Top Sehenswürdigkeiten in Wien

1. See Belvedere Palace

The Belvedere is home to an incredible art collection with works by Renoir, Monet, and Van Gogh, among others. It also has a large portrait collection. The Palace has a permanent collection at the Upper Belvedere while special exhibitions are held at the Lower Belvedere (contemporary art is located at the Belvedere 21, which is nearby). The free grounds feature beautiful fountains, gravel walkways, ponds, statues, plants, and flowers. Admission is 16 EUR and guided tours can be booked in advance for a flat rate fee of 90 EUR for up to 20 people. Belvedere 21 is closed on Mondays but has late night opening on Thursdays.

2. Visit Schonbrunn Palace

This 1,441-room palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and started off as a hunting lodge before becoming the summer residence of the Habsburgs, one of the most prominent dynasties in European history, during the 1700s. It’s now one of Vienna’s top attractions. The interior is incredibly ornate with paintings, woodwork, chandeliers, and elaborate decorations. You can explore 22 rooms with the Imperial Tour (18 EUR) or 40 rooms with the Grand Tour (22 EUR). You could easily fill a whole day here.

3. Explore the Hofburg Imperial Palace

One of the biggest palace complexes in the world, the Hofburg is the official residence of the President of Austria. Previously, it was the principal palace of the Habsburg dynasty for more than 7 centuries. There are several exhibits here, including the Sisi exhibit (which highlights the life of Empress Elisabeth) and the royal apartments themselves. The famous Vienna Boys Choir performs at High Mass at the Gothic Imperial Chapel every Sunday. The Sisi costs 16 EUR and includes admission to the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments, and the Imperial Silver Collection. Free audio guides & printed descriptions are available.

4. Visit the Mozart Museum

Though Mozart lived at a handful of different addresses in Vienna, this is the only apartment that has survived. He lived here from 1784-1787. Spread over 3 floors, you can learn about his life, family, music, friends, and listen to his work. The exhibit on the first floor, consisting of four large rooms, two small rooms and a kitchen, is where Mozart and his family actually lived although you have to use your imagination as there is not much left of original furniture and not much is known about how the rooms looked or what they were used for. There’s a variety of paintings, artifacts, letters, and memorabilia from his life as well. Admission is 12 EUR.

5. Do a Wine Tour

Take a winery bike tour of the stunning nearby Wachau Valley. Vienna Explorer offers a full-day excursion (11 hours) that includes some sightseeing, and two wine tastings (with multiple samples at each tasting) for 129 EUR. Pedal Power also offers a 4-hour e-bike wine tour for 74 EUR. I always include a wine tour when I run tours to Vienna and it’s the number one thing people remember. Don’t skip it!