2 Days in Vienna – A Perfect Two-Day Vienna Itinerary
Vienna is Katharina’s hometown and a city we have visited several times over the last couple of years. So after spending so much time there, we thought it was time to write how to spend the perfect 2 days in Vienna.
With nearly 2.9 million inhabitants, Vienna is Austria’s cultural and economic hub. It has been an important city in Europe for hundreds of years. So it is full of history and beautiful historical buildings.
Unfortunately, Vienna is not a cheap city so traveling there can be expensive. But if you follow our guide you can see all the best sights in 2 days in Vienna without blowing your budget.
Day One In Vienna
Free Walking Tour
I always recommend starting off exploring any city with a free walking tour. Going on a free walking tour is a great way to learn some interesting facts and see the main sights at a low price.
The tours are not free and you will need to tip the guide what you think the tour is worth.
But even with the tip, it is always a cheap option considering what you get out of the tour.
Sandemans has a very good walking tour that you can book here. The tour takes two hours and will finish at St Stephan’s Cathedral.
If you decide to do the walking tour you will pass many of the sights on the itinerary. But I think that walking past them with a guide will give you a much better experience than exploring by yourself.
But if you do not feel like doing the walking tour simply follow the sights on the list and create your own walking tour.
1. Explore St Stephans Cathedral Vienna’s Most Famous Church
St Stephans Cathedral is one of the most famous and beautiful buildings in Vienna. It is a great spot to start your 2 days in Vienna because it is right in the center of town.
At 136 meters St Stephans is the tallest church in Austria and was the tallest building in Vienna for hundreds of years. A church has been in this location since 1137. Although the church looks much different than it did back in the 1100s.
The gothic design of St Stephans is beautiful and I really liked the coloured tiling on the roof which made it different to other churches around Europe.
It is free to go inside St Stephans and have a look around. To be honest it is not the most beautiful church from the inside. But it is still worth going inside.
If you would like a more in-depth look at the inside of St Stephans you can pay to enter different sections of the church or take tours.
There is a catacombs where you can see the bones of people from hundreds of years ago. You can also climb up the towers of the church for a unique view over Vienna.
You can find more information on ticket prices for different sections of the church here.
2. Walk Vienna’s Beautiful Shopping Streets
After visiting St Stephens you can take a walk down the Graben and Kohlmarkt to the Hofburg. These are some of the oldest and most beautiful shopping streets in Vienna.
This is one of my favorite walks in Vienna and it has some of the most impressive architecture in the whole city.
The Graben has been a main street in Vienna for hundreds of years. Today the street is lined with restaurants and high-end stores.
So it is a great place to go shopping or just to look at the beautiful architecture.
Part-way along the Graben you will see St Peters Church. It is an unremarkable-looking church from the outside. But the interior is beautiful and free to enter.
I am not usually a fan of looking inside churches. But St Peters is beautiful and will only take 5 minutes of your time to have a look inside.
Outside the church, there are also always horses waiting for rides to take photos of!
At the end of the Graben if you take a left you will walk down Kohlmarkt. This is another historic street that has many high-end retailers.
So it is not a place to go shopping, as I assume no Gucci fans read our blog! But it is a beautiful area to walk through.
At the end of the Kohlmarkt, you will reach Michaelerplatz. This is a small square surrounded by more beautiful buildings.
At the time of writing this, August 2024 Michaelerplatz was undergoing renovation. So hopefully that will be completed soon.
3. The Hofburg
After Michaelerplatz a tunnel will take you past the Sisi Museum. This museum is full of old royal artifacts from Viennas history and is the first part of the Hofburg.
The Hofburg is a sprawling former palace of the Hapsburg empire that is now the official home of the President of Austria.
It is an enormous complex that contains multiple museums and the famous Spanish Riding School.
The Sisi Museum is very popular and great if you are interested in the history of Austria. But if not it is an awesome place to just admire the architecture.
4. Museums Quarter
The Museums Quarter is an area of Vienna across the road from the Hofburg that is jam-packed full of Museums.
If you were to visit all of them you would need days or even weeks to have a good look.
But if you only have 2 days in Vienna it is best just to pick one to visit. Or if you are not a museum person you do not even have to go inside one.
Many of the museums are beautiful from the outside and it is a nice area to just go for a walk.
If I were to pick one museum then I would recommend the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien. It is not cheap with a ticket costing 21 euros.
But it is a spectacular museum that is well worth the ticket price. Tickets can be bought at the museum or you can book them online here.
5. Austrian Parliament
Not far away from the Museums Quarter is the Austrian Parliament. It is a beautiful building that is well worth just stopping to take some photos from the street.
But you can also take a free tour inside to see the lavish interior. The best thing about the tours is that they are totally free you just have to book them in advance.
If you are not interested in the Austrian parliament’s history, you can take a photo tour. I have never heard of this type of tour but it is genius and hilarious at the same time.
The photo tour will take you to the prettiest parts of the building and leave out all the history. So it is perfect for those of you only interested in photos for Instagram.
You can book your tickets for a free tour here.
