, CAT, takes 16 minutes to the centre and departs from the airport every half hour. – The buses of Vienna Airport Lines link the airport with the main transport hubs in the city. It takes 20 minutes to get to the centre, and departures are every half hour. – The fast train (S7 or REX7 S-Bahn) is the cheapest option and takes 25 minutes to the centre. Trains leave every 30 minutes, with additional services at peak time. – The taxi stand is located just outside of the arrival building. For information about the different taxi companies ask at the City Transfer counter in the arrival hall.
Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter Austria, only a valid ID. Many other countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand, benefit from visa-free entry for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid passport and, starting in late 2025, will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation online before travelling. For those requiring a visa, such as travellers from some Middle-East, African or Asian nations, a Schengen visa must be obtained prior to arrival. All travellers should ensure their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay.
