A Complete 4 Day Vienna Itinerary For First Time Visitors

In 2018 I took the plunge and travelled solo to Vienna for the very first time. I needed a break from London and the Austrian capital seemed to be the best choice for my first solo travel adventure. The city is consistently ranked at the top for best quality of life, is known for its rich imperial past and of tremendous cultural & artistic significance. I’ve visited Vienna many times ever since and even spent three months living there last summer. Here’s my 4 Day Vienna itinerary for first time visitors and I invite you to follow along and explore this wonderful city with me.

My Vienna travel guide for first time visitors includes a detailed day to day itinerary filled with activities and local things to do alone in Vienna for solo travellers. I’ll also tell you where is the best area to stay in Vienna for your visit, which activities I feel you could skip and how to access the city from the airport.

4 Day Vienna Itinerary Overview

What You Need to Know When Visiting Vienna

• Cash is preferred over card payments
• Vienna has a city tax which covers an additional 3.2% of the original accommodation fee
• Vienna Mitte (central) is not Vienna Hauptbahnhof (main station). The CAT train runs to Vienna Mitte. If you need to go to Hauptbahnhof, you have to use a regular train.
• Vienna has an odd layout and walking is sometimes faster than public transport
• Vienna is consistently voted as a top city with a high quality of life
• Vienna consists of 23 districts and they all have names, too
• Austrian’s are smart, sophisticated and laid back
• No matter what time of the day, but if you do switch the TV on you’ll notice there’s always a Sissi, Habsburger or Vienna themed documentary airing
• Aldi operates under the name “Hoffer” 
• Austria is part of the DACH countries, please do not refer to them as Germans. Their language is also not German, but Austrian 
• Be careful when taking pictures in public. The DACH countries have strict privacy laws and you need to respect others when out and about. Always ask for permission to avoid potential confrontation
• Tickets for the underground or tram can be purchased in advance. If you purchase the ticket on the train they charge 20p extra
• The city provides free drinking stations across town and has a top water quality.
• All social classes are represented & integrated throughout the city
• Word of caution though: you may get approached by seemingly normal people who will blatantly ask you for money or work. I guess every city has its weirdos
• Vienna is constantly evolving as a city. Authorities & administration are very committed and invested in maintaining the quality of life for all citizens & visitors 

4 Day Vienna Itinerary For First Time Visitors

Vienna is the city that keeps on giving, no matter how many times you come back to it. I love returning to the city and actively plan new visits, simply because I’ve never had a bad experience here. Having spent the entire summer 2022 test living in Vienna, I still feel I haven’t seen all it has to offer.

The main pull for visitors are: the glamourous imperial past, the UNESCO recognised coffee house culture, Prater and of course its prestigious status as a horse city. Mozart, Freud, Ferstel, Loos, Klimt, Hundertwasser or the Sacher family are all world renowned household names – they all made Vienna the intellectual centre and sophisticated city that it is today.

For this 4 Day Vienna Itinerary I’ve compiled a few places for each day which continue to engage me and have been a pleasure to revisit. The post includes my personal suggestions on what you could do and see during your stay in Vienna. You can take what resonates best with you and don’t have to follow my itinerary strictly. What’s interesting and engaging to me, may not work for you. I try to provide as much information for your planning as possible including alternatives, so you get the most out of your 4 Day Vienna stay.

This Vienna itinerary uses Quartier Belvedere as a base and starting point for your daily explorations. All prices and costs are correct as of January 2023.

READ MORE: 15 Activities and Free Museums in Vienna

Day 1 Vienna Itinerary

For your first day, arrive and get an overview of Vienna’s structure. Stroll casually into town and explore along the way. Whilst you explore, never take your eyes off from the buildings. Vienna is steeped in history and proud of its imperial past which the buildings reflect. 

Day 1 Vienna Itinerary Afternoon

After your arrival and luggage drop off at your hotel, freshen up, have a little rest and then let’s explore the area.

Palace Belvedere Grounds

The baroque Palace Belvedere sits within a manicured garden & park landscape. The grounds are neat with impressive white Sphinx statues, fountains and romantic setups. It’s a popular place for runners but also to stroll into the city centre. There’s an orangery at the bottom of the area, the University Botanical Gardens and an open air theatre during the summer months. 

