Planning to visit Vienna in 3 days? Take a look at our itinerary of the most beautiful places to see in Vienna.
Is it possible to visit Vienna in 3 days?
The city with the best cafes in the world. A city full of the grandeur of the Habsburg family and the true stories of emperors and empresses. A city as beautiful as Paris, but with smaller crowds. A historic, cosmopolitan and lively city. That’s what Vienna is like.
There’s so much to see, you won’t know where to go. And 3 days may not be enough, but you’ll get a lot done. At least the best sights and attractions of Vienna and a few bonuses to boot.
Tip: Looking to save money when visiting Vienna? With a tourist card Vienna City Card you get free transport and discounts to more than 200 places in Vienna. I wrote about the card detailed article so you can see if the card is worth it for you.
The other option is the Vienna Pass, which includes free entry to most places in Vienna for 1, 2, 3 or 6 days. An alternative is the Vienna Flexi Pass, where you choose the number of attractions you want to visit. More about the Vienna Pass and Vienna Flexi Pass in the previous article.
Map of what to see in Vienna in 3 days
HOW TO USE THIS MAP: Above you will find a detailed map with an itinerary of what to see in Vienna in 3 days. Click at the top left of the map to see separate layers with highlighted locations. You can hide and show the different layers or click on the icons on the map to see the names of the places I mention in the guide for 3 days in Vienna. If you want to save the map, star it. For a larger version, click on the icon in the upper right corner.
3 days in Vienna: How to plan your itinerary
Below you will find an itinerary for visiting Vienna for 3 days. Individual days are scheduled too, so that the venues are close to each other and you don’t have to travel long distances. The itinerary may seem busy, but it is mainly an outline of what you can do in the area.
You can adjust the days or add more attractions to make sure the itinerary covers everything you plan to visit. For more places to visit in Vienna, see the separate article (including information on entrance fees and opening times). It also includes a map to help you find your way around.
Vienna in 3 days: Old Town – Belvedere Palace
Itinerary for Day 1 in Vienna:
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral and surroundings
- Karlskirche
- Belvedere Palace
- Museum of Military History
On your first day in Vienna, we’ll explore the narrowest historic core, which stretches around Graben Avenue and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. It is full of historic buildings, cosy cafes, shops and restaurants. Afterwards, you can visit Belvedere, a Baroque palace with beautiful gardens housing extensive museum collections.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Graben Street
Get off the metro at Stephansplatz metro station (lines U1, U3) and walk along Vienna’s most famous street, Graben, with its magnificent plague column. Early in the morning, while the crowds are gone.
From here, it’s just a few steps to the most famous church in Vienna – St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This is exactly the church whose tower you see in most photos of Vienna.
The cathedral will catch your eye from afar with its colourful roof, which looks beautiful especially in the sun. Entrance to the cathedral is free, but you have to pay to see one of the towers. The entrance is located on either side of the cathedral, depending on whether you plan to visit the North or South Tower.
A better view of Vienna and the roof is from the South (higher) Tower. There are over 300 steps up. If you have mobility limitations or are walking with smaller children, I recommend visiting the North Tower, whose observation deck can be reached by elevator.
Admission to each of the towers is around €6-7 per adult – for detailed prices for all sights and attractions, see What to see in Vienna.
Wander the streets around the cathedral, which form a labyrinth of the narrowest centre in Vienna. Just 3 minutes from the cathedral you will see one of the symbols of Vienna – the Ankeruhr. Historical clock from the beginning of the 20th century, where there are 12 characters that are constantly changing.
Continue south towards the Vienna Opera House. Along the way, you can make a stop at the crypt under the Capuchin monastery, which hides the graves of members of the Habsburg dynasty.
A short turn to the left after the crypt leads to Haus der Musik. An interactive, informative and entertaining museum about music with 4 floors of exhibits of the most famous Austrian composers from Mozart to Schubert, Strauss to Schoenberg.
The museum is not large and will be fun for the children when they try to lead their own orchestra.
Accommodation in Vienna 😴
Vienna Opera and Karlskirche
The Vienna Opera is a 10-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The Vienna Opera House is a famous venue where many world-famous artists have performed. Take a look inside during a 40-minute guided tour or check out the current show for an evening visit.
We continue past the Secession Pavilion. It is especially worth seeing from the outside thanks to its golden dome, which glitters beautifully in the sun.
Cross the busy street and continue past the park on your left to the Karlskirche (St. Charles of Bohemia Church). A beautiful building influenced by a mixture of Byzantine, Greek, Baroque and Renaissance styles.
The famous composer Vivaldi, in whose memory the church holds regular concerts, was buried here. It is a short stop on the way to Belvedere Palace.
The church is one of the churches in Vienna where classical music concerts are regularly held.
