As per the Global Liveability Index 2023, Vienna is the most liveable city in the world.
The city is squeaky clean and has excellent infrastructure in terms of public transport with connectivity to all the important landmarks, tourist-friendly people and stunning architecture strewn across the entire city.
Baroque* buildings dating to the 17th and 18th centuries and old Gothic** structures steeped in history have been very well preserved and now stand alongside some beautiful neo-classical buildings rendering this bustling metropolis an old-world charm.
There are a few things you should know if you're planning a trip to Vienna -
- 5 days sound like a lot to explore a city but believe me there is so much to do and see in Vienna that 5 days would just fly by. I would recommend at least 3 to 4 full days to experience Vienna at ease.
- Every nook and corner of the city is laden with stunning art and architecture. Keep aside some time to walk along the beautiful boulevards of the city to see the many amazing artworks strewn across the city in the form of water fountains and statues. I've mentioned some walking tips in this blog as we go over the attractions.
- There are many museums in Vienna, each one more enriching than the other. I always mention in all my blogs that one should be picky when it comes to museums.
One, they are expensive and time-wise also it's not feasible to explore all of them. So, pick the ones you would like to see based on your personal choice. For example, the Kunsthistorishes Museum or the Museum of Fine Arts houses the art collection of the famous Habsburg Dynasty. Very close to it is the Naturhistorisches Museum or Museum of Natural History.
Both these museums are not for connoisseurs of art but for regular visitors. We visited the Art History Museum. It was stunning, to say the least. Art pieces from many parts of the world have been put on display here. Worth the effort. Natural History Museum, as the name implies, is all about evolution. If you're travelling with kids, then it can be a good experience for them.
- There is also the option to buy the Vienna Pass. It will grant you entry to 60 major attractions including the coveted Hofburg Palace with its museums.
We did not buy the pass because many attractions still require advance bookings and at many places, the pass has to be shown to fetch tickets. To cut a long story short, I thought the pass was too much of a hassle with very little flexibility to manoeuvre and not value for money. But visiting the Museum of Fine Arts certainly was!
- For travel within the city, buying a Travel Pass for 2, 3 or more days is a good idea. This ticket offers unlimited travel on any kind of public transport.
Once you buy the ticket, you are expected to validate it the first time while boarding the metro, bus or tram. In Vienna, one gets the feeling that transport is free since no one ever asks you to show the ticket nor are there any punching machines installed anywhere. But that should not deter anyone from buying tickets. The city transport runs entirely on trust, it says something about the culture of this beautiful city.
- While in Vienna, do not slip on the opportunity to visit a concert or the opera. Vienna Opera is closed in July and August, during this time a lot of other musical concerts are organised across the city.
We visited an opera at the famous Musik Verein and I've shared my experience in a separate blog with a link pasted below.
- And last but not least, while in Vienna, try out the Wiener Schnitzel, a thinly sliced piece of meat, breaded and fried made mostly of pork. And the not-to-miss Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with a dash of apricot jam.
Mentioned below are the Top 15 Not-to-Miss Attractions in Vienna....
I have not arranged them day-wise, since we had 5 days, we could space out our outings. But most of them can fit into a tighter schedule too.
Top 15 Sights in Vienna
Historic Centre of Vienna
The Historic Centre of Vienna is a pedestrian-only zone with famous boulevards like Graben and Kaerntner Strasse that connect to the stunning St. Stephan's Cathedral, the beautiful building of the Vienna State Opera and the massive Hofburg complex with its museums and impressive squares.
My Tip -
Your trip to Vienna would be incomplete without wandering the streets of the Historic Centre. We saw something different every time we happened to cross it. There are many beautiful old buildings, monuments, castles and parks to be seen. Even if you have less time, plan to spend an evening in the centre to soak in the vibe of the city.
St. Stephen's Cathedral
This is the heart of Vienna. The stunning tall Gothic structure juts out into the sky and you will see hordes of tourists craning their necks to get its spire in one single frame of their cameras.
St. Stephen's Cathedral is the Seat of the Archbishop of Vienna. Entry to the cathedral is free but there are conducted tours available for seeing the catacombs and the 22 bells of the cathedral, the heaviest of which is 3 meters wide and weighs 21 tons. The inside of the cathedral is also stunning with the gold-panelled ceiling and altar.
My Tip -
Spend some time in the area around the cathedral called Stephansplatz. The famous street of Vienna called 'Graben' is here. A little ahead is the 'Kaerntnerstrasse', another famous elegant street. There are cafes and countless shops. You will see Vienna come alive around this street in the evening.
Hofburg Palace or the Imperial Palace in Vienna
In the Inner City or District 1 lies is the beautiful Hofburg Palace. The baroque architecture of the palace with its ornate domes is so impressive that you can't help but let out a sigh on seeing it for the first time.
It is one of the largest palace complexes in the world. The original palace was built in the 13th century and it was the former imperial palace of the Habsburg Dynasty.
A lot of expansions and alterations have been made to the structure over the centuries. The palace has 18 wings and the President of Austria resides in the Leopoldine Wing of the palace.
