Vienna is a gorgeous European city with a lot of history. It was the seat of the Habsburg monarchy, and the birthplace of Marie Antoinette. The city has always been an artistic hub, and was home to painter Gustav Klimt, famous musicians Franz Schubert and Johann Strauss II, and actors Hedy Lamarr and Christoph Waltz. If you visit the Austrian capital, you can see spectacular buildings, eat hearty food, and listen to beautiful music. Here are some suggestions if you only have 24 hours in Vienna.
Visit a Palace
- Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is a very popular tourist attraction in Vienna. Approximately eight million people visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site every year! The Habsburg’s modeled their 17th century Baroque palace after Versailles. It contains 1,441 rooms lavishly decorated in the Rococo style.
On a tour of Schönbrunn Palace, you are permitted to visit 45 rooms, including the 43 meter-long Great Gallery, the Hall of Mirrors (where Mozart performed as a child prodigy) and the Bergl Rooms (Maria Theresa’s chambers with charming landscape murals). Outside the palace, you can enjoy the manicured gardens, water features, and maze.
- Hofburg Palace
In the Old Town, you will find the Habsburg’s 13th century residence. This lovely white palace with a domed roof has majestic imperial apartments, a museum dedicated to Empress Elisabeth (known as Sisi), and a display of the royal family’s impressive silver collection. The palace complex also houses the Spanish Riding School, if you are interested in seeing the Lipizzan horses perform.
- Belvedere Palace
This 18th century palace belonged to Military commander Prince Eugene of Savoy. It now houses iconic paintings by Gustav Klimt, including The Kiss. The gallery also has pieces painted by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Eugène Delacroix, and Peter Paul Rubens. The palace itself is exquisite, and it is surrounded by French Baroque style gardens.
Listen to a Concert
Vienna is a must-visit place for music lovers, and is often referred to as the “classical music capital of the world.” The city is full of music venues where you could catch a show.
- Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper)
This 1,709-seat Renaissance Revival hall is located on the Vienna Ring Road. Here, you may see a performance by The Vienna State Opera or the Vienna State Ballet. The building is also used for the annual Vienna Opera Ball.
In 2024, the busy calendar includes famous operas such as Madame Butterfly and La Bohème, epic ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, and a variety of chamber music concerts and piano recitals.
- Viennese Music Association (Musikverein)
This red Neoclassical structure in the Innere Stadt district houses the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Its Golden Hall has some of the best acoustics in the world. This year’s program features orchestral performances of great works by Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Brahms, Haydn, and Beethoven.
For more intimate concerts, you may want to check out venues such as St. Michael’s Church, and the Sala Terrena in Mozart’s House.
Eat Austrian Delicacies
Dishes such as Wiener schnitzel, apple strudel, and potato salad are beloved the world over. When you get hungry, be sure to try some of Vienna’s delicious foodstuffs. On our last trip to Vienna, we consumed gigantic Wiener schnitzels at Figlmüller Bäckerstraße, decadent desserts at the iconic Café Central, and late-night currywurst at the Kaiser Sausage Stand. If you have the chance, try Sachertorte — Vienna’s signature cake. It is a rich chocolate sponge cake with apricot jam and chocolate ganache.
If you are interested in Austrian wines, be sure to try a local grüner veltliner or riesling. A fun excursion in Vienna is a cellar tour and tasting at Schlumberger Kellerwelten. It has been producing sparkling wines since 1842.
Vienna is a wonderful city and you can certainly spend more than 24 hours exploring (but we hope the foregoing will get you started). If you are looking for more city-specific travel tips, please check out our articles 3 Neighborhoods In Tokyo For First Timers, Our Dream Trip To Dubai, Pearl of the Gulf, and 24 Hours In Brussels: The Ultimate Guide.