One Day in Vienna: 10 Things to See in Vienna in a day

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Vienna is one of the beautiful and architecturally rich cities that we have been to. We enjoyed our stay in the city and have highlighted 10 spots that are worth-seeing in one day in Vienna. There are royalty and mesmerizing art in every little corner of the city. These sight-seeing spots of Vienna are very close to each other and well-connected, making it perfect for exploring Vienna in a day. You can either take a local transit or cab to reach one spot and can walk down to explore the other areas.

A clean city, Vienna Austria also has great cafes, unbelievably well-dressed people and you can hop on a horse-drawn carriage to explore the city – an experience that will take to its rich past.

Most of these spots are free to visit from outside, unless if you wish to explore the inside of the palaces/complexes with a guided tour. Some of the monuments and complexes are living quarters and are currently in use by high dignitaries and/or set up as museums.  

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One Day in Vienna Must See: 10 Things to See in Vienna in a day

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There are a few convenient ways to explore Vienna in a day. All the 3 options are equally great, it just depends on your travel style – which suits you best

• Vienna Pass 1 to 6 days of Sightseeing – This is the ULTIMATE sightseeing tool in Vienna Vienna Pass. This pass includes free admission to over 60 attractions, unlimited hop on and hop off sightseeing tours and a guide book to the city. Book a one day in Vienna pass here
• Vienna Hop on and Hop off Sightseeing with a guided city Tour – Vienna Hop on and hop off sightseeing tour is a convenient way to hit all the sightseeing spots in Vienna in a day. Because you only have one day in Vienna – hop on and off services will take you to the main tourist sights and more. This sightseeing bus is not intrusive (it doesn’t include entry to attractions or guides) but includes a guided walking tour to learn about the history of Vienna in the old town. Book a Vienna hop on/off tour
• Vienna City Card – 1 to 2 day Vienna City Card gives you free public transportation for the day (or two). It doesn’t include travel to the airport as it is located outside of city limits. You can get discounted tickets to the Hofburg Palace and Schonbrunn Palace. Buy a Vienna City Card here

Visiting Vienna for 2 days? Read our  2 days in Vienna itinerary here

Here’s an extra one day in Vienna item to consider: 

Vienna is known for its palaces, Austrian wines, cafes, and sweet foods – so definitely check them out on your one day in Vienna trip. BUT….there are 3 amazing palaces to see and you got only 1 day, so you have to prioritize and choose! We could easily do 2 palaces in a day, but the third one might be a stretch if you are planning to visit some of the other tourist attractions.

The 3 popular palaces are – Schonbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, and the Belvedere Palace. We recommend including Schonbrunn Palace in your day’s itinerary (more on that below). Between the Hofburg Palace and the Belvedere Palace – Hofburg is in a GREAT location (inner Stadt or inner-city) and is just a stone throws away from other sightseeing areas.

The Belvedere Palace is known for its collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, including The Kiss and Judith, which is one of the world’s largest. It is, however, located a little outside of the inner city. 

Starting your one day in Vienna Itinerary

Start your day bright and early in Vienna. If you are arriving in Vienna from a nearby city or country, you will find cafes and restaurants on your way to the sightseeing locations. Viennese coffee is amazing.

If you are flying to Vienna, of course, Vienna airport will have breakfast options for you. Get airport transfers from Vienna airport here – CAT

Our first stop for the day is the Schonbrunn Palace and the palace complex has a cafeteria as well for breakfast or light snack.

Schonbrunn Palace – most popular palace to see in Vienna in a day

Schonbrunn Palace is the most popular tourist spot in Vienna. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is rightly so because of its rich cultural history and association with the Hapsburg royalty. Built in the early 18th century, this gorgeous yellow colored palace reflects the changing styles and interests of the Hapsburg dynasty.

The Schonbrunn Palace in its present form was built and re-designed during the reign of empress Maria Theresa who received the estate as a wedding gift. Maria Theresa was an able leader and during her reign, she popularized the yellow color as a color of royalty. But the reality was that the color yellow was economical and easily available.

