Susanne Garber

Our best things to do in Vienna span culture, food and the Great Outdoors, but we make it very clear that to enjoy this city you also have to commit to a whole lot of mooching. People don’t rush here: we sit in cafés, on terraces, in rooftop bars and Schanigartens. We take cold dips in outdoor pools, soak up the vibes at the Museumsquartier and walk three hours along the Ringstrasse. That’s because Vienna is a city best explored slowly, and our handy guide helps you do just that. Here are the best things to do in Vienna, picked by locals.  Is three days enough to visit Vienna? The short answer is yes, absolutely, as Vienna is a seriously flat, walkable city, especially if you visit in autumn when the weather is a bit cooler. There’s good transport links too, but you’re best off going for it on foot – you’d be surprised how much you can cram in on a long weekend.  RECOMMENDED:🍽️ The best restaurants in Vienna 💃🏻 The best nightlife spots in Vienna🏛️ The best attractions in Vienna🏠 The best Airbnbs in Vienna This guide was updated by Susanne Garber, a writer and photographer based in Vienna. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines. 

Oh Vienna, how we love you so. But we’ll be the first to admit that your districts can be a little confusing. Vienna has 23 of them, to be exact, starting with the first one in the centre, from which each of them wind their way outwards in a ring. They’re numbered 1-23, but they also have specific names and postal codes, where the district can be identified by the two numbers in the middle. The 8th district is therefore 1080, also known as ‘Josefstadt’. But each of them has its own distinct character, home to plenty of artistic heritage, beautiful imperial palaces or just the perfect cup of coffee with a perfect people-watching view. You’ll love this city anywhere you stay, but it’s worth learning about its neighbourhoods (or Grätzl, as we say in Viennese), to stay somewhere that matches your vibe. Here’s our ultimate neighbourhood guide.  RECOMMENDED:🏘️ The best Vienna Airbnbs🏨 The best hotels in Vienna📍 The best things to do in Vienna☕ The best cafés in Vienna This guide was recently updated by Vienna-based writer Susanne Garber. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

  For beautiful cathedrals, fairytale palaces and a whole lot of great food, Vienna is the spot. There’s an abundance of authentic Austrian food here, but you won’t have to look hard to find a hell of a lot more on offer too.  On our list we’ve got everything from Michelin stars and fine dining to potato pizza to steaming bowls of ramen, and we’ve added what you can expect from the prices too. Whether you’re after café culture, snack food or a special occasion dinner, here are the best restaurants in Vienna right now.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Vienna☕ The best cafés in Vienna🏘️ The best Vienna Airbnbs🏨 The best hotels in Vienna⛪ The best attractions in Vienna This guide was recently updated by Vienna-based writer Susanne Garber. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Legend has it that in 1683, a Viennese local grabbed the final bag of coffee beans left over by the Ottomans and started serving it up in Vienna. Since then, Vienna has become Europe’s coffee capital. And you’ll see it from the moment you touch down here. This city is full of beautiful cafés (some of them even have UNESCO status), and they show that the traditional Kaffeehaus is not just a place to sip and snack. These are social, community institutions at the very heart of Vienna’s culture. Here is our pick of the best.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Vienna🍴 The best restaurants in Vienna💃🏻 The best nightlife spots in Vienna🏛️ Unmissable attractions in Vienna🏠 Vienna's best Airbnbs This article was last updated by Susanne Garber, a writer based in Vienna. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

What is Belvedere Palace and why is it so famous? Belvedere Palace is not only one of the most famous baroque palaces in Vienna (in fact, it is actually two palaces), the museum located inside also houses one of the most famous paintings in the world: ‘The Kiss’ by Gustav Klimt. It shows a self-portrait of the Austrian painter with his muse Emilie Flöge as lovers and attracts visitors from all over the world. Why is Belvedere Palace worth it? Seeing ‘The Kiss’ in real life impresses even most native Viennese. The museum's permanent exhibition also includes numerous other impressive works by famous Austrian painters such as Oskar Kokoschka or Egon Schiele. The palace itself, including the beautiful surrounding baroque garden, is an easy visit from the city centre and a must-visit for any first timer.  How much does it cost to visit? Tickets can be bought on site, online, or via GetYourGuide, but the entry fee is a little cheaper online and you save yourself time for waiting at the ticket office. Tickets start from from €17.50 euros. Groups of 10 people or more have to book a free time slot in advance.  Where should I eat nearby? Café Schwarzenberg, Vienna’s oldest Ringstrasse café, is very close, and is the spot to indulge in Viennese coffee house culture. Stöckl im Park has a lovely garden for al fresco dining (with  an inviting Schanigarten air) and serves up Viennese classics like knoblauchcremesuppe (creamy garlic soup) and sacherwürstel sausage.  🍴 Discover more of the b

What is it? Vienna’s Ringstrasse is a 5.3 kilometre-long street that runs around the city centre. It is home to many of Vienna's most famous monuments, such as the Parliament, the State Opera House, the University of Vienna or the Museum of Art History. Built between 1860 and 1890, the architectural style is also known as Ringstrasse style – a form of historicism. Is it worth visiting? You will hardly be able to avoid the Ringstrasse when visiting Vienna, as it is not only lined with the most famous (and beautiful) buildings, but it is also one of the most important trac routes. How long does it take to walk Ringstrasse? For the real experience, we recommend walking as much of it as you can to take it all in. Make sure to hit the University, past the Town Hall and the Burgtheater, to the Parliament and nally, close to the Museum of Art History and the Natural History Museum, where you can turn o to Heldenplatz and the National Library. The State Opera House is also nearby.  Walking the full length of it will take about three hours, but for those who don’t fancy it, you can also take the tram, known as ‘Bim’ in Vienna. Lines 1, 2, D and 71 don't go all the way round the Ring, but cover a fair bit of it – or book one of the many bus tours on offer. Where’s good to eat there? The iconic Café Schwarzenberg is the oldest café on Ringstrasse in Vienna and well worth visiting. Otherwise, it’s better to turn into one of the side streets and try one of the lovely restaurants in the Mu

What is it? The Museums Quarter (MQ for short) brings together numerous museums, famous monuments, cafés, restaurants and shops in the former imperial horse stables, making it one of the world’s largest cultural centres. Is it worth visiting? The great thing about the Museums Quarter is that it’s not only home to some of the city’s best cultural attractions, it’s also just a vibey spot you can spend a whole day in and soak it all up. In the summer months, a load of seating areas get set up in the MQ’s inner courtyard, known as ‘Enzis’, and the cafés stay open late, so you can spend a whole evening soaking it up too.  Are any of the museums free? While MQ itself is totally free to hang out in, the museums there each have their own ticket system – but you can usually get them on site without any booking in advance. You can also book tours on GetYourGuide which include multiple museums and hotspots.  Where should I eat there? MQ won’t let you go home hungry, promise. Café Leopold serves up Asian-inspired dishes, the Kantine has lunch and snack food and visitors with children will feel right at home at Dschungel, a child-friendly café opposite the Zoom children’s museum. 🍴 Discover more of the best restaurants in Vienna