Top 10 things to do in Vienna, Austria: A first-hand guide to the city of music

Fresh off my visit to Vienna, I’m sharing my top picks for the must-see sights and hidden gems to make the most of your trip in Austria’s capital.

Home to Mozart, Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud, Austria’s capital is a beautifully artistic city, influenced by its famed residents. My visit felt like a dream filled with fantasy-like palaces, gothic architecture, and so much art. I was instantly charmed and envious of the slower pace of life, watching people taking catnaps, reading on park benches and enjoying their drinks in the sun. I’m already thinking of going back (though I’m dreading the long-haul flight). Curious about my favourite things to do in Vienna? I’ve narrowed it down to a cool top 10.

My top 10 things to do in Vienna

1. Bask in fine art at the Belvedere Museum

With a multitude of gorgeous palaces in Vienna, you’re spoiled for choice. Everyone’s top pick would be Schonbrunn Palace, which is the must-see attraction for any first-time visitor. The UNESCO World Heritage site is on every website’s recommendation list. However, I took the road less travelled and opted for the Belvedere Museum instead.

While smaller and perhaps less grand than Schonbrunn Palace, the Belvedere Museum has my heart thanks to its art gallery. It houses masterpieces by artists like Gustav Klimt, Vincent Van Gogh, Egon Schiele, and more. The highlight of my visit was seeing Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” in all its glory (pictured top right). And I won’t lie, I almost cried.

I’d suggest booking your tickets online because it’s slightly cheaper. Start your visit at the Upper Belvedere, where The Kiss is housed. No re-entry is allowed, so make sure you get all your pictures taken before walking through the gardens to Lower Belvedere for other works like Judith and the Portrait of a Lady, which is so incredibly detailed you’d think it’s a photograph.

Price: Tickets start from $28.80 (€19.50), children under 19 enter for free
Opening hours: Daily, 9am to 6pm (Upper Belvedere); Daily, 10am to 6pm (Lower Belvedere)
Address: Belvedere Museum, Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, 1030 Vienna, Austria

2. Ride rollercoasters at Prater

An amusement park with free entry? Yes, it exists in Vienna. I’ll be honest, my fellow travellers and I had low expectations of Prater before we visited. We imagined an older, perhaps slightly rundown amusement park with rickety rides and dubious safety protocols. Singaporeans who used to frequent Escape Theme Park, you’ll know what I’m picturing.

So imagine our surprise when we were greeted with wildly vibrant colours and a lively crowd. Far from our pessimistic imaginations, Prater blows any theme park I’ve visited out of the water. It’s huge and took me 30 minutes of speed walking to get a glimpse of almost everything.

Prater follows a pay-to-ride system, so you only have to pay for the rides you take. While it was crowded during my visit, most of the rides didn’t have long queues. If you’re particular about crowds, you can check the live webcams on Prater’s website before heading down.

Price: Free entry, ride prices start from $7.40 (€5)
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours; individual rides open at various hours, and most are closed during winter
Address: Prater, Riesenradplatz 2, 1020 Vienna, Austria

3. Catch the Light of Creation light show

I’ve never entered a church after 9.30pm until I visited Vienna, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. I was treated to a showing of the Light of Creation, an immersive light show hosted within Votive Church – the second-tallest church in Vienna! As I walked in, the church was illuminated with ambient lighting to set the mood.

Witnessing the use of modern technology within a historical space was awe-inspiring. It combines innovative lighting effects and immersive music, which left me mesmerised. I highly recommend not using your phone during the show. Take one or two videos to remember the moment, but the best experience is to sit back and take it all in. It might have been the most magical 30 minutes of my life.

Price: Tickets start from $32.50 (€22) for restricted views
Opening hours: Daily, shows start at 9.30pm
Address: Light of Creation, Votive Church, Rooseveltplatz, 1090 Vienna, Austria

4. Tour the Wien Museum for free

It’s hard to believe that this huge permanent exhibition in the Wien Museum is free because there’s so much to see. Titled “Vienna. My History”, the exhibition spans three levels across the museum, with over 1,700 artefacts on display. I took a private tour with my travel companions, which I highly recommend if you’re in Vienna with a group of friends or family.

As we strolled through the museum, our guide Mario passionately explained everything, expertly guiding us through the timeline of Vienna’s development. We were enthralled browsing statues that came straight out of churches, immaculately preserved paintings, maps, and even a collection of weapons. It’s easy to spend a whole day there, especially if you’re a history buff!

Price: Free entry for the permanent exhibition
Opening hours: Tuesday to Wednesday, 9am to 6pm; Thursday, 9am to 9pm; Friday, 9am to 6pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm
Address: Wien Museum, Karlsplatz 8, 1040 Vienna, Austria

5. Hike through the vineyards of Vienna

If you visit Austria in summer, add a trip to the city’s vineyards to your list of things to do in Vienna. It’s only a convenient bus ride away from the city! After arriving at the bus stop, I followed my guide Caroline through the lush vineyards and spotted people lying in the grass, sunbathing, napping, and reading. What a vibe.

After a 30-minute hike, we were rewarded with lunch at a buschenschank – aka a wine tavern. Situated amidst its vineyards, our lunch at Wieninger am Nussberg featured traditional Viennese delicacies. I indulged in wonderfully toasted bread with spreads, charcuterie, and cheeses washed down with wine, great conversations, and spectacular views. I would honestly do this every day if I could.

Price: Wines start from $39 (€26.40) a bottle
Opening hours: Seasonal opening hours
Address: Wieninger am Nussberg, Eichelhofweg 125, 1190 Wien, Austria

6. Admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral

With its unique architecture and impressive height, I couldn’t resist looking out for St. Stephen’s Cathedral when I made it to the city centre. Thankfully, as the tallest church in Vienna, it wasn’t difficult to find. After basking in its gothic architecture, I was lucky enough to witness the beginnings of a mass and listen to the bells toll.

