See Vienna Like a Habsburg: The Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary
Before 2025, I had never been to Vienna, Austria. Now that I’ve visited twice in 4 months (once on the Viking Grand European Tour and another on my own for a long weekend), I know what to do in Vienna, especially when you’re short on time. If you’re like me and only have 48-72 hours, I’ve crafted the perfect 3 day Vienna itinerary that includes the best places to see in the City Waltzes, as well as the best place to stay in Vienna. (Spoiler alert: It’s the Le Méridien Hotel.) Have even less time? I got you! I also created a more condensed 2 day Vienna itinerary.
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What to Do in Vienna: Day 1
See the Austrian Crown Jewels at the Imperial Treasury
Time Needed: 1 hour
As the saying goes: “Diamanten sind der beste Freund eines Mädchens!” And that definitely rings true at the Imperial Treasury. Located a short walk away from the Sisi Museum, the Kaiserliche Schatzkammer is home to the Austrian crown jewels. Think of it as the Tower of London’s Austrian sister.
Inside you’ll be blinded by the jewel-encrusted Austrian Imperial crown, the Holy Lance (aka the Spear of Destiny) and the world’s largest emerald, just to name a few. There’s also a narwhal tusk, a nail from the Crucifixion and lots of fur-lined robes and garments dating back hundreds of years.
After a while all the different garments and capes start to look the same. But I still think this museum is a hidden gem (pun intended) and should be on everyone’s Vienna itinerary.
Meet Empress Elisabeth at the Sisi Museum
Time Needed: 1.5 hours
If you’re mildly Habsburg-obsessed like me, then the Hofburg is a must-visit in Vienna. And the best way to see it is through the Sisi Museum.
As the name suggests, the Sisi Museum takes you through the life and tragic death of Empress Elisabeth, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph. (If you haven’t already, watch “Die Kaiserin” on Netflix before your trip.)
The museum displays everything from wedding memorabilia to Sisi’s clothing and jewelry and even a reconstruction of her private train car. You’ll also learn more about her and Franz’ love story, the multiple tragedies she and the Austrian royal family experienced and her insane workout regimen.
At the end of the Sisi portion of the museum, you can walk through the Imperial apartments once occupied by Franz and Sisi.
If you plan on going to Schönbrunn Palace as well, you can save money by purchasing the Sisi Pass. It includes entry to the Sisi Museum, Schönbrunn and the Vienna Furniture Museum.
Explore Vienna by Bicycle
Time Needed: 3 hours
I love to do a walking tour on my first day in a new city, but feet can only get me so far. If you really want to see Vienna, especially places that go beyond the Ringstraße, a bicycle tour is the way to go.
I booked this 3-hour guided bicycle tour through Get Your Guide, and it was great! They had both daytime and nighttime tours, but since it was summer, I opted for the nighttime tour. We stopped at many places I had never seen before, such as the Vienna Rathaus, Parliament, the Hundertwasser House, Prater and Karlskirche.
While riding a bicycle in Vienna isn’t as intense as riding a bicycle in Amsterdam, it’s also not as leisurely as riding a bicycle in Salzburg. (I guess bicycle tours in Austria are my thing?) You have to pay attention to your fellow bicyclers as well as pedestrians because the respective lanes do coincide with each other.
What to Do in Vienna: Day 2
Spend the Morning at Schönbrunn Palace
Time Needed: 3-4 hours
Once the summer residence for the Habsburgs, Schönbrunn Palace is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vienna. (If you’re on the Viking Grand European Tour, don’t pay for the overpriced excursion. This is something you can do on your own.)
The Palace Ticket includes an audio guide through the State Apartments, Franz Joseph and Sisi’s private apartments, the Great Gallery, the Hall of Ceremonies and rooms once occupied by Maria Theresa. (If you visit the Sisi Museum, you’ll hear some of the same audio on the tour.)
But Schönbrunn is more than a palace. It’s also home to the Tiergarten (the Schönbrunn Zoo), beautiful gardens, mazes and the Imperial Carriage Museum (Kaiserliche Wagenburg). Each one of these requires its own ticket, but the website offers combo tickets.
