7 of the Best Things to do in Vienna, Austria

Vienna was one of the cities I was most excited for on our big Europe trip because… coffee! Coffee houses are a big part of the culture in Vienna, and as someone who can’t get through the day without at least a cup of coffee, I was all in for that.

But, Vienna has much more to offer than just their delicious coffee drinks with a number of palaces scattered around the city, their monuments for Austrian greats such as Mozart, their delicious Sachertorte cake and more.

Read on for the 7 things we enjoyed most about our visit to Vienna.

1. Explore the Schönbrunn Palace

Built in the 18th century as the summer residence for imperial rulers, a visit to Vienna is not complete without a visit to the Schloss Schönbrunn or Schönbrunn Palace. Visitors are able to walk through 40 of the state rooms including Marie Antoinette’s room. The palace has seen many famous faces throughout the years including Napolean, and Wolfgang Mozart who performed his first concert for the royal family here at the age of six.

In addition to the palace, visitors can explore the 500 acres worth of gardens and park surrounding it.

If you’re willing to make the walk, sitting in the farthest location away from the main palace is the Gloriette. The view from the top of the Gloriette overlooks not only the palace but the city of Vienna and is well worth the walk.

Vienna is also home to two other extravagant palaces: Hofburg and Belvedere. We unfortunately didn’t have time to visit them all but I wanted to mention the possibility to visit!

2. Visit Karlskirche Cathedral

This cathedral was one of the most interesting I’ve ever seen. I don’t know much about the technical terms for different types of architectural styles but according to Sacred Destinations, the Karlskirche Cathedral combines elements from ancient Greece (the columned portico), ancient Rome (the two Trajanesque columns), and contemporary Viennese Baroque (the dome and towers).

Visitors can not only take in the floor level of the cathedral but also take an elevator ride up to the top of the building to get a closer look at the details of the dome ceiling.

3. See Artwork by Picasso and Monet at the Albertina Museum

The Albertina Museum is home to over 1,000,000 pieces of artwork and other significant items. This includes an entire display of Picasso and Monet works. Did I mention this museum is also housed in a palace?

4. Take a Swim in the Danube River

Not surprisingly, July is VERY hot in Vienna. A big summertime activity in the city is to head down to the Danube River and take a swim. There are vendors along the “beaches” serving some ice-cold beer too! It was definitely a great way to cool off from the heat wave that was passing through Europe while we were there.

5. Go for a Sparkling Wine Tasting at the Schlumberger Kellerwelton

Visiting the Schlumberger Kellerwelton ended up being one of my favorite things we did in Vienna. Visitors are able to explore the wine cellar while learning the origins of sparkling wine and champagne making via an audio guide. After the tour, you’re able to taste a variety of the sparkling wine options they have to offer (or just a glass if that’s what you prefer).

6. Try the Famous Sachertorte Cake

Some would argue that the Sachertorte is one of the most delicious pieces of cakes in the world. I think that might be an over exaggeration but to each their own. The apricot jam filled dark chocolate sponge cake was first invented over 200 years ago with two cafes fighting over who did it first.

For that reason, I suggest ordering a piece at both the Café Sacher and the Café Demel and deciding for yourself which is better! Of course, you can also find this famous cake at many locations throughout the city too. 

7. Drink coffee

I mentioned earlier that coffee is a huge part of the Viennese culture. There are plenty of cafes around the city to try some of their traditional coffee variations such as the Melange, Franziskaner or a Mokka. My personal favorite was the Franziskaner which is hot espresso and hot water topped with frothy, foamy milk and whipped cream.

Of course, there are some other major attractions that we weren’t able to fit in on this visit. Music fans will enjoy the cities rich classical musical culture and should check-out a concert at the State Opera House. We were also disappointed to find that the museum dedicated to famous psychologist, Sigmund Freud was under construction while we were there. Hopefully, we can get to these activities next time we’re in Vienna!