Vienna | A Tried-and-True Itinerary You’ll Love

Austria is absolutely stunning! With a great value (compared to Western Europe), each attraction is more luxurious and refined than the last, and the city is brimming with art and culture. After researching countless guides, I finally crafted the following 4-day Vienna city walk itinerary, meticulously planned for maximum enjoyment. It turned out to be perfect—sightseeing spots are close together, making it easy and efficient to explore them all!

Day 1 | Inner City & Ringstrasse (Walking Tour)

👉 Morning 1️⃣ St. Stephen's Cathedral: Landmark #1 with over 800 years of history
2️⃣ Graben Street: The busiest shopping street, lined with famous brands
3️⃣ St. Peter's Church: Austria's most beautiful Baroque church
4️⃣ Jesuit Church: Known as the "Pink Church"
5️⃣ Anchor Clock: Best viewed at noon when all the figurines appear with music

👉 Lunch 🍺 Gasthaus Rebhuhn: A century-old establishment known for its generous portions at great prices

👉 Afternoon 6️⃣ Votive Church: Stunning stained-glass windows, perfect for photos
7️⃣ City Hall: Iconic for its five Gothic-style towers
8️⃣ Burgtheater: Built over a span of 10 years
9️⃣ Parliament Building: Often hailed as the most beautiful parliament in Europe
🔟 Naschmarkt: Vienna's oldest traditional market

👉 Dinner 🍺 NENI am Naschmarkt: Popular restaurant in Naschmarkt, famous for its trio of hummus

Day 2 | Hofburg Palace (Walking Tour)

👉 Morning 1️⃣ Sisi Museum (1h): Discover the legendary life of Empress Sisi
2️⃣ Imperial Apartments (30 min): Rooms of the Habsburg royal family
3️⃣ Austrian National Library (20 min): Often called Europe’s most beautiful library

👉 Lunch 🍺 Ribs of Vienna: Must-try spot known for perfectly seasoned pork ribs

👉 Afternoon 4️⃣ Imperial Treasury (40 min): Marvel at rare gemstones and crowns
5️⃣ Albertina Museum (2h): Home to the world’s largest print collection
6️⃣ Golden Hall: Iconic music hall, celebrated as a temple of sound

Day 3 | Ringstrasse & Outer City (Stops 1-4 on foot; 5-6 by tram)

👉 Morning 1️⃣ Vienna State Opera (45 min): A classical opera haven; Vienna Pass offers a free guided tour from 9:00-9:45 (reservation required)
2️⃣ Kunsthistorisches Museum (4h): Opens at 10:00, and if you visit only one museum, make it this one! Start on the second or top floor for photos before viewing the collections

👉 Lunch 🍺 Plachutta: Famous for authentic beef soup, a favorite of many celebrities

👉 Afternoon 3️⃣ City Park: Snap a photo with the statue of the Waltz King
4️⃣ Karlskirche: Arguably Vienna’s most beautiful church
5️⃣ Hundertwasser House: A unique building with a fully curved design
6️⃣ Prater Amusement Park: Home to Europe’s oldest Ferris wheel

Schönbrunn Palace & Belvedere Palace (by metro)

👉 Morning
1️⃣ Café Central: Vienna’s most beautiful café; fewer crowds during breakfast hours
2️⃣ Schönbrunn Palace: The Habsburgs' summer residence and the second-largest palace in Europe after Versailles

👉 Afternoon
3️⃣ Belvedere Palace: Home to the national treasure, The Kiss