The highlight, however, is the extensive art collection displayed in the Upper Belvedere. The unique collection includes notable works by Schiele, Van Gogh and Klimt. The latter’s most famous work “The Kiss” is a true visitor magnet.  Keep the art gallery for Day 2.

Schwarzenbergplatz

When you leave the grounds of Belvedere, you’ll be at Schwarzenbergplatz. The square has a Soviet War Memorial, an impressive fountain (Hochstrahlbrunnen) which entertains visitors with a lightshow after dark, and numerous interesting buildings. The French Embassy in art nouveau style is one of my favourite buildings in Vienna.

Note: the Viennese art nouveau movement is called Viennese Secession. The Karlsplatz station entrance is another example of this exquisite style.

Keep your eyes open for Vienna’s smallest vineyard, which is located between the Universal Music Booking and Casino on the right-hand side of the square. 

Vienna Central, District 1

The centre of Vienna is a joy to walk around. First time visitors will easily spend a good 3 to 4h exploring the area. It starts with the impressive opera house, to the nearby Albertina museum and iconic Hotel Sacher. There are countless traditional coffee houses alongside modern cafés, bakeries, restaurants and chains. One thing is for sure, you won’t starve in Vienna. 

Check Out: Vienna’s street food is pretty filling. Favourites of mine include a Käsekrainer Hot Dog (cheese filled sausage in a bun, 6€) which you can get from Bitzinger outside the Albertina or a Korean corn dog (deep fried sausage in a potato coating, 6.50€) from KOON.  

From the main High Street, there are several smaller, narrow alleys and side streets which will take you to quieter parts of the city. The small squares, imperial buildings and the Mozart house boast history on every corner. The cobbled streets are intertwined in a maze and invite you to get lost. Favourite parts of mine include the area around the Clock Museum, the Jewish Square and the newly designed Neuer Markt.  

Coburgbastei

If you keep exploring on the East-side, you’ll find plenty of local restaurants, galleries, churches and the Literature Museum. A personal favourite of mine is the Coburgbastei 4 – Vienna’s only surviving city fortress. The final remains of the Viennese city wall and former Brown bastion are inside a luxury hotel. How did that happen you may ask? So back in the 12th century Duke Leopold V captured Richard I during the third crusade and thus demanded a high ransom from the British for Richard’s release. From the money, the Austrian king expanded Vienna’s city structure and established a circular city wall: 5km long, with 20 towers and 10 entrance gates. This structure lasted for 300 years. 

The Brown Bastion was then built in 1545-55 as an extension on top of this city wall. It served as a protection against the Ottoman attacks and was at the time the most prestigious bastion. It had a sophisticated underground system for storing ammunition and even had canons. 

Duke Ferdinand of Saxony-Coburg & Gotha acquired the land in 1840 and built a grand city palace on top of the Brown Bastion remains. Today, the Coburgbastei is a 5 star hotel. Guided tours to the basement and state rooms are upon request through the hotel’s newsletter, but the rest of the ruins can be explored for free in the hotel lobby. Make sure you let reception know and then enjoy this unusual but highly interesting place. 

St Stephen’s Cathedral

If you prefer to stay on the High Street, you will follow the Kärntner Straße. At its end you’ll have arrived at St Stephen’s Cathedral and if you turn left you can explore The Graben, Vienna’s posh end of the High Street. 

I’ve never explored the cathedral properly. A quick glimpse inside is free and you can then decide for yourself if you want to pay and access other areas of the cathedral, such as the tower, altar or crypt. 

Note: St Stephen’s Cathedral is a catholic institution and therefore a Camino site. The Camino sign is on a lamp post outside of the watchmaker shop Bucherer (north-west side of the cathedral). On the east-side of the church is the community centre Quo Vadis (Stephansplatz 6) which provides visitors with information on the Austrian Camino. You can obtain the Credential and take part in their monthly coffee meet ups with like-minded pilgrims. 

