Vienna travel guide

Vienna combines the Habsburg elegance of its imperial palaces with one of Europe's highest standards of living: classical music, historic coffee houses and an elegant, orderly historic centre that also works well for family travel.

Best time to visit

April-May and September-October for mild weather; December is especially charming thanks to the Christmas markets, though temperatures are low.

What to see and do

Schönbrunn Palace and Hofburg — the Habsburgs' imperial residences.
St. Stephen's Cathedral — the city's symbol, at the heart of the old town.
Historic Viennese coffee houses — a cultural experience in itself, from Café Central to Demel.
A classical music concert — Vienna remains the world capital of music.
Naschmarkt — the city's most famous market, for food and street food.

Indicative budget

Budget roughly €70-100 per day per person for food, accommodation and local transport, flights excluded.

Figures are purely indicative and do not represent real or guaranteed prices.

Getting around

Vienna's metro, tram and bus network is punctual and efficient; a 24, 48 or 72-hour pass is almost always worth it compared with single tickets. The compact, pedestrian-friendly historic centre is easy to explore on foot.

Where to stay

The Innere Stadt (first district) puts the main landmarks a step away but is the priciest area; Neubau and Josefstadt have a younger vibe with good connections; Leopoldstadt, across the Danube canal, is more affordable and up-and-coming, with the huge Prater park close by.