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Welcome to the city I have been lucky enough to call home for the past few years! Vienna is a gem in the heart of Europe, offering not only stunning landscapes and beautiful architecture, but also an insanely rich culture, interesting history and many places to visit.
If you’re planning to spend 2 days in Vienna – you have come to the right spot. I have put together this Vienna Itinerary with the most important points of interest and things to do in the Austrian capital. Spending two days in Vienna and seeing as much as possible as doable, but not optimal.
I would definitely suggest planning at least 3 to 4 days if you want to enjoy Vienna to the maximum and see everything without having to rush. However, if just 2 days is all you can do at this point – that’s fine. I will make sure you get enough information to do the most of your stay through this Vienna 2 day itinerary.
So take you notepads and pens out, and let’s get started.
Where to stay in Vienna
Since moving out of Vienna, I got to go back a few times, and each time I was on the hunt for the best budget options for accommodation. During our last trip to Vienna we booked this place and it was the best we’ve stayed at so far. We usually book apartments, as hotels tend to be slightly more expensive, but it all depends on your preferences and your budget. I strongly recommend Vienna Stay Apartments, as the location was very good (just a few stops away from the city centre by tram), the apartment was clean and it was also very warm (we were there in winter).
2 Days in Vienna, Austria – The Perfect 2 Day Vienna Itinerary
Day 1 in Vienna:
Getting to know the city center by foot:
The good thing about Vienna is the fact that the city center is very walkable. Every important sight in downtown can be easily reached by foot, which is what I recommend you to do on your first day here.
Walking Tour
In my opinion, the best way to get to know a city is by taking a local walking tour. There ware free ones (where you tip at the end), and paid ones (which usually cost 17 EUR).
There are a few companies, which offer free walking tours. If you decide to do a free walking tour, you need to register online beforehand. Check out the websites below for more information:
In case you want to explore the city on your own, I have provided a walking itinerary for Vienna and its top attractions. The list follows the sights in order according to their location, starting from the Opera house at Karslplatz and ending 20 minutes away from there – at Schwedenplatz. In the meantime, you will see the most important sights in the area.
Explore on your own:
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera was built between the years of 1861 and 1869 and it has turned into one of the most impressive and recognisable buildings in Vienna. The opera house is home to the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Ballet, and it hosts the annual Vienna Opera Ball.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Continuing along the Kärtnerstraße you will reach St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The so-called Stephansdom is the symbol of Vienna. The entrance is free of charge, so make use of this and check out the beautiful interior of this spectacular building. You also have the possibility to climb the two towers – the South tower by taking the stairs (343 steps, €5), or the North tower by taking the elevator (€6).
Mozarthaus Vienna
Mozart was actually born in the city of Salzburg, but he spent some time of his life living in Vienna. The Mozarthaus was his residence from 1784 until 1787. The place has been turned into a museum for everyone who wants to learn more about this great musician.
Free entry with the Vienna Pass
Hofburg Imperial Palace
Not far from Mozarthaus you will find the Hofburg Imperial Palace – the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty rulers. Nowadays it serves as the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria. The building dates back to the 13th century and it is one of the most impressive attractions in Vienna.
Free entry with the Vienna Pass
Maria-Theresien Platz
Maria-Theresien Platz is located just next to the Hofburg Palace. This is where the two big twin museums are located – Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum) and Kunsthistoriches Museum (Art History Museum).
Bear in mind that a visit to any of those museums takes at least a couple of hours, so make sure you plan your time well if you want to check out any of the exhibitions.
Free entry with the Vienna Pass
Secession building
The Vienna Secession, otherwise known as the Union of Austrian Artist, was a movement from 1897 by Austrian artist, who have left the Association of Austrian Artists at the time.
The Secession building is the headquarters of the movement, as well as a place used for expositions of the movement, and it was designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich.
The building is very impressive, with its dome and facade having become a symbol of the movement.
Karlskirche (St. Charles Church)
Not far from the Secession building you will find Karlskirche – easily one of the most stunning churches in Vienna. St. Charles Church is a baroque church, located very close to Karlsplatz metro station, right next to the Technical University of Vienna.
The church carries this name because it is dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo – a great counter-reformer of the 16th century.
Visitors can take an elevator up to the dome and see from up close the famous Rottmayr frescoes.
House of Music
The House of Music is a very interesting and interactive museum – absolutely perfect for kids as well. What better place to dive into the world of music instruments and music creation than the capital of music itself?
There are many things for visitors to try out themselves, and children can even compose their own piece of music and even record their creation on CD.