If you follow the Camino signs, you’ll pass The Graben, the Holy Trinity column and eventually pass through the Hofburg. The Hofburg is home to the Spanish Riding School, the Sissi museum, the treasury and presidential administration of the city of Vienna. 

Have a look, just outside of the Hofburg, in Michaeler Square, are the remains of a former Roman military camp. The ruins of Vindobona are approximately 2000 years old and free to explore. This may be just a small excavation site, yet it connects Vienna to a long and rich history of its Roman origins. 

Find some time for a rest in the nearby Volksgarten. This charming park designed in 1821 is a favourite amongst locals and visitors. It provides lots of benches, shade and has a stunning rose garden display. It’s a lovely oasis to recharge, people watch and enjoy the flowers. 

Rathaus & City Information Centre

After your break, check out the Rathaus (City Hall). In the summer, the square in front of the City Hall has a free open air cinema, showing mostly classical & pop concerts, as well as ballets and theatre performances. There is more. Not only is this building exceptional with its intricate baroque features, I would advise you to pay the City Information Centre (Friedrich Schmidt Platz) on the other side of the building a visit. This tourist information is different from the ones near the Albertina, as it provides lots of information on Vienna as a city itself, rather than promoting and selling tours. 

The City Information Centre has tons of interesting material on Vienna’s city structure, its (on going) development plans, statistics and specific information on hiking trails, music performances, cultural events and living in Vienna. I needed some help with my research on the Viennese coffee houses and the staff at the City Information Centre were extremely invested and provided me with free books on Viennese coffee culture. I left with 2kg of material and it was such a great support for my article. You can also pick up your passport for the inner city hiking trails and fetch your hiking needles, once you’ve completed your hikes. 

From the Rathaus, you can either take the tram (line D) back to your hotel or walk towards the Museum Quarter. This is another newly developed area with interesting museums, art galleries and a chill out zone. It is not only exclusive for museum guests but invites everyone to relax, mingle and soak up the atmosphere. When I spent three months living in Vienna, this was my Sunday afternoon place to hang out and read. 

Day 1 Vienna Itinerary Dinner

For dinner you could consider Le Burger. I’m in love with this small Austrian burger chain and its unfuzzy and “Oh-so-instagrammable” vibes. Swings and green lush plants make the place atmospheric and very laid back. The burgers are all delicious and the menu includes a wide range of flavour combinations. They even do nachos with pulled beef and sauces. One quirky highlight of Le Burger is their sauce bar which offers unusual flavours such as blueberry ketchup, garlic mayo and BBQ dip. 

Quite a lot of impressions for your first day in Vienna, so get a good night’s sleep and let’s explore more tomorrow. 

Day 2 Vienna Itinerary

Check out some of the art galleries and museums that Vienna has to offer. Finish the day with a rollercoaster ride at the ever so fun and entertaining amusement park Prater.

Day 2 Vienna Itinerary Morning

Palace Belvedere Art Gallery (Upper Belvedere)

Start your day by visiting the exhibition and art gallery. The palace inside is architecturally stunning. The many treasures of art work have been given a space worthy of their admiration and you’ll be drawn into the worlds of Klimt, Hundertwasser and Schiele. I personally loved the gallery at Belvedere and in comparison to other museums and galleries in Vienna, it was relatively quiet. Best to make use of that. 

Time spent: approximately 90 minutes
Costs: Tickets start at 16€

Day 2 Vienna Itinerary Lunch

You can’t come to Vienna without spending some time at a traditional coffee house. Recognised as a UNESCO cultural heritage, Viennese coffee culture attracts over 8 million visitors annually. 

FIND OUT MORE: How Authentic are Coffee Houses in Vienna Today?

The list of traditional coffee houses is long and they vary in style and service. I personally would choose Café Central for first time visitors to Vienna. It is touristy, yes, but it is located within the prestigious Ferstel Palais, which in itself is quite the experience.  

Heinrich von Ferstel was a Viennese VIP architect and designed the city palace between 1856-1860. It follows the venetian/Florentine art trecento style and was originally planned as a finance, exchange and bank center. Built during the Wilhelmina era, the Ferstel Palais is regarded as one of the most prestigious buildings in Vienna. Today it also hosts a grand hall for extravagant events and has an arcaded shopping area with high-end local brands. Café Central moved into the building 16 years after its completion and has been there ever since. 

