Rumor has it you are traveling for one week in Vienna? Well, you certainly just landed on the right page.
Moreover, through this guide, we will help you have amazing days in Vienna. Thus, with less hassle and more tips about the city.
From basic information to where to stay, what to do and what to eat for one week in Vienna. We all have it here.
Our full guide covers:
- Basic Introduction
- Where to stay in Vienna
- How to get around
- What to see in Vienna
- Things to do in Vienna
- Tickets you have to buy before – must read
- Food and Restaurants
- Day Trips from Vienna
- Itinerary for Vienna
- Packing List
- City Map
And if your excited, we are too. Thus, we are very glad to give you a hand on your 7 days in Vienna or just your simple weekend tour for 2 or days.
Make sure read our handwritten guide to the 18 fun things to do in Vienna – beyond the tourist trail. You will also need a place to stay, so check out our insider guide on where to stay in Vienna for first-time visitors.
Furthermore, as travelers too, it warms our heart also to help others to have an amazing adventure in places like Vienna.
Also, the City of Music is where a rich history lies and great architecture stands. From amazing people to stunning destinations, surely you will love Vienna as we did.
Finally, without further ado, let’s explore and conquer Vienna.
1. Basic Introduction
Of course, we want to start with a simple intro to the things you need to know before coming to Vienna.
Currency: EUR (€)
Language Spoken: German is the national language in Austria. Therefore, the majority of the population in Vienna speak German.
Nevertheless, don’t you worry because they can speak fluent English, too. Especially the educated and young populace of the city. However, some locals can also follow Spanish, French and Italian, too.
Population: 1.9 Million
Known for: For one thing, the city is packed with beautiful palaces and monuments. From Habsburg Emperors and other nobility including the imperial palaces of the Hofburg and Schönbrunn.
Moreover, it is also known as the city where the famous composer Beethoven used to live.
Accommodation: Certainly, you can find and choose from great luxury 5-star hotels to very budget-friendly hostels to stay in your one week in Vienna. Besides, there are also amazing apartments you can check out in the city.
Nonetheless, find more details in our where to stay in Vienna section below.
Public Transport: You can easily go around the city through their public bus, train, tram, and subway services. Aside from being cheap, fast and rarely overcrowded, tickets cover all these very efficient transportations, too.
More under how to get around.
Safety: Vienna is relatively safe for travelers.
Though violent crimes and muggings are rare here, pick-pocketing and bag snatching are common in Vienna. Hence, the same as many European big cities. As a result, just take the normal precautions against pickpockets and you’ll easily avoid getting robbed or scammed.
City name: Some may claim that Vienna came from the word “Vedunia” which means “forest stream”. On the other hand, some claims that it is the Roman settlement name of Celtic extraction “Vindobona” which meant “fair village, white settlement”.
But now, people call Vienna either the City of Music or the Imperial City.
However, in German, the city is called Wien.
Electricity: 230V/50Hz (European plug). Above all, remember to pack your travel plug adapter.
2. Where to stay in Vienna
In particular, Vienna is the largest city in Austria and is made up of 23 Districts.
And as a first-time traveler, we knew you’d be confused about where to stay in your one week in Vienna. Therefore to help you decide, we have made a list of categories you might consider in choosing a place to stay in.
Furthermore, we have also made a map so you could easily picture where things are and see where you should go.
Our handpicked recommendations:
- Families: Novotel Wien Hauptbahnhof
- Family-Friendly Hostel: Hostel Ruthensteiner
- Couples: Grand Hotel Wien
- Luxury Traveler: The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna
- Design Lovers: Hotel Sans Souci Wien
- Groups: Hostel Ruthensteiner
- Solo-Traveler: Hostel Ruthensteiner
- Nightlife Traveler: Motel One Wien-Hauptbahnhof or Wombat’s City Hostel
- On a low budget: Do Step Inn Hostel
Furthermore, here we cover all neighborhoods, and for which type of traveler we recommend the areas and hotels.
Read our complete guide on where to stay in Vienna for first-time visitors.
2.1 Novotel Wien Hauptbahnhof – Best Hotel for Families
Expect to have access to a sauna and fitness center during your stay at Novotel Wien Hauptbahnhof.
Very ideal for families. Plus, rooms are installed with a flat-screen tv and have children’s television networks. Even more, there is also an indoor play area for the kids.
Furthermore, the hotel offers a bike rental so you could cycle around the city. Another thing, kids will also appreciate the game room.
Unquestionably, your one week in Vienna would be easier through your stay in Novotel Wien Hauptbahnhof.
