Planning to spend 2 days in Vienna, Austria, and looking to see as much as possible? There are so many things to see in Vienna on a weekend. This 2-day itinerary will help you make the most out of your stay in the city.
Vienna is a fascinating city and one that is overflowing with grand, lavishly decorated palaces, picturesque parks, and gardens, splendid statues and fountains, and museums with rooms full of historical and royal artifacts.
It’s not only the sights that attract visitors to Vienna, but the food is also world-famous too. From mouthwatering schnitzel to delectable chocolate cakes and pastries served in traditional cafes and delightful restaurants, it’s no wonder that people flock there to try the delicacies on offer.
There are many places to explore, so here is a guide to help you spend two days in Vienna.
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Table of Contents
Two days in Vienna: Where to stay?
Hilton Vienna Plaza: It is a stylish, modern hotel with an outdoor terrace, a restaurant, and a bar. I stayed here and can recommend it for its location, it isn’t far from local attractions, so you can easily explore. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Ibis Wien Hauptbahnhof: The Ibis is great value for money and it’s in the perfect place for walking to the city’s landmarks. It’s a new hotel, but already it has some very good reviews. It’s modern and clean and they serve a great breakfast. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
NH Collection Wien Zentrum: This modern hotel has tasteful decor and spacious rooms with views over the city. There is a lovely roof terrace to enjoy a tasty breakfast and there are many restaurants, shops, and museums nearby. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
Hotel Sacher Wien: Lavishly decorated throughout, the Hotel Sacher is comfortable with elegant furniture, antiques, and paintings. It’s like stepping back in time. A top-quality hotel that serves typical Viennese cuisine. Click here for more information and to check the latest prices.
How to spend 2 days in Vienna, a Detailed Itinerary
The Vienna Go City Pass
A good way to save time and money is to invest in a Vienna Pass. With the pass, you can save up to 50% on the top Vienna attractions.
The Vienna Pass is all-inclusive and provides access to popular attractions, like:
- Guided Tour of Schönbrunn Palace
- Big Bus Tour Vienna 1-Day Tour
- Empress Sisi Walking Tour, Hofburg, and Imperial Apartments
- Giant Ferris Wheel
- Spanish Riding School
- Classical Concert at House of Music
- MAK – Museum of Applied Arts and more
Click here for more information and to book your Vienna Pass.
Vienna in 2 days: Day One
Rathaus
The Rathaus is the Rathausplatz’s most striking feature with 5 towers, which reach skyward, many arched, stained glass windows, and a large clock on the central tower. It’s a splendid example of the Neo-Gothic style. The Rathaus is host to many festivities and celebrations like the Vienna Festival, and there are free guided tours available if you want to explore inside.
Austrian Parliament Building
The spectacular parliament building is a sight to behold and it’s one of Vienna’s most visited attractions. Guided tours are available to explore the beautifully designed interior, complete with chandeliers, pillars, and walls of marble, and statues of Greek gods which are true works of art.
Albertina Museum
Take a self-guided tour around the Albertina to see over 65,000 drawings, photography, and old master’s paintings. Satisfy your art craving and wander the halls among impressive exhibitions and beautiful artwork from Picasso to Monet. An interesting museum with plenty of information about the exhibits.
Click here to buy your skip-the-line Tickets.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
The largest art museum in the country houses a collection of paintings, from the Habsburg era, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman relics, all beautifully displayed with sofas to sit and wonder at the masterpieces.
Click here to buy your skip-the-line tickets.
Museumsquartier
The Museum Quarter is the place to go for art and it’s a fabulous day out for everyone. The architecture of the Baroque-style buildings is magnificent and there are many cafes and gardens to spend a relaxing few hours. Visit the Leopold Museum for a fascinating collection of Austrian art, or the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art) the largest of its kind in Europe.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St Stephen’s cathedral is one of Vienna’s most recognized attractions and it can be seen for miles around. You can climb to the top for views out over the city, or take a tour down into the crypt for an interesting delve into the past.