If you decide for Café Central, Café Demel or Hotel Sacher, make sure to book in advance as these are the most popular cafés in town. 

Time spent: 1h
Costs: apple strudel 8.50€, Sacher cake 8.90€

Day 2 Vienna Itinerary Afternoon

Albertina Gallery

Another art gallery not to be missed when in Vienna. The permanent collection hosts over 65,000 artworks by Hundertwasser, Monet and various German expressionists. It is slightly more modern orientated and always has a special exhibition running, which comes free with your admission. The Albertina also has a sub gallery, the Albertina Modern, near the Karlsplatz which focuses on modern performance artists.

Note: The Albertina is also a good address for your bathroom breaks in town, as they are well kept and free of use. Take the escalators to the entrance, then keep right. The bathrooms are one level down. 

Time spent: 2h
Costs: 18.90€ adult ticket, combi ticket with Albertina Modern 24.90€

Alternative Activity in Vienna: Kunsthistorische Museum 

An alternative thing to do alone in Vienna is to visit the Kunsthistorische Museum (art history museum). It is filled from bottom to ceiling with over 2,100 objects that belonged to the Habsburg monarchy’s treasury. The Cupola Hall is an impressive marbled circular room in the heart of the museum. From here you can further explore the extensive painting collection which includes treasures from Dürer and Bruegel. 

The Tower of Babylon is one of my favourite paintings and the generous sofas laid out all around the museum, make this visit highly enjoyable to fully appreciate the paintings. There’s a lot to see so you can get fatigued easily. Therefore I would advise not to exceed a 2h stay.  

Time spent: 2h
Costs: 18€ adult ticket

Day 2 Vienna Itinerary Evening

Prater Amusement Park

From the Albertina walk towards St Stephen’s Cathedral and down Rotenturm Street. At the end you’ll pass Sweden Square, cross over the river and follow along the Danube in an east-bound direction. At Franzensbrücke, walk up the stairs and walk north-bound until you’ve reached Praterstern. 

Time: approximately 40 minutes, depending how fast you walk

Prater is an inner-city nature reserve with a huge – partially kept natural- parkland and a permanent amusement park. I absolutely love this place as fairgrounds are the ultimate summer essential for me. Prater is good fun, maybe not on a late Friday evening but other than that, walking around the fairground will always engage me. Fetch a Langos, some candy floss and watch the brave take a spin on Prater Turm, the world’s largest high swing carousel at 117m. 

Other highlights of the Prater fairground include the Vienna Ferris Wheel which I rode on my first time visiting Vienna. Before you board the wooden capsule, you’ll learn more about its 100 year history in a separate exhibition. The capsules are very rocky and not stable as they are e.g. at the London Eye. The views however make up for this, so for me this is a definite thing to do in Vienna. 

Take the S1, S2 or S3 from Prater Stern in the direction of Meidling. It’ll be three stops to Quartier Belvedere. 

Time Spent: 2h or more, depending on rides
Costs: entrance is free, the rides costs between 5€-10€, Ferris wheel 13.50€, candy floss 2.50€, Langos 5€

Day 3 Vienna Itinerary

Start your day by visiting the Hundertwasser House and museum. Have lunch in town and then explore the Prunksaal at The National Library. Use your afternoon for a stroll along Gumpendorfer and Mariahilfer Straße, two excellent eclectic neighbourhoods with shopping opportunities and local communities. Finish at Naschmarkt and Schleifmühlgasse, one of my favourite streets in Vienna. Alternatively, you could embark on an inner-city hiking trail and explore lesser known parts of the city. Let’s go!

Day 3 Vienna Itinerary Morning

Let’s start the morning with some more culture and art. A well-known son of Vienna is Friedensreich Hundertwasser. This visual artist and architect is legendary with his quirky and colourful designs. Have you noticed that several buildings in Vienna carry his legacy? The Spittelau Incinerator is one such remarkable building. Another, more centrally located residential building is in Kegelgasse 36-38. 