I would say the Imperial Carriage Museum is a must-visit. It features some of the most incredible carriages and coaches once used by the Imperial family. There are also more of Sisi’s royal wardrobe, including a replica of her wedding dress.
If you want to avoid the crowds, buy your ticket in advance. Buying a ticket in advance means you don’t have a fixed admission time. You simply show up and go through the line.
Also, get there early. Like, right when it opens. The second time I went, I got there around 8:30 and the courtyard and gardens were practically empty. By 10:00, the first tour groups had finished and started to make their way to the gardens and up to the Gloriette.
How much time do you need at Schönbrunn Palace? Between walking through the palace and state apartments, plus the gardens and any other attractions, you can expect to spend at least 3-4 hours.
Schönbrunn Dining Tip: I was absolutely famished after walking around Schönbrunn for 4 hours. Thankfully there’s a restaurant, Gerstner, right near the entrance of the palace. Service was super fast and the food wasn’t Disneyland-levels expensive. They also have a couple of vegan options, including a vegan Sacher Torte. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I was too full after eating the hearty vegan potato goulash to order a slice.
Get an Art History Lesson at the Kunsthistorisches Museum
Time Needed: At least 1 hour
If you’re the artsy fartsy type, like I aspire to be, a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum is a must. I did a quick, one hour guided tour through the museum.
For a €6 tour, I thought it was sufficient. The guide was, of course, very knowledgeable and took us to all the must-see pieces by Brugel, Dürer, Rembrandt, Ver Meer and Raphael. The tour I took is only offered on certain days, so check the museum calendar for availability.
A museum ticket is also the only way to eat at the very beautiful (and Instagrammable) Kunsthistorisches Café located in the Cupola Hall. I was there late in the afternoon on a Sunday, and even then the line was very long. You could always get a photo from the second floor.
Visit the Final Resting Place of the Habsburgs
Time Needed: 1 hour
It’s no secret that I love to visit famous dead people. So when I found out I could visit the final resting place of famous emperors and empresses, I obviously had to add the Imperial Crypt to my Vienna itinerary.
The Imperial Crypt is unlike any cemetery or famous resting place I’ve been to. Located underneath the Capuchin Church, it houses the ornate, metal sarcophagi of 145 Habsburgs, including Franz Joseph, Sisi and Maria Theresa.
The double coffin of Maria Theresa and Francis I is absolutely massive and weighs over 3,000 pounds. But I would expect nothing less for the Grandmother of Europe. I think my favorite though is the sarcophagus of Charles VI, which features a skull wearing the Imperial Crown.
The Imperial Crypt probably isn’t for everyone, but for me it’s a place I’d like to revisit.
If you missed the urns that hold the hearts, like I did, don’t worry! You’ll have another chance at St. Stephan’s Cathedral.
What to Do in Vienna: Day 3
Go Underground at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Time Needed: 30 minutes
If you didn’t get your fill of macabre history at the Imperial Crypt, then you won’t want to miss the catacombs at St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Located below the cathedral, the catacombs is home to even more Habsburgs (including their organs), Viennese Cardinals and Archbishops and the bones from some 10,000 bodies.
The only way to access the St. Stephen’s catacombs is through a 30-minute guided tour. The tour costs €7 and is in German and English. (The guide speaks in German first, then English. I’m taking German classes, so it was a good listening exercise.)
Tour times vary by days, but you can usually catch a tour at the top of the hour. Unlike the bone house in Hallstatt, photos aren’t allowed. But to be honest, there really weren’t that many photo opportunities since it was mostly dark in the Neue Katakomben.
Don’t want to see thousands of bones? St. Stephen’s Cathedral is still a Vienna sight you don’t want to miss. It’s free to enter St. Stephen’s Cathedral, but there are certain parts that require a ticket.