There are too many things to do and see in the entire complex which can be quite confusing for first-time visitors.
I have tried to put together some tips that might prove helpful in your Hofburg visit -
1. The entrance to the palace is super impressive and you cannot miss it. The colossal dome right on top of the Michaelerplatz is the main entrance from where tours to the museums start. Rows of horse-drawn carriages are lined up in the front. You can also opt for a ride around the palace complex.
My Tip -
Just around the opposite corner of the Hofburg Entrance is the very famous bakery called 'Demel'. You will see a long queue of people waiting to be seated. You should not leave Vienna without tasting their Sachertorte. Even their Apfel Strudel is to die for. You can jump the queue by just buying take-away stuff and eating it sitting on one of the benches near the palace entrance.
2. The huge palace complex houses many museums but the 3 not-to-miss are -
Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum and the Imperial Silver Collection.
Tickets to these museums come with a very informative audio guide. If you have a Vienna Pass, then access to these two attractions is included in the pass. You will need about 3 hours to see all 3 museums.
My Tip -
These 3 museums display the opulent lifestyle of Austria's iconic Empress Elizabeth, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph, popularly known as Sisi. The young empress was a sportsperson, a fashion icon, a traveller and a poet. Her life has the same tragic shade that overshadowed the life of Princess Diana.
The museums are immersive and highly insightful. If you're travelling across Austria, then you will hear the name Sisi quite often while visiting many palaces and museums. So, a visit to this museum can set the tone for all those visits.
3. The Hofburg Palace complex has many beautiful squares. Spend some time walking around. There is Josefplatz, the main public square with its stunning equestrian statue of Emperor Joseph II. The Swiss Court with its prominent Swiss Gate is also beautiful. There is a also Spanish Riding School in the complex that organises gala performances where their stallions show their skills in full dressage.
4. As you walk out of the complex, you will reach a beautiful square called Heldenplatz. This is a famous public square where many important historical events took place. Right behind it is the Austrian National Library. The main attraction in the library is the magnificent State Hall.
5. The building has 3 museums, the Papyrus Museum, Globe Museum and Esperanto Museum. Tickets for this are separate and are not included in the combination ticket of Hofburg. Vienna Pass includes entry to the library though. As I've stated earlier, go for the pass if you wish to see all the museums. We gave it a miss since we'd had our fill of museums for the day.
If you have the Vienna Pass, then you can gain entry to the Royal Treasury or Schatzkammer also which is also close by. It's a collection of crown jewels and armoury if you have an interest in it.
There are many tour options available to see the Hofburg Palace. You can book advance tickets or even buy them at the counter on the day of your visit. Please refer to the official website for more details/changes/ programs -
Artwork around the Hofburg Palace, the Swiss Court and Heldenplatz
Museums Quartier
Just about 10 minutes walk away from the Heldenplatz is the Museums Quartier, also called MQ. This is a large open area with free access for wandering around. There are many old baroque-style structures, some new buildings and a lot of museums like the Leopold Museum and the Museum of Modern Art within MQ.
My Tip -
This is for true art lovers. We skipped the museums although the area itself is beautiful. You will see some very old, yet beautifully maintained structures. If you have Vienna Pass, then entry to a lot of museums should be included in it.
Maria-Theresien-Platz
As you walk from MQ a bit further, be prepared to be stunned by this beautiful monument called Maria-Theresien-Platz.
This awe-inspiring monument is dedicated to Maria Theresia, the Archduchess of Austria, the only woman and one of the most famous rulers of the Habsburg Dynasty.
As a reference point, let me tell you that she was the mother to Marie Antoinette, the infamous queen of France.
You can easily spend about an hour wandering around this plaza and taking pictures.
On both sides of the plaza, are the two beautiful symmetrical buildings with very impressive domes housing the two famous museums of Austria, the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum).
Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens
We started our day with a visit to the Schönbrunn Palace. The palace served as the Imperial Summer Residence during the reign of Maria Theresia, great-great-grandmother of Franz Joseph, Sisi's husband. Remember Sisi? I told you earlier on that if you're travelling around Austria, then Sisi is a name you'll hear often.
Schönbrunn Palace is beautiful, the rooms tell the tales of the opulence of royalty. Audio guides are given as a part of the ticket.
My Tip -
Entry to the gardens is free. But you need to buy separate tickets for the rest of the attractions like the Privy Garden and Orangery. One can spend a good 2 hours in the palace and the gardens. Photography inside the palace is strictly prohibited. The entry to the palace is a bit confusing. There are no clear signages anywhere as to where the tour of the palace starts. So, while buying the ticket, please ensure that you know which way you need to start.
Belvedere Palace
The beautiful Belvedere Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has two beautiful baroque palaces facing the palace gardens and stables.
This historic building is used as an art gallery, exhibiting the world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt's paintings, an Austrian symbolist painter. There are also some masterpieces by Monet and van Gogh.
My Tip -
Belvedere is beautiful, even better than Schönbrunn.