Keep in mind, whilst this is free to visit, this is only to look at from the outside. There are small shops selling Hundertwasser prints and memorabilia, but if you’re after a proper museum, walk 10 minutes north-bound. 

The Kunst Haus Wien Museum Hundertwasser is at Untere Weißgerberstraße 13. This museum features a wide collection of Hundertwasser’s paintings, architectural designs and performance art. Hundertwasser had quite the love-hate relationship with Vienna and preferred to travel the world instead. He has very close ties to Australia and New Zealand and even designed an Uluru flag for Oz. The exhibition is highly interesting and engaging, not least because design elements by Hundertwasser were integrated into the museum. I’m not giving too much away, let’s just say it is a surprising and educational museum.

Time Spent: 90 minutes
Costs: 11€ adult ticket

Day 3 Vienna Itinerary Lunch

Whilst you walk back into town to fetch lunch, make sure to pass by Anker Uhr at Hoher Markt. This elaborate historic clock is often overlooked but it is such a gorgeous piece of Viennese history right in the heart of town. Similar to the Astronomical Clock in Prague and Bern, this one comes with copper accents & figures that move around on the hour.

For food, maybe now is the time to give the Austrian classic Wiener Schnitzel a try. A traditional staple of Viennese cooking, a tender piece of veal is dipped in flour and breadcrumbs and then carefully fried. The biggest Schnitzel have a diameter of 30cm and are sold at Figlmüller, where they’ve been made since 1920. 

Alternative Restaurants for Wiener Schnitzel: Little Giant or check out Roma & Russel’s guide to Wiener Schnitzel. 

Day 3 Vienna Itinerary Afternoon

After lunch, visit the grand State Hall (Prunksaal) at The National Library. This part of the former imperial library was built in the 18th century. 200,000 books pile up on 80m² in length and 20 metres in height. Four venetian globes, frescos and an elaborate ceiling make this library one of the most beautiful in the world. 

Time Spent: 30-40 minutes
Costs: 10€ adult ticket, combi tickets with the globe museum, literature and papyrus museum are possible

Alternative things to do alone in Vienna: nearby is the globe museum which belongs to the same complex. Might be a bit specific and quirky, but I’ve heard many good stories about it. 

Viennese Neighbourhoods & Localities

Use the rest of your afternoon to explore Vienna’s lively neighbourhoods, in particular Mariahilfer Straße & Gumpendorfer Straße. 

Mariahilfer – a leafy pedestrian zone with lots of shopping opportunities. The vibes are friendly and the street is picturesque. It used to be the home of Vienna’s prettiest coffee house, The Café West End, but unfortunately it closed during the pandemic. At the end of the street, turn right into the Gumpendorfer and walk back up. 

Gumpendorfer – runs parallel to the Mariahilfer and is one of the most interesting streets in Vienna. Pay attention to the art nouveau Arik Brauer Haus, another impressive residential building. The building was designed by Viennese architect Arik Brauer and then executed by city designer Peter Pelikan who also collaborated with Hundertwasser. 

Follow the “Gumpi” along and indulge in some trendy cafés along the way. Brass Monkey, espresso bar Apa-To or Fain are just a few interesting addresses for you to check out. 

Have a look at the Flak Tower which hosts The House of the Ocean. This is an interesting historic building, built as a defence tower during the WW II. Today there are six remaining towers across the city, mainly because they are difficult to demolish. So instead, the city decided to maintain them as homes for new concepts. Anyway, you can fetch a drink on the rooftop terrace which has stunning 360 degree views over Vienna. There’s a separate entrance for the rooftop to the very far right of the building. 

Turn right down Köstlergasse and end up on Linke Wienzeile. This, too, is a highly interesting street with local restaurants left, right and centre front, historic buildings that’ll astonish you including the impressive Café Savoy. Sandwiched in between is the Naschmarkt (snack market), Vienna’s inner-city open planned food market. Have a look and taste around. I’ve had lunch here once at Neni’s which serves mostly Middle Eastern cuisine. 