You can easily spend 3-5 hours at the Schönbrunn palace complex. There is a guided tour available to explore the interior of the beautiful palace. We recommend starting the day with the Schönbrunn Palace after breakfast. Keep in mind, they have 1441 rooms! Book a guided tour of the Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens 

The sculpted garden is beautiful and is adorned by 32 sculptures of deities. There are picturesque Roman ruins as well located in the palace complex.

One of my favorite sights is the Neptune Fountain, with Gloriette in the background. The Gloriette was erected to glorify the Hapsburg rule. It definitely adds a romantic feel to the entire place and you can get amazing views of the city of Vienna from the Gloriette.

Schonbrunn Palace is open daily, including public holidays. There are cafes, restaurants, and museums in the palace complex. This site is completely accessible to all tourists.

Schonbrunn Palace has a popular Apple strudel show – Viennese Strudelshow in the bakery of Café Residenz. (The show along with a sample piece of apple strudel is included in Vienna Pass).

It is popular because you get to see how the original Viennese Apple Strudel is made (right in front of your eyes) from the imperial bakery and also taste it. The show is conducted for 15- 20 minutes from 11:00 am to 04:00 pm every day. Book your apple strudel show here (without the Vienna Pass)

Hofburg Palace – the iconic landmark

The Hofburg Palace is located in the old town of Vienna or the inner city (inner Stadt – 1st district in Vienna) and this is where you will spend the majority of the one day in Vienna.

The Hofburg Palace is the imperial seat of the Hapsburg Dynasty in Austria. Every inch of this palace drips in luxury and royalty. The outside of the palace is as beautiful as the inside. There is a lot of history that has happened in this palace and had served as the prime residence for Empress Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz II, and, for a while, even the German Emperor.

The complex is spread over 59 acres and comprises 18 groups of buildings, close to 20 courtyards, and around 2600 rooms. The entire complex showcases the legacy of rich and different architectural history – nearly every Austrian ruler since 1275 had either ordered additions or alterations.

There are guided tours available to tour the palace complex. Visitors are given three choices when visiting this spectacular site – the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and Silver Collection – each of which can be toured individually or as part of an extended visit.

There are other attractions included as well along with the Hofburg, which included the Imperial Chapel (Burgkapelle), the Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum), the Austrian National Library, and the Spanish Riding School.

There is a Sisi Museum at the palace as well and it’s worth a visit. Sisi or Elisabeth was the Empress of Austria. She has gone down in history as an empress of eternal youthfulness and beauty. For more than three decades she was regarded as the most beautiful queen in Europe.

A fun fact about Sisi is that she believed in natural beauty and never used any cosmetics or fragrances. She relied on natural remedies. Her beautiful brunette hair was beautiful and very long. She would spend about 2 hours a day to fix and take care of her hair. There are exhibitions conducted at the Imperial palace that highlights the lives of the Hapsburgs including Sisi.

The Hofburg palace is iconic to the city of Vienna. The Hofburg is an architectural marvel that showcases many different architectural styles, from Gothic to Renaissance, Baroque to Rococo, and a little bit of Classicism. Learn about the history of the Hapsburg in a Vienna walking tour (2 hour)

Heldenplatz – public square in inner stadt

 

Heldenplatz is a public space located in front of the Hofburg Palace. This square was set up as a Heroes Square.  There is a statue of Archduke Charles of Austria, which was meant to glorify the Habsburg dynasty. There are other statues too, including the one of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Many important actions and events took place in Heroes Square. Adolf Hitler’s ceremonial announcement of the Austrian Anschluss to Nazi Germany occurred here.

 

The present-day Heldenplatz on the former outer plaza of the Hofburg was built under the reign of Emperor Francis Joseph. Currently, the President of Austria resides in one of the Hofburg complex wings.

Explore Maria-Theresien-Platz

Maria-Theresien-Platz is a large public square in Vienna built in the honor of Hapsburg Empress – Maria Theresa. There is a huge statue of the Empress, which is flanked by two museums on each side. These buildings are identical – one is the Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum) and the other was the Kunsthistorisches Museum aka Art History Museum. The buildings are near identical, except for the statuary on their facades.

The Maria Theresa Monument is probably the most important monument with the construction that lasted a 13 year period. The statue is about 19 metres high and is surrounded by 4 horseman statues. It can be seen from across the road as you proceed to the complex. There are beautiful gardens in and around the monument, making it a perfect place for a stroll or a picnic.