Good to know: The hotel is very wheelchair friendly. Thus, they offer auditory guidance, visual aids in tactile signs and braille. There is also an emergency cord in the bathroom.
2.2 Hostel Ruthensteiner – Best Hostel for Families, Groups and Solo Traveler
Offering a garden and a terrace, Hostel Ruthensteiner is one of the best hostel ideals for exploring Vienna.
Located just walking distance to Palace Schoenbrunn and the city center. Even more, it is the perfect fit for a family, groups and even solo travelers.
Plus, the hostel also features a bar that will surely spice up your nights for one week in Vienna.
Good to know: They have a guitar, piano, and drums in the music area. Moreover, you can freely use and boast to play an instrument.
2.3 Grand Hotel Wien – Best for Couples
Spoil yourself with 5 restaurants, 2 bars, a spa area, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of Vienna at Grand Hotel Wien.
Furthermore, enjoy their wellness facilities and get a free sauna and a steam bath. Even more, a separate ladies-only area, a relaxation zone and a cardio area with the latest equipment.
Plus, guests can take advantage of the free use of the business center.
Good to know: Also, the hotel offers babysitting and child services to make the most of your stay for one week in Vienna.
2.4 The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna – Best for Luxury Lovers
Stay in luxury with a 5-star hotel, stay in The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna.
Enjoy luxurious rooms and suites. And all with a minibar and a Geneva sound system with an iPod docking station.
Moreover, get to enjoy the hotel’s The Atmosphere Rooftop Bar. More than a place to grab your drinks, it certainly does offer one of the best panoramic views of Vienna.
Furthermore, the hotel also offers The Ritz-Carlton Spa. Indulge yourself at the largest indoor pool in the center of Vienna with underwater music. Plus a fitness room, separate saunas and steam baths for men and women, and six spa suites for unforgettable spa treatments.
Good to know: The Ritz-Carlton also offers a Club Lounge with private check-in and an exclusive concierge service.
2.5 Hotel Sans Souci Wien – Best for Design Lovers
Directly opposite the Museum Quarter is the Hotel Sans Souci Wien.
The hotel features a bar and the Veranda restaurant where they serve Austrian and international cuisines. Even more, guests can also take advantage of the Sans Souci Spa and use the indoor pool.
Moreover, the Sans Souci Spa also offers guests a sauna, a steam bath, and a relaxing area free of charge.
Good to know: The hotel is also suited for families since they offer babysitting services, kid’s meals, and children’s television networks.
2.6 Motel One Wien-Hauptbahnhof – Best for Nightlife Traveler
Motel One Wien-Hauptbahnhof features a bar decorated with Arne Jacobsen chairs and Swarovski chandeliers.
Located in Vienna’s Westbahnhof transport hub and shopping complex. Therefore, a perfect avenue to meet people from all over the world.
Besides, rooms are designed stylishly and are installed with a flat-screen satellite TV, a mobile workstation. Even more, a designed bathroom with elegant furnishings and a rain shower.
Good to know: Motel One Wein-Hauptbahnhof is only a 10-minute underground ride from the city center.
Another great option for backpacker in Vienna is the Wombat’s City Hostel. It is a fun hostel with party ambiance and comfy dorms.
2.7 Do Step Inn Hostel – CHEAP Deal
If you’re looking for very budget-friendly accommodation, then there is no better place than Do Step Inn Hostel.
The hostel offers great free amenities you can surely take advantage of. To name a few, get free linen, free towel and shower, free lockers in dorms, free luggage storage and free city maps.
Moreover, you can cook your meals at the fully equipped kitchen since there is no available catering at the hostel.
However, there are vending machines available at the hostel for your convenience.
Good to know: There’s no curfew and no lock-out so you can come and go as you please.
3. How to get around Vienna
So, we have your accommodation set, now let us get out and explore.
Best for sightseeing: Hop on – Hop off Bus is the easiest way to go around and visit the famous tourist destinations in Vienna. Go and explore at your own pace with a 48-hour ticket bus tour.
Even more, get to choose the tour that suits your taste in several routes available which include the following:
- Red Route: Admire the sights along Ringstraße including the State Opera, the Hofburg Palace, the Austrian Parliament, and the Burgtheater.
- Yellow Route: Discover the famous Schönbrunn Palace, the Naschmarkt, the Museum of Military History and the Belvedere Palace.
- Blue Route: Explore the highlights along the Danube River including the Hundertwasserhaus, the Prater with its giant Ferris wheel, and the Danube Tower.