Free entry with the Vienna Pass
Albertina
Albertina is one of the most valuable art museums in Vienna as it is home to some of the greatest graphic collections worldwide. Here you will find around 65 000 drawings and approx. 1 million old master prints.
Free entry with the Vienna Pass
Discounts with the Vienna City Card
Lunch break
We’re halfway through your day 1 in Vienna and it’s time to take a deserved break and fill those tummies with some delicious Austrian food.
Pro Tip: Right in front of Albertina Museum you will find the Vienna Tourist Information office. You might want to stop by and check if there are any classical concerts happening that evening, as well as what the prices are. Everyone there is very accommodating and you can get your tickets right there on the spot, securing yourself a perfect end to your Vienna experience.
Now back on the topic of food. There are some great restaurants in the city center where you can enjoy delicious Austrian cuisine. Some of the most famous places include Reinthaler and Plachutta.
After you’re done with your lunch, we will continue with the tour not too far from where we left off.
Burggarten
This beautiful garden is one of the top places for young people to hang out in the warmer days. Here you will find the Palm House – a beautiful glasshouse which houses one of the most beautiful cafes in Vienna on one hand, and the Butterfly house on the other.
Parliament
The Parliament building was built between the years 1873 and 1883 in a Greek architecture style. Even though there is regularly construction work going on around the building, it is certainly a must-see place in Vienna. You might even get lucky and see it without any construction containers around.
City Hall (Rathaus)
Continuing along the Ringstrasse in just a few minutes you will end up in front of the city hall. The so-called Rathaus is one of the most important buildings of Neo-Gothic style in Vienna, and it is the official seat of the Mayor.
The city hall is open and free for visitors to visit, so take advantage and take a peek at this stunning building also from the inside.
Burgtheater
Right across from the city hall is the Burgtheater – a beautiful building, constructed between the years 1874 to 1888. The theater is quite cherished in the German speaking world, to say the least. As a matter of fact, back in 2014/15 it was named “Theater of the Year” by the journal “Theater heute”.
Minoritenkirche
Minoritenkirche is considered one of the oldest and artistically most valuable churches in all of Vienna. Situated in the heart of the 1st district, the church stands tall in its beautiful French Gothic style.
Am Hof Square
Not far from the Minoritenkirche you will find the Square Am Hof – one of the oldest and historically most important squares in the city.
Pope Benedict XVI gave an address back in 2007 from the balcony of the church at exactly this square.
In winter this is where you will find one of the many Christmas markets in Vienna.
Judenplatz
Judenplatz, or the Jewish square, was the center of Jewish life in Vienna. Nowadays it serves as a memorial and a place of remembrance.
Hoher Markt
The square Hoher Markt is also among the oldest squares in Vienna. In the middle of the square there is a sculpted fountain, named the Wedding fountain. However, the center of attraction at Hoher Markt is definitely Anker Clock – a large gilded clock in the so-called Jugendstil style, dating back to 1917.
Bermuda Triangle (Schwedenplatz)
And just like that, without realizing it, you are now in the infamous Bermuda Triangle in Vienna. This is where you can enjoy the most pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants in one place, and this is where most young people like to go out at night. Don’t be fooled by its quite appearance by day – once the sun sets, the Bermuda triangle turns into a buzzing paradise for party lovers.
You can choose one of the many restaurants around for a nice dinner, and perhaps have a drink or two at some of the bars in the area.
If you’ve booked a concert or a performance to see, this is the time to get ready for this and enjoy your evening in classical Viennese style.
Day 2 in Vienna – Explore the Palaces
Schönbrunn Palace
One of the symbols of Vienna and top places to visit here is definitely Palace Schönbrunn. The former Habsburg residence was once home to rulers of the Habsburg Monarchy, such as Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
The stunning Baroque castle consists of 1,441 rooms, 45 of which are open for tourists to visit.
The gardens of the castle are free to visit, but if you want to see the rooms inside you’d have to pay an entry fee.
Free entry with the Vienna Pass
Opening hours:
Daily, 08:00 – 17:00
How to get there: U4 until Schönbrunn metro station
Schönbrunn Zoo
Within the premises of the Schönbrunn Palace you will also find the zoo – a great attraction for young and old. I know seeing caged animals is not everybody’s cup of tea – it usually isn’t mine either.
The Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, however, is one of the best zoos in the world and is seen more like a center for the conservation of endangered species. It is scientifically administered and houses more than 700 species, some of which are highly endangered.
Another interesting fact – this is the oldest zoo in the world, and also one of the most modern ones. If there is one zoo in the world that’s worth visiting – this is it.
