THINGS TO DO IN VIENNA

 

Are you headed to Vienna this year and starting to look into things to do, see and eat in preparation for your trip? You’ve come to the right place. I am here to share with you the top things to do in Vienna.

 

 

I went on a two-week vacation to Europe and Asia this Spring. I had done my research and had my expectations but I was blown away by Vienna to say the least. I did not expect to love this city so much, it is very underrated in my opinion. It offers a blend of many western European cultures. It’s like if Berlin and Paris had a child, it would be Vienna. It’s rich in culture and history, offers delicious food and plenty of shopping opportunities. I spent only three full days in Vienna, because of a delay in my train from Prague, I lost half a day. I tried to make up for it, but I didn’t want to feel rushed. So here it is, all the amazing things to do in Vienna, in one article, with an honest review of each.

 

This is my list of top things to do in Vienna for your next trip! I did the research for you so you don’t have to.

 

THE BASICS

LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

The official language in Vienna and Austria in general is German. As a large part of its history was linked to Germany, and it was even part of the German Republic at one point. They also speak English. Everyone from people on the street to those working in hospitality that I came across, were very fluent in English. I have been told that there are some mixed reviews on how ‘nice’ people are in Vienna. But my experience was very positive. Everyone was very helpful and kind to me. As a tourist, I felt very welcome.

 

COST

You will notice rather quickly that Vienna is not a super affordable place. It is right up there with Paris and many other western European cities. While, you are less likely to be disappointed about the food or any other service, as everything is made with thought and quality. It is still noticeably expensive especially if you are on vacation and coming from Eastern or Central Europe. But worth it, is what I’m trying to say.

 

FOOD

Vienna is very well known for its schnitzels and cafés in general, the sliced cakes and coffee are too good to miss out on, even if you don’t really enjoy sweets. As I mentioned in the previous section, everything seemed to be made with such thought and quality, that I didn’t feel I was ‘overpaying’. The same cannot be said about bigger cities in Europe, where you really have to know where to go and what to order.

 

WHEN TO VISIT?

Vienna and I guess most western and central Europe is great to visit anytime of the year, if you ask me. Perhaps with the exception of January through March, unless you enjoy the cold. I like to avoid the hottest and busiest months June through August. Air conditioning is very unpredictable in Europe. I have repeatedly said this and I’ll say it again. Shoulder season May and September are truly the best. Even if it rains a bit, I’m ok with that. As long as I don’t have to deal with very hot temperatures and a lot of tourists as I explore.

 

HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY IN VIENNA?

I think three days are necessary, but depending on how much you connect with the city or how much time you want to spend in your hotel relaxing a bit, you might want to consider four, that’s what I would do if I had to do this all over again.

 

WHERE TO STAY?

You could stay in the central part of Vienna, of course. There is no doubt that being close to the attractions is a smart choice. I chose to stay a little outside the city with a twelve-to-fifteen-minute walk to major attractions, as I wanted to get the Hotel Motto experience (next section). I also found it fun and worth exploring every day as I walked on a different street to get to the center of the city. It was also quite residential and surrounded by more mid-range to fast fashion stores, giving me a different experience. Wherever you end up staying, Vienna is truly a safe city and fun to explore.

 

HOTEL MOTTO

Where do I even begin? I had heard about Hotel Motto and had seen photos, so I had a certain level of expectation. But this hotel was so beautiful and well decorated (no corner left behind) and everything was with purpose and style, I was blown away and I mean that.

The lobby left a great first impression on me, well decorated and the staff were extremely professional and nice, they also offered me a selection of drinks as they were checking me in, why not sip on gin & tonic (love that!). But as I continued to walk into the area near the elevators, I loved the décor even more, the piece of art, the wallpaper, everything just comes together so nicely. The hallways were dim with beautiful light fixtures and floor tiles leading to my room felt like a modern-day castle. Then there was my room, which was out of this world beautiful yet very functional, not an easy balance to strike. I had a seating area with a couch and table; a juliet balcony, which you might think is a very small detail, but adds so much to the space. My morning coffees never felt more special than at Hotel Motto with an open balcony door.