As the cathedral functions as a place of worship, I recommend visiting the website to check the event schedule, as some choir and organ practices may disrupt visiting hours. Besides guided tours within the cathedral, you can get tickets to enter the catacombs, walk up the south tower of the cathedral for stunning views of the city, or book an evening tour on the roof.

Price: Free entry to the main foyer, ticketed tours available
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 6am to 10pm; Sunday, 7am – 10pm
Address: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Wien, Austria

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7. Have schnitzel at Skopik & Lohn

If you’re in the mood to be elegant and edgy with a wine glass in hand, Michelin Guide-featured Skopik & Lohn is your answer. By the time I arrived for dinner with a group at about 7pm, the alfresco tables were already filled with diners.. Fun fact: most buildings in Vienna don’t have air conditioning, so sitting inside Skopik & Lohn was a bit stuffy, but it kept me warm from the chilly night air. I’d recommend sitting outside if you enjoy a night breeze.

The menu is kept slim with just 12 items – and yes, my table ordered one of everything! The wiener schnitzel is the signature here. For anyone unfamiliar with this dish, it’s veal (meat from a calf) pounded out thin and fried, typically served with a side of potato salad and jam. Skopik & Lohn’s version was flavourful with a subtle gamey taste without being greasy. I also devoured the vitello tonnato (pink veal with a cream sauce), and it’s one for the adventurous eaters since cold and slightly raw meat isn’t for everyone. Other options include the rainbow trout and chicken with a gochujang glaze, which were all delicious. Safe to say, the plates were wiped clean.

Price: Schnitzel starts from $39.90 (€27), other dishes start from $20.70 (€14)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm to 12am
Address: Skopik & Lohn, Leopoldsgasse 17, 1020 Wien, Austria

8. Get to know Vienna with Rebel Tours

Nothing beats a walking tour when you’re meeting a city for the first time, and the team at Rebel Tours offers an experience like no other. Our guide, Basti, set us off to roam the neighbourhood around our hotel. I thought I’d have an information overload, but the way Rebel Tours conducts its sessions surprised me.

As I learned nuggets of information about Vienna, Basti hosted the tour as if he were an old friend showing off his stomping grounds. Learning moments were broken up with idle conversations about travel plans, curious questions, and even a moment where he showed me a video of his daughter. Before I knew it, the 2.5-hour tour came to an end, and I had been introduced to more nooks and crannies in Vienna than I would have on my own. It’s a fantastic way to start your trip, I’d say.

Price: Private tours start from $375.50 (€250), drop-in tours start from $45 (€30)
Opening hours: Various hours
Address: Rebel Tours, multiple locations around Vienna

9. Delve into the Heidi Horten Collection

For lovers of Pablo Picasso, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and more, put the Heidi Horten Collection on your must-visit list. After years of dedicated collecting and meticulous curating, Austrian philanthropist and art collector Heidi Goess-Horten created this museum to showcase her collection publicly and champion arts education. I got a private tour before the museum opened for the day, and soaked in the diverse works of art from classical modernism to contemporary.

The thing that struck me the most? An entire exhibit space dedicated to the museum’s historical responsibility. It’s three walls covered in text, acknowledging how the founder’s husband used exploitation and violence to acquire his wealth. For transparency and recognition of this, the museum’s activities centre around current socio-political developments, engaging the public on topics like democracy, tolerance, and diversity. As someone who values accountability, especially in establishments, this museum visit now holds a special place in my heart.

Price: Tickets start from $24 (€16), children under 19 years old enter for free
Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday, 11am to 7pm; Thursday, 11am to 9pm; Friday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm; closed on Tuesdays
Address: Heidi Horten Collection, Hanuschgasse 3, 1010 Wien, Austria

10. Sigmund Freud Museum

A trip to Vienna feels incomplete without a visit to the Sigmund Freud Museum to learn about the inventor of psychoanalysis. Fun fact: the museum’s location is actually where the man lived and worked for nearly 50 years! I’d recommend lowering your expectations when visiting, though.

Over the years of restoration and maintenance, a lot of the original interior no longer exists. However, some elements of his work, his workspace, and his private quarters have been preserved and are on display. There are tons of things to read, so come prepared with comfy shoes. I’d also recommend picking something up from the gift shop, some of the postcards are hilarious.

Price: Tickets start from $22.50 (€15), children under 12 years old enter for free
Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 7pm
Address: Sigmund Freud Museum, Berggasse 19, 1090 Wien, Austria

And that’s my top 10 recommendations on things to do in Vienna! I’m already planning my next trip there in my head, don’t tell my wallet.

How to get to Vienna from Singapore

Multiple flights are available from Singapore to Vienna. However, Scoot is the only airline offering direct flights, while others include one or two layovers with varying flight durations:

• Scoot: 12-hour flight, prices start from $660
• Turkish Airlines: 17.5-hour flight, prices start from $862
• Qatar Airways: 17-hour flight, prices start from $957
• Emirates: 18-hour flight, prices start from $1,016
• Lufthansa: 17-hour flight, $1,039
• Air China: 20-hour flight, prices start from $1,023
• Singapore Airlines: 16.5-hour flight, prices start from $1,276

How to get around Vienna

I’d consider Vienna a pretty walkable city, and navigation isn’t too difficult, as most places have English names you can search on Google Maps. Uber is available if you need private transportation. However, I found public transport reliable and easy to navigate.
I recommend downloading the Vienna City Card as it allows you to take the train, tram, and bus freely (no more fumbling with train tickets!). Plus, you get discounts on museums and tourist attractions, and the app helps identify landmarks near you.

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