There's a lot to explore in Vienna, and consequently, it makes sense to have a bit of a strategy in terms of approaching it.
As the city is quiet walkable, staying anywhere approximately near St Stephan's will make most things quite accessible on foot.
There's a good argument for taking at least a semi-chronological approach as we've suggested here, to move forwards through time.
M U S E U M & S I T E B O O K I N G
If you really wish to avoid crowds around Klimt's 'Kiss' in the high season, it's best to ensure you pre-book a 10:00 slot, and arrive at 09:45 to get in the queue.
Ideally, you take a wonderful guide who will take you straight to this masterwork before everyone else makes their way up, and then you can work backwards on your way out.
S U G G E S T E D I T I N E R A R Y P O I N T S
DAY I
Medieval & Baroque
Starting with an introductory city walk, it makes sense to cover some of the essential highlights starting at Albertina Platz. From here, you’ll see the famous Hotel Sacher, the Hofburg, walk through the 13th century Swiss Gate, Josephsplatz, the Heldenplatz, Michaelerplatz, and the Adolf Loos house. You’ll also see a few impressive statues of the Hapsburg dynasty along the way.
All of these places come with wilder stories than you probably imagine from the outside, and any of our guides can bring them to life with plenty of wit and humour.
If you fancy, the Imperial Treasury is a spectacular repository of diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds the size of goose eggs, not to mention incredible historical costumes and Christian relics.
It’s worth considering booking lunch in one of Vienna’s grand cafés. Café Central is the most famous and obvious of these, but comes with enormous crowds of admiring visitors. Café Central is far from the only institution which will deliver the Vienna experience and then some, without the pressure of so many people, so there's no need to have your heart set on it.
After lunch, consider heading out to Schönbrunn palace in the afternoon for a massive dose of overwhelming baroque splendour before heading back to your hotel to relax in preparation for a dinner.
Your first one should probably include a Vienna Schitzel and a glass of Grüner Veltliner white wine. We'd suggest starting a bit more rustic, and then working your way up each day.
This is an ideal day to start off by visiting the Seccession Museum to visit Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze (and ignore the rest of the museum, ideally), before walking over to a Vienna Institution, the Naschmarkt to explore all the wonderful stalls, and ultimately pick one for lunch.
It should be mentioned that you’re heading to the Kunsthistorisches Museum next, and you would be absolutely well-served simply having lunch in its café, which is one of the most gorgeous settings you’ll find anywhere – the cake in the banner image on this page is from this very spot.
In the afternoon, make your way over to the Kunsthistorisches Museum to revel in the treasures of one of the greatest fine art collections in the world. Vermeer, Raphael, Bruegel, Caravaggio, and Arcimboldo are all focal points – and of course we recommend taking one of our guides with you to bring it all to life and remind you of just how bizarre Caravaggio actually was, amongst other things.
Afterwards, head back to your hotel, and get ready for another Viennese dinner.
There’s absolutely no shame in trying another Schnitzel, but this could also be an opportunity to try a Tafelspitz, or go for a more refined evening, and finish with a lovely cake, or freshly baked Buchtel sweet buns afterwards if in a café.
DAY III
Belvedere, loose ends, bathing in the glow of Vienna & some shopping.
Start the day early at the Belvedere. This is your chance to spend some time with the Klimt works, and certainly don't miss the fantastic pieces that the museum holds.
In particular, one of the five copies of Jaques Louis David’s original depiction of Napoleon Crossing the Alps is always a fun look at historical propaganda.
There is a wonderful café right nearby for a slice of cake and a coffee, or you could also head back to the Ringstrasse for more options for lunch. In the afternoon, it might be time to pick up on some of the city highlights which you’ve not yet covered – St Stephen’s, the Neuer Markt, and perhaps visiting the Imperial Hapsburg Crypt (Kapuzinergruft).
You'll probably be tempted to do some well-deserved shopping in any of the wonderful small shops in any of the nearby side streets. Vienna has incredible glasswork, vintage Seccession era jewelry and furniture, and it’s never a bad idea to pop in at the Dorotheum, the city’s most famous auction house.
Be forewarned though that if you do go to the Dorotheum, there is a relatively high risk of buying something which you’ll then need to ship home though.
Itinerary
Guides
M E E T Y O U R G U I D E
All of our guides can offer you a spectacular experience. As each person has a slightly different look at the world, due to their own unique interests and specialties, we'd encourage you to read a few profiles.
Gentleman at Large
M I C H A E L
Michael is a professional dilettante with oodles of savoir vivre. Now fully house trained and very courteous, he's been around the block a few times, making only the best mistakes. He is also an enthusiastic opera goer and mountain walker.
Sienna born British-francophone Gabriel has a backdrop of historical knowledge that would make a library blush. Mercifully, he also has a spectacular sense of humour about it.
As adept with a 14th century Gothic longsword as he is with providing razor-sharp cultural & historical analysis, Alexander has had a Highly Unusual life.
He has performed on MTV, and once hiked 14 kms of the Wild Great Wall of China through the mountains, including several 4m vertical climbs, wearing a white dress shirt and leather shoes, at night, with angry wildcats howling at him.
W E L C O M E TO TH E
G O O D L I F E
I N
V I E N N A
P L A N N I N G
There's a lot to explore in Vienna, and consequently, it makes sense to have a bit of a strategy in terms of approaching it.