Admire the Baroque Interior of the Jesuit Church
Time Needed: 15 minutes
Not far from St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the Jesuit Church (Jesuitenkirche). Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you. The interior, which is decorated with pink marble, gold and beautiful frescoes, can only be described as holy opulence. And if you visit on a sunny day, like I did, the sun bounces off the gold accents and lights up the entire room.
Get a World War II History Lesson
Time Needed: 2.5 hours
I stumbled upon the World War II Historical Walking Tour while planning my last trip to Vienna and I’m so glad I did.
This 2.5 hour walking tour tells the story of how Adolf Hitler went from an aspiring artist to dictator and the various places in Vienna that played a supporting character in that story. You also stop by the Holocaust memorial and Vienna’s oldest synagogue that miraculously survived the Nazis.
The guide was absolutely fantastic and I learned so much on this World War II walking tour. In fact, there’s a lot of information on this tour that was never mentioned on any of the other Vienna tours I went on. (To be fair, I can see why they don’t. It’s not exactly something to brag about.)
If you’re a history buff, want a better understanding of Austria’s role in World War II or simply looking for a tour that’s more than Vienna highlights, you’ll really enjoy this tour. Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes because you walk A LOT.
What to Do in Vienna in 2 Days
My first visit to Vienna was on the Viking Grand European River Cruise, which meant we had a little less than two days in Vienna. The good news is, you can still see a lot in 48 hours.
Here’s how I would adjust the 3-day Vienna itinerary to create a 2-day Vienna itinerary:
Day 1: Sisi Museum, Imperial Treasury, Vienna bicycle tour
Day 2: Schönbrunn Palace, World War II walking tour
Obviously, you can pick and choose based on your preferences.
Where to Stay in Vienna
Now that you know what to do in Vienna, you’re probably wondering where to stay in Vienna. As much as I wish I had the budget for Hotel Sacher, I do not. But the next best thing, in my opinion, is the Le Méridien Hotel.
The location is “ausgezeichnet”! (That means excellent in German.) The hotel is within walking distance of pretty much everything. The Karlplatz U-Bahn station is a 5 minute walk, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is a 7 minute walk, and the Volksgarten and the famous Göthe and Mozart statues are directly across the street.
As for the room, it was absolutely massive for one person. (Not that I’m complaining.) And more importantly, it was very quiet. I also received a free drink coupon for every day I opted out of having my room cleaned.
Besides safety and comfort, safety is also something I look for when booking a hotel — especially when I travel solo. I never once felt unsafe at this hotel, or anywhere in Vienna for that matter. There was always a staff member in the lobby or outside. And I very rarely ran into anyone in the elevator or hallway.
TL;DR if you’re looking for a Vienna hotel that’s in a great location, super safe and spacious rooms, stay at the Le Méridien Hotel.
Stay in the Heart of Vienna at Le Méridien
Book your stay at this luxury hotel that is steps from Vienna’s must-see attractions.
How to Get to Wien Mitte from the Vienna Airport
Speaking of public transportation, it’s also the easiest (and cheapest) way to get to and from the Vienna airport.
The fastest way to get to the city center from the Vienna airport is the Vienna City Airport Train (Vienna CAT). It takes about 16 minutes and ends right at Vienna city center. However, a one-way ticket on the Vienna CAT is €14.90.
If you want to save money, you can buy a €2.20 ticket through the ÖBB for the Vienna S-Bahn, specifically the S7. It takes about 20 minutes and also ends at Vienna city center. (I chose this option and highly recommend it.)
For either option you will also need to buy a Vienna U-Bahn (subway) ticket to get around the Vienna Core Zone. This type of ticket, which is sold through Wiener Linien, is not valid for trips to or from the airport.
Train Ticket Tip: I tried to buy my tickets at the Vienna airport kiosk, but I must have done something wrong because it wanted to charge me more than €30 for a one-way ticket and a 72 hour pass. Thankfully, the kiosk wasn’t liking my credit card so the desk agent helped me and I only ended up spending €18. Moral of the story: buy your ticket from the desk agent.
Ready to Plan Your Vienna Itinerary?
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