Free entry with the Vienna Pass
Opening hours:
Daily, 09:00 – 16:30
How to get there: U4 until Hietzing Zoo metro station
Or by foot from Schönbrunn Palace
Lunch Time
We are almost at the end of our 2 days in Vienna itinerary. With so much to see, I know the Schönbrunn Palace can be an exhausting experience, so it’s time to look for a place to have lunch and recharge.
At this point I would suggest going back to the city center, and more specifically the area of Karlsplatz, and try out another restaurant. The options are endless and there is something for everyone.
If you feel like checking out an open food market, I would recommend going to:
Naschmarkt
Naschmarkt is the biggest local food market, offering food from all over the world on over 100 stands. Bear in mind that this is not a place to sit down and have full-on meals. It’s more like a roam-around-and-try-different-foods type of place.
Opening hours:
Mo, 06:00 – 21:00
Tue, 06:00 – 21:00
Wed, 06:00 – 21:00
Thu, 06:00 – 21:00
Fri, 06:00 – 21:00
Sat, 06:00 – 18:00
Food stands: Mo-Sa 6-23
Address: Wienzeile, 1060
How to get there: U4 until Kettenbrückengasse metro station
Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere Palace is stunning Baroque complex, consisting of the Upper and Lower Belvedere, the Orangery and the Stables. In the Upper Belvedere is where you will find the famous Gustav Klimt painting “The Kiss”, as well as many other masterpieces by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka.
Just like Schönbrunn, visiting the palace’s gardens is free of charge. If you want to see the rich art collection in the museum, then you’d have to pay a fee.
Free entry with the Vienna Pass
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
How to get there: Tram D or Tram 71 until stop Belvedere
Hundertwasserhaus
The Hundertwasserhaus is an architectural gem and draws visitors attention with its unique and colourful facades. The house was designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser and was constructed between 1983 and 1985.
Nowadays this is a residential building, so visiting it on the inside is not possible. However, not too far from the Hundertwasser House you will find the Hundertwasser Museum, or the so-called Kunst Haus Wien. This is a museum, also designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, which serves as a place for exhibitions.
Address: Kegelgasse 37-39, 1030
Bonus tips:
I know that this Vienna 2 day itinerary has been absolutely jam-packed with information and you might feel overwhelmed by now. However, if you do happen to be left with some more time on your hands, I still have a few bonus tips for you.
The Viennese Ferris Wheel at Prater
The Prater is like the Disneyland of Vienna – much smaller, of course. But this is where you will find the giant ferris wheel, which takes you on a ride over the rooftops of the city, offering a beautiful view from the top. If you have even just 1 hour to spare – I’d recommend coming here.
Spanish Riding School
The Spanish Riding School is a unique experience, where you can see the highest standard horse-riding art in the atmosphere of the Imperial Palace.
In the morning it is possible to watch the training between 10am and 12pm, which costs about 15 EUR. You could also get a ticket to watch one of the mesmerizing shows with classical music in the background. For this I would recommend asking at the ticket office in the Tourist Information Center, or directly at the Spanish riding school. The tickets start from about 30 EUR, going up to about 200 EUR. You can also check their website for current performances information here.
Free entry to the morning training with the Vienna Pass
And so we’ve come to the end of this 2 days in Vienna itinerary. I sincerely hope you have all the information you needed to plan your trip to this beautiful city. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to drop me a comment or message me on any of my other platforms.
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This article is also available in Bulgarian.
Check out my other resources on Vienna to plan your trip even better:
25 Free Things to do in Vienna, Austria
Your complete guide for visiting Vienna in the summer
The Vienna Cards Explained! Which one to choose – Vienna City Card or Vienna Pass?
Vienna to Bratislava Day Trip – How to Spend One Day in Bratislava, Slovakia
Vienna Insider Tips – What to know before visiting?
Where to Find the Best Schnitzel in Vienna – Tips + Prices!
11 Magical Things to Do in Vienna in January
Experiencing a Vienna Ball – How Can You Actually Attend One? My Tips
Even more detailed information:
21 Incredibly Instagrammable Places in Vienna, Austria
Ultimate Vienna Christmas Markets Guide – Full List
11 Marvelous Things to do in Vienna in December – Winter in Vienna Guide
10 Dreamy Day Trips from Bratislava, Slovakia
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Lyubomira is the creator and author behind Bulgarian On The Go. With a background in journalism and experience in the field of tourism and marketing, her mission is to show travellers many beautiful places they might have never thought of visiting or even knew existed.
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