As the city is quiet walkable, staying anywhere approximately near St Stephan's will make most things quite accessible on foot.
There's a good argument for taking at least a semi-chronological approach as we've suggested here, to move forwards through time.
M U S E U M & S I T E B O O K I N G
If you really wish to avoid crowds around Klimt's 'Kiss' in the high season, it's best to ensure you pre-book a 10:00 slot, and arrive at 09:45 to get in the queue.
Ideally, you take a wonderful guide who will take you straight to this masterwork before everyone else makes their way up, and then you can work backwards on your way out.
S U G G E S T E D I T I N E R A R Y P O I N T S
DAY I
Medieval & Baroque
Starting with an introductory city walk, it makes sense to cover some of the essential highlights starting at Albertina Platz. From here, you’ll see the famous Hotel Sacher, the Hofburg, walk through the 13th century Swiss Gate, Josephsplatz, the Heldenplatz, Michaelerplatz, and the Adolf Loos house. You’ll also see a few impressive statues of the Hapsburg dynasty along the way.
All of these places come with wilder stories than you probably imagine from the outside, and any of our guides can bring them to life with plenty of wit and humour.
If you fancy, the Imperial Treasury is a spectacular repository of diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds the size of goose eggs, not to mention incredible historical costumes and Christian relics.
It’s worth considering booking lunch in one of Vienna’s grand cafés. Café Central is the most famous and obvious of these, but comes with enormous crowds of admiring visitors. Café Central is far from the only institution which will deliver the Vienna experience and then some, without the pressure of so many people, so there's no need to have your heart set on it.
After lunch, consider heading out to Schönbrunn palace in the afternoon for a massive dose of overwhelming baroque splendour before heading back to your hotel to relax in preparation for a dinner.
Your first one should probably include a Vienna Schitzel and a glass of Grüner Veltliner white wine. We'd suggest starting a bit more rustic, and then working your way up each day.
DAY II
Seccession Building, Naschmarkt, Kunsthistorisches Museum.
This is an ideal day to start off by visiting the Seccession Museum to visit Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze (and ignore the rest of the museum, ideally), before walking over to a Vienna Institution, the Naschmarkt to explore all the wonderful stalls, and ultimately pick one for lunch.
It should be mentioned that you’re heading to the Kunsthistorisches Museum next, and you would be absolutely well-served simply having lunch in its café, which is one of the most gorgeous settings you’ll find anywhere – the cake in the banner image on this page is from this very spot.
In the afternoon, make your way over to the Kunsthistorisches Museum to revel in the treasures of one of the greatest fine art collections in the world. Vermeer, Raphael, Bruegel, Caravaggio, and Arcimboldo are all focal points – and of course we recommend taking one of our guides with you to bring it all to life and remind you of just how bizarre Caravaggio actually was, amongst other things.
Afterwards, head back to your hotel, and get ready for another Viennese dinner.
There’s absolutely no shame in trying another Schnitzel, but this could also be an opportunity to try a Tafelspitz, or go for a more refined evening, and finish with a lovely cake, or freshly baked Buchtel sweet buns afterwards if in a café.
DAY III
Belvedere, loose ends, bathing in the glow of Vienna & some shopping.
Start the day early at the Belvedere. This is your chance to spend some time with the Klimt works, and certainly don't miss the fantastic pieces that the museum holds.
In particular, one of the five copies of Jaques Louis David’s original depiction of Napoleon Crossing the Alps is always a fun look at historical propaganda.
There is a wonderful café right nearby for a slice of cake and a coffee, or you could also head back to the Ringstrasse for more options for lunch. In the afternoon, it might be time to pick up on some of the city highlights which you’ve not yet covered – St Stephen’s, the Neuer Markt, and perhaps visiting the Imperial Hapsburg Crypt (Kapuzinergruft).
You'll probably be tempted to do some well-deserved shopping in any of the wonderful small shops in any of the nearby side streets. Vienna has incredible glasswork, vintage Seccession era jewelry and furniture, and it’s never a bad idea to pop in at the Dorotheum, the city’s most famous auction house.
Be forewarned though that if you do go to the Dorotheum, there is a relatively high risk of buying something which you’ll then need to ship home though.
M E E T Y O U R G U I D E
All of our guides can offer you a spectacular experience. As each person has a slightly different look at the world, due to their own unique interests and specialties, we'd encourage you to read a few profiles.
Gentleman at Large
M I C H A E L
Michael is a professional dilettante with oodles of savoir vivre. Now fully house trained and very courteous, he's been around the block a few times, making only the best mistakes. He is also an enthusiastic opera goer and mountain walker.
Masterful Multi-Destination Wizard
G A B R I E L
Sienna born British-francophone Gabriel has a backdrop of historical knowledge that would make a library blush. Mercifully, he also has a spectacular sense of humour about it.
Sophisticated Globetrotter
A L E X A N D E R
As adept with a 14th century Gothic longsword as he is with providing razor-sharp cultural & historical analysis, Alexander has had a Highly Unusual life.
He has performed on MTV, and once hiked 14 kms of the Wild Great Wall of China through the mountains, including several 4m vertical climbs, wearing a white dress shirt and leather shoes, at night, with angry wildcats howling at him.