As the Austrian capital, Vienna is one of the most refined capitals in Europe. It offers rich doses of European history, magnificent palaces and delectable food. With an early start and good walking shoes, travelers can learn about the former Habsburg Dynasty, see a Klimt, enjoy a piece of cake and attend a Mozart concert before hopping the night train. Vienna can be explored for days; however, visitors can see a lot in one day. Here are 11 top things to do in Vienna in one day.
Is Vienna Worth Visiting?
Located on the Danube River, Vienna is the capital of Austria. It is the most populous city in Austria with nearly 3 million residents. In addition to this, it is the cultural capital and one of the most decorative cities in Europe.
Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert and both Johann Strauss I and II all came from Vienna. In addition to classical music, Vienna features a MuseumsQuartier district and a rich architectural heritage.
On an extended tour of Europe, I wanted to add another country to my list, and capitals are usually the best areas to explore when limited on time. Such was the case for Vienna, it offered both convenient flights and trains.
Like much of my travels through Europe, I walked most places and enjoyed the pace and scenery. I wanted to absorb as much Old World European refinement as possible during my stay.
11 Magical Things to Do in Vienna in One Day
Sample a Sacher Torte at Hotel Sacher Vienna
Tour the Belvedere Palace
See the Vienna Opera House
Tour the Kunsthistorisches Museum
See the Kiss by Gustav Klimt
Explore the Sisi Museum
Learn about Empress Elizabeth
Walk in St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Visit the Mozarthaus
Attend a Mozart Concert
Dine at the Old Viennese Inn Püerstner
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Sample a Sacher-Torte at Hotel Sacher Vienna
This decadent chocolate dessert was invented in 1932 at the Hotel Sacher Vienna. So that is where I recommend you go; it is a refined experience.
The Sacher torte is a multi-layer chocolate sponge cake with apricot jam and covered in a chocolate glaze, and topped with a chocolate medallion. At the Hotel Sacher, they serve it with a side of whip cream and order a Viennese Coffee to complement the richness of the cake.
During my visit, I arrived on an early flight, so I had a traditional Viennese breakfast at the Café Sacher Wien. It features several pieces of ham and cheese, a soft-boiled egg, plus breakfast pastries, served with individual jams and butter curls.
The dining room felt regal with its arched Palladian mirrors, crystal chandeliers and white paneling with rich red inserts. At the ceiling, the mouldings felt gold gilt.
Some tables at Café Sacher Wien sported a white tablecloth, others were marble-topped. Each was set with white china for an elegant meal.
Located in the Hotel Sacher at Philharmoniker Strasse 4 – 1010 Wien. Open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations required for the more elegant space; there is a cafe that accepts walk-ins.
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Tour the Belvedere Palace
The summer home of the Habsburg dynasty, the Belvedere Palace is actually two Baroque palaces: the Upper Belvedere and the Lower Belvedere. The Orangery and the Palace Stables are also included in the complex.
The Lower Belvedere was completed around 1716, with the gardens reaching completion in the summer of 1717. Originally used as the summer home for Prince Eugene of Savoy, part of the Habsburg dynasty, after his death, the palace was used.
The grounds include decorative tiered fountains and cascades, Baroque sculptures and majestic wrought iron gates. The entire complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Currently, home to the Belvedere Museum and Austrian Gallery, or the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere in German, visitors can view icons like Kiss by Gustav Klimt, or Napoleon at the Great St Bernard by Jacques Louis David. The Plain of Auvers by Vincent van Gogh is another highlight.
Visitors could spend all day, so I recommend on focusing on the Upper or Lower Belvedere. Then a quick walk through the gardens, one of the most significant gardens in Europe.
Located at Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Advance tickets are Upper/Lower € 23/20 for adults , students (19 to 25) are € 19/16, and those 18 and younger enter for free. There is a cafe located on site, Schlosscafé.
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See the Vienna Opera House
Finished in 1869, the 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival concert hall anchored the Vienna Ring Road as a new cultural destination. A project of Emperor Franz Joseph, it replaced the old opera house inside the Hofburg, or the main imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty, the Austrian royal family.
Though partially destroyed during WWII, it was restored to its original design and reopened in 1949. The interior boasts marble statues, gilt mouldings and frescoes on the ceiling. The performance spaces exude luxury with red seating, accented by white and gilt paneling and mouldings.
To get an up-close tour of the largest repertoire company in the world, take a 40-minute guided tour to learn about the architecture, the history of the building and the business of opera. Guests will tour the foyer, the Grand Staircase, state rooms including the tea salon, marble hall, Schwindfoyer and Gustav Mahler Hall. No tour is complete without a view of the stage.
Tours are offered in German and English regularly, with French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese offered at different times. Tours are offered daily with several different times, depending on the language. Advance reservations are recommended for this in-demand tour.
Located at Opernring 2, 1010 Wien. Tour is €15 for adults, students and kids 6 and older are €9, with those 5 and younger entering for free.
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Tour the Kunsthistorisches Museum
Located on the famed Vienna Ring Road, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is the largest art museum in Austria. Ornately embellished and decorated, walking through the museum is as much an experience as seeing the art within its walls.
Opening in 1891 with its sister museum, the Natural History Museum across the plaza, both buildings are in the Renaissance Revival style, topped with an octagonal dome. Its Grand Stairway features marble with stucco ornamentation accented with gold leaf and murals by Gustav Klimt.