My bed, which I am super picky about, was so comfortable and everything felt pretty new and updated. The shower door opened directly into the bedroom, and the sink was near my bed serving as both a sink and vanity. The actual bathroom was the only isolated part yet decorated no less than the rest of the room.

The gym and spa on the seventh floor are a must-try. The sauna was a wonderful luxury to have at the end of an exhausting day. I really enjoyed my meals at the restaurant, and you will notice how busy it gets and people who aren’t staying at the hotel come here for the food. Just try it and thank me later.
Communication with the front desk is through WhatsApp, which I thought was a cool feature. I could write and ask questions as I was going about my day in the city. Responses were super quick.

This review isn’t sponsored, it is my honest review. I thought about finding one thing that I would want to change and I honestly cannot. I will stay here on my next visit, that is how much I enjoyed being there.

 

TRANSPORTATION

Vienna felt very safe and walkable. I rarely took public transport. The few times I did, it was only to go from one side of town to the other. I used the bus, tram and subway, and they were all clean, functional and affordable.

 

WHERE TO SHOP?

• Shopping is primarily in the central 1st district. I enjoyed shopping in Vienna because it didn’t feel overwhelming. For big luxury houses, the majority of them are available. Few, like the house of Celine are not (which was honestly surprising). To make up for the missing designer houses, there are boutique stores that carry those brands heavily. I went to AMICIS and their first floor was probably more than halfway through filled with Celine and The Row bags (thank you very much), amongst others. On the second floor, they had ready to wear items and shoes from all the big brands, including Totême.
• There are also a number of mid-range or fast fashion stores on Mariahilfer Strasse, if that interests you, like Mango and COS.

 

FRENCH PHARMACY ITEMS

If you are on the hunt for French pharmacy items there are a few options, but don’t expect the big pharmacies in Paris. I googled this quite a bit and I tried all of them. They were mostly in the Mariahilf district.

(1) TK Maxx did not have any of the French pharmacy skin care items I was on the hunt for. You will find here what you find at TJ Maxx in the US. (2) The DM Drogerie Markt is a typical pharmacy store, think CVS or Walgreens in the US. They do have some items that are more popular amongst locals, just not the French products. (3) Müller is a very large drugstore; think like Amazon warehouse for beauty. Most of the beauty, cosmetics and perfume selection is on the first floor. You can spend hours in here looking through everything they have. I didn’t think their prices were cheaper than most US cosmetics stores that sell at a discount price, so I didn’t bother buying and carrying anything home with me. They have a bathroom on the second floor, which you might find helpful I thought. (4) Essenz Apotheke Neubau is an actual pharmacy with typical French products inside. They carried Bioderma, Avène, Caudalie, La Roche-Posay, and despite the smaller selection, they had everything I was looking for. They also gave me a tax refund form.

 

VAT REFUND IN VIENNA

VAT refund is very similar to Paris, 20% is included in the price of your item, and you get 12% back. Minimum purchase of 75 EUR is required to qualify for tax refund (this is lower than France at 100 EUR). The scanning process at the airport was quite simple, there is a designated area, where someone was available to help customers. I scanned my passport and boarding pass, then my VAT refund forms.

 

WHAT TO DO IN VIENNA

#1 MUSEUMS OF VIENNA

• AUSTRIAN GALLERY BELVEDERE

Vienna is rich in art. It took me a while to decide which museums to visit. I chose the Austrian Gallery Belvedere because it is home to the famous piece of Art, The Kiss. There is also a lot of other pieces but I know many people are interested in this piece and some even plan an entire trip to see it. This is a beautiful museum, and while the collection is not too big, you can spend two hours easily looking at the art as it feels very selectively curated. The gift shop is not to be missed. While I don’t like to collect knick-knacks, there were some beautiful things in there.

You should definitely walk around outside the museum. You can spend an equal amount of time outside just sitting on a bench or walking around, it so heavenly. There is a large garden in the front and a lake in the back. This was a great experience.