Alternative things to do alone in Vienna: follow one of the inner-city hiking trails. You can pick up your free pass and guide at the City Information Centre on Day 1. I would personally suggest Route 9 in Prater or Route 11 through District 5 & 10. 

Day 3 Vienna Itinerary Dinner

Fetch food at Naschmarkt or close by. If you need some vegan options, I got Tolstoy and Swing Kitchen on my list. On your way back to Quartier Belvedere, walk through Schleifmühlgasse. 

“Schleifmühli” in District 4 (Wieden) is another favourite of mine. A former address for a mill grinding cutting knives and thrusting weapons, this street is a thriving community today, often nicknamed as “Vienna’s public lounge”. 

Next to local cafés such as Alt Wien coffee roastery, Lisboa Lounge, Vollpension (a quirky concept café) are numerous independent galleries, bookshops, Bobby’s England shop and various al fresco restaurants. My favourite is Pinsatore which serves traditional Italian Pinsen, a very thin and mega crispy, yet flavoursome pizza. 

Day 4 Vienna Itinerary

Step back into Vienna’s imperial past and explore Palace Schönbrunn. Not only is the palace worth a look, but the extensive grounds are home to Vienna’s zoo and other attractions.

Day 4 Vienna Itinerary Morning

Today will be spent at Schönbrunn. I have cycled to the Imperial Palace many times and love seeing Vienna from a different perspective that way. I leave this up to you. After breakfast, you could rent a bike from your hotel, e.g. Hotel Daniel or get one from “Die Radstation” at the train station. Day rates for a city bike should come at around 15-20€. Alternatively, you can take the Underground to “Schönbrunn”. Take the U1 (Leopoldau) and change at Karlsplatz into U4 (Hietzing). 

Palace Schönbrunn is on the westside of Vienna and lies outside of the city centre. It is worth the trip as there is much to do and see there and explore its extensive grounds. 

Palace Schönbrunn Tour

Come early, as the palace is Vienna’s top attraction and it will be well visited. There are a couple of different tours on offer. Some tours only cover a few rooms and then require you to “upgrade” if you’d like to continue and see more of it. 

I like that the tours offer you flexibility and you’re not coerced into a full tour. On my first visit, I opted for the Imperial Tour, a rather small tour covering 22 rooms including the state rooms and private bedrooms of the monarchs. For me, this was plenty to see and to be honest, the rooms were a bit bland and repetitive after a while. You’ll be given an audio guide too so you can guide yourself around the Palace. 

Time: 90 minutes
Costs: 22€ adult ticket

Day 4 Vienna Itinerary Lunch

Schönbrunn Gardens

The Palace is always worth a visit. Last but not least, because of its spacious and impressive gardens. There are countless shaded alleyways, pavilions, fountains, rose bushes, hedges and even a labyrinth to admire. Strolling around the grounds will make you feel grand, too. It’s a very relaxing activity. When you feel ready, tackle the slopes ascending to the Gloriette. Gorgeous views over the Palace and the city, as well as a well deserved cup of coffee, await you on top. Secure a spot on one of the benches and take in the views.   

Time: easily 2h
Costs: free

Day 4 Vienna Itinerary Afternoon

Alternative 1: Palm House

At the west side of the Schönbrunn grounds is a palm house. Opened in 1882 with a total space of 2,500m² it used to be the biggest greenhouse in the world. The construction consists mainly of steel and glass that needed regular restorations throughout its history. Taken under monumental protection in 2011, the palm house received its latest restoration. Today, it is very well preserved and made of three houses. Each house, or section, has a separate temperature to accommodate the exotic plants inside. The average temperature is 18°C and the lowest is 6°C.

If you’re a fan of rare plants, palms and intricate 19th century gardening architecture, this is a magical place for you. There are also benches for you to sit, admire and ponder about life. It’s a lovely atmosphere and I enjoyed this very much. 

Time: 1h
Costs: 7€ adult ticket   

Alternative 2: Vienna Zoo

Opened in 1752 and now a UNESCO world heritage site, the Vienna Zoo is another option to spend your time when in Schönbrunn. The enclosures are spacious and generously laid out. See Koalas, Giant Pandas, Ice Bears and wolves whilst walking around a manicured and neat park design. I loved spending time here and there’s even a treetop walk. 