Maria Theresa Platz is classified as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. The legacy of Maria Theresa is phenomenal – her stories of grit and tact are discussed even today. She reformed the school system and took care of the state affairs in a remarkable capacity and also took care of her 16 children. Talk about home and work-life balance for a woman. Amazingly done, I say!

Optional Palace no 3: Belvedere Palace

For one day in Vienna, choose 2 of the 3 most popular palaces to make the most of your day and capture other sightseeing spots. Belvedere Palace is another beautiful landmark worth visiting. 

The Belvedere Palace is a historic complex in Vienna located about 30 minutes from the inner city area. The complex grounds comprised of two Baroque palaces – the Upper Belvedere (with the stunning interiors and museum) and the Lowe Belvedere (consisting of the Orangery and the Palace Stables). These buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape and also have a Belvedere museum with permanent exhibitions on display.

The Belvedere served as the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, who built it as his summer residence. He was an accomplished general and art connoisseur. His apartments and staterooms are located at the Lower Belvedere. The Lower Belvedere and the Orangery are mainly used for temporary exhibitions, and the Palace Stables showcases 150 objects of sacred medieval art.

The Belvedere Palace is known for its collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, including Kiss and Judith, which is one of the world’s largest. It is located in the upper Belvedere.

The Palace Gardens are equally stunning and it features beautiful sculptures, fountains, and cascades. Get entrance tickets to the Belvedere Palace

Lunch in the inner city

Well, if you decide to stay back in the inner city, then it is a great time for lunch (or brunch) before exploring more of the inner stadt. Let me tell you, you will find TONS of variety of restaurants (expensive and budget eats including Starbucks and other fast-food chains), street cafes, open-air cafes, and fine eating options to choose from.

We decided to eat (and drink coffee) from Aida – a very common coffee and bakery shop in Vienna. Their sachertorte was delicious.

After a food break, explore more of the inner city – starting with the St Stephen’s Cathedral. You can also cover the next 3 stops (St Stephen’s Cathedral, St Peters Church, and Graben) before lunch if you like, as most of the open cafes and fine restaurants are located near the Graben.

Visit St Stephen’s Cathedral 

One of Vienna’s most iconic landmarks is the St Stephen’s Cathedral. The Cathedral is located at Stephenplatz, 1010 Vienna, providing visitors with the stunning architecture of the Hapsburg and other Austrian rulers. The cathedral has stood the test of time. It has watched over the city for more than 300 years. 

The Giant Gate dates back to the 13th century and is one of the oldest parts of the cathedral. The cathedral is decorated with Baroque altarpieces in the name of St. Stephen, the first martyr of Christendom.

There is an underground burial place that contains the mausoleum of the bishops, the tombs of Duke Rudolph the Founder, and other members of the Habsburg family. It is also the home to some of the treasured art pieces like the red-marble sepulcher. Austria’s largest bell, known as the Boomer Bell is also located at the cathedral in its north tower.

The South Tower’s observation deck is the highest point in the city of Vienna. You can enjoy some of the finest views in all of Vienna from here. A climb of 343 steps of the tight spiral staircase leads up to the watchman’s lookout 246 feet above the street level. The entire cathedral complex area is also called the Stephansplatz (named after the St Stephen’s Cathedral or Stephensdom).

Aren’t these multi-colored roof-tiles the prettiest? They shine under the sunlight!

St Peter’s Church

We accidentally passed by this beautiful baroque church in Vienna. It’s called the Peterskirche or St Peter’s Church. This important church has a long history and dates back to the Middle Ages. 

The church looks stunning with its beautiful green colored dome. What was most interesting was the intricate details in the church’s interior. You will see an attractive high altar, several side altars with beautiful religious works of art. There are remarkable frescos inside as well.

You will definitely pass by this place when you are wandering out and about and cover attractions like the Hofburg Palace, Graben, or even the St Stephen’s Basilica. This church is not crowded, making it a great spot for a quiet stroll, photography, etc

Or take a horse-drawn carriage to this church and click amazing shots! Book a musical concert at the St Peters Church for the evening

Stroll the Graben Vienna

The Graben Vienna is an upscale and trendy shopping street in the heart of the inner city. What is unique about this street is that the area is lined with a plague column. The origin of this street dates back to the old Romans.

