{"id":27462,"date":"2023-07-20T11:11:25","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T11:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/20\/how-to-spend-3-days-in-vienna-updated-2023\/"},"modified":"2023-07-20T11:11:25","modified_gmt":"2023-07-20T11:11:25","slug":"how-to-spend-3-days-in-vienna-updated-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2023\/07\/20\/how-to-spend-3-days-in-vienna-updated-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Spend 3 Days in Vienna (Updated 2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Posted<\/strong>: 7\/21\/2023 | July 21st, 2023<\/p>\n

Steeped in culture, arts, music, and history, Vienna<\/a> is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe<\/a>. (At least I think so!)<\/p>\n

The entire historic center of Vienna is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is filled with countless museums and art galleries, grand Baroque palaces, traditional markets, and fantastic restaurants. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ll admit that I didn\u2019t love Vienna when I first visited. I found it a bit stuffy and imperial (which makes sense given its history). But, after a couple of visits, I grew to love it and found it a city full of life, art, and music. I loved it so much I took groups of readers here!<\/p>\n

There is a lot to do here. (In fact, there\u2019s so much that you could easily spend a week here<\/a> and not get bored.) <\/p>\n

But, if you only have a few days, here\u2019s my suggested three-day Vienna itinerary if you\u2019re short on time. It hits all the highlights.<\/p>\n

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Vienna itinerary: Day 1<\/span><\/h3>\n

Take a free walking tour<\/strong>
I always take a walking tour whenever I arrive in a destination. Starting your trip with a walking tour is a fun way to get a sense of the city, as a taste of its history and culture. Plus, you can ask your guide questions about where to eat and go since they are always locals so they know the inside scoop!<\/p>\n

Two excellent free walking tours are:<\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to cover more ground, consider taking a bike tour. I like the tour offered by Pedal Power Vienna<\/a>. It\u2019s three hours and covers all the major highlights.<\/p>\n

Admire St. Stephen\u2019s Cathedral<\/strong>
\"The

The cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt over the years, with the current version largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV (1339\u20131365). Its most recent reconstruction took place just after World War II. <\/p>\n

Stephansplatz 3, +43 1 515523530, stephanskirche.at. Open for worship Monday-Saturday 6am-10pm and Sundays 7am-10pm. Open for visitors Monday-Saturday 9am-11:30am and 1pm-4:30pm, and Sunday 1pm-4:30pm. Admission is 20 EUR, guided tours are 3.50 EUR, and audio guides are 6 EUR. Catacomb tours are 6 EUR; going up the towers costs 5.50 EUR for the South Tower and 6 EUR for the North Tower. Dress respectfully, as it is a place of worship.<\/em><\/p>\n

See the Imperial Palace<\/strong>
\"The

You could easily spend half a day here exploring all the attractions, which include the Sisi exhibit (highlighting the life of Empress Elisabeth), the Imperial Silver Collection, and the royal apartments themselves. It\u2019s huge. <\/p>\n

My favorite section is the Imperial Treasury, with its royal artifacts, crowns, scepters, and detailed history of the Hapsburg family and empire. And, although it\u2019s not free, I recommend getting the audio tour, which adds a ton of context to the exhibits. It\u2019s worth the money.<\/p>\n

Michaelerkuppel, +43 15337570, hofburg-wien.at. Open daily 9:30am-5pm. Admission is 16 EUR. If you have the Vienna PASS<\/a>, it\u2019s free. Skip-the-line tours<\/a> start at 48 EUR.<\/em><\/p>\n

Wander the Naschmarkt<\/strong>
This is Vienna\u2019s largest open-air food market. It has 120 stands, including restaurants, street stalls, and grocers, and, on Saturdays, a flea market too. It\u2019s a little touristy (don\u2019t go grocery shopping here) but it has a cool vibe and it\u2019s a nice place to sit and eat. Despite its fame, you\u2019ll still find a lot of locals here so don\u2019t feel like this is a tourist only place. Be sure to hit up Umarfisch for seafood and wine. The food there is delicious.<\/p>\n

If you really want a deep dive into the market, you can also take a guided tasting tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Vienna Itinerary: Day 2<\/span><\/h3>\n

Explore the Museumsquartier<\/strong>
Start day two with the Museumsquartier (MQ). Once the imperial stables, it now encompasses over 90,000 square meters and 60 cultural institutions, including the Leopold Museum for Art Nouveau and Expressionism; Kunsthalle Wien, with rotating exhibitions; and the Museum of Modern Art, which has the largest such collection in Central Europe. The MQ is also home to several festivals throughout the year, including open-air concerts and a fashion week. If you love art, this place is a must.<\/p>\n

A pass to five of the main museums is 35 EUR. Guided tours of the district<\/a> are also offered for just 8 EUR. <\/p>\n

