Vienna – a 3 to 4 day guide to palaces, museums and coffee houses

Vienna was the capital of the Habsburg Empire – a city of palaces, opera, waltzes and coffee houses. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city regularly ranks among the most liveable in the world. Just an hour and a half’s flight from Sofia, it’s perfect for a long weekend at any time of year.

Imperial Vienna

The Hofburg – the Habsburgs’ winter residence in the heart of the city. It houses the Sisi Museum and the imperial apartments, the Imperial Treasury with the crown of the Holy Roman Empire, the porcelain and silver collection, and the Spanish Riding School with its white Lipizzaner horses.
Schönbrunn – the summer residence, a Baroque palace with more than 1,400 rooms. See the state rooms, the vast park, the Gloriette with its view over the city, and the zoo – the oldest operating zoo in the world (1752).
The Belvedere – two Baroque palaces with gardens. The Upper Belvedere is home to Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.

Cathedrals and churches

St Stephen’s Cathedral – Vienna’s symbol, with a 136 m Gothic spire and a patterned tiled roof. Climb the south tower on foot, or take the lift up the north tower.
The Karlskirche – a Baroque church with a huge dome and two columns. A lift takes you up to the frescoes beneath the dome.
The Votivkirche – the neo-Gothic “lace” church by the Ring.
St Peter’s and St Rupert’s – the latter is Vienna’s oldest church.

Museums

The Kunsthistorisches Museum – one of the world’s great collections, with the largest set of Bruegel paintings anywhere.
The Natural History Museum – the mirror-image building opposite, home to the Venus of Willendorf.
The MuseumsQuartier – modern art (the Leopold and MUMOK) and a favourite place to relax.
The Technical Museum – hands-on and great for kids.
Kunst Haus Wien and the Hundertwasser House – the colourful, wavy architecture of Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
The house museums of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Strauss.

The Prater and the Danube

The Prater is a huge park with an amusement area and the famous Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad), dating from 1897. Around it are dozens of rides, from gentle to extreme. For long walks and cycling, head to the Donauinsel, the island running along the Danube.

Coffee houses and food

Vienna’s coffee-house culture is on Austria’s national UNESCO intangible heritage inventory – read more in our guide to Vienna’s coffee houses. Sit down in a classic café such as Central, Sacher, Sperl or Demel. Order a Melange with a slice of Sachertorte or apple strudel. Don’t miss Wiener Schnitzel and a sausage from a street stand (Würstelstand). The Naschmarkt is the best-known market, with fruit, spices and small restaurants.

Sample 3-day itinerary

Day 1. A walking tour: St Stephen’s, Kärntner Straße, the Hofburg, the Opera and the Ring. A concert or opera in the evening.

Day 2. Schönbrunn – the palace, park and zoo. The Naschmarkt and Karlskirche in the afternoon.

Day 3. The Belvedere or the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Hundertwasser and the Prater’s Giant Wheel in the afternoon.

Vienna for the holidays

Christmas – the markets at the Rathaus, Schönbrunn, Spittelberg and Freyung are among Europe’s most beautiful (mid-November to 24–26 December).
Easter – Easter markets at Schönbrunn and Freyung, with painted eggs and spring crafts. Catholic and Orthodox Easter often fall on different dates, so you might enjoy both.

Getting there and around

By air – direct flights from Sofia take about 1 h 40 min. From the airport, take the CAT express train (16 minutes), the S7 suburban train or a bus.

In the city – excellent public transport: metro, trams and buses. Tickets are available for 24, 48 and 72 hours, plus a weekly pass. The Vienna City Card includes transport and museum discounts.

Practical tips

Many museums close on Mondays. Check ahead.
Book the Spanish Riding School and the Opera early, including the cheap standing-room places.
Almost all shops close on Sundays.
The tap water comes from the mountains and is excellent.

FAQ

How many days do I need in Vienna? Three days for the main sights. Four if you want more museums or a trip to the Wachau Valley.

Is Vienna good for kids? Yes. The Prater, the zoo, the Technical Museum and the children’s tour at Schönbrunn are great. See our tips for travelling with kids.