Due to its close proximity to St  Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace, this street has served as a shopping district since ancient times. There are 5 divisions/shopping areas with the Graben. And they include Stephansplatz, Kohlmarkt, Naglergasse, Tuchlauben, and Petersplatz.

The plague column dates back to the 17th century and is made of marble. You can see unique structures as you walk along the market area. Make sure you visit their Swarovski store – their window displays are gorgeous and all sparkly! There is an H&M store located in a splendid room of a former court.

Talk about royalty! Oh and people in Vienna, so well dressed and handsome.

I do recommend visiting this area, during the day and in the evening. Day-time is great for shopping, people-watching or even to admire the beautiful buildings, sculptures and to read about the city’s past. Visit this place in the evening to enjoy some leisure time at a side cafe or an open restaurant, with live music. The city shines under the moon (and neon) lights. Very beautiful.

Admire the Hundertwasserhaus or Hundertwasser House

From the city center or inner city, let’s proceed to some of the attractions in the other districts in Vienna. Staring with Hundertwasserhaus. Drive to Hundertwasserhaus from the inner city is about 12- 15 minutes. Or if you are on the hop on and hop off sightseeing bus, you will see this on your way in and out of the city center loop.

A unique form of art and architecture, the Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment building located in Vienna. This is unique as it was built after the idea and concept of Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The outer landscape is multi-colored, hap-hazard and uneven, making it an interesting piece of art.

This expressionist landmark is located in the Landstraße district on the corner of Kegelgasse and Lowengasse in Vienna. Don’t miss this popular Vienna tourist attraction.

The last item on the list for the day is the Giant Ferris Wheel – Prater amusement park in Vienna.

Viennese Giant Ferris Wheel or the Viennese Prater

Viennese Giant Ferris Wheel or the Viennese Prater is an amusement park in Vienna. The distance from the city center to the Prater is about 15 minutes.

It is located in Vienna’s 2nd district. The Wurstelprater which is an amusement park is an iconic symbol of Vienna and it includes the Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel. The park is open from 10: 00 am to 11:00 pm every day.

Book your tickets to the Giant Ferris Wheel in Vienna

Indulge in some comfort food, enjoy some rides, and fall in LOVE with Vienna. You can see the amazing night lights from the rides at the Prater.

Other sightseeing options for One day in Vienna itinerary

Karlskirche Karlsplatz in Vienna

Karlskirche or the St Charles Church is a beautiful baroque church in Vienna. It is located on the edge of the Innere Stadt and is characterized by a turquoise blue dome with 4 pillars. The church is dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo – a Roman archbishop from Milan.

Karlsplatz is also known as the art nouveau paradise. There aren’t that many, but if you happen to wander to Karlsplatz or the Naschmarkt train station you will see some art nouveau buildings on your way. The Art Nouveau movement blossomed in Vienna at the turn of the 20th Century. The secession art museum is worth visiting if you are an art nouveau enthusiast. 

Vienna State Opera

Wiener Staatsoper or the Vienna State Opera is an Austrian Opera house. This opera house is one of the busiest in the world with over 350 performances conducted in the 2017/18 season. It was opened for the first time in 1869 with a performance of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”. So when you step foot into the opera house or book tickets for the opera, you are enjoying a slice of rich Austrian history. 

The Vienna State Opera is particularly unique as it caters to children’s performances. The opera house used to showcase children’s productions, in the bygone era, which was performed in a tent on the roof of the Staatsoper.

Presently the opera house has an opera school for boys and girls. The children are introduced to music theater and the prospect of becoming opera singers. The company recruits singers for children’s roles in its productions from this opera school. Twice every season there is a special matinee performance of the opera school. Don’t miss it!

Book your tickets and learn more about Vienna State Opera shows or book a dinner, musical concert and horse-drawn carriage ride 

Joahnn Strauss Building – Vienna in a day

Vienna is a city of music lovers. This apartment building located in Praterstraße 54, 1020 Vienna, used to be the residential unit of Johann Strauss son. This is where he wrote his most famous composition (the Blue Danube Waltz), which is also the unofficial Austrian national anthem.