Explore the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts)<\/strong>
\"The

Maria-Theresien-Platz, +43 1525240, khm.at. Open daily 10am-6pm (9pm on Thursdays). Admission is 21 EUR (get your tickets in advance here<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n

Admire Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace<\/strong>
\"Sch\u00f6nbrunn

Sch\u00f6nbrunner Schlo\u00dfstra\u00dfe 47, +43 1 81113239, schoenbrunn.at. The palace is open daily 9:30am-5pm (longer hours in the summer). The park is open daily 6:30am-5:30pm (8pm in the summer). The Imperial Tour is 22 EUR and takes around 40 minutes, while the Grand Tour is 26 EUR and takes over an hour; both include an audio guide. If you have the Vienna PASS<\/a>, admission is free. Skip-the-line guided tours<\/a> cost 48 EUR.
<\/em>
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Vienna Itinerary: Day 3<\/span><\/h3>\n

Tour the Albertina<\/strong>
Start your last day at the Albertina, one of the best museums in town (which says a lot in a city packed with great museums)! Housed in one of the old private residence wings of the Imperial Palace, it\u2019s most famous for its collection of over one million prints and 60,000 drawings. <\/p>\n

The building itself used to be a Habsburg residence, and included in your museum ticket is a self-guided tour of the 20 restored Habsburg State Rooms. You\u2019ll get an interesting look into 19th-century aristocratic life as you stroll through the exquisitely decorated rooms with their gilded chandeliers, grand fireplaces, delicate furniture, and detailed wall coverings. <\/p>\n

For fans of more contemporary art, the Albertina Modern opened in 2020. Located just a few blocks away from the Albertina itself, the museum focuses on post-1945 contemporary art, with a huge collection of over 60,000 works by 5,000 artists. <\/p>\n

Albertinaplatz 1, +43 1 53483, albertina.at. Open daily 10am-6pm (9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays). Admission is 18.90 EUR (get your tickets in advance here<\/a>). A joint ticket to the Albertina and Albertina Modern is 24.90 EUR. If you have the Vienna PASS<\/a>, admission to both is free.<\/em><\/p>\n

Visit the Mozart Museum<\/strong>
Though Mozart only lived here for three years in the 1780s, this is the only apartment out of all the places he resided in Vienna that has survived. The neat little museum opened in 1941 for the 150th anniversary of his death. The first floor is where Mozart and his family lived, although you need to use your imagination, as not much is known about how the rooms actually looked or were used. But the museum has curated an interesting selection of paintings, artifacts, letters, and memorabilia so that you can learn about his life, music, family, and friends, and be able to listen to his work. <\/p>\n

Domgasse 5, +43 1 5121791, mozarthausvienna.at. Open daily 10am-6pm. Tickets are 12 EUR (free for anyone under 19). Free admission on the first Sunday of the month.<\/em><\/p>\n

See the Freud Museum<\/strong>
Another apartment-turned-museum, this one was home to Sigmund Freud, the famous founder of psychoanalysis (the theory that our present is shaped by our past). He lived here from 1891 to 1938, and the museum opened in 1971 with the help of Anna Freud (his youngest daughter). You\u2019ll find it decorated with the original furniture and Freud\u2019s private collection of antiques. There are also films from his private life as well as the first editions of his works. It only takes about an hour to visit as it\u2019s quite small.<\/p>\n

Berggasse 19, +43 1 3191596, freud-museum.at. Open daily 10am-6pm. Admission is 14 EUR (get your ticket here<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n

Enjoy the Vienna State Opera<\/strong>
\"The

I recommend buying last-minute standing-room tickets for 13-18 EUR. They go on sale starting 80 minutes before the show (you can line up earlier than that though). It\u2019s first-come, first-served and you can only buy one ticket per person.<\/p>\n

Opernring 2, +43 151444\/2250, wiener-staatsoper.at. Check the website for the most up-to-date performance schedule. Tickets start at 59 EUR. A guided building tour costs 13 EUR (free if you have the Vienna PASS<\/a>).<\/em>
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Other Things to Do in Vienna<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"One

There is also the nearby Holocaust Memorial, designed by British artist Rachel Whiteread, which commemorates the 65,000 Jewish Austrians that the Nazis murdered.<\/p>\n

Dorotheergasse 11, +43 1 5350431, jmw.at. Open Sunday-Thursday 10am-6pm and Fridays 10am-2pm. Admission is 15 EUR (includes both museums).<\/em><\/p>\n

Visit Belvedere Palace<\/strong>
The Belvedere is a Baroque palace complex that houses an incredible art collection, with works by Renoir, Monet, and Van Gogh, among others. Contemporary art, film, and music are featured in the building called the Belvedere 21. The free grounds feature beautiful fountains, gravel walkways, ponds, statues, plants, and flowers.<\/p>\n

Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, +43 1 795570, belvedere.at. Open daily 10am-6pm. Admission is 15.60 EUR for lower Belvedere tickets, 17.70 EUR for upper Belvedere tickets, and 9.30 EUR for Belvedere 21 (contemporary art, film, music). You can get a day ticket with admission for all three for 28.40 EUR. Admission to both the lower and upper Belvedere is free if you have the Vienna PASS<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Take a wine tour<\/strong>
Take a bike tour of the stunning nearby Wachau Valley. You\u2019ll get to taste some of the best local wine while enjoying the surrounding landscapes. If you\u2019re looking for a tour operator, I suggest Discover Vienna Tours<\/a>, which I used when I ran tours to Vienna. It\u2019s a really cool thing to do but it\u2019s a full-day excursion (plan to spend 8-10 hours) so it will be the only thing you do that day! Expect to pay around 85 EUR for a full-day wine tour.<\/p>\n

Stroll along the Danube<\/strong>
The Danube, Europe\u2019s second-longest river (the Volga is the longest), stretches almost 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) as it passes through or along ten countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. Walking along the banks is a great way to spend an afternoon, and there are plenty of bars, stores, and caf\u00e9s along the water to pop into. During the summer, you can soak up the sun at the river\u2019s many \u201cbeach clubs\u201d, which have everything you need to relax: loungers, a bar\/caf\u00e9, music, and \u2014 surprisingly \u2014 sand.
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Where to Stay in Vienna<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"A

Wombats City Hostel<\/a> \u2013 My favorite hostel in town is in a great location right along the Naschmarkt. Set in a historic Art Nouveau building, it offers all the modern amenities, including a caf\u00e9\/bar, guest kitchen, and en suite bathrooms (even in dorm rooms). <\/p>\n

Jo&Joe Vienna<\/a> \u2013 Great for travelers looking for a quiet yet affordable stay, this hostel is conveniently located next to the Westbahnhof. It has modern amenities like pod beds, a cinema room, a bar\/restaurant, a huge rooftop terrace, laundry facilities, and more. If you have HostelPass<\/a>, you\u2019ll get 10% off your booking at Jo&Joe, and if you don\u2019t have HostelPass yet, use code NOMADICMATT for 25% off when signing up.<\/p>\n

Hotel Brauhof Wien<\/a> \u2013 This stylish and modern hotel is in an excellent location near the Westbahnhof railway station, a short distance from Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace, and just a quick U-bahn ride away from historic Vienna. It\u2019s especially perfect for beer lovers, as there\u2019s a brewery on site!
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Money-Saving Tips for Vienna<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"A

1. Get a Vienna PASS<\/strong> \u2013 With the Vienna PASS<\/a>, you get entry to over 60 attractions, museums, and monuments throughout Vienna. It costs 78 EUR for a one-day pass, 110 EUR for a two-day pass, and then all the way up to 170 EUR for six days. If you\u2019re planning to visit several of Vienna\u2019s most popular museums, getting the pass could save you a fair amount of money \u2014 especially as it has an option for free public transportation.<\/p>\n

2. Get a transit pass<\/strong> \u2013 If you plan to take the metro a lot, get a pass. A 24-hour pass is 8 EUR, a 48-hour pass is 14.10 EUR, and a 72-hour pass is 17.10 EUR. The weekly pass (valid from Monday through Sunday) is also 17.10 EUR. The Vienna City Card<\/a> offers unlimited transportation, as well as discounts on attractions (starting at 17 EUR for one day). <\/p>\n

3. Visit the museums for free<\/strong> \u2013 Some museums have free days and evenings, offering the possibility of saving some euros if you time it right. Kunsthalle Wein has free admission every Thursday from 5pm-9pm, and many museums have free admission the first Sunday of the month. Check the website of the museums you want to visit for current free days. <\/p>\n

4. Travel during shoulder season<\/strong> \u2013 Personally, I think the best time to go to Vienna is April-June and\/or September-October. It\u2019s still warm during this time, but there aren\u2019t as many other tourists and prices aren\u2019t as high as in the summer.<\/p>\n

5. Skip the fast train into Vienna<\/strong> \u2013 Unless you are in a rush to get downtown, skip the City Airport Train. It\u2019s 11 EUR, compared to the regular train (which is 4.30 EUR). The time difference is negligible. <\/p>\n

***<\/center><\/p>\n

Vienna<\/a> is one of Europe\u2019s great cultural capitals. There\u2019s so much to see, do, and eat that you could easily spend over a week here and not scratch the surface. But even if you only have three days, you can still cover many of the highlights. Just be sure to build in some time hanging out at some of the great coffeehouses \u2014 a cultural institution all their own \u2014 and take in the pace of city life. It won\u2019t disappoint.
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Get Your In-Depth Budget Guide to Europe!<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
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