Things to do in Vienna

The pedestrianised central square of Stephansplatz has the Gothic church of Stephansdom at its centre. A visit to this medieval edifice is one of the best things to do in Vienna; you can pay extra to explore the interior section, which features masterpieces like the Wiener Neustadter Altar and the eerie catacombs.

One of Vienna’s prettiest little squares, Judenplatz lies northwest of Stephansdom. It marks the site of the medieval Jewish ghetto, where there’s a deliberately bleak-looking Holocaust Memorial. There are two museums worth your time here: the Museum Judenplatz houses the foundations of a 14th-century synagogue while the Judisches Museum focuses on Jewish tradition and culture. 

Pedestrianised Kärntnerstraße will see you entertained by street performers and illustrious shops. Along the way is Haus der Musik, a hugely enjoyable museum of sound. Nearby is upscale Graben, featuring an extremely ornate plague column built to commemorate the 1679 plague. 

Looking for one of the finer things to do in Vienna? The Belvedere Museum has you sorted. It’s one of Vienna’s finest palace complexes, with two magnificent Baroque mansions facing each other across a sloping formal garden. Each mansion houses incredible artworks and temporary exhibitions.

What to do in Vienna if you’re after something cultural? The highly ornate Hofburg palace houses most of Vienna’s key imperial sights: skip the dull Kaiserappartements for the more impressive Schatzkammer, where you’ll see some of the finest medieval craftsmanship and jewellery in Europe. There’s also the Vienna Boys’ Choir that you can listen to, and take in an extraordinary classical dressage performance from the Spanish Riding School.

The Ring and Rathausplatz is part of many Vienna holidays. The Ring is the large boulevard that encircles the Innere Stadt, with most of the buildings housing interesting museums (some lesser so). On the western section is the showpiece Rathausplatz, a square framed by four monumental public buildings: the Rathaus (City Hall), the Burgtheater, Parliament and the Universitat – all completed in the 1880s. 

Of all Vienna’s museums, the Kunsthistorisches Museum outshines them all. It’s one of the world’s greatest collections of Old Masters; there’s an unrivalled collection of 16th-century paintings by Brueghel the Elder, and Greco-Roman antiquities add breadth and variety. 

The Museumsquartier is accessible to all and is a highly memorable part of any trip to Vienna. The area houses a collection of museums and galleries in the old imperial stables, and is a popular hipster hangout - and you’ll probably want to join them, what with plenty of stylish outdoor seating, good cafes and an interesting calendar of events to enjoy.  

To sample Austrian wines on a scenic excursion, visit one of the wine-producing villages on Vienna’s outskirts. To the north of the Danube, Stammersdorf, just half an hour away from central Vienna, is surrounded by vineyards and filled with traditional, family-run Heurigen (wine taverns).

The imperial summer palace that is Schonbrunn isn’t too dissimilar from Versailles in France. Here, you can visit the palace rooms (Prunkaume), where short and longer tours are available - it gets busy in the summer, so best to book your ticket in advance. Aside from the palace rooms, there’s the splendid Schlosspark (free) and the city’s excellent Tiergarten or zoo (€18.50).