My Top 5 things to do in Vienna Austria

This blog post was updated June 2024.

Let me just start this blog post by saying.. Vienna blew us away! We loved it even more than we thought and we would love to go back during Christmas time because we hear it is beautiful.

These are my top 5 things to do in Vienna Austria. A lot of these suggestions are food related because what can I say I love food! To me food and travel go hand in hand together.

Horse Carriage Ride Vienna Austria

In my opinion, there is no better way to explore this beautiful city than on one of these horse-drawn carriages. Here is a list where you can find them in the city:

• Stephansplatz (St. Stephen’s Cathedral)
• Michaelerplatz
• Albertinaplatz
• Petersplatz
• Burgtheater/Volksgarten

The short tour lasts approx. 20 minutes and takes you through the centre of the old city. The longer one lasts approx. 40 minutes and this one takes you through the Ringstrasse and the old city (this is the option we took).

There are also horse carriage rides at the Central Cemetery. The tour includes numerous memorial graves of prominent Viennese personalities like Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Hans Moser, Falco, Adolf Loos etc. If cemeteries don’t scare you this might be something to consider.

For an (even) more romantic experience, a company called Riding Dinner offers exclusive culinary horse carriage rides for 1 – 4 four people through the city centre. You can contact www.ridingdinner.com for more info or to make a booking. 

The Sacher Hotel Vienna

If you do one thing off this list then it is to eat Sacher torte in the magnificent Sacher hotel (opposite the magnificent Vienna State Opera) was simply delightful. The imperial decor of this hotel makes you feel like you have stepped back into time…

What is Sacher torte?

Sacher cake (torte) is a rich chocolate cake filled with a slither of apricot jam, covered with a dark chocolate glaze. Austrian Franz Sacher invented it in 1832 for Prince Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna and is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialities.

Vienna is famous for a variety of sweet treats (not just the Sacher torte) and here is a list below:

• Krapfen, a jam-filled doughnut sprinkled with sugar.
• Austrian strudel.
• Handmade Austrian chocolates
• Palatschinken (jam-filled crepes).
• Marillenknödel (apricot dumplings).
• Gugelhupf (bundt cake).

Where To Eat Wiener Schnitzel Vienna

Wiener schnitzel is veal coated and fried in breadcrumbs and in Vienna they normally serve it with a wedge of lemon and erdäpfelsalat – a type of potato salad made with white wine vinegar, a little bit of mustard, red onions, chives, and a dash of salt & pepper (no mayonnaise).

We ate Wiener schnitzel at Café Weimar which was only a 5 minutes walk from the hotel Atlanta where we stayed, and a few days later at Café Bistro Menagerie at the Belvedere Museum (palace). On this day we had another slice of Sacher torte, a tad different but we liked it as much as the one we had at the Sacher Hotel.

Belvedere Palace Vienna

Belvedere Palace (a baroque masterpiece) is a stunning example of early 18th-century architecture. Commissioned by Prince Eugene of Savoy, the palace complex comprises the Upper and Lower Belvedere, each with its own unique charm and grandeur.

The Upper Belvedere houses an extensive collection of Austrian art, including Gustav Klimt’s iconic “The Kiss,” while the Lower Belvedere offers insight into the opulent lifestyle of its former residents. Surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens and fountains, Belvedere Palace is not only a significant cultural landmark but also a serene oasis in the heart of the city.

Lower Belvedere Palace Vienna

In 1716 they completed this U-shaped palace at the southern end of the main Belvedere gardens. While the Lower Belvedere was a residence, they designed the Upper Belvedere for the purpose of prestige and display.

Be sure to check out the temporary art exhibitions, permanent medieval collection in the Prunkstall stable, the gorgeous interiors and a Baroque garden.

If you love visiting palaces I highly recommend the Hofburg Palace which is in the centre of the old city in Vienna.

Where to eat in Vienna

We had lunch at Jamie´s Italian (this restaurant has since closed down at the time of updating this post). This isn’t the typical Viennese experience, but I´m obsessed with Jamie Oliver´s recipes and simply could not pass up on the opportunity to eat in one of his restaurants.

Afternoon Tea Cafe Central Vienna

Visit one of Vienna’s oldest cafés called Café Central with its classic Viennese coffee house charm.

We tried two of their beautifully decorated cakes. The honey mousse cake I ordered was divine! Side note: there was a queue outside this café (as well as at the Sacher Hotel) but I think it definitely was worth it!

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