Vienna travel guide: The enduring charm of Austria’s fairytale capital
- Peregryn travel writers
- May 6
- 6 min read
Vienna whispers tales of emperors and empresses, its grand boulevards and opulent palaces painting a picture of timeless elegance. But beyond the palatial splendor, grand boulevards and opera houses of this imperial city lies a vibrant soul.
A hidden romance blooms in secluded courtyards and cozy coffeehouses, and melodies spill from its legendary music halls. Dare to look beyond the gilded façade, and Vienna will reveal a magic that lingers long after the final waltz.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, this enchanting city should be at the very top of your destination list.
Getting around
Despite the grandiosity, Vienna is a wonderfully compact city. The city’s historical center, Innere Stadt or 1st District, is a mere mile-and-a-half wide. It’s encircled by the Ringstraße, the Vienna Ring Road, within which you’ll find all the city’s most important landmarks.
Vienna’s excellent public transport system makes it easy to get around the city. It’s inexpensive, efficient, clean, and safe. The subway or ‘U-Bahn’ has recently undergone an extensive regeneration, making it easier to get around than ever. You can also use buses or trams to get around the city, both of which are frequent and reliable.
Where to stay in Vienna
Central Vienna’s opulence makes it fertile ground for luxury accommodation. You’ll find a slew of fabulous five-star stays and historic hotels, many of which have been created within the lavish glamour of the city’s palaces and grand mansions.
Housed in a historic 19th-century building, Rosewood Vienna is the epitome of Austrian elegance. Set in an unbeatable location overlooking St. Peter’s Church, it’s surrounded by the best designer stores and cafés in the city, with a stunning roof terrace for sipping sundowners after a long day of shopping and sightseeing.
Built for the Prince of Württemberg in 1863, Austria’s most regal hotel is a destination in and of itself. From the majestic marble lobby to the glittering chandeliers, it’s pure decadence, and only a short stroll from the city’s most famous opera houses and concert halls, as well as major landmarks such as the Albertina and Hofburg palace.
Situated slightly outside the hubbub of Innere Stadt but still only a stroll from the city’s best landmarks, Sans Souci Wien blends antique furnishings with modern designer furniture for an intriguing blend of styles. The outstanding spa and wellness center is the perfect way to disconnect after a day of soaking up the city’s vibrancy.
Perfect palaces in Vienna: what to see and where to go
There are many mesmerizing palaces to visit in Vienna, each with a fascinating story to tell.
Built in the 17th century, this is the former summer residence of the Austrian imperial family. The interiors are pure Rococo-styled decadence – you can just picture Mozart making music in its mirrored halls. The surroundings are equally sumptuous, featuring fountains, landscape flower displays and mythological statues. Paying a visit to the stunning Schönbrunn Palace is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Vienna.
A former imperial winter residence, Hofburg is one of the largest palace complexes in the world. Built in the 13th Century, it’s typically lavish in style, with sublime salons decked out in red and gold. Don’t miss a visit to the Sisi Museum, an ode to Austria’s Empress Elisabeth.
A Unesco Heritage Site, Belvedere consists of two Baroque palaces, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The palace’s museum, Upper Belvedere, showcases stunning artworks by famous Austrian artists such as Gustav Klimt, as well as legendary international artists including Vincent Van Gogh.
In the southwest of the city, the towering Hermes Villa is like something out of the pages of a fairy tale. Set amid stunning landscape gardens, its façade blends Renaissance and neo-Baroque styles with intricate interiors designed by artists such as Gustav Klimt and Franz Matsch.
Marvellous museums
The Austrian capital has an enchanting array of museums, tracing the history of this incredible city and showcasing some of the finest artworks of its most famous creators. Here are just some of the top museums in Vienna.
A former imperial palace, The Albertina was converted into an art museum in 1919. It’s now the largest modern art museum in central Europe, with works by Picasso, Monet, Raphael, Rembrandt and Michelangelo, and is considered to have one of the most important collections of graphic art in the world.