6. Rasthausplatz
After visiting the Austrian Parliament, your next destination is the Rasthausplatz. The Rasthaus is the city hall of Vienna, and events often take place in the park in front of it.
During the summer months, there is a film festival and a beer festival. While in winter the Rasthausplatz is host to the most famous of Viennas Christmas markets.
Before you visit you can check what events are happening at the Rasthaus here.
6. Votive Church
Votive Church is a spectacular church just 10 10-minute walk from the Rasthausplatz.
The Votive Church receives far fewer visitors than the more famous Stephansdoms. But in. my opinion the Votice Church may be even prettier!
Because the Votice Church is out in the open you get much better views of it and I think the architecture overall is just better.
The great thing about it being less popular is that you can enjoy the architecture in peace without the huge crowds of tourists.
It is free to enter the Votice Church and have a walk around. The interior is quite empty as there are no seats in the middle. But I liked it as it made it feel like a much more relaxed place to explore.
7. Cafe Central
Vienna has a long and well-known cafe culture. It is considered so important that UNESCO listed it on the intangible cultural heritage list of Austria.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s Vienna’s coffee houses were popular places for artists and intellectuals to gather. The cafes became important places for debates and to exchange ideas.
Today you can visit many cafes that will make you feel like you are traveling back in time. The waiters will be dressed very traditionally and the furniture and cafe can feel like it is from the 1950s or older.
If you feel like an afternoon coffee and cafe which is a big tradition in Austria. Then you can head to Cafe Central.
This is one of the most famous cafes in Vienna and was opened in 1876. It is not a cheap cafe! But if you want to experience a true Vienna cafe you will unfortunately have to fork out a bit of money.
8. Try Some Austrian Cuisine At Schank Zum Reichsapel
Schank Zum Reichsapel is an excellent restaurant to try some Austrian cuisine.
The most famous dish in Austria is of course Schnitzel. I am not the biggest fan of Schnitzel but if you loved Schnitzel Austria is the place for you! You can buy it everywhere and it is usually the size of your head.
I recommend trying a goulash which is a meaty stew full of flavour. The goulash is known as the national dish of Hungary. But due to the Austria-Hungary empire it is very popular in Austria as well.
9. Prater Night Time Ferris Wheel
You can finish off your first day in Vienna by visiting one of Viennas Oldest tourist attractions. The Prater is an amusement park with the worlds oldest ferris wheel that has been operating since 1897.
At night time the ferris wheel gives you beautiful views over the city and it is a great way to finish off a day of sightseeing.
Admission to the amusement park is free and then you pay for rides inside. A ride on the ferris wheel costs 14 euros. There are also many other rides inside the park if you feel like trying out some more.
Day Two In Vienna
1. Vienna Opera House
The Vienna Opera House is the starting point of your 2nd day in Vienna. It is yet another beautiful old building in Vienna is a great place to listen to some classical music or watch a play.
The Opera House was first built in 1869 but was severely damaged by bombing during World War 2. Extensive work was then carried out to restore the opera house to how it looked before the bombing.
It is a beautiful building to view from the outside but you are missing out if you do not go inside. A tour in the opera house costs 13 euros. and the tour lasts 45 minutes.
2. Wien Museum Karsplatz
The second day of your Vienna trip will start at the Wien Museum Karsplatz. This is quite a new museum that is dedicated to the history of Vienna.
In my opinion this museum is a bit of a hidden gem. All of the exhibits in the museum are super high quality and the museum is beautifully organised. But the best part is that it is totally free.
Considering the quality of the museum it is quite surprising that the museum is free. Most museums in Vienna will charge close to 20 euros but the quality of the museums is not any better.
The museums will take you through the entire history of museums from the Middle Ages to the modern day. If you are a fan of history you will love the museum.
But even if you do not love history the museum is well worth stopping in.
2. St Charles Church
Karlskirche is a beautiful church a short walk from the Wien Museum. In front of the church if the weather is still you can take an awesome photo of the reflection in the pond out the front.
Unfortunately, when I visited in July of 2024 the right-hand spire was under construction. So hopefully that will be completed in the not-too-distant future.
The interior of the church is covered in beautiful art and you can also access a viewing platform at the top of the church. Tickets cost 9.50 euros and can be bought here or at the entrance to the church.
Just remember you will have to pay in cash if you pay at the entrance.
3. Schloss Belvedere
Schloss Belvedere is the second most famous of the Vienna Royal Palaces. The grounds were home to the ruling families of the Hapsburg Empire for many years.
It is a beautiful area to walk around and is conveniently located close to downtown Vienna. It is only a 15 minute walk from the St Charles Church to Schloss Belvedere.
The grounds of Belvedere Palace are a beautiful place to go for a stroll and take some pictures.
If you visit in summer remember to bring your water bottle! Vienna has very hot summers so you will get sweaty walking around.
Many people don’t associate Vienna with hot weather. But the temperatures get up to the mid 30s so you will feel like you are walking around in Spain.
If you would like to go inside the Palaces at Belvedere you can buy tickets here.
4. Nachstmarket
After exploring Belvedere Palace the Nachsmarkt is a great spot to grab some lunch.
The Nachsmarket is the most famous market in Vienna. It has been operating in its present location since 1780.