TIf you‘re hungry, make a detour to Vienna’s largest market , Naschmarkt, before visiting Karlskirche. Here you will find dozens of restaurants serving local and international cuisine. Or stop here on your way back. It’s a very touristy place, but it’s also popular with the locals.
Belvedere Palace
The Baroque Belvedere Palace is one of the most beautiful places in Vienna and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you love art, don’t miss the palace. Here you will find works by Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh and extensive collections of portraits.
The most you will see in the Upper Belvedere, including the famous painting The Kiss by Gustav Klimt.
But the Lower Belvedere is also worth seeing with its Marble Gallery, Hall of the Grotesque and the Golden Room. Or you can just stroll in the beautiful gardens. Book your ticket to Belvedere Palace here .
Museum of Military History
Do you have enough time? Then we continue on past the Belvedere Palace. The Museum of Military History is 15 minutes away, with an impressive collection from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Old military houses, uniforms, weapons, decorations, a tank park (from spring to autumn) or a huge anti-aircraft gun. The collection is more of a man’s affair, but the female eye will be tempted by the beautiful interiors.
From the museum, you can return to the Naschmarkt for a delicious dinner or take a ride into the Old Town and wander through the historic centre in the evening.
Vienna in 3 days: Hofburg – Prater
Itinerary for Day 2 in Vienna:
- Hofburg
- Austrian National Library
- Spanish Riding School
- Museums in Vienna
- Volksgarten
- Prater
The second day starts with a visit to the Hofburg Palace, the official residence of the Austrian President. There are several great museums in the area, so everyone can choose according to their preferences. The second part of the day we will go to the Prater amusement park.
Hofburg
We start the second day at Michaelerplatz Square at the official residence of the Austrian President, the Hofburg Palace, one of the largest palace complexes in the world. It was formerly the home of the imperial court. The Habsburgs lived here until 1918.
During your visit you can visit 3 parts: the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments and the Imperial Silver Collection.
You’ll also find the Austrian National Library, which is beautiful. The magnificent frescoed halls, such as the Augustine Study Hall or the Hall of State, are particularly worth seeing.
The Hofburg complex also includes the Spanish Riding School, one of the four most prestigious riding schools in the world. You can just observe training of Lipizzaner stallions or buy a ticket for a special performance.
Tip: The Spanish Riding School and Hofburg Palace (Sisi Museum, Library, Jewellery and more) are included in the tourist card Vienna Passwhich gives you free admission to the sights in Vienna and free transport, including a cruise.
Museums around the Hofburg Palace
Vienna is a city of museums. There are 89 of them. That’s even more than in Rome, where there are 83 museums. And there are several great museums around the Hofburg with something for almost everyone.
If you turn left at Michaelerplatz, you’ll walk a few minutes to the Albertina Museum, which is housed in one of the Hofburg Palace’s private residential wings. Click here to book tickets .
There is an extensive art collection including paintings by Monet, Degas and Picasso. They often organize temporary exhibitions with well-known artists.
The museum is best known for its print collection of more than one million prints and 60,000 drawings.
Accommodation in Vienna 😴
Volksgarten
It’s quite a walk through the Hofburg or the Albertina Museum. The entire complex is surrounded by royal gardens and parks, where you can relax and just admire the statues, the Mozart monument or the Thésée Temple. If you like places like this, visit the Volksgarten, a garden full of roses.
From here it is only a short walk to other museums. The first is the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which is the largest art museum in Austria. It is a Renaissance palace-like building, with lavish interiors and many eye-catching works of art inside.
If you haven’t visited the Albertina and you like art, go here. You will be treated to works by Rubens, Rembrandt or Raphael.
Directly across the square from Maria Theresia Square is the Naturhistorisches Museum (Natural History Museum), which has extensive collections from the beginning to the present day. From showcases to modern interactive exhibitions. You can find here really everything you can think of in connection with nature.
For example, you can try out how a volcano erupts or how you would look in prehistoric times. If you are planning Vienna with children, this is a must-stop. 🙂
And if you still haven’t chosen from a wide range of museums, the MuseumsQuartier is 5 minutes away. Here you will find several museums specialising in modern and contemporary art.
Parliament and Town Hall
We’ve had enough of the museums and it’s time to stretch a bit on the Ringstraße circular route. After a while, the tour takes you past the neoclassical Austrian Parliament building to the Rathaus, Vienna’s town hall. It is an impressive neo-Gothic building from the 19th century, which is beautifully illuminated in the evening.
Do you still have time and would you like to see the beautiful neo-gothic church? Just a few minutes’ walk from the Rathaus you can visit the Votivkirche, one of the most beautiful churches in Vienna.
Near the Rathaus is the pleasant Josefstadt district, where there are several excellent restaurants. I recommend the restaurant Fromme Helene on the corner with a pleasant interior and honest cuisine.
☞ Get inspired by the most beautiful places in Austria.
