100 Things to Do in Vienna: FREE Vienna Travel Guide

Having visited Vienna numerous times over the past seven years, I can confidently say that I know the city extremely well – and it’s a place I absolutely love returning to. Every time I visit, there’s always something happening, whether it’s a free event, an exhibition opening, a classical concert, or a public festival. Vienna never fails to engage and impress me, and I already have lists prepared for my next trip.

With that said, here are my Top 100 Things to Do in Vienna: 

Just a heads-up! This list of 100 Things to Do in Vienna is based on my own experiences. Obviously, there’s way more to do in this amazing city than I could possibly cover here. That just goes to show how rich and exciting Vienna is – it keeps you coming back for more!

Post Updated: June 2025

100 Things to Do In Vienna: For Foodies

Vienna’s food scene is defined by hearty and savory cuisine, featuring dishes like Schnitzel, Knödel, and Tafelspitz – all influenced by the former Habsburg Empire’s diverse nations, including Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Croatia. In addition, the city’s traditional coffee culture, shaped by Ottoman influences, has stood the test of time and is even UNESCO-certified. The famous Würstelstand culture was also recently awarded this prestigious title.

1. Eat Käsekrainer at Würstelstand Bitzinger (Albertina) or Der Scharfe Renee (Schwarzenbergplatz).
2. Experience the UNESCO certified coffee culture. Cafe Hawelka, Cafe Schwarzenberg and Cafe Central are great choices. 
3. Drink top notch specialty coffee in a modern café.
4. Take the apple strudel masterclass at Schönbrunn with the Head Patisserie Chef of Gerstner’s. Plus try their apple punch chocolate bars. 
5. Have a meal with a view at Schloss Wilhelminenburg.
6. Try Marillenknödel, an Austrian ice cream creation.
7. Have a slice of Sacher Cake at Hotel Sacher.
8. Eat your way around Naschmarkt and try free falafel and other treats.
9. Enjoy filled Knödel with plum jam, hot custard and sweet poppy seeds at Cafe Tirolerhof.
10. Eat a hot Langos at Prater amusement park on a Friday afternoon.
11. Start your day with an extensive brunch in Vienna.

READ MORE: Big Travel Guide to Brunch & Modern Cafes in Vienna OR How Authentic are Coffee Houses in Vienna Today?

100 Things to Do in Vienna: For Art Lovers

Vienna is a haven for culture and art lovers, home to world-class museums and galleries showcasing works by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele. The Belvedere, for example, often collaborates with renowned European institutions to bring special exhibitions to the city. Another must-visit is the Albertina, which houses permanent displays of Monet and Hundertwasser. The recent Chagall exhibition was an international success. You’ll also find plenty of free art installations scattered throughout the city.

12. Visit the Belvedere Art Gallery for Klimt’s The Kiss & Koloman Moser’s works.
13. Visit the Secession Building for Klimt’s masterpiece Beethoven Frieze.
14. Visit the private Leopold Museum in MuseumsQuartier and see the biggest collection of Egon Schiele paintings.
15. Visit Albertina Art Gallery for Monet and Hundertwasser works.
16. Visit the Kunsthistorische Museum to admire the early work of Klimt, Bruegel and more Austrian treasures such as the Venus of Willendorf figurine.
17. Enjoy free art installations all over town e.g. by Olafur Eliasson. For more info fetch a free brochure from the City Information (Town Hall).
18. Take pictures with the Hundertwasser Pavilion in the third district.
19. Don’t miss out on the Albertina Modern or the lower Belvedere gallery.
20. Visit the MAK museum for their extensive Vienna 1900 collection. Come here during their late night hours on Tuesday eve and pay half price on the tickets

100 Things To Do in Vienna: For Hardcore Tourists

Vienna is known for iconic sights, including its Imperial past, Empress Sisi, beautiful castles, classical music, and the grand buildings along the Ringstraße boulevard. These attractions are popular with tourists for a reason:

20. Spend the entire day at Schönbrunn Castle, voted as Europe’s prettiest castle complex.
21. Visit the Vienna Zoo, also rated as the prettiest zoo in Europe and rumoured to be the oldest zoo in the world.
22. Count all the books at one of Europe’s prettiest libraries, Prunksaal National Library.
23. Do a round trip on the Ferris Wheel at Prater amusement park.
24. See the city from various viewpoints – especially Jubiläumswarte and Das Loft restaurant have incredible 360 views over the city.
25. Flanere on the Ringstraße and admire the grand buildings that stand on it.
26. Get a ticket for a classic concert or theatre play at Burgtheater, the Opera or at Musikverein.
27. Visit a unique special interest museums e.g. the globe museum, the counterfeit museum, snow globe museum, crime museum, chimney cleaning museum, furniture museum or Narrenturm pathological museum of the university of Vienna.
28. Find the golden Johann Strauß statue in Stadtpark.
29. Pay tribute to the Habsburger at their resting place, the Kaisergruft.
30. Admire Sisi’s dresses and private chambers at the Sisi Museum in the Hofburg.
31. Have fun at Prater amusement park and dare to ride the Prater Tower, the highest chain merry-go-around in the world.

