One Day in Vienna, Austria: The Perfect Vienna Itinerary

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Vienna, Austria’s capital, is completely stunning. The home of both artistic and intellectual history, beautiful classical architecture, and its pivotal role in classical music, Vienna is one of the most fantastic cities to visit in central Europe. We spent one day in Vienna as a trip from Bratislava and we were blown away.

Often described as the cultural heart of the continent, the Austrian capital is full of gorgeous cobblestone streets, great food, delicious coffee, and fancy imperial palaces. You could easily spend days exploring it. However, if you only have one day in this majestic city, here’s how to make the most of it.

✅ Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here’s the best opera tour in Vienna, one of the best palaces to visit, and the best hotel in the city. And, to see the most of Vienna, I highly recommend buying the Vienna Card.

Where to Stay for 1 Day in Vienna?

It’s no secret that Vienna can be pretty pricey. However, if you’re only planning on staying in Vienna for one day, then perhaps you want to splash out on a beautiful hotel room!

Whether you fancy treating yourself or want to make your day trip to Vienna as cheap as possible, here are some of my top recommendations for places to stay in Vienna: 

• £££ – Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere – A 5* luxury hotel where each elegantly decorated room offers a beautiful view over the city’s skyline. You’ll find a spa, wellness centre, and exquisite on-site restaurant. Plus you can’t beat the location, right next to the Military History Museum.
• ££ – Austria Trend Hotel Bosei – This comfortable, chic hotel has a sleek, refined design. Situated away from the city centre, it’s easy to reach the heart of Vienna by a short train ride. There’s a pristine gold course just a stone’s throw away and the rooms are comfy and spacious.
• ££ – BASSENA Wien Messe Prater – Each space of this boutique hotel exudes colour, from the lively common area to the bright rooms. Rest in luxury with their comfortable beds and start your morning with w delicious breakfast. Ideally located, this hotel is just a short distance away from Prater Amusement Park.
• £ – prizeotel Vienna City – This cosy, budget-friendly hotel is ideally located near the central train station for easy access to the city centre of Vienna. The breakfast options are fantastic, the rooms are well-designed, and it’s a great blend of style and convenience. 

✅ Discover more of the best places to stay in Vienna

One Day In Vienna, Austria

Vienna’s fancy vibes and grand buildings can captivate any traveller—even if it’s just for a day. If time is of the essence, a strategic itinerary is essential for exploring the city So, without further ado, let’s dive into a whirlwind tour of Vienna in 24 hours.

9:00  – Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Cost: Free to enter but €6 to visit the crypt and climb the tower.

Start your day in the heart of the city, Stephansplatz, where you’ll find the imposing St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This magnificent Gothic structure is absolutely fantastic, with a unique mosaic rooftop that contrasts beautifully with the city’s skyline. 

This was one of my favourite buildings in the city and easily one of the most beautiful. The cathedral’s spire is incredibly impressive at an astounding 136 meters in height.

Inside is just as impressive. You can admire the many stained-glass windows, tombs, and the impressive Pummerin bell inside the church. Although it’s free to enter the cathedral, for a small fee of around €6, you can explore the catacombs and towers, rewarding yourself with panoramic vistas of Vienna.

✅ Book tickets to St Stephen’s Cathedral

10:00 – Hofburg Palace

Cost: €17.50 per adult

A stone’s throw from the cathedral (literally just a 10-minute walk) lies the imperial Hofburg Palace. Having stood proud since the 13th century, this building still remains pivotal today as the seat of the Austrian presidency. It’s an essential stopover for any day in Vienna.

The Hofburg Palace is not only historically significant as the stronghold of Austrian sovereigns but also houses remarkable museums including the Sisi Museum, the renowned Spanish Riding School, and the Imperial Apartments, each offering a distinct glimpse into Vienna’s rich history. 

Since you have limited time, I recommend prioritising one—head to the Sisi Museum if you want to delve into Empress Elisabeth’s world or visit the Spanish Riding School for an equestrian treat.

Personally, I loved the Spanish Riding School, particularly the elegant dressage performances. However, if history is more your thing, the Sisi Museum or Imperiam Apartments might make more sense. Regardless of your choice, don’t forget to appreciate the intricate building too and its surroundings.

✅ Book tickets to the Hofburg Palace 

12:00 – Lunch at Nashmarkt

For lunch, there’s no better place than the vibrant Naschmarkt. I absolutely love visiting local markets when I travel and the Nashmarkt is a great combination of flea market, street food market, and local grocery store. 

