Austria’s grand capital city
Vienna’s elegant and opulent architecture reflects the city as a whole. And, while its incredible Baroque buildings are undeniably impressive at first glance, you’ll find further delights when you dig a little deeper. Austria’s capital is not just a visual wonder, it’s also a cultural heavyweight, with world-class art, music and literary history to enhance all Vienna holidays. There are enough places to eat and drink to keep everyone happy – from lively bars to laid-back restaurants where families with children can have a relaxed dining experience.
Don’t forget to stop off at one (or several) of the city’s elegant cafés or coffeehouses. These beautiful venues have long attracted the world’s great and good, and sipping coffee and eating a delicious slice of strudel under one of the café’s beautiful domed roofs is a must on a visit to Vienna. Best of all, everything is within easy reach, thanks to the compact nature of the city centre and its accessible public transport network. This means visitors are free to focus on which historical marvel to admire next, or simply which hotspot to stop off and snack at. A true grande dame of a destination, holidays to Vienna never disappoint.
All resorts in Vienna
Three tips for a top trip
Use public transport
Vienna’s public transport system is efficient and makes navigating the city a doddle. Be sure to make the most of its trams, buses, trains and subways.
Shops close on Sundays
Most shops and supermarkets don’t open on Sundays, so do your shopping during the week. Many cafés and restaurants do open, but check before you go.
Do a Danube double
Boost your obligatory boat trip on the Danube river by making it a multi-country experience and booking a journey that sails through to Bratislava in Slovakia.
Best attractions to see in Vienna
The Kiss
This world-famous painting by Austria’s favourite artistic son, Gustav Klimt, can be seen at The Belvedere – a complex of beautiful palaces that house multiple art collections.
Schonbrunn Palace
Formerly a summer residence for Austrian royalty, this magnificent Baroque palace is a Unesco World Heritage Site with show-stopping manicured gardens to wander through.
Vienna State Opera
Even if you’re not an opera fan, you’ll be bowled over by this building. Take a tour or buy tickets for a performance to see it really come to life.
Your Vienna questions, answered
You must eat ‘sachertorte’ while in Vienna. This indulgent chocolate cake, layered with apricot jam, was invented in the city and is available in numerous cafés and restaurants.
It’s great for shopping. There’s everything from luxury designer stores to quirky boutiques and bustling markets. With many of the central streets pedestrianised, shopping is also a relaxing experience.
German is the official language of Austria. Vienna is a very cosmopolitan capital city where you’ll be able to get by perfectly well with English.
If you want culture – theatre, opera or concerts – Vienna is the city for you. And if you’re after a decent bar scene or an underground club, Vienna can give you that too. It may not be as wild as other European capitals, but Vienna’s elegant cocktail lounges and cosy bars are worth exploring.
Exciting cultural events and festivals take place throughout the year, but the warm summer months, and November to December – when the Christmas markets arrive – are always popular.
A bit of magic comes to Vienna at Christmas. Markets are tucked into all corners of the city and you can stand and drink warming gluhwein before piling back into the crowds. Traditional Christmas ornaments make lovely gifts alongside the famous snow globes of Austria. Carriage rides around the city tucked up under blankets are extra special at this time of year with all the Christmas lights in place.
Absolutely. The public transport here is good so you never need to walk far, and many of the streets are pedestrianised. There’s a beautiful castle to visit, relaxed family-friendly cafes, and many of the museums and attractions offer free entry for kids. The giant wheel has a unique view over the city and there’s also a children’s museum and a zoo. And, if they like horses, your kids will love a performance at the Spanish Riding School.
While the traditional Austrian dishes don’t take the needs of vegans into account, Vienna is a vegan-friendly city. In fact, it’s rated one of the best for vegans in Europe. A surprising number of the locals are vegans themselves and specialist cafes and restaurants have sprung up to cater for them. There are even vegan walking tours you can join that will introduce you to some of the best spots.
It’s the perfect choice for a city break. Just over a two-hour flight from London, Vienna is as calming or chaotic as you want. It’s a city with multiple personalities grouped together by an overriding elegance and charm. You can easily access even the furthest corners on public transport so you’ll start getting to know the city in just a few days.