Visiting Vienna is probably one of the first items I added to my life wishlist (aka bucket list). As a young girl I would play classical music and dream of one day visiting the city famous for being the home of Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, and Brahms to name just a few. Listening to their great symphonies and concertos I imagined myself performing them in great halls across the continent.
As is the story for many, my childhood dream has since faded but the core of it remains. My desire to visit Vienna and the places some of the greatest musicians of all time have performed or sipped coffee while chatting with colleagues has not faded.
Yes, I am romanticizing Vienna which was also the seat of power for an imperial force. I currently live in a country that was under its control and see its influence. Sue me for indulging in a fantasy I created as a child.
Staying in Vienna longer? Check out these articles
- 11 Stunning Day Trips from Vienna
- Hellbrunn Palace and the Trick Fountains in Salzburg
- 3 Days Wandering Medieval Prague
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Itinerary for 2 Days in Vienna
You could probably spend a week in Vienna and just scratch the surface of what is possible, but that is not possible for everyone so I am sharing an itinerary that you can use to spend 2 days in Vienna. I will include some additional activities you can add below to extend your trip.
Vienna Itinerary | Day One
I organized this itinerary with spatial awareness and balancing activities. I visited for 4 days but took it very slowly because I wanted to spend time in the cafes, wandering local shops, popping into get treats when the smells and sights enticed me.
Most of these activities can be done via guided tour or with a audio guide. Be sure to book in advance for the former, and be aware that some places are closed on Mondays or Tuesdays in Vienna.
Rathaus
Rathaus is the seat of local government, also known as city hall. Constructed in the 1800s in the Neo-Gothic style. It is located in Rathausplatz in the center of Vienna.
Guided tours are available in German on set days and times but an audio guide is available for free in English, French, Italian, and Spanish. Check tour times here.
Austrian Parliament Building
The Austrian Parliament Building is where the two houses of the Austrian Parliament meet, naturally. While you can attend a guided tour through the 130 year old building I opted to just see it from the outside as it is between Rathaus and Hofburg Palace. Schedule a tour here.
Tip: This area is where the Museum Quarter (MuseumsQuartier) is located. It contains 60 cultural institutions ranging covering art, architecture, fashion, dance, museums, literature, etc. Combined tickets are available through the official site.
Hofburg Palace
The Hofburg Palace was a formal imperial residence and now houses the Austrian President and a museum. A combined ticket will give entrance to the Sisi Museum, Imperial Apartments, and the Silver Collection.
The Silver Collection was not something I would normally see but it was incredible and impressive while at the same time a gross display of wealth.
The Imperial Rooms were beautiful but the audio guide was boring because a lot of the content was repeated from the Schönbrunn Palace audio guide. If you choose to do both then you can easily cut out a lot of the audio on one and shorten your time there.
Cafe Frauenhuber
Cafe Frauenhuber is said to be one of the oldest cafes in Vienna. Beethoven and Mozart both performed here in the 1700s. I loved how if you didn’t know the history of the cafe, you wouldn’t even realize it.
In spite of its historical importance the cafe is far from pretentious. I had a lovely visit to enjoy some topfen pancakes. I took my time as I soaked in my surroundings imagining what it would have been like hundreds of years ago.
Albertina
Albertina is an art museum that is housed in an old Habsburg palace in the center of Vienna. It has collections of paintings, sculptures, photography, architecture, state rooms, and also the most important print rooms in the world. The most famous exhibition is Monet to Picasso showcasing moderisnt art.
I thoroughly enjoyed this museum and was even able to catch a temporary exhibit on Edvard Munch; Love, Death and Loneliness.
Danube Tower
A bit outside of the center of Vienna is the Danube Tower, the tallest structure in Austria (252 meters). The tower has a high-speed elevator that takes you to the top in 35 seconds.
At the top you can visit two revolving restaurants that offer views of Vienna and the Danube River. The upper one is an upscale restaurant while the lower one, which I visited, is a cafe. There is also a viewing platform although when I visited mid-November it was a bit too cold to stay.
Prater
Close to the Danube Tower is Wurstelprater, or simply called Prater. It is a large public park which also contains the oldest amusement park in the world. The Prater was first mentioned in 1162 and it was donated to the people of Vienna in 1766.
Prater is open 24/7 all year and entrance to the park is free while there are costs for individual attractions. It is here that you can see the Giant Wheel that has become an iconic part of Vienna’s skyline.
Alternative Option: Concert and Dinner
If you are visiting in the winter I don’t suggest visiting Danube Tower and Prater in the evening as it was -bitter- cold. Instead book tickets to enjoy a 4 course dinner at the Restaurant Johann inside Kursalon Vienna and end your evening with a concert complete with opera singers, ballet dancers, and instrumentalists.
Vienna Itinerary | Day Two
For your second day in Vienna I suggest starting off at Schönbrunn Palace since you will need to take the metro (or drive if you have a car) to the southwest edge of Vienna. I suggest giving yourself the entire morning to explore the palace and then head back into the center for the rest of the day.
Schönbrunn Palace