Prater
We’ve picked up enough sights and museums, so we’re moving across the river for some fun. There is a large park here, which includes the Prater Amusement Park with its Giant Wheel and Wax Museum.
There are over 250 attractions in the park – you have to pay on site for each attraction separately. The longest queues are for the Giant Wheel, which with its historic cabins is the oldest Russian wheel in the world. Skip the line and book your ticket for the Giant Wheel in advance .
The Prater Park is freely accessible all year round. However, most traction stations are closed during the winter season from November to mid-March. This does not apply to the Giant Wheel, which is open all year round.
3 days in Vienna: Schönbrunn
Itinerary for Day 3 in Vienna :
- Schönbrunn Palace
- Hundertwasser museum
- Prater and the Wax Museum
- Donaucity and the Danube Tower
On the third day, we move from the city centre to Schönbrunn Palace. Next door is the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the oldest zoo in the world. Depending on what you want to see around the palace, you can spend the whole day here.
If you don’t plan to spend the whole day here, you can go to one of the museums you missed the day before. Or end your stay in Vienna by the Danube, where there is a beautifully landscaped promenade. We’ll show you more in a moment.
Accommodation in Vienna 😴
Schönbrunn Palace
A visit to Schönbrunn Palace is almost a must in Vienna. A large complex with a magnificent Baroque castle and gardens, which has been part of UNESCO since 1996.
The surrounding gardens of the castle include the Palmenhaus, a unique steel building with exotic plants, where you can enjoy a coffee and a bite to eat. You can enjoy a beautiful view of the castle from the terrace directly opposite the castle, across the gardens behind the Neptune Fountain.
There is also an Apple Strudel Show, a Marionette Show, an Orangery and the Imperial Carriage Museum.
Are you planning a visit with children? Head to the maze, the zoo or the children’s museum, where children can try on a prince or princess costume.
The palace can be reached by metro in 20 minutes from Innere Stadt. Make sure you get out here as soon as possible. Later in the morning, crowds of visitors are already streaming in. I recommend order tickets in advance to avoid long lines.
☞ Get inspired with tips on the most beautiful lakes in Austria.
Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Visiting Schönbrunn Zoo is one of the best things to do in Vienna. It is the oldest zoo in the world (it has been in operation since 1752) and has been awarded the title of the most beautiful zoo in the world several times.
You can observe rare animals such as giant pandas, black rhinos, gorillas and koalas in their natural environment. Book your tickets here.
Promenade along the Danube
Take the metro and get off near the Danube. It is bordered by a landscaped promenade with seating, a sandy beach and a waterfront where locals spend their leisure time.
Nearby is Donau City, an ultra-modern district that contrasts with traditional Vienna. If you like interesting architecture, be sure to stop here. There is greenery and seating.
Danube Tower
Or visit the Danube Tower, which peeks out from Donau City. From the Danube Tower you can enjoy some of the best views of Vienna. A perfect end to a stay in the city. In addition to the viewpoint, there is also a restaurant at the top.
If you plan your entry for sunset, you can see Vienna in the light and beautifully lit in the dark. It is open until late. Click here to book tickets with skip the line . The Danube Tower is surrounded by the vast Donaupark.
This concludes our itinerary for 3 days in Vienna. If you missed some places or want to see more, there are more tips for attractions and sights in the article What to see in Vienna. In addition, the article provides information on transport, what to taste in Vienna and other practical tips.
Where to stay in Vienna?
- Bassena hotel – stylish 4* hotel strategically located a few minutes from Prater Park and the city centre
- Austria Trend Parkhotel – 4* hotel in traditional style right next to Schönbrunn Palace
- Superbude Wien Prater – design hotel just a short walk from Prater Park
- The Social Hub – fun accommodation a short walk from the Prater
- JUFA hotel – pleasant hotel, ideal for families with children
- Prizeotel – modern 3* hotel at a great price a few minutes from the main train station
- Lenas Donau Hotel – cheap and simple hotel a short walk from the metro station
Accommodation in Vienna 😴
This was our itinerary of what to see in Vienna in 3 days and a map of the route. Do you have a question? We’ll be happy to answer it in the comments below. Have a safe journey!
More information about Vienna
VIENNA: Check out 36 tips for things to do in Vienna (including information on entrance fees and opening times). In the article Vienna with kids we share tips on how to enjoy Vienna with the whole family.
The guide to where to stay in Vienna offers tips on the best neighbourhoods and accommodation in Vienna, including practical information.
The Vienna City Card is one of the most popular ways to save money in Vienna. Or take a look at the comparison between the Vienna City Card and the Vienna Pass.
AUSTRIA: Here are the most beautiful places in Austria. Are you planning a visit to the Austrian lakes? Take a look at the most beautiful lakes in Austria.
Read on for even more inspiration for travelling around Europe.