If you’re at all interested in architecture, you’ll be amazed by this Gothic masterpiece. There are cafes and restaurants around the cathedral if you want to sit and gaze at the grandiosity while you enjoy a refreshing drink.
Hofburg Palace
The former imperial palace, but now home to the Austrian president, Hofburg Palace is where to go for a fascinating insight into the royal family and the way they lived in this magnificent dwelling. The Sisi Museum has a wonderful collection of the Austrian empress’s belongings throughout her life until her early demise.
The Imperial Apartments are sumptuously decorated and they give an idea of the luxury that the family indulged in, as does the impressive silver collection on display. The palace can get very crowded, so if you don’t want to go in, it’s just as pleasant to sit in the courtyard or enjoy the view of the palace from the gardens.
Click here to buy your tickets for the Imperial Treasury in the Hofburg Palace.
Vienna State Opera
The grand state opera house is worth a visit for the guided tours to gain access backstage and stand where the orchestra sits, as well as learn about the history from the knowledgeable guides. The inside of the opera house is opulently decorated with wall paintings, statues, and staircases of marble.
But if it’s entertainment you’ve come for, you won’t be disappointed with a variety of opera and ballet performances and, if you’re happy to stand, they offer cheap tickets available 80 minutes before each concert. For more information click here.
A great alternative to the opera is:
Vienna Mozart Concert at the Golden Hall
Vienna in 2 days: Day Two
Schönbrunn Palace
Another imperial residence of monarchs of old, Schonbrunn Palace is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture. Inside there are staterooms and apartments typical of the 18th-century lifestyles of royalty.
Outside there are extensive grounds with fountains and a botanical garden, a maze to wander through, and, at certain times of the year, the flowers in bloom are a sight to see.
Audio guides are available to discover the history of the building and gardens, and there’s a cafe that sells the most delicious strudel and coffee.
Click here for more information and to book your skip-the-line guided tour.
Belvedere Museum
Located in the southeast of the city is the Belvedere Museum, an impressive structure in itself, but the gardens alone are worth the trip for the fountains and waterfalls, sculptures, and iron gates and they are a peaceful place to enjoy your surroundings. There are two Baroque palaces that house a spectacular collection of artwork including a varied and stunning exhibit by Gustav Klimt.
Click here for more information and to buy your tickets to Belvedere Museum.
Naschmarkt
In the heart of the city is Naschmarkt, a colourful landmark of Vienna, right in the heart of the city. There are over 100 stalls selling a wonderful range of meats, cheeses, herbs, spices and much more. It’s an amazing atmosphere, busy with locals and tourists shopping for groceries, or just strolling through and tasting what’s on offer.
There are cafes and restaurants there, if you want to sit back and take a break from the hustle and bustle. Every Saturday there is a flea market which sells anything from records to clothes.
City River Cruise
What better way to see Vienna than a river cruise. After exploring the city on land, a river cruise will give you a different perspective and you can enjoy the sights from the water. Into the evening, as the boat leisurely glides along the Danube, see the city come alive with twinkling lights, their reflections dancing in the water, as you enjoy dinner and traditional music. It’s a romantic way to see the city and a perfect way to end the perfect day.
Click here for more information and to book an evening cruise along the Danube
Two Days in Vienna: Where to Eat?
Figlmüller: Figlmüller is famous for its cuisine and the restaurant is often known as the “home of the schnitzel,” because this particular dish is not only huge, but truly mouthwatering. It can get very crowded, so it’s best to book in advance. For more information click here.
Augustinerkeller: The rooms at Augustinerkeller are large, but they are warm and cosy creating an inviting atmosphere to enjoy their range of delicious food and drinks; everything from soups and salads to desserts. For more information click here.
Hotel Sacher: If you’re looking for an authentic Viennese experience, try Hotel Sacher, a beautiful restaurant with a gorgeous dining room of greens and reds, panelled walls and chandeliers. The atmosphere is delightful and the sumptuous food is simply delicious. Treat yourself to a slice of Original Sacher-Torte; the hotel alone knows the recipe for this divine piece of chocolate heaven. For more information click here.
