Vienna Travel Guide

Written By stephanie mendez

Vienna, in the heart of Austria, is a beautiful blend of history, culture, and stunning architecture. I visited this city during my "Prague, Vienna, Budapest" trip. I only spent two days in Vienna since I squeezed in visiting three cities in a week but I was able to see the main attractions and had a wonderful time! Scroll through to see my recs on where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.

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Hotel

Photo Credit: Hotel Bristol

 

  • Hotel Bristol – We stayed at Hotel Bristol which is a part of the Marriott Luxury Hotel Collection. This hotel definitely has more timeless elegance with beautiful antique furnishings and decor. I enjoyed my stay here but may not be for those who love more modern hotels. The hotel is located right in the city center, so it’s easy for walking to many cultural landmarks. 

Sightseeing

 

  • Explore the MuseumsQuartier – The architecture at the MQ is just beautiful! Definitely a sight to see even if you decide not to go into the museums. See more below under “Museums” section.

  • Visit Schonbrunn Palace – The summer residence of the Habsburgs, Schönbrunn Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city

  • Sigmund Freud Museum – The Sigmund Freud Museum in Vienna, located at Freud’s former residence on Berggasse 19, offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and work of the father of psychoanalysis.

  • Stroll through Hofburg Palace – Back in the days of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the ornate Hofburg Palace was its beating heart. Today it’s the official residence of the country’s president and is home to many of Vienna’s top museums (the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, Imperial Silver Collection (closed)), attractions and galleries (and some famous dancing horses, too).

  • St. Stephen’s Cathedral – At its tallest point, St. Stephen’s Cathedral reaches 136 meters, making it the tallest church in Austria and one of the most recognizable sights in Vienna.

  • Walk along the RingstraBe – In 1857, Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the construction of a boulevard built around Vienna’s city center. Down came the historic city walls, and the Ringstraße (or Vienna Ring Road) took its place, although it took a few decades to complete. “The State Opera, the Hofburg, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural History, the Burgtheater, the City Hall, and the Parliament are just a few sights on Ringstraße,” says Wolfgang Rigon. He suggests walking the 5.2km (about 3.2 miles) route or taking a streetcar.

  • Shop on Kärntnerstraß street – This is the most popular shopping area in Vienna. Stretching from the Stephansplatz square to the Vienna State Opera, lines an array of high-end boutiques, department stores, and cafes.

  • Christmas Markets – If you are in Vienna during the holiday season be sure to check out the Christmas markets. They are just the epitome of the holiday season to me. The ones that will be open depend on when you are there. We were able to go to the market right next to St. Stephen’s cathedral.

Museums

 

  • MuseumsQuartier – MQ as it’s more commonly known, offers everything from the world’s finest Egon Schiele collection to an array of trendy bars, cafés and restaurants to a sculpture park-slash-mini golf course. The MQ Libelle rooftop terrace provides some of the finest views of the city centre.

  • Leopold Museum

  • MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna)

  • Kunsthalle Wien – Contemporary Exhibition Space

  • Museum Dorotheergasse and Museum Judenplatz – With an emphasis on the time period encompassing the two World Wars, this museum educates visitors on Jewish history, culture, and religion. Though it is split into two locations, a single ticket grants you access to both Museum Dorotheergasse and Museum Judenplatz. The latter is home to the Judenplatz Holocaust Memorial, a memorial designed by Rachel Whiteread that honors the Austrian victims of the Holocaust.

Food to Try

 

  • Try Vienna’s Signature Cake – Vienna’s signature cake the Sachertorte, a luxurious combo of dense chocolate sponge, dark chocolate ganache and finely-spread apricot jam, traditionally served with unsweetened whipped cream, is more than just a dessert – its recipe is a closely guarded secret. Sure, you’ll find versions of this sweet treat in cafés across the city, but there’s a fierce rivalry between the Hotel Sacher and Demel over claims to the original recipe. They’ve even gone to court over it…

  • Try wiener schnitzel – Made of thinly pounded veal (or chicken), dipped in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and fried until golden brown

  • Eat lunch at a wurstelstand – A würstelstand is a traditional Austrian street food outlet that serves sausage, hot dogs, and beer, among other delicacies. You’ll find them all over Vienna, but Würstelstand LEO is said to be the city’s oldest sausage stand. If you aren’t adverse to dairy, order the Käsekrainer, which is a sausage filled with small chunks of cheese.

  • Try Punschkrapfen – “Punschkrapfen is a local delicacy made of nougat and jam-filled sponge cake soaked with rum,” says Haselbacher. Translated to punch cake, the dessert can be found in numerous places across the city, and you’ll notice it immediately thanks to its bright pink coloring.

Restaurants

 

  • Restaurant Fuhrich – For more traditional Austrian cuisine, check out Restaurant Fuhrich. I ordered the chicken schnitzel here and it was delish!  It’s centrally located (was very close to our hotel). 

  • Palmenhaus – We ate Palmenhause for lunch one day. While the food wasn’t anything I would rave about, the aesthetic of this greenhouse turned restaurant is beautiful. The restaurant is situated at the end of the Burggarten (large city park in the center of Vienna) and you can definitely walk around afterwards to take in the historic architecture. While they accept walk-ins, I’d recommend making a reservation especially if you’re going when it’s warm out. 

  • Ristorante Sole – If you’re craving some italian food during your trip to Vienna, check out Restaurant Sole. It was recommended to us by the hotel concierge and it was so good! I wanted to go back again but we didn’t have the time. I recommend ordering the spicy penne vodka dish (I forgot the exact name of it) 

  • Castelletto – If you have a sweet tooth like me, definitely stop by Castelletto for a dessert experience. They have an entire menu that you can choose from just for desserts. It’s especially popular for a late night treat. They also serve food here, but I didn’t try it. 

stephanie mendez