100 Things to Do in Vienna: For Budget Travellers

Vienna offers some truly rewarding experiences that are completely free. I’ve revisited a few of them multiple times and enjoyed them just as much every time. There are actually a lot of free things to do here that aren’t always promoted, so I’ve put together a list of the best free museums and activities in Vienna for you.

33. See the excavations and ruins of Vienna’s Vindobona Roman beginnings at Michaeler Platz. 
34. Notice Vienna’s smallest vineyard at Schwarzenbergplatz.
35. See the last remains of the Viennese city wall at e.g. Coburg Palais (inside the hotel lobby) and at Stubentor station.
36. Follow the Camino signs for a mini pilgrimage through Vienna.
37. Collect useful information and research material at Stadtinformation (city hall).
38. Go on a guided tour at the Town Hall. Bonus: join the public sessions of the state parliament and municipal council meetings.
39. Count your steps at several art nouveau staircases around the city including Filgraderstiege & Strudlhofstiege.
40. Enjoy free films, opera and concert recordings in the summer on the big screen outside the town hall.
41. Learn about Vienna’s history at the new Wien Museum, Karlsplatz.
42. Find out more about Postsparkasse, Otto Wagner’s legendary art nouveau postal bank. There great cashier hall can be viewed for free, there is also a cafe and a free exhibition in the back when you go to the bathrooms.
43. Visit the historic Loos Rooms at Musiksammlung der Wienbibliothek im Rathaus (Address: Bartensteingasse 9) designed by Viennese architect Adolf Loos housed in a typical Ring Boulevard residence.
44. Explore the Spittelau Incinerator, a Hundertwasser design, on a 2h guided tour.
45. Don’t miss the free Viennese Philharmonic summer concert in Schönbrunn (June).
46. Be moved by the dark history of the Otto Wagner Arenal during a self-guided walking tour.

READ MORE: Best 15 Activities and Free Museums in Vienna

100 Things to Do in Vienna: For History Enthusiasts

Vienna was (and still is) home to many culturally significant personalities who helped shape the city’s development and carried its prestigious reputation worldwide. Today, numerous museums preserve the cultural legacy of these influential VIPs, including musicians, artists, intellectuals, composers, and architects.

47. Visit the Klimt Villa located in a quiet neighbourhood and see the atelier in which some of his major works were created.
48. Visit the Hundertwasser Museum and learn more about the artist and his life.
49. Visit the Mozart House.
50. Visit the Beethoven House.
51. Visit the Sigmund Freud House.
52. Admire the descendants work of the Viennese Werkstätte at the shop on Kärntnerstraße (Österreichische Werkstätte). Original designs by Joseph Hofmann in a new edition can be purchased here.
53. See the lavish Otto Wagner villa formerly occupied by the eccentric artist Ernst Fuchs.
54. Visit the Johann Strauss Museum and learn more about the King of Walzer’s life.

100 Things to Do in Vienna: For Local Explorers

If you enjoy lesser-known activities and want to experience Vienna like a local, I’d recommend the following:

55. Take a day trip e.g. to Frazensburg in Laxenburg.
56. Stay in a stylish apartment hotel e.g. Rioca or Adina and get a feel for living in Vienna.
57. Use Vienna’s excellent and affordable train connections to Brno, Prague, Bratislava and Budapest.
58. Go shopping on the leafy Mariahilfer Straße.
59. Don’t miss out on Gumpendorfer Street’s coffee scene and interesting local architecture including the Arik-Brauer House and various Gemeindebau residences.
60. Roam the narrow streets in town, in particular the area around Judenplatz.
61. Check the time at Ankeruhr.
62. Experience Vienna’s open air living lounge “Schleifmühlgasse” in Wieden. Restaurant Pinsatore is a favourite restaurant of mine.
63. Drink the world’s highest quality water free from one of the 75 mobile water fountains. This is also a free experience. Simply bring your reusable water bottle and stay hydrated across town. In the Stadt Wien app select the Cooles Wien section for all the fountains’ locations.
64. Take notice of the Gemeindebau, Vienna’s solution to provide affordable rent and living space to its population. Gemeindebau architecture is everywhere but most prominent on Margaretengürtel and west side of the inner city. 
65. Cycle in town and along the Danube canal.
66. Retrace famous movie locations e.g. Before Sunrise, Woman in Gold or Der Dritte Mann.
67. Spot wildlife all over the city. Wild hares, pond turtles, hamsters, deer can be found in every park and on the grounds of Central Graveyard.
68. Chill out by the Donaukanal. The Urbania, Blumenwiese or Strandbar Herrmann are top addresses.
69. Hunt for beautiful art nouveau doors all over the city.
70. Get to know all of the 23 districts and learn their names. My favourites are Wieden 4, Margareten 5, and Mariahilf 6, but also Leopoldstadt 2. 
71. Plant and harvest your own vegetables at a public garden patch.
72. Buy strudel flour at Billa for practising at home.
73. Check out the antiques markets in central Vienna, you may find porcelain from Augarten, Frey Wille jewellery or Klimt special edition collectors plates.
74. Chill at MuseumsQuartier (perfect for quiet Sundays).
75. Check out Böhmische Prater, the small brother of Prater, which has a more nostalgic touch to it.