The palace has two parts, the Upper and Lower Belvedere. Stick to the Upper Belvedere for its stunning art collection. The gardens are also delightful. But remember you will need at least 3 hours to see the entire art collection and the palace. Total value for money!
Hundertwasserhaus
This is an apartment building in Vienna known for its asymmetrical, colourful facade. The exterior of this residential building was designed by the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
My Tip -
The architecture is novel and the concept is interesting. I would not rate it as a strict not-to-miss attraction though. There is no metro connection. Many buses ply on this route though and the bus stop is quite close by. From Schwedenplatz, we took a tram Prater Line towards Hetzgasse and then a 2-minute walk to the houses.
St. Peter's Church
This baroque church is a gem that gets overshadowed by its more illustrious neighbour, St. Stephen's Cathedral. It is located a little off Graben, huddled between two high buildings.
My Tip -
If you're wandering in Graben, then take a look at this church. Entry is free and the interiors are breathtaking. We spent about 30 minutes marvelling at the intricate interiors.
Vienna's City Hall
If you've seen Stephansplatz, the city centre, then walk about one kilometre to reach the Rathaus or City Hall.
The impressive neo-Gothic structure is massive and one of the finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture
in Vienna.
You will be able to see its spires from a long way off.
It is an operational office, the seat of the provincial government, with over 1500 rooms.
My Tip -
Many sections of the Rathaus are free to visit but you can gain entry only with a conducted tour. Since it is a working office, you will have to check the website of the city of Vienna for the timings of the tours. https://www.wien.gv.at/english/cityhall/tours.htm
We missed the tour of the day since bookings in advance are not possible, one has to wait at the venue to gain entry. There are some very nice eateries around the Rathaus complex, one can spend some time lazying around.
Austrian Parliament
Walk another 6 to 7 minutes and you will reach the Austrian Parliament. This magnificent neo-classical structure is so stunning that words fail me to describe it.
The huge white edifice is an operational office and like the Rathaus, can be seen from the inside with free conducted tours. We clicked many pictures from all sides but none of them do justice to this beautiful structure.
My Tip -
The tour of the parliament is conducted on weekdays, lasts 85 minutes and is free of cost.
The catch is that you have to register beforehand on their official website. Then you get a QR code which you have to show along with your ID on the day of the tour. We were not aware of this, so had to skip the tour and never had the time to go back for the tour on another day.
Mozart Wohnhaus - Residence of Mozart
Mozart lived in Vienna in many different places but his house in Domgasse is the one that has survived. He lived here for 3 years from 1784 to 1787. The house is very close to St. Stephen's Cathedral. I wish someone had told us that earlier. We had to hunt hard to find this house. Google Maps refused to oblige. It just kept taking us in circles. But we had enough time, so we spent a good one hour looking for it.
My Tip -
This is one of those attractions that just need a tick off your bucket list. Admitting that you did not see Mozart's living quarters in Vienna would be too shameful. Haha...spoken like a true tourist! But honestly, there is nothing to see, just a regular old building with signage. The Mozart house in Salzburg is worth seeing though which is now a museum.
Mariahilfer Strasse, the famous shopping street in Vienna
This is the largest shopping street in Vienna, perhaps also the longest at 1.8 km, with shops of every brand you can think of. And it's full of shoppers. You will see a lot of tourists alongside mostly locals going about their daily chores. And a heady taste of the modern Vienna vibe.
My Tip -
You will take about 26 mins to reach this street from Stephansplatz, the city centre. While in Vienna, plan to spend an evening around this street.
Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts)
Right next to Maria-Theresien-Platz is the Museum of Fine Arts.
There is so much to say and write about this museum, this space would not be enough. I've written a separate blog about this visit.
Please open the link below to learn more -
Musical Concert/Opera
No trip to Vienna is complete without a visit to the Vienna State Opera. But sadly, the opera closes for its annual break in July and August.
In the absence of the opera, the entire city comes alive with music concerts in churches, palaces and music halls.
We went to a Mozart Music Concert in Musikverien. It was an experience worth remembering for a lifetime.
Click on the link below to read more about it -
To sum up, I would say that Vienna is indeed the most liveable city in the world. There is minimum vehicular pollution, just loads of pedestrian-friendly zones, with artworks scattered around stunning public squares, waiting to be explored on foot. A city steeped in history and yet a thriving modern-day metropolis with world-class infrastructure.
So, plan a trip to Vienna. If you discover something new that I might have missed, I would be thrilled to hear from you!
From Vienna, we went to Salzburg and further to Innsbruck.
You can click on the links below to learn more about these amazing destinations
Salzburg
Hallstatt
Salzwelten
Hohensalzburg
Innsbruck
Top of Innsbruck
Swarovski Crystal World
* Baroque architecture - An opulent and highly decorative style of building that originated in Italy in the 17th century and then spread to the rest of Europe. Typical characteristics are intricate details, grand decorations and statues with dramatic curves and twists.
** Gothic architecture - This is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe in the Middle Ages. Typical characteristics that define this architecture are pointed arches, flying buttresses, large stained glass windows and ornate decorations.