Visiting Vienna For the First Time? Here’s What to See and Do

There’s really no better place to start your Vienna travel itinerary than the Historic Center of Vienna. The old town is Vienna at its most captivating, where the city’s imperial heritage and status as a cultural heavyweight are evident around every corner. Join a walking tour to learn how the area has retained its character—you’ll see key landmarks such as the Vienna State Opera, Rathaus, Mozarthaus, and the Anchor Clock, while your guide offers insight into their history. The historical center comes up multiple times in this Vienna travel guide for beginners, and for good reason.

Schönbrunn Palace is one of the top Vienna attractions, if not the top one, and making the trip out to see it from the city center is a rite of passage for first-time visitors. Touring the palace and its sprawling gardens, Schlosspark Schönbrunn, is more than just a history lesson—it’s a showcase of luxury, grandeur, and extravagance. Schönbrunn Zoo is right next door, which holds the title of the world’s oldest operating zoo.

Insider tip: Choose the state apartments ticket with an audio guide if you’re tight on time; otherwise, it’s worth taking the longer guided tour to see the palace’s private apartments.

Right in the center of Vienna proudly stands St. Stephen’s Cathedral, arguably the most important of the city’s countless churches. The church is such a major must-see spot in Vienna that it’s often used as a meeting point. While the towering building and ornately patterned tile roof create a striking image from Stephansplatz square below, it doesn’t compete with the vista from the church’s north and south towers. You will find higher viewpoints elsewhere in the capital—the Danube Tower and Kahlenberg being two—but neither lets you see across the old town rooftops quite like the cathedral does. Plus, while you’re there, you can also see inside the cathedral and tour its catacombs.

The Hofburg Imperial Palace is another of Vienna’s fine palaces, and the incredible range of things to see and do here makes it one of the best places to visit in Vienna. Take a walk around Heroes’ Square and the Burggarten to appreciate its formidable design, but it’s inside the Hofburg where things really get interesting. The Spanish Riding School, with its dancing horses, is the palace’s most famous resident, but directly across from it is the Sisi Museum, which celebrates the country’s most beloved empress. Elsewhere in the complex lie the imperial crown at the Imperial Treasury, rows of historical armor at the Neue Burg, and the gorgeous reading rooms of the Austrian National Library.

Vienna and classical music go hand in hand, thanks to its legacy of hosting top composers in its incredible venues. So, naturally, watching a concert is one of the best things to do in Vienna when visiting for the first time. Keep some time free one evening to enjoy a concert, whether it’s at a hall such as the Musikverein, one of the many churches that host concerts—St. Peter's Church and St. Anne's Church are common picks—or even opt for a palace setting for the evening.

Insider tip: Don’t stress too much about dressing up—just aim for smart casual.

Visiting a coffeehouse—on your own or with a local coffee tour—is a classic Vienna experience, as these old-fashioned venues have played a key part in the city’s social fabric for centuries. But coffee is just half the experience: a coffee in Vienna is almost always paired with a sweet dessert. Apple strudel may be a famously Viennese dish, but all sorts of cakes are just as common, and coffeehouses often have their house favorite, such as the rich sachertorte at Hotel Sacher.

Insider tip: Coffee shops stay open until the evening, and the lines at popular ones may be longer the later you go.

There are more than 100 museums around Vienna, covering nearly every subject imaginable. And these museums are not just the kind you save for a rainy day—they are world-class institutions in equally stunning buildings that may become the highlight of your trip. Start at the Museum Quarter, where popular choices include the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien and the Natural History Museum Vienna, or check the latest temporary exhibitions at the Albertina. If you prefer more specialized museums, consider the Sigmund Freud Museum, the Third Man Museum, or the Vienna Furniture Museum to explore a subject that interests you most.

You can have too much of a good thing, which in Vienna means grand architecture and historical or cultural attractions. For a break from sightseeing, head to the Prater: a sprawling park only a few metro stops from the historical center. Its amusement park, home to the historical Riesenrad Ferris Wheel and attractions such as Madame Tussauds, is the main draw and caters to all ages. If the rides and attractions aren’t your cup of tea, the Prater has parks and forests on either side of its thoroughfare that are great for walking and cycling.

Between all the palaces and grand buildings of the city center, it’s easy to think of Vienna in very traditional terms. Which is why a great Vienna tip for first-time visitors is to travel to Hundertwasser House and see that the capital can be playful, too. This apartment building, as well as the nearby Kunst Haus Wien, features the eclectic, colorful design of Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser and is a popular spot for taking photos.

Did you know?: Hundertwasser also designed an incineration plant in Spittelau, which is worth visiting if you’re hooked on his eccentric designs.

From sausages served at a würstelstand (sausage stand) to schnitzel and goulash at a beisl (a local bistro), you can expect comforting, hearty food when in Vienna. Join a food tour to learn the ins and outs of Vienna’s food scene, sample classics such as Kaiserschmarrn and tafelspitz, and discover multicultural fare at the ever-popular Naschmarkt.

The benefit of letting your stomach guide you around the city isn’t just for taste; it’s a great way to explore new neighborhoods and better understand Vienna’s history. Consider pairing a food experience with an evening wine tasting—Vienna is among the rare capital cities that grows commercial wine within its city limits.