READ MORE: 6 Quick & Easy Day Trips from Vienna by Train

100 Things To Do in Vienna: For Architecture Nerds

Heinrich von Ferstel, Adolf Loos, Joseph-Maria Olbrich, Otto Wagner, and Josef Hoffmann all shaped the city and left their mark on Vienna. Their creative and innovative designs have positioned Vienna as a centre of architectural excellence. Today, their unique contributions are internationally praised and have helped make Vienna one of the prettiest cities in the world – while maintaining its functionality and efficiency.

76. Experience Ferstel’s iconic architectural style by visiting his main works e.g. Palais Ferstel, Café Central, or the Votive Church.
77. Buy a combi ticket for three Otto Wagner highlights (Kirche am Steinhof, Pavilion Hitzing and Pavillon Karlsplatz).
78. Investigate the six remaining Flak Towers all over town – Nazi relics and commemorative monuments.
79. Visit the Hundertwasser Residential Haus and souvenir village.
80. See the Nussdorf Lock, one of Otto Wagner’s major works.
81. Visit and have a swim the art deco lido Amalienbad in the 10th district Favoriten.
82. Notice the fine architecture along Linke Wienzeile, e.g. Wagner’s Majolica House, the house next to it and the small postal office on Naschmarkt.
83. Admire the Stadtbahn architecture, another Wagner contribution, in particular Karlsplatz & Gumpendorfer Straße, but also Schönbrunn station.
84. Decide, which is Vienna’s prettiest church. 
85. Try out the art nouveau underground bathrooms in Graben.
86. Follow the traces of architect Josef Hoffmann and the Wiener Werkstätte/Viennese Workshop at the neighbourhood of Hohe Warte, in particular the streets Wollergasse, Steinfeldgasse und Geweygasse

100 Things To Do in Vienna: For Outdoor Folks

Vienna stands out as a green city, with about half of its area dedicated to parks, gardens, and natural spaces. With over 1,700 green spaces to explore, from manicured gardens to expansive parklands and the Viennese Woods, the city offers endless outdoor opportunities. The Prater alone covers more than 6 square kilometres, offering scenic walking trails, and protected natural reserves. Public parks and gardens span about 2.5 million square meters, giving both residents and visitors plenty of space to relax, hike, and immerse themselves in nature.

87. Go hiking on the City Hiking Trails and collect a special free souvenir on completing all 14 trails.
88. Visit Vienna’s exceptional vineyards e.g. Nussdorf, tram line D’s final destination.
89. Flanere the extensive park lands in Schönbrunn.
90. Visit the exotic Greenhouse.
91. Make use of Prater recreational park. Maybe go for a ride here?
92. Explore the Viennese Woods e.g. Föhrenberge in the South, Dehnepark in the West or Leopold’s Berg in the North.
93. Hike along the water pipeline on the water hiking trail.
94. Stroll in Augarten.
95. Take a day trip to the Lobau, Europe’s only national park located within a major city.

READ MORE: Local, Unusual, Underrated: The City Hiking Trails Vienna

100 Things To Do in Vienna: Avoid If You Can

Unfortunately, not all experiences in Vienna are great, but luckily, these are in the minority. In my opinion, you can skip these activities as I found them unworthy of my time, tourist-unfriendly, of low quality, and not rewarding at all. Of course, I leave it up to you to decide if you’d like to visit.

96. Avoid a performance at the Spanish Riding School.
97. Avoid Haus des Meeres.
98. Avoid drinking Julius Meindl coffee.
99. Avoid Schnitzel at Figlmüller (tourist trap and all elements of the meal have to be purchased separately).
100. Avoid the stables tour at Spanish Riding School.

Want to stay for longer? Here is A FREE 4 Day Vienna Itinerary For First Time Visitors

That’s it for now! You can always check out my other Vienna guides and travel content. And of course, if you have any questions, I’m happy to help. If you’ve enjoyed my 100 Things to Do in Vienna guide and would like to support my blog & research, you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee.

Carolin

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