This building houses original furniture and instruments, including objects that were used in the daily life of the great musician, as well as paintings, photographs, and documents about his life and work.

There is a museum as well – the Museum of the Johann Strauss Dynasty, which is the first museum in the world to present the family history and creative works of the entire Strauss family. The music of the “Strausses” has never lost its sheen. Their waltz and operetta melodies still resound in concert houses in Austria and worldwide. The museum is located on Müllnergasse 3, 1090 Vienna.

Christmas Markets in Vienna – One day in Vienna winter

If you are visiting Vienna from November to December (until Christmas) in winter, then definitely visit the Christmas market at the Rathaus Platz.  Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz is said to be Europe’s finest. Find how Vienna looks like during Christmas

Sightseeing Map – Things to see in Vienna in one day  

Here is a 1 day in Vienna sightseeing map for your trip. 

One Day in Vienna Austria Guide – Travel Tips 

Here are some quick tips to help you prepare for your trip to Vienna. Vienna is easily connected by train, road, and airways to the rest of the world. We arrived in Vienna from Prague by road.

Travel Documents

Vienna Austria belongs to the Eurozone of countries, which means that if you require a visa to visit the Schengen list of countries then Vienna is one of them. Ensure you have a visa approved prior to landing in Vienna. EU nationals are visa-exempt. Citizens of the US and Canada can stay up to 90 days without a visa.

If this is your first trip to Europe, read our extensive guide here

Travel Insurance

Always insure your trips against trip cancellations and delays. Get a quote here 

Hotels in Vienna

Extending your stay in Vienna? For a night’s stay, we chose the Trend Austria Hotel. We loved the location as it is close to the city center or the old town and be can be accessed via the Rathaus Underground Station (public transportation). Book your stay here

More hotels Vienna –  To find the best hotel deals in town, we recommend using  Booking.com  to find accommodation. 

Day Trips from Vienna 

Looking for day trips from Vienna? We ventured on a day trips out of Vienna. Here are some options to consider

• • Wachau Valley in Lower Danube Austria –  The lower Danube is very picturesque and makes for an easy day trip from Vienna. Read about our trip to the Wachau and Danube Valleys. Or you can also book one day tour to the Wachau Valley
  • Bratislava Slovakia – Vienna is only an hour away from the capital of Bratislava. You can easily explore the city on one day trip from Vienna to Bratislava. Book a day tour to Bratislava Slovakia
  • Salzburg Austria – Vienna to Salzburg is about 2 hours by train, and you can enrich your Austrian vacation by taking a trip there. We stayed for 2 days in Salzburg and completely enjoyed our time there. 
  • Read our 14 day Europe Itinerary that includes time in Vienna Austria. 

Is one day in Vienna enough?

Is 1 day in Vienna enough? Well, Vienna is not a huge city so you can definitely cover a lot of ground in a day. Our one day in Vienna itinerary as listed above can be easily done in a day or less. As we highlighted in our pro-tips section, pick 2 palaces instead of 3 to make a comfortable day of sightseeing rather than being rushed through. 

Tips for 8 hours in Vienna or Vienna in half a day

If you are visiting Vienna for only 8 hours or half a day, we recommend staying in the inner city and making the most of your time there. Visit the Hofburg Palace and museums, Opera House, Stephen’s Cathedral, St Peter’s Church, Graben, and taste Sachertorte at any cafe in the inner city. 

We hope you found this post useful in creating a list of places to visit in Vienna in 1 day. 

READ OUR EUROPE TRAVEL GUIDES

• Europe 101 – Our introductory guide to planning a trip to Europe.
• European Bucket list – Epic 101 Europe travel bucket list ideas
• Europe Itinerary Samples – Want to make the most of your visit to Europe? This is the ultimate 27 itinerary samples to plan your sightseeing in one or multiple destinations in Europe.
• Visiting Europe in winter – Here are some of the best traveler picks.
• Warm places in Europe? – Here are the warmest places to visit in Europe from December through March.
• Europe Packing Guide – This is the only packing guide to Europe you will ever need. 

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