You’ll find stalls offering everything from traditional Wiener schnitzel in a bun (this was what I had and it was delicious) to international delicacies. You’ll also be able to mingle with locals, enjoy the buzz of the market, and recharge with a strong Viennese coffee and perhaps even a slice of Sachertorte!

13:00 – Belvedere Palace

Cost: €16,70 per adult for the Upper Belvedere

After a delicious lunch, head to the Belvedere Palace. This baroque masterpiece is another of the most famous attractions in Vienna, primarily because it houses “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt amongst its many treasures. 

This marvellous painting is a masterpiece of the early 20th century. Enveloped in gold leaf, this iconic painting portrays a couple locked in an embrace against a flower-filled meadow.

Created during Klimt’s ‘Golden Phase,’ the piece is the perfect portrayal of love and romance. It’s also the perfect combination of contemporary Art Nouveau and traditional Byzantine mosaics, and it continues to enchant art enthusiasts around the world. 

But, of course, there’s much more to the Belvedere Palace than simply that one painting. The complex itself is divided into the Upper and Lower Belvedere, with sprawling palace gardens in between.

In the Upper Belvedere, you’ll find an impressive collection of Austrian art dating from the Middle Ages to the present day. This is where you’ll find The Kiss. 

Equally majestic, the Lower Belvedere and the Orangery host temporary exhibitions. The grounds also showcase elaborate fountains and sculptures, with Baroque landscape architecture. 

Since you only have one day in Vienna, I recommend viewing the Upper Belvedere Palace to see the Kiss before heading outside for a quick wander around the grounds.

✅ Book tickets to the Upper Belvedere Palace

15:00 – Explore the MuseumsQuartier

Cost: Free

Next, head to the MuseumsQuartier, one of the most vibrant areas of the city. This district boasts an impressive collection of museums (which, I’m guessing you kinda figured!). 

You’ll find the renowned Leopold Museum, brimming with masterpieces of Austrian modern art, as well as the Kunsthalle Wien, a hub for contemporary artistic expressions from both well-known and up-and-coming talent.

You’ll also find a pretty lively atmosphere due to the large range of outdoor areas and courtyards There are lots of events and performances that happen here, along with a plethora of inviting cafes, bustling bars, and eclectic boutiques. It’s an ideal spot for unwinding and soaking in the city’s artistic vibe.

16:00 – Visit Prater Amusement Park

Cost: Free to enter. The Ferris Wheel is €13.50 if you don’t have the Vienna Card. If you do, it’s also included. 

Last but not least, end your day at Prater Amusement Park. Vienna’s charm lies not only in its regal history but also in its ability to show you a good time. Prater Park is the perfect place to embrace your inner child and blow off some steam before your time in Vienna is over.

Admission is completely free, although you do have to pay for each ride individually if you want to go on them. However, if you have the Vienna City Card, then a ticket for the Giant Ferris Wheel is included. If not, it’s still well worth it for the stunning panoramic views over Vienna’s skyline. 

There are also plenty of other attractions at Prater, such as merry-go-rounds, adrenaline-fueled coasters, and bumper cars. It’s the ideal way to finish this one-day in Vienna itinerary.

✅ Book tickets to the Giant Ferris Wheel 

Is 24 Hours in Vienna Enough?

To be completely honest, no. Just a single day isn’t enough to see everything that Vienna has to offer. You can easily spend one day at the Schronbrunn Palace alone and, once you factor in all of the other main attractions in the city, you’ll easily run out of time if you only have a day. 

Nonetheless, don’t be discouraged. Vienna is one of those cities that you’ll likely want to see more than once anyway as the vibes in winter are very different from the vibes in the summer months. In fact, it’s almost a completely different city and the city holds some of the best Christmas markets in the world. 

So, if you only have one day in Vienna, use that to experience a taste of the capital of the capital of Austria. Then, come back when you have more time and dig deeper into the wonderful city.

If You Have More than One Day in Vienna

If you have longer in Vienna than just a single day, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. The city has so much going for it from busy markets to wonderful architecture and we’ve only just scratched the surface on our 1 day in Vienna itinerary.

Here are some of the top things to do if you have a little longer in the imperial city. 

1. Visit the Schönbrunn Palace and Its Gardens

To truly grasp the breadth of Vienna’s most impressive imperial palace, a thorough visit to the Schönbrunn Palace is unbeatable.

I didn’t include this palace on this one day itinerary of Vienna because you honestly need an entire day (or at the very minimum half of it) just to see this palace!

Plus, depending on what time of day you go, the queues to get in can be pretty long. As such, I recommend it if you have a second day in the city. 

