What to See
9 highlights📍 Tap the pin for directions
Schönbrunn Palace & Gardens
The Habsburg imperial summer residence — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most spectacular Baroque palace complexes in Europe. The palace itself contains over 1,400 rooms (40 open to visitors). The grounds are enormous, beautifully maintained, and free to walk. Climb to the Gloriette at the top of the hill behind the palace for one of the best panoramic views of Vienna. Book palace interior tickets online to skip the queue. Allow a half-day minimum.
St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom)
Vienna's Gothic masterpiece and the city's most recognizable landmark, sitting at the heart of the historic center. The colorful zigzag-patterned roof tiles are an iconic image. Climb the South Tower (343 steps, no elevator) for close-up views of the roof and a panorama of the city — this is the best view in central Vienna and worth every step. The catacombs beneath the cathedral contain the remains of thousands of plague victims and Habsburg organs (literally — their hearts and intestines, separate from the Imperial Crypt). Tour the catacombs.
The Imperial Crypt (Kaisergruft) — Do Not Skip This
Hidden beneath the Kapuzinerkirche (Capuchin Church) on the Neuer Markt is one of Vienna's most extraordinary and underrated sights. The Imperial Crypt contains the remains of 149 Habsburg rulers spanning 350 years of European history — emperors, empresses, and royals entombed in elaborate bronze and copper sarcophagi of extraordinary craftsmanship. The contrast between the plain church above and the ornate, cathedral-like vaulted crypt below is remarkable. The most impressive sarcophagus belongs to Empress Maria Theresa and her husband — a massive, ornately decorated double tomb. Franz Joseph I, the last great Habsburg emperor, is here too. The crypt has recently been expanded to include a modern Chamber of Remembrance. Entry costs a few euros and takes about 45 minutes. This is one of the most memorable and least-crowded major sights in Vienna.
Belvedere Palace — Home of Klimt's 'The Kiss'
Two Baroque palaces (Upper and Lower Belvedere) connected by formal gardens, housing one of Austria's finest art collections. The Upper Belvedere contains the world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, including the iconic 'The Kiss' — arguably the most recognizable painting in the world after the Mona Lisa. Seeing the original in person is a very different experience from reproductions. The building itself is extraordinary. Book tickets online.
Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM)
The Art History Museum, built in the 1870s across from the Naturhistorisches Museum on the Ringstrasse, houses one of the greatest art collections in the world — Vermeer, Raphael, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Bruegel, and an extraordinary Egyptian and antiquities collection. The building's interior alone — ornate staircases, painted ceilings, marble pillars — is worth the entry. Budget at least 3 hours.
Naschmarkt — Vienna's Open-Air Market
Vienna's most famous outdoor market, running along the Linke Wienzeile from Karlsplatz. Over 120 stalls selling fresh produce, cheese, meats, olives, spices, pastries, and prepared food. Saturday morning is peak market day but also the most crowded; weekday mornings are more local and relaxed. Eat as you walk — the food is excellent. The surrounding restaurants and cafés extend the experience.
Vienna's Coffeehouse Culture
Vienna's coffeehouse tradition is UNESCO-listed Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Kaffeehaus is a specific institution — a place to sit for hours with one coffee, read newspapers provided on wooden frames, and do absolutely nothing productive. This is socially acceptable and expected. Café Central, Café Hawelka, and Café Schwarzenberg are the historic originals; Café Hawelka (Dorotheergasse 6, open since 1939) is the most atmospheric. Order a Melange (Vienna's answer to a cappuccino) and a Apfelstrudel.
Prater Park & the Riesenrad
The historic Prater amusement park on the banks of the Danube Canal. The Riesenrad — a giant 65-meter Ferris wheel built in 1897 — is the park's iconic symbol and one of the oldest working Ferris wheels in the world. The view from the top over Vienna is excellent. The surrounding Wurstelprater (fairground) is charmingly old-fashioned. The vast Prater parkland beyond the amusement area is a wonderful green space for walking or cycling.
Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper)
One of the world's great opera houses and the center of Vienna's musical identity. If attending a performance is outside the budget, standing-room tickets are sold one hour before each performance at dramatically reduced prices (around €3–10 ($3.24–$10.80 USD)) — the standing room is at the back of the orchestra and upper tiers and gives a genuine opera experience. Alternatively, guided tours of the building itself run daily.