Book your tickets online to avoid the queues at the entrance. Online tickets are not dated to a specific day so you have more flexibility for your visit. Although once inside, you won’t be able to go out and come back again. 

Time: 3-4h
Costs: 26€ adult ticket

Alternative 3: Strudelshow at Café Residenz

In the basement of Café Residenz is the imperial bakery and kitchen. The traditional cross rib vault kitchen is the domain of Head Confectioner Michael. He’ll run the Strudelshow a couple of times in the morning and early afternoon, which introduces you to the art of apple strudel making within 30 minutes. 

Michael makes apple strudel baking look so easy, but it’s his highly entertaining and engaging demonstrations that make the Strudelshow so enjoyable.

If you have more time in Vienna, definitely take part in the baking course. In a small group, you’ll learn the craft of apple strudel making and perfecting dough stretching skills. During the 3h course there’s not just food on end, but a casual atmosphere and lots of fun, too. Plus you’ll go home as a certified Viennese Apple Strudel Confectioner. The course runs mostly on a Friday, so do check on their website and request your space beforehand. 

Time: 30 minutes Strudelshow, 3h Baking Course
Costs: 14€ including coffee and a slice of apple strudel, 75€ Baking Course

Alternative things to do alone in Vienna for Day 4: start your day with a performance at the Spanish Riding School and view the stables afterwards. Leave Schönbrunn Palace for the afternoon, but note it might be very busy then to do a tour inside the palace. You can still stroll around its grounds, visit the zoo or the palm house.

Maybe Not: Vienna Activities to Skip

Reflecting on previous visits, some experiences stood out to me, which didn’t do it for me. This is my personal opinion and you can, of course, give them a go and decide for yourself.

Spanish Riding School & Stables

The 1h performance cost around 60€ and if you’re unlucky, you’ll be seated at the top, meaning you have to lean slightly over the balustrade to see anything. I personally didn’t get much out of this experience. I’m not into dressage and I’m open to understanding it, yet I questioned its practice and ethics many times. The following 1h guided tour around the stables was equally disappointing. The guide was disengaged and it felt like she hadn’t prepared herself well. The generic information were limited and poorly presented. I found it too basic overall and I felt I had learnt zero about the tradition, the upkeep ect. It was an experience that didn’t give me anything, so may as well invest those 2h into another Viennese activity. I have still listed the performance & stable in this 4 Day Vienna itinerary, as I’m aware that the tradition is a huge pull, especially to horse lovers.

Haus des Meeres (House of the Ocean)

This is a privatised aquarium on Gumpendorfer Straße. The concept is quirky as the aquarium is located within a historic Flak Tower, one of Vienna’s six remaining defence towers. Built for protection during the war and made from reinforced concrete, this is basically a high tier bunker facility. This in itself is impressive to pay attention to when you walk around in Vienna. Now home to a privatised aquarium, I was not a fan. The tickets were expensive, staff unfriendly, the enclosures way too small, forbidden signs left right and centre front, the aquariums very lifeless and not attractively designed. It felt like a rip off. Instead save your 20€ and visit the Zoo in Schönbrunn instead.

Some Popular Restaurants

I’ve had a few disappointing dining experiences. I was not impressed by restaurants Fratelli and Figlmüller; especially the latter is a bit of a tourist trap. Unfriendly waiters, long waiting times, Schnitzel are massive yet they come without any side dishes and those needed to be ordered and paid extra for. No thanks! In-Dish, a supposed “upscale” Indian was far from high quality. My Chicken Tikka Masala was extremely dry and full of onions. NEXT!

Vienna Airport to City Centre Transfer

Getting into town from the airport via public transport is swift, easy and straightforward. Here are your options:

By Bus: the bus terminal is very well signposted. The signs will automatically lead you out of the terminal. Bus stop 7 will take you directly to Vienna main station (Hauptbahnhof) or to Vienna West Station. A return within a month costs 13€. Alternatively you could use a SlovakLine or Regiojet service coming from Bratislava as it’ll cost you 2€ but will need to be booked in advance and the service is not running frequently. 