Originally the Nachsmarket was a place for locals to buy their groceries. But today there is a wide range of cuisines to try.
I was surprised when I visited that there are some quite fancy restaurants in the Nachmarket.
So it is a great place to visit if you feel like sitting down for a more formal lunch. But you can also grab a sausage or a kebab if you want a cheap lunch on the go.
5. Schonbrunn Palace
Schonbrunn Palace is the most famous palace in Vienna and has been the home of many emperors throughout history.
The grounds of Schonbrunn are huge and used to be the private hunting grounds of royal family members. Schonbrunn is very similar to Belvedere Palace but it covers a much larger area.
Although it is much more famous than Belevedere Palace I think that Belvedere may be better. But you can decide when you visit!
There are many parts of Schonbrunn that you have to pay to enter such as the palace, maze and some gardens.
You can book tickets online here if you would like to visit these areas. It is best to book tickets online before arriving at Schonbrunn because if it is busy you may have to wait in line. But if you book online you will be guaranteed an admission time.
If you would rather not pay for any tours you can simply walk around the grounds of Schonbrunn. There are lots of interesting things to discover on the grounds.
I particularly liked the Palmenhaus. This is a giant greenhouse used to grow exotic plants. When it was finished in 1882 it was the largest greenhouse in the world.
6. Dinner At A Traditional Heuriger
If you would like a uniquely Austrian way to finish your 2 days in Vienna then you should visit a Heuriger.
A Heuriger is a tavern unique to Austria that sells local wine. They were created so that local wine growers could have a special licence to sell that seasons wine.
Traditionally this meant that Heurigers were very rustic and sold cheap wine. Today most Heurigers still have a very rustic feel with wooden benches and unprentencious decorations.
But unfortunately they are not as cheap as they used to be! But that is a problem everywhere in the world.
Most of the good Heurigers are located on the outskirts of Vienna next to vineyards. But for a hueriger experience without leaving the city you can go to Gratzlheuriger.
This heuriger is quite close to Schonbrunn but will give you an authentic Heuriger feel. So you can finish off your 2 days in Vienna enjoying some local wine and some traditional Austrian food.
Arriving In Vienna
When arriving in Vienna the best way to get into the city center is to take the train. You have two choices you can either take the direct airport train or the slower city train.
The airport train takes 16 minutes and takes you into Vienna with no stops and costs 15 euros. You can book the airport train here.
If you want to take the cheapest option into Vienna then take the S7 train. This is a regular train that a few stops on the way into Vienna.
It leaves the airport every 30 minutes and takes 25 minutes to get into Vienna. It only costs 4.50 euros so is a great option if you want to save money as it does not take much longer than the dedicated Airport train.
How To Get Around During Your 2 Days In Vienna
While you are exploring the downtown core of Vienna the easiest way to get around is to simply walk.
But if you want to travel slightly longer distances there is always convenient public transport options.
A single trip on public transport costs 2.40 euros. A 24 hour ticket costs 8 euros and 48 hour ticket costs 14 euros.
If you are planning on using public transport often during your 2 days in Vienna the 24 hour and 48 hour tickets are useful. But you will have to use it quite often for them to be worth it.
You can book single tickets, 24 hour and 48 hour tickets onine here.
Is Vienna Walkable?
The center of Vienna is very walkable and pedestrian-friendly. Many of the main streets are reserved for pedestrians so you can explore the city free of cars.
However, outside of the downtown core many of the main attractions are next to roads. But these areas are still very walkable and there is plenty of space for pedestrians and cyclists.
Where To Stay During Your 2 Days In Vienna
Vienna Hotels
Below are some affordable hotels that are perfect for spending 2 days in Vienna.
Leonardo Hotel Vienna City West – is located right next to Mariahilfer Straße, one of the main shopping streets in Vienna. Rooms at just over 100 USD per night and it is in the perfect location for exploring Vienna.
Prizeotel – is a uniquely decorated hotel that is located close to Belvedere Palace. There are convenient public transport options into the city and rooms start from around 100 USD per night.
Vienna Hostels
Wombats – is a chain of hostels in Europe and has been the most popular hostel in Vienna for years. It is a huge hostel that you can rely on to have everything running smoothly. Dorm rooms start at 38 euros a night.
Jo & Joe Vienna – is an awesome hostel that has lots of events for guests and very comfortable pod beds. This hostel is great if you are a solo traveler looking to meet people and potentially party. Dorms start at 43 USD per night.
Our tips help you out? Say thanks with a coffee! 💛
I Hope You Enjoy Your 2 Days In Vienna
Vienna is a beautiful city and I am sure your 2 days in Vienna will be a trip you will not forget. I hope my article helps you to have a great time there.
If you think there is anything I should add to the itinerary let me know in the comments below!
Also make sure to read our other Europe blog posts below.
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Hi, I am Allan, a travel, health and fitness fanatic from New Zealand. I'm a former lawyer who turned into a full-time nomad in 2020. For the last 4+ years I've been traveling the world. I'm always on a hunt for good food, activities on a budget and workouts on the go. I hope you find my tips helpful and get inspired to travel more!
