Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Vienna?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Vienna?
Most people spend two to five days in Vienna during their visit. The traditional city offers amazing highlights such as the historic old town, the gorgeous scenery, plenty of live music, and the shops and boutiques.
Vienna is the capital of Austria and its beautifully situated on the Danube River. It's an artistic city that has a long history of classical music including being home to such renowned musicians as Mozart and Beethoven. The city has many palaces and beautiful architecture.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Vienna? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Vienna?
One week is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Vienna. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. You could also use Vienna as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.
How to spend a week in Vienna
The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. Innere Stadt, as it is known, is encircled by Ringstrasse and filled with many shops and cafes. Head to Kärntner Strasse and Graben for popular pedestrian streets.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Small-Group History Walking Tour in Vienna: The City of Many Pasts ($125)
- Highlights of Vienna City Center Walking Tour ($80)
- Vienna Secrets Walking Tour to Backyards and Mysterious Locations ($32)
Vienna is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The city has beautiful Baroque architecture and a livable atmosphere.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Small-Group History Walking Tour in Vienna: The City of Many Pasts ($125)
- Highlights of Vienna City Center Walking Tour ($80)
- Vienna: Schönbrunn Skip the Line Palace Tour and Gardens ($148)
Vienna is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The city center is particularly walkable with pedestrian areas and low traffic zones.
Shopping in Vienna is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. The city is filled with pedestrian streets that are lined with designer shops, jewelry stores, and art galleries.
Live music is very popular in Vienna, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. On the surface, the city seems locked in the past, with ballet dancing and classical concerts filling the evenings. But the city also has a famous jazz scene, as well as techno, hip-hop, and rock all having a strong presence.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Vienna Classical Concert at St. Peter’s Church ($40)
- Christmas and New Year Concert at St. Peter’s Church in Vienna ($51)
- Mozarthaus Concert in Vienna - Piano Trio ($46)
The public transit in Vienna is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. The system includes buses, trains, trams and underground lines.
Don't miss the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace during your trip to Vienna, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. The city's cuisine has been influenced by many different flavors. Pastries are ubiquitous so make sure you try the apfelstrudel and kaiserschmarrn. Other common dishes include wiener schnitzel and goulash.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Tastes of Vienna Food Tour inc. lunch, street food, 3 drinks ($152)
- Sweet Secrets of Vienna Dessert Tour inc. lunch, 5-6 tastings ($130)
- Countryside Half Day Wine Tour near Vienna ($136)
A number of fantastic museums and famous landmarks are found in Vienna, so spend at least one full day exploring those that look the most appealing to you. Filled with palaces, museums, and parks, there are many things to see around town. Make sure you check out the Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg, and Kunsthistorisches Museum.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Vienna: Schönbrunn Skip the Line Palace Tour and Gardens ($148)
- Belvedere Palace 2.5-Hour Small-Group History Tour in Vienna ($125)
- Vienna: Skip-the-Line Schonbrunn Palace & Gardens with Guide ($56)
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The music and dance scene is diverse and fun. There are clubs that cater to different crowds and personalities.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Vienna Nights Pub Crawl ($16)
- Local Pub Crawl Vienna ($27)
After you've explored most of Vienna, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Budapest Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna ($229)
- Hallstatt Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna ($229)
- Salzburg Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna ($218)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Vienna.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Vienna. Plenty of amazing options are available.
As the live music scene is so popular in Vienna, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Even more time is needed here to explore the old town with its many shops, restaurants, landmarks, and charming atmosphere. Find those local spots that are perfect for the local charm and cuisine.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Vienna.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Vienna?
Two weeks provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Vienna at your own pace to learn about the history of the town, take in the beautiful scenery, listen to some live music, and go shopping. Then you can use the city as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.
How to spend 2 weeks in Vienna
With 2 weeks in Vienna, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the city has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time exploring the historic town, hanging at the music venues, and browsing the shops. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this city looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.
A few trip suggestions:
- Budapest Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna ($229)
- Hallstatt Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna ($229)
- Salzburg Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna ($218)
- Mauthausen Concentration Camp Day Trip from Vienna ($161)
- Salzburg and Lake Region Small-Group Day Trip from Vienna ($218)
More Info
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