A sprawling space comprising 60 different venues, MuseumsQuartier is one of the world’s largest cultural quarters. Here, you’ll find the Leopold Museum, housing Viennese art nouveau and modernist masterworks; and the Mumok – Museum of Modern Art, including works by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol.
A stunning palatial building located on the outskirts of the Vienna Ring Road, Kunsthistorisches contains artworks from the 18th century all the way back to Ancient Egypt. The museum is especially renowned for its extensive collection of works by Flemish Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
An ode to the heritage and traditions of Austrian Jews, Austria’s Jüdisches Museum was built in 1896, becoming the first of its kind in the world. The museum is split across two separate locations – the Palais Eskeles in the Dorotheergasse and the Judenplatz.
Vienna food guide
From modern Michelin-starred restaurants to warm and cozy taverns serving homespun classics, there are some fantastic places to eat in Vienna. Here are three of our personal favorites.
This three-starred Michelin venue is one of the best restaurants in Vienna, arguably one of the best in Austria. Located on the northern outskirts of the city within a brick-vaulted wine cellar on the Hajszan Neumann wine estate, Amador is an exquisite blend of tradition and modernity. You’ll savor some of the best food in Vienna, including Miéral pigeon with mango, coconut and purple hibiscus and hake with bacon, Périgord black truffle and kohlrabi. Each exquisite dish is a true work of art.
Vienna’s oldest restaurant, opened back in 1447, Griechenbeisl serves traditional Austrian fare in a wonderfully rustic setting. Standout dishes include Wiener Schnitzel with potato-field salad and Stelze (roast pig leg with cabbage). Past diners include the likes of Mark Twain, Richard Strauss and Franz Schubert.
Striking scarlet interiors and grandiose oil paintings give this traditional eaterie an old-world charm, in keeping with its setting within the city’s famous Hotel Sacher. Choose from a menu of Viennese classics such as Tafelspitz (boiled veal) and Sacher goose liver tarte with elderberry, apricot and brioche.
Coffee culture
Vienna is said to be a pioneer when it comes to coffee culture. The city was one of the first in the world to open designated coffee houses, as far back as the 15th century, influenced by the coffee-making traditions of Turkish and Armenian émigrés. By the 19th century, Austrian coffee houses had evolved into cafe-restaurants to become the epitome of European sophistication.
Nowadays, there are some wonderful cafés dotted around the city. The most famous, Café Central is a masterpiece of neo-Renaissance architecture and was once a regular haunt of Sigmund Freud and Leon Trotsky, among others.
Another fabulous place is Café Hawelka, founded by a luminary of Viennese cafe culture, Leopold Hawelka. Nestled between Stephansdom Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace, it offers a cozy ambience and traditional Austrian treats, and is a former favorite for princes, playwrights, poets and artists.
Finally, a Viennese coffee culture tour wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Cafe Sacher and a slice of its famous Sachertorte, a mouth-watering chocolate cake invented for Prince Metternich in 1832.
The magic of music
What is Vienna famous for? Many things, but above all, classical music. It’s a city that will forever be associated with legendary classical composers of yesteryear, including Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert. Their legacies live on in a city that showcases live classical music concerts to 10,000 people every night.
You’ll savor sumptuous shows from the Vienna Philharmonic, one of the world’s best orchestras, who often play at the Golden Hall in Vienna's opulent Musikverein, the city’s most famous classical music venue.
Another stunning music hall is Wiener Konzerthaus, which combines regular classical concerts with more contemporary styles such as jazz, pop and rock.
Of course, any mention of Viennese music conjures the three-step sensation – the Viennese waltz. Whether played, danced or sung, the waltz is deeply woven into the city’s tapestry and has even been deemed a UNESCO cultural heritage. You’ll find 400 balls in Vienna every winter, and one of the most unique things to do in Vienna is attend one of the city’s famous masked balls, where dance lovers gather to waltz the night away.
A city of regal romance, endlessly fascinating, Vienna is a fairytale paradise, the perfect location for a classy city escape. You’ll find a treasure trove of amazing museums, a stunning array of palaces, acres of serene green spaces and some incredible accommodation to recharge and relax. All-in-all, the ideal destination for an unforgettable holiday.