I had purchased my ticket online, it was timed. I recommend you do that especially if you are visiting peak season. They weren’t letting people in before their time, and if you had to purchase tickets on site, the lines were not too long (again this is a shoulder season trip). Tickets are 17.50 EUR.

 

• KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM WIEN

Is a must see when you visit Vienna. To me it exemplifies what Vienna’s style and architecture is. The building is made of marble all around, with gold details. It is honestly stunning. You will spend time taking in the architecture as much as the art. Several important pieces of art call this place home. You can spend anywhere between an hour to half a day in here. There is a coffee shop inside, which I would recommend given the insanely beautiful views.

Entrance is 21 EUR, as I write this today. I purchased my ticket well ahead of time, it was only dated, not timed, so you can enter anytime.

 

• WIEN MUSEUM MOZART APARTMENT

Vienna has been called the City of Music due to the number of musicians and composers who have lived in Vienna. So what would a visit to Vienna be like without a visit to Mozart’s apartment? For full disclosure, I have an interest in classical music. So do not feel pressured to include this in your itinerary, but I think it’s worth checking it out. Throughout your visit, you will learn about Mozart’s communication to his family after he moved to Vienna, through handwritten letters. You will learn about his connections in Vienna and his reputation at the time. Finally, you will see his apartment and learn about how the space was divided and where his bedroom was.

Entrance is 14 EUR and it includes an audioguide. I purchased the ticket on site, and the wait was around fifteen minutes.

 

#2 ST STEPHAN’S CATHEDRAL

Entrance is free to the Cathedral. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. It has a gothic architecture to it, very beautiful. You can go to the North tower from within, pay 7 EUR to take the elevator up to the roof, which is a must-see site and view. The mosaic covered roof is very pretty, and the view of Vienna from here is unreal.

You can also go to the south tower, to your left after exiting the cathedral, hike up 343 steps using the stairs to reach the other tower’s rooftop. There will be no charge to go up the stairs. Good luck!

 

#3 PARKS

• STRADTPARK

This is to the east of the city. A bit of a walk from sight-seeing places, yet close to Kleines Café. If that’s also on your list, you can combine those activities. Regardless, this is a beautiful park with so much to see and so many places to sit, hang out, or read at. It reminded me a bit of Vondelpark in Amsterdam, it was so green and clean.

 

• BURGGARTEN

Located in the center of the city, small to mid-size park. Very close to Hofburg. Beautiful park, plenty of places to sit, lie down or have a picnic – whatever you prefer.

 

#4 ANKERUHR

The clock is must-see in the city. Around 12 noon every day, all the characters show on rotation. I know it has been reported that some malfunction, or rather a delay can occur during extreme temperatures. This is an original piece, with no parts replaced since it was made. Just be mindful of that when you visit.

 

#5 JUDENPLATZ HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

This space was built in memory of the Austrian Jews who were killed in WWII, The Holocaust. With the appearance of book shelves, where the books’ spine is facing the inside. It is really worth taking a stop to see this monument. It’s beautifully made.

 

#6 HOFBURG

The Hofburg center used to be the formal imperial palace of the Hadsburg dynasty in Vienna between 13th and 20th centuries. Today, it is home to many squares, courtyards and three museums; The Imperial Apartments, as the name suggests the apartments of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth; The Sisi Museum, where you will find the clothes, and possessions of the royal family giving you a sense of their lifestyle; and The Imperial Silver Collection, an impressive tableware collection used throughout history. The current Austrian president uses the Leopoldine Wing as his office. You can walk around outside freely, but in order to access the museums you need to pay the fee.

You can buy your dated and timed ticked online for 49 EUR for the three museums, or for 19.60 EUR you can enter the Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum, which I think is sufficient and a great deal. There are also some combined entry tickets with other museums in the city, as is often case in Europe. Make sure to look at those and plan ahead.
You can also choose to walk around without entering the buildings as the buildings and courtyards are very beautiful.