Cafe Demel: It is one of Vienna’s oldest coffee shops, known for making some of the best pastries in the city. Not only do they have a superb selection of cakes, but the staff are very helpful and you can watch the chefs at work while they create the delicious chocolatey treats. It’s advisable to reserve a table because it gets extremely busy. For more information click here.
Practical Information for your 2 day Vienna Itinerary
When is the best time to visit Vienna
April-May and September-October are the best times to visit Vienna in terms of mild weather and fewer crowds as June-August gets very crowded with high accommodation prices to go with the high temperatures which hit 27c, June-July also being the two wettest months of the year.
Spring is when the city is at its most beautiful with the flowers blooming and the Easter festivities along with the Genuss Festival in May which the foodies will be sure to want to visit and the start of the Vienna Festival also in May. Daytime temperatures in Spring hit highs of 15c with April dryer than May.
Autumn is also pleasant in terms of weather, the warm days lasting until early October, this also being the dryest month of the year though the chill of the wind can make you want to head indoors but that’s no bother with October being the Long Night Of The Museums.
Despite the cold of Winter (daytime highs hitting 4c), December is another popular time for tourists to visit Vienna due to the festivities with Christmas Markets, the start of the Winter Ball season, and Christmas lights everywhere, just don’t expect a white Christmas, the snow not usually arriving until January-February.
How to get to/ from Vienna International Airport
Bus: There are 2 main options when taking the bus. The Air-Liner Bus Service (airport shuttle) runs every 1-2 hours from the airport to the international bus terminal and the central rail station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) with a journey time of 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Vienna Airport Line (Postbus) has 3 services covering different areas of the city
VAL1: Airport > Westbahnhof station via Hauptbahnhof station. Every hour from 04.30-20.30.
VAL2: Airport > Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz 24/7 every 30 minutes
VAL3: Airport > Donauzentrum via Kagraner Brücke, Hotel NH Danube City, VIC/Kaisermühlen, Krieau (Messe Wien), and Donaumarina. Daily at 06.28, 08.28, 10.28, 12.28, 15.28, 17.28.
Duration: 15-40 minutes
Train: There is an express city airport train (CAT) that goes direct from the airport (platform 3 exclusively) to Wien Mitte station in 16 minutes every 30 minutes daily between 06.08-23.38 pm costing €12.
Another express train, the S7, also runs every 30 minutes from the airport stopping at Wien Mitte Station and Wien Praterstern Station. This train is cheaper at €4.20 with a journey time of 25 minutes and 30 minutes respectively, the first train leaving the airport at 05.18 and the last departing at 24.18 am.
If you need to reach Wien Meidling station you can take the slower commuter train, the ÖBB Railjet which also leaves every 30 minutes.
Duration: 16-30 minutes
Taxi: There is no flat fee for a taxi from the airport to the city, it depends on the distance and traffic congestion, determined by the meter with a surcharge for late night journeys.
Duration: 20 minutes
Private Transfer: Welcome Pickups can be booked online and has a flat rate fee with additional benefits such as the ability to book child seats and have your driver meet you outside arrivals. – Click here for more information and to book your transfer.
Duration: 20 minutes
How To Get Around Vienna
Vienna is a great city to walk around due to it being one of the best pedestrian-friendly cities in the world.
You can easily walk the Old Town which is inside the main ring road but to reach the outer districts which contain, amongst other things, the Schönbrunn palace and gardens, the Wienerwald (Vienna Woods), and the vineyards, public transport will likely be required whether you take the U-Bahn (metro) bus or tram.
You can also use the hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus which has tickets for unlimited 24 hours or 48-hour travel. This latter option is more expensive but you have the added benefit of knowing what you’re passing via audio commentary and a more direct route between tourist attractions.
There is so much to experience in this aristocratic city but with this guide, you will taste some of the best that Vienna has to offer, from world-class museums and palaces to chic cafes, all in 2 days’ time.