You can explore the lavish state rooms and private apartments of Franz Joseph and Sisi, covered with very fancy decorations. If you want to learn a little more, the palace offers a special guided tour, which grants access to a wealth of royal artefacts. 

Then, the surrounding gardens are simply stunning. It’s well worth a wander through the maze and the impressive Palm House, housing exotic plants that are a testament to the royal penchant for botany.

There’s even a zoo here – the oldest zoo in Europe for that matter – that dedicated itself to both protecting and rescuing animals. 

If you have a little longer in Vienna, this Palace should definitely be on your list.

✅ Book tickets to the Schonbrunn Palace

2. Attend a Classical Music Concert or Opera Performance 

If you love Vienna’s cultural side, you can’t beat a trip to the Vienna State Opera. The city’s Opera House is magnificent – a huge building of white with an elaborate green roof and many columns around its entrance. 

Attend a concert or opera in one of the city’s world-famous venues, like the Wiener Musikverein or the Staatsoper, and connect with the historical essence of the city.

Vienna is often dubbed the “City of Music” for its pretty important role in the lives of famous composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. And, to sit in the halls where the famous music was born is pretty impressive.

✅ Book Mozart Concert tickets

3. Visit the Spanish Riding School 

I’ve briefly mentioned why this was one of my favourite things to do in Vienna. Yet, if you only have one day to see the city’s highlights, I’d recommend crossing off your Vienna bucket list and then coming back (or staying longer) to see this. However, I would also consider it a must-see!

The Spanish Riding School is a unique embodiment of living history. It represents a tradition that dates back to the Renaissance and a visit here is a great way to experience Vienna’s cultural heritage.

The Spanish Riding School offers morning exercises and performances. You’ll get a chance to witness the elegant classical dressage performances by the Lipizzaner stallions—it’s a ballet of grace and precision that has been carried through centuries and is completely fascinating to watch.

✅ Book tickets to the Spanish Riding School

4. Admire the fantastic Hundertwasser House

Last but not least, if you have longer than one day in Vienna, I cannot recommend this fantastic building enough. The striking Hundertwasser House is one of the most unique things to do in Vienna. 

The building looks more like a patchwork quilt than a building! As you explore the uneven floors — purposely designed to be a ‘natural’ feature — and the lush rooftop garden, you’ll find that every aspect of the Hundertwasser House is symbolic.

Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s vision of a harmonious coexistence between nature and man.

How to Get Around During 1 Day in Vienna

Like many of the cities in Europe, Vienna is pretty easy to navigate. Many of the attractions are within walking distance of one another, although the city is not so compact that you will not need to use public transportation.

For instance, if you were to walk from the Hofburg to the Schronbrunn Palace, it would take you an hour – probably not something you’d want to be doing, even if you have longer than 24 hours in Vienna! 

Nonetheless, the city has a great public transport network for situations such as this. The trams are affordable, reliable, clean, and fast, and navigate pretty much the entire city. As well as this, you also have the subway, trains, and buses to get you around. 

I actually used the hop-on-hop-off bus when I was in Vienna. It only stopped at the tourist attractions, which made it easy to navigate and see a lot in a short space of time.

However, the Vienna City Card is also a great option for public transport as it has a specific 24-hour pass which can work out more affordable if you know you’ll be using the transport a lot. 

For this itinerary, the furthest thing away is the Prater Amusement Park which is about 40 minutes on foot from the historic center of Vienna. The rest is pretty walkable.

Top Tip: Be sure to buy a ticket because they often have undercover agents patrolling public transport. One ticket will cover all methods of public transport, so if you need to catch a train and then a bus to reach your destination, you can do this on one ticket.

✅ Buy a Vienna City Card or grab the hop-on-hop-off bus pass

What’s the Best Time Of Year to Visit Vienna? 

Vienna is one of those cities that you can pretty much visit all year round. However, due to the prices of accommodation and the crowds, I would personally steer clear of visiting in the peak summer months. 

Spring in Vienna is beautiful when all the flowers come to life, as is autumn when the leaves are changing. Plus, the holiday season is magnificent with elaborate markets and festive decorations. 

So, as long as you steer clear of the peak summer, you’ll have a fantastic time in the city of Vienna.

Final Thoughts on Spending One Day in Vienna

Overall, one day in Vienna is a good way to get a taste of this beautiful city. But to really experience Vienna, you need at least 3 days or maybe more. Nonetheless, if you only have a single day in this imperial city,

I hope this itinerary has given you an idea of how best to spend your time. The city really is spectacular though, so hopefully, you’ll also be coming back for more!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you make a purchase. But, I only recommend products and companies that I use and love.