 

#7 NASCHMARKT

An interesting open-air market. I like visiting those in each city I go to. There are some great restaurants to eat at. The vibe is very relaxed. Try to go on the weekend to enjoy thrift shopping as well as the food. Otherwise, only restaurants are open on weekdays.

 

#8 FERSTEL PASSAGE

An interesting passage filled with boutique stores and shops. There is a very pretty waterfall at the entrance, that’s worth stopping by for the experience.

 

#9 SCHONBRUNN

Due to it’s distance from the city and my shortened stay (because of a delay in arrival), I chose to skip this. Everything I had read about Vienna recommended visiting this place. Based on the reviews, I was expecting to have a similar experience as Vyšehrad in Prague. Based on what I read, you don’t need to purchase an all-inclusive ticket as you won’t be able to see much of what is being offered up close anyway. You can freely walk around with the most basic ticket option. I will update this section on my next trip to Vienna!

 

WHERE TO EAT

#1 Chez Bernard (inside Hotel Motto) – Hear me out. Even if you’re not staying at Hotel Motto, this place is great. I usually try my hotels’ restaurants once or not at all. I ate two meals here during my stay and it wasn’t because the weather was crappy and I wanted to stay indoors. I truly enjoyed everything I had here. The asparagus soup is a must. Their cocktails are perfection. You can also hang out in the rooftop. It wasn’t officially open when I visited, but I took my drink up there and enjoyed the view.

 

#2 Verde I had a hectic day when I visited this restaurant, it was recommended to me by my Gucci sales associate. She said she had lunch there a couple of times a week, so I went. I was craving a salad and some pizza and it hit the spot. Waiters are very accommodating and nice.

 

#3 Café Central I had lunch as well as coffee & deserts here and I was very impressed. I would go again. More information and photos below.

 

#4 Reformhaus Buchmüller at one point I couldn’t eat red meat anymore. I had just visited Prague and then Vienna. Both places are heavy on meat, all I wanted was a big bowl of salad. I was shopping in the Mariahilf district. I found this health food store that also sold home-made style meals including many mixed salads you could choose from, soup, hot dishes, and protein. You select what you want and they put your plate together for you. They didn’t speak very fluent English, but they were so kind and took the time to try to explain to me what each mixed salad was. I spent around 14 EUR on a plate of different salads and soup.

 

STRONG CAFÉ CULTURE

Vienna has a strong café game. Ordering a slice of cake or any desert and coffee are a must in Vienna. It is a delightful experience. In all honesty, I went to the cliché typical Austrian high-end, must-reserve-weeks-in-advance type of places and the lesser-known ones. I’d say mix it up between the high end and low end.

#1 Café Central is a well-known place. I’d say make your reservation in advance. You can go for just desert and coffee/ drinks. But the food is really good too. So you can have a meal followed by desert, win-win. If you don’t make a reservation in advance, just know that the line for a table is too long. You may have to wait one to two hours depending on the time of day and season.

 

#2 Demel is a great place for dessert and coffee. I had deconstructed pancakes here and they were so good. You can watch the making of those pancakes from outside the glass. It was really entertaining.

 

#3 Kleines Café has a historical significance. It’s a very busy place, so get ready when you come, you might have to wait a little to get a table. FYI: It’s cash only.

 

#4 Café Sacher Wien is the iconic place to have Sacher-Torte. The place is gorgeous and the cake is perfection. Must have.

 

#5 Café Frauenhuber is another Austrian iconic café. This was highly recommended by everyone as I did my research. Will try it on my next trip.

 

#6 Café-Konditorei-Wein is another café worth checking out. I didn’t prioritize this place as I did with the other cafés, and the reason being, it struck me as a tourist attraction. I will try it on my next trip and update this review. Until then, let me know what you thought!

 

This is my list of top things to do in Vienna for your next trip! I did the research for you so you don’t have to.

 

As always, thank you for stopping by and reading. Click here if you’d like to see & follow my Instagram page @girlontheues.

See you next week,

Girl on the Upper East Side

Xx

 

If this interests you, you might enjoy reading my other itineraries and blog posts including London, Paris, Nice & French Riviera, and Prague.