- Green Route: Enjoy the lush green surroundings of Vienna, the wine village of Grinzing and the panoramic views from the Kahlenberg.
- Grey Route: Walk in the footsteps of the Romans at the Open Air Museum Petronell-Carnuntum or the Museum Carnuntum in the Carnuntum Archaeological Park. Even more, you can also visit Hof Estates, Austria’s largest palace complex.
Check more in for Hop on – Hop off Bus here.
Public transport: First of all, one of the best services you can get from Vienna is their public transportation. Tickets are universal. Therefore, you can use it in public buses, trains, trams, and subway services.
Get the Vienna City Card. It is the cheapest way to use public transport as often as you want. Besides, you can get the Vienna Card for 1 day up to 3 days.
Moreover, Vienna’s public transportation is fast, clean and relatively safe. Plus it’s cheap and rarely crowded. Therefore, it’s very suitable not only for the locals but as well as the tourists and travelers.
Good to know: Above all, you can also get your Travel Card added to your Vienna Pass. Hence, gets you free entry to around 60 tourist attractions. Furthermore, ride the city’s network of undergrounds, trains, and buses and discover all that Vienna has to offer.
The Vienna Pass is the best option for tourists visiting for 3-4 days!
Not only do you get free admission to all main sights but also skip-the-line entry, unlimited hop-on hop-off bus rides, and even discounts.
Bikes: Furthermore, another interesting way to see the beauty of Vienna is through bikes.
There are bike rentals available at over 120 stations all across the city that are available around the clock, all year round.
Moreover, other establishments also offer bikes either for free or for rent.
You can find more bike information here.
Walking: Walking around Vienna is easy. In this case, staying in the inner ring in the city center of the First District, you can easily walk just about everywhere.
Since Vienna offers so many attractions in one place, a pretty nice walk would probably make you more appreciative of the city’s beauty. Therefore, take time in witnessing every detail of Vienna.
But if you get tired of walking, you can easily shift to public transportation near you.
Taxi: However, if you want to go around the city fast and easy, get a taxi. Though public transportation in Vienna is much cheaper, taxis give you the easiest and fastest option to get from point A to point B.
Yet, the Hop on – Hop off Bus here is our favorite and more affordable way to get around Vienna.
Boat: Danube River being the longest international river in Europe. Sail across Vienna in excursion ships or simply get around the city through the boat taxi and yellow water taxi.
You can find more interesting boat details here.
4. What to see in Vienna – The Must-Do’s
What to see in Vienna? A very good question!
Just like any other of your travels in visiting a place or city, there are so many things you can consider to ‘Must-Do’. Too many that you lose focus on what’s really what not to miss in the city.
We wrote a unique guide on 18 fun things to do in Vienna you should add to your bucket list.
And to make things easier for you, we have listed and narrowed down your list to top must-do in the city of Vienna. Thus, to further highlight your travel for one week in Vienna.
Most certainly, please do take note that some of the lists require a pre-booking to either skip the line or to enter at all.
The Must Do’s are:
- Visit the Schönbrunn and Schonbrunn Gardens
- Witness the beauty of St Stephen’s Cathedral
- Get enchanted with the treasures of the Hofburg Palace
- Tour Tiergarten Schonbrunn (Vienna Zoo)
Tip: The Vienna Zoo is included in the Vienna Pass - Catch the Mozart and Strauss Concert at Vienna State Opera
- See Donauturm (Viewing tower)
- Walk Vienna Ring Road
More great sights to see in Vienna are:
- Giant Ferris Wheel
- Hundertwasser House
- St. Peter’s Catholic Church
- Museum of Natural History Vienna
- Prater
- Maria-Theresien-Platz
- Belvedere Palace
- Anker Clock
- Spanish Riding School
- Danube River Cruise
We created a map with the top things to see in Vienna + fun things to do.
5. Things to do in Vienna
Vienna will surely work its charm and magic once you get to the city.
Thus, your affection with this city intensifies with time. So the longer you stay, the longer you’ll fall in love with this beautiful city.
Whether you’re visiting for fast-track travel or slow-paced sightseeing, there’s a never-ending wealth of things to do and see throughout the year. Regardless of how many times you’ve visited.
So here are lists of things to do one week in Vienna.
We collected for you a great list of cool Things To Do in Vienna.