By Train: Vienna main station (Hauptbahnhof) is not Vienna Central (Mitte). There is confusion and the direct airport train CAT at 16€ goes to Vienna Mitte (Central). If you need to catch a train to travel further to Prague, Bratislava or Budapest, you most likely have to go to Hauptbahnhof (main station). The direct train to Hauptbahnhof runs every 30 minutes and the ticket should cost 4.60€

If you stay in the Quartier Belvedere area, drop off your luggage and start exploring. A walk into central Vienna via the grounds of Palace Belvedere will take approximately 20-30 minutes. 

The Best Area To Stay In Vienna

Ever since my first visit to Vienna in 2018, I have been staying and returning to Quartier Belvedere, the best area to stay in Vienna. This area is located in walkable distance south of the city centre and offers many accommodation choices. 

Quartier Belvedere sits on the border to Vienna’s lively District 4 (Wieden) and District 10 (Favoriten). The area is a newly developed square with cafés, restaurants, hotels and parks. Next door is the main station (Hauptbahnhof) for easy access to the airport and organising day trips. Tramline D goes straight to the city centre and you can also use U1 from Hauptbahnhof and Tram 18 goes to Westbahnhof. From Quartier Belvedere there’s also the S1- S4 which take you to Prater in just three stops and Vienna Mitte (central) in two. 

Hotels in Vienna near Quartier Belvedere:

Budget: Prizotel, Ibis, Novotel

Mid-tier: Hotel Daniel, Hotel Shani

Luxury: Moons

Apartment Hotels: Adina (5 Star), JOYN (4 Star), Smartments (3 Star) 

FAQs about the 4 Day Vienna Itinerary for First Time Visitors

I understand this is quite a lengthy post and you may have some quick questions about the 4 Day Vienna itinerary for first time visitors. You can, of course, always come back to any section of my post and read in more detail what you’d need for your trip. If you have questions or need help, please get in touch and I’m happy to assist.

How many days do you need in Vienna?

If you’re visiting Vienna for the first time, I would suggest staying for 4 days. This will give you enough opportunity to try out a variety of activities and see if its vibe is compatible with you. Vienna has a very high standard of living and I would describe its character as sophisticated & intellectual without coming across as pretentious.

Are there many things to do alone in Vienna and is the city solo travel friendly?

A clear yes. Vienna is friendly to solo travellers and there are many things to do alone, such as hiking, exploring the historic Inner City or hopping around the many coffee houses. Culturally you have tons of museums, the Mozart concerts or the Imperial Palaces such as Hofburg & Schönbrunn. In the summer, you can also do a wine tour around its many vineyards, take a spin on the Prater or do a day trip to nearby Bratislava. Each of the 23 districts have their own character and are also worth exploring, my favourites are Wieden (District 4), Ottakring (District 8) and Favoriten (District 10).

When’s a good time to visit Vienna for the first time?

I’ve only ever been to Vienna during the summer & autumn so I can only comment on this time of the year. I hear the Viennese Christmas Markets and celebrating New Year’s in Vienna are magical but I prefer the warmer temps. Plus there’s more time to explore due to the extended daylight hours. Prater amusement park is way more fun when the weather is warm and you can enjoy being outside.

Thanks so much for reading. If you’ve enjoyed my 4 Day Vienna Itinerary for First Time Visitors and would like to support my blog & research, you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee.

Till next time,

Carolin

You may also enjoy reading:

• How Authentic are Coffee Houses in Vienna Today?
• 6 Quick & Easy Day Trips from Vienna by Train
• Local, Unusual, Underrated: The City Hiking Trails Vienna 
• Tales from My Epic Summer Baltics Tour & Finland Trip
• Ultimate Travel Guide with 30 Things to do in Antwerp
• Coming soon: Test living in Quartier Belvedere
• Big Travel Guide to Brunch & Modern Cafes in Vienna
• A Complete Brussels 3 Day Itinerary For First Time Visitors
• My Ultimate Eastern Europe Itinerary around the Danube Region