Two days is the minimum time you need in Vienna. I wanted to stay longer! There is so much to see and do, a weekend in Vienna is simply not enough time.
Those who want to discover the most beautiful cities on Earth simply cannot afford to exclude Vienna from their list. In this city, you can find everything that makes a great trip. Historic sights, architectural style, world famous restaurants and cafes, museums and the kind of night life that makes you come back for more.
There are so many things to see that revisiting Vienna several times is almost mandatory. However, this is also why you need to read this guide if you want a ready plan instead of getting confused by the abundance of options. What is really worth visiting in Vienna? Where do you start?
There is no clear answer to these questions. All I can do is show you the places I usually recommend as a man who has visited many great places in Vienna. I’ll talk about each of them below. Of course, you will discover many more exciting places during your journey that will come naturally.
The Two Sightseeing Attractions You Shouldn’t Skip
Belvedere Palace
A truly breathtaking attraction in Vienna is the Belvedere Palace. It consists of two huge Baroque buildings that can be admired during a walk on the huge grassy area in front of them. There are flowers all over the place, fountains and beautiful sculpture.
It’s the kind of detailed sculpture that keeps you there for hours, telling many different stories. On a bright day, it’s definitely worth spending an entire afternoon around the place. And then you don’t even check out what’s inside.
In the Upper Palace, you can pass through the Ground Floor Hall, the Marble Hall and the Ceremonial Staircase. And then there is the Lower Palace, where you can find another Marble Hall and the Marble Gallery. Statues, frescoes, paintings and medallions are the main shows of this building.
Want even more paintings? Head to the Österreiche Galerie Belvedere and see their large collection of paintings and sculptures. Beautiful pieces of art from the 12th to the 16th centuries.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
This is a fascinating and robust monolithic church that the whole city is proud of. You can easily spot the tower from a distance so this place is definitely not hard to find once you arrive in Vienna. Stephen’s Cathedral has the highest church tower in the whole country.
It goes without saying that even the Austrians themselves are more than eager to visit and see this church. What makes this place worth a visit for a tourist? Well, the short answer is: every single part of it.
The long answer is, you will be stunned once you see the highly detailed Gothic and Romanesque architectural style and design. You will look at its tower and wonder how people could have built something so huge and beautiful back then.
Then, you run your eyes through the main roof design, the carefully designed patterns. Its style harmonizes perfectly with the other parts of the building. It looks amazing. And then you realize you are looking at an absolute masterpiece.
https://www.stephanskirche.at/
Two of the 100 Vienna Museums you should visit
Kunsthistorisches Museum
This is an art history museum and with that, I am actually recommending you two museums at once. It is right in front of the Natural History Museum and the two buildings are designed to mirror each other. By visiting the place, you can check out a prestigious collection of works of art.
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The collection is the legacy of the Habsburg era. Another great thing about this museum is that it welcomes the artist of our time as well. If you’re lucky, you can catch one of their events and tune in to an exciting show.
I also recommend sitting in the café at the Kunsthistorisches Museum and enjoying its artistic sense. It is a completely unique experience. Although the museum does have a huge collection, it is definitely worth checking out each piece of art from start to finish.
There are many other museums in Vienna but this is one of the oldest. The collection consists of mummies, ancient scrolls, bronze age ceramics, ancient musical instruments and royal armory, to name just a few exciting things.
Leopold Gallery
Some of the most beautiful pieces await you at the Leopold Gallery. The works of famous painters such as Klimt, Kokoschka and Schiele are part of the collection, among many others. The modern and minimalist exterior of the museum will make you even more curious about what’s inside.
Keep in mind that once you get there, you will witness the most important – and the largest – collection of Austrian art. Many art lovers travel to Vienna just to visit the Leopold Gallery and check out the other places afterwards, already fully satisfied with their trip.
You can either visit this place for a few hours or make it a full day trip. I recommend the latter. In and around the Leopold gallery, you can find many restaurants, cafes, theaters and exhibition halls. You can easily mix things up a bit and check out all the masterpieces the place has to offer in the meantime.
https://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en
Must Try Cafes in Vienna
Café Central
First time in Vienna? Then you should visit the biggest cafe in town right away. It is Café Central, a living piece of history with a huge interior. The reason why this café is so important is because many important people used to visit the place back in the day.
Trotsky, Freud, Klimt, Schiele, Tito and other artists and influential people took their coffee there day by day. One of the main things that characterizes the café is its arched ceiling and the grand chandeliers hanging around the place.
No wonder they liked the café. The service, coffee and breakfast are all impeccable. It is almost the perfect place to have a traditional Viennese breakfast. Some soft boiled eggs, rolls and strong coffee to wash it down in the comfort of the lovely Café Central. What a great way to start the day!
https://www.cafecentral.wien/en/
Café Sperl
Since 1880, this place has welcomed a wide range of philosophers and celebrities as well. If you want to go back in time and enjoy that feeling of the coffee house of more than 100 years, then you should definitely visit Cafe Sperl. The coffee is delicious and well prepared.
A great place to have breakfast with a couple of your friends and have a long talk in the calming environment. Whether you want an American, Austrian or French breakfast, you are sure to have a delicious meal. In the very nice interior of Cafe Sperl, you can read your newspaper undisturbed or work on your laptop.
This is also what many regulars do. Both locals and tourists simply love this coffee. In case you get bored, you can go to the pool tables and play a few games. The opera houses and a large theater are all a few hundred meters away from the cafe. Cafe Sperl is one of your best options if you want to have a drink before or after the opera.
The Heart of Vienna Nightlife
Club Maxim Wien
If you feel like going out at night but you are not sure what kind of place to visit first, then this is the perfect choice. Nightclub Maxim Wien is the place where you can sit down and enjoy a few drinks with your friends. It’s a bar, night club, and brothel at the same time.
Maxim provides great entertainment and welcomes DJs, singers and other famous celebrities to its events. If you are looking for an unforgettable party, then it is best to visit Vienna in a week when Maxim has an announced event. On the other hand, you can have an awesome time in the club during the week too.
The place welcomes you with many stunning hot girls that you can flirt with. They are more than happy to join you for a drink and entertain you throughout the night. There are many comfortable rooms available in the club. I suppose those need no explanation and it’s just up to you whether you want to continue drinking with your friends or leave them for an hour or two.
Sass Music Club
The unique style of the Sass Music Club makes it a must see for those who feel like having a few drinks and listening to club music. Time flies in this club once the vibe of its atmosphere and the music gets you. As a foreigner, you need someone to mention the place first because you probably won’t meet him by chance.
The entrance is nothing special and you will probably just walk past it. Once you and your state of amazement with the interior Sass Club begins to wear, you can order a delicious cocktail. They mix their cocktails with skill and the best ingredients, making it hard to resist trying a few of them one after the other.
The abundance of crystals hanging from the ceiling will make you feel like you are in a Hollywood movie of some kind. Add the top-notch sound system to the equation and what you get is a club where you can completely lose yourself in the music and the crowd. If you want some good music and good vibes, then make sure you visit the Sass Music Club.