And here are more ideas:
- Have a taste of Vienna’s sausage on food kiosks
- Join a bike tour
- Experience strudel tasting at Schönbrunn Palace
- Discover Austrian history in 4D
- Drop by at Naschmarkt
- Indulge Your Sweet Tooth At The Sacher Cafe
6. Tickets you have to buy before (Must Read)
I sincerely hope you are reading this section carefully! Indeed, it will make a difference.
This is important so you can enter the places you would love to see from the inside.
Furthermore, there are exactly three tickets we recommend to buy beforehand:
- Schönbrunn Palace & Gardens
- Vienna Spanish Riding School
- Mozart and Strauss Concert at Vienna State Opera
6.1 Schönbrunn Palace & Gardens
Being Austria’s #1 attraction, you wouldn’t want to spend all your time waiting in long lines.
So save your time and energy. Therefore, pre-book a ticket to one of UNESCO’s World Heritage site.
Summon your inner prince or princess and journey back in time on a guided tour through the impressive Schönbrunn Palace. 1,441 stunning staterooms (yes 1,441 majestic rooms), where Vienna’s former imperials gathered during summer, awaits you.
Good to know: You can also just show up here with no ticket and queue. However, the queue can be around 1 hour.
Photo by Petros Agoston
6.2 Vienna Spanish Riding School
Be impressed by the performance of the famous Lipizzaner in a breathtaking location, the baroque Winter Riding School.
Also, the Spanish riding school is the only institution in the world that has practiced classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole for more than 450 years.
Good to know:
- Tickets must be redeemed 45 minutes before the show at Spanish Riding School Visitor Centre.
- Present your GetYourGuide Mobile Voucher at the souvenir shop of the Spanish Riding School in the main entrance on Michaelerplatz 1 and receive a 5% discount.
6.3 Mozart and Strauss Concert at Vienna State Opera
Hear the best works of Mozart and Johann Strauss performed by 30 outstanding musicians. Among them members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Vienna Symphony.
In the same way, hear the best of the classics with a renowned Austrian orchestra.
Even more, skip the jam-packed lines and book your tickets online.
Good to know:
- Discounts available for children 5 – 18 years and students up to 27 years old only with an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). No other student IDs accepted
- Dress code: formal/ black tie
7. Food & Restaurants
One of the most amazing highlights of our travel journey is FOOD.
Let’s admit it, we love food! And there’s no better way to explore and discover a place but through their foods.
Most of all, let us introduce you to the best and amazing cafes and restaurants you should visit in your one week in Vienna.
Choose among Vienna’s top Best Places To Have Brunch.
And to all the pizza and pasta lovers out there, here are 8 Top Italian Restaurants in Vienna you want to check out.
Have a taste of the city’s greatest coffee at the video below.
8. Day Trips from Vienna
With so much to see and experience in the Imperial Capital of Austria, your one week in Vienna itinerary is likely to be packed out already.
However, if you’re planning to expand your horizons with Vienna day trips, many destinations are waiting for you to be discovered.
And we have compiled a list of the best day trips from Vienna. Hence, lists to help you narrow down your options. Therefore, help you choose to make the most out of your Austrian getaway.
So here are Best Day Trips from Vienna including:
- Bratislava
- Salzburg
- Wiener Neustadt
- Hallstatt
- Schloss Hof and Niederweiden Palace
9. Itinerary for 7 days
When spending one week in Vienna, there’s so much more you can explore in the city itself and its surroundings.
Moreover, the City of Music has so much to offer that makes your one week in Vienna packed with every bit of its history and beauty.
I would recommend to plan 3 fully days for the city, and then combine it with day trips, activities, and living the local live.
Here is 3 day itinerary for Vienna:
DAY 1
- Coffee at Central Café
- Rathaus
- Austrian Parliament building
- St Stephen’s Cathedral+ Catacombs
- Opera
DAY 2
- Spanish riding school
- Coffee time!
- Mozart House
- Art Museum
- City river cruise
- Danube Tower
DAY 3
- Schönbrunn Gardens & Palace
- Prater Park
- Hofburg Palace
- Naschmarkt food tour
- Party night!
10. Packing List
There are a few things we recommend for your packing list Vienna.
Optional but always useful:
11. Printed Guides & Map
These guides are best for the ones looking for a printed version.
Once you come to Vienna, you will also receive a paper map of the city.
Here is again our map of Vienna with the recommended hotels and neighborhoods.
Questions? Contact us
I tried to make this guide as useful and complete as possible. However, chances are you still have questions left.
Therefore, any questions? Anything not clear?
Please get in touch with us, I would be very happy to help. And I want to make this guide as useful as possible for you.
You see, your question helps me as well.
Do not be shy and send me an email.
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