The works include many of the Habsburgs, including works by Raphael, Albrecht Dürer, Peter Paul Rubens and a self-portrait by Rembrandt. The Hunters in the Snow (winter) by Pieter Bruegel and The Art of Painting by Johannes Vermeer are standouts.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum offers guided tours (additional cost) of the Imperial Treasury with the jewels regularly. Reservations are recommended for tours.
While at the museum, I recommend you walk by the Marie Teresa Statue outside. The Empress Marie Teresa ruled the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 to 1780. It anchors the plaza named after her.
Located at Maria-Theresien-Platz 1, 1010 Vienna, Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Adult admission is € 22, students are €19 and kids (18 and under) are free. There is a Cafe-Restaurant on-site.
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Sisi Museum – Hofburg Vienna
Named after one of the most memorable queens of Austria, Empress Elizabeth, 1837-1898, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph, she was assassinated in Geneva. The Sisi Museum is dedicated to her life and her loves, offers a glimpse into her complex life and personality.
Located in the Imperial Apartments of the Imperial Palace, visitors will find everything from jewels to clothes. They will walk through the elaborate Imperial State Rooms, dressed in regal red brocade.
I watched the Netflix series, The Empress, and became intrigued. I enjoyed seeing the dresses she wore along with items she packed on her near-constant travels, like her watercolor kit.
Other objects on display include part of the Imperial china collection. The highly decorated pieces were used for different purposes, like a 69-piece porcelain dessert service by Minton.
Located at Hofburg – Michaelerkuppel, 1010 Vienna. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Adult admission is €20, and kids (from age 6) are €12.
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Walk Through St. Stephen’s Cathedral
One of the best facets of traveling in Europe is enjoying the architecture of cathedrals. Even if you aren’t a particularly religious person or of another faith, the cathedrals are stunning.
A sudden rainstorm prompted me to tour St. Stephen’s Cathedral for longer than I had intended. As the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna, it is a Roman Catholic Church that opened in 1578 after renovations and expansions.
Its Romanesque and Gothic architecture inside and out is a standout and is considered a city landmark. It features catacombs (yes, you can tour) and several towers. The Steffl Tower is open and requires a climb of 343 steps to its stunning views of the city.
Located at Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Wien. Open Monday to Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free to enter.
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Mozarthaus
Vienna is a hub for art and music, and one of its most talented composers was Mozart. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived at this house from 1784 to 1787, and it is the only surviving residence.
In 1941, the rooms he lived in were opened for the 150th anniversary of his death. For the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, it was opened up permanently.
A multi-story museum, Mozarthaus, discusses several time periods. On the first floor, visitors can walk through a replica of the apartment where he wrote The Marriage of Figaro.
Located at Domgasse 5, 1010 Wien. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adult admission is €16, kids to 19 are € 4.50.
A Classical Concert at Mozarthaus
Music lovers can enjoy an intimate concert in the basement of Mozarthaus. The reimagined space offers superb acoustics to enjoy a Mozart concert.
During my visit, I reserved a ticket, and it was my favorite thing that I did during my stay. The concerts are varied; however, each features the music of Mozart.
For more information, visit its website. Reservations are required for this in-demand event.
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Sample Weiner Schnitzel at the Old Viennese Inn Püerstner
After walking all day exploring Vienna, I recommend a hearty Viennese dinner. The Old Viennese Inn Puerstner is a cozy spot serving hearty portions of classic meals such as schnitzel.
Now three generations later, the Pürstner family uses recipes from Oma. During my visit, I started with a Raddler, then dug into its Original Wiener Schnitzel. Perfectly fried, it swallowed my plate and was accompanied by pan-fried potatoes with parsley.
The Old Viennese Inn Püerstner features several rooms, each charming with traditional decorations. During my visit, I sat in the Bower Room, with a fireplace. There is an outdoor beer garden as well.
Located at Gastwirtschaft Puerstner, Riemergasse 10, 1010 Wien. Open 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Reservations accepted.
Tips on Traveling to Vienna for One Day
During my trip, I arrived on an early flight from Amsterdam, via KLM. I traveled with a rollaboard carry-on and a backpack. After arriving, I took the train, the Vienna City Airport Train or CAT, to the Central Train Station, the Wien Mitte. It runs twice an hour, and the trip is 16 minutes long.
At the Wien Mitte, I stored my luggage for the day in a locker. I then walked to most places since most were within the historic core of Vienna. After dinner, I went back to the Wien Mitte and collected my luggage, then rode the subway to Wien Hauptbahnhof, the main train station, for the night train to Munich.
Night Train Service
I used the Hungarian Railways NightJet Service. I had a couchette car with three other people. Not my first choice; that was a private sleeping car, but those were sold out.
My train departed at 11:28 p.m., so I had a bit of time to kill. I found the Wien Hauptbahnhof seriously lacking in signage and without a staffed information desk. This seems to be the norm while traveling across Europe by train. I went to the train lounge for premium passengers, and they helped me out and even printed out my ticket, which I needed.
The train was on time, and I found my cabin. It was already occupied by passengers on the lower bunk. I stashed my luggage under the lower berth and climbed up to the upper one. The train attendant came by and advised us to lock up the cabin and stow our phones away from the door, due to thieves on the train.
I made my berth the best I could in the dark. I am a back sleeper, and I had noise-canceling earbuds. When traveling into Germany, we passed a border check and had to show our passports.
Overall, I got to Munich on time. However, I was tired and missed having a shower after a long day of walking around Vienna in the summer. The timing was convenient, and it was on time; however, I was underwhelmed by the experience.
Next time, I would get a first-class sleeper and compare it to the price of flying. After taking several different trains in Europe, each experience had maintenance issues, service issues, and a lack of communication with passengers.
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