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Vienna in 3 Days: Complete Itinerary, Best Hotels and Travel Tips
Vienna in 3 Days: Complete Itinerary, Best Hotels and Travel Tips
Vienna is one of Europe’s most beautiful capitals and three days are enough to explore its historic centre, visit Schönbrunn Palace and soak up the imperial atmosphere that makes this city unlike anywhere else. In this guide you will find a day-by-day itinerary, practical tips on how to get from the airport to the centre, and the best hotels for every budget.
My mom and I have a tradition that we’ve been keeping alive for years: taking at least one trip together every year — just the two of us. This year, our chosen destination was Vienna! You should know that we’ve watched several films about Princess Sissi, and with dreamy eyes, we promised ourselves that one day we would visit the famous palace in Vienna. And so we did!
Day 1: Arrival and First Steps in Vienna
How to get from Vienna Airport to the city centre
As soon as we landed, we purchased tickets for the City Airport Train (CAT), which takes you to Vienna’s central train station in just 16 minutes. However, there’s actually a cheaper option: the ÖBB train, located right next to the CAT entrance, which costs only €4. My mom and I only found out later since all the signs seemed to point only to the CAT.
Where to stay in Vienna: best hotels for every budget
We walked to our hotel, Imlauer Wien. I’m mentioning it because we had a good experience, but to be honest, it was the only available hotel at a reasonable price during Easter week.
Here are some other recommended hotels with a great location/price ratio — but remember to book well in advance!
- Hotel City Central – Located on the edge of Vienna’s 1st district, just a 10-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. [Booking link here]
- Mercure Vienna First – Centrally located in the 1st district, only 500 metres from St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Stephansplatz metro station. [Booking link here]
- K+T Boardinghouse – Situated right next to Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna’s main shopping street. [Booking link here]
- IntercityHotel Wien – Close to Westbahnhof Train Station, with easy access to U3 and U6 metro lines. [Booking link here]
- JO&JOE Vienna – Located right at Westbahnhof Station, making it super convenient. It’s also a hostel, so you can choose between dormitory beds (including female-only dorms) or a private double room with an en-suite bathroom. [Booking link here]
👉 Still looking for the perfect stay? Explore all the best-rated accommodations in Vienna and find the one that suits you best! [Find them HERE]
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Lunch break: BaoMebu
For lunch, we grabbed a quick bite at BaoMebu, a great bao & bowl place. Highly recommended! For just €12, you get a giant, delicious bowl, and of course, there’s a vegan option.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom): the heart of Vienna
After dropping off our luggage, we started exploring the city, heading towards the historic centre. Our first stop was St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom), the iconic heart of Vienna. After a visit inside, we wandered through the charming streets around Stephansplatz, the city’s main square.
Vienna State Opera: tickets and the Vienna Pass
Along the way, we passed several famous landmarks, including the Vienna State Opera. You can enter by purchasing a ticket or using the Vienna Pass (I explain more about it at the end of this article).
Sachertorte in Vienna: Hotel Sacher vs Demel — which one to choose?
Right next to the Opera, you’ll also find the Hotel Sacher, home of Vienna’s most famous Sachertorte! However, the queue was incredibly long, so we decided to go to Demel for our afternoon treat instead.
At Demel, the queue was much shorter, and after just 10 minutes, we were seated and ready to order our Sachertorte! There are so many traditional specialties to try, but I noticed that most people were ordering Kaiserschmarrn — a typical Austrian dessert, somewhere between a crêpe and a pancake, served with plum jam.
It looked quite filling, so I focused on my Sachertorte, which — as I had already been warned — is drier than what we’re used to in Italy. However, I later read that the original recipe is meant to be dry, and the moist version we imagine isn’t authentic! That said… I still ate every bite! 😆
The Plague Column (Pestsäule): Vienna’s monument to faith
While strolling around Stephansdom, you’ll also come across the Plague Column (Pestsäule), which symbolises faith triumphing over the plague. Vienna was hit by several plague epidemics, and during one of them, Emperor Leopold vowed: “If the epidemic ends, I will build a monument.”
Hundertwasserhaus: Vienna’s most unusual building
After exploring the historic centre, we still had the entire afternoon free, so we headed to Hundertwasserhaus, a public housing complex built in 1986 by architect and artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
It is located in the Landstraße district, east of the city centre, and you can easily find it on Google Maps by searching for “Hundertwasserhaus”.
Dinner in Vienna: Lugeck Figlmüller
On the way back to the centre, we stopped for dinner at Lugeck Figlmüller. Even here, there was a vegetarian option — and I have to say, I absolutely loved Vienna in this regard! Every single restaurant we visited had a vegetarian dish available. Well done, Vienna!
Day 2: Schönbrunn Palace and Vienna’s Imperial History
Schönbrunn Palace: tickets, prices and practical tips
We dedicated our morning to Schönbrunn Palace. I purchased the tickets online on the same day directly from their official website: https://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/
We got there by taking the metro and getting off at the Schönbrunn stop. We chose the Classic Pass ticket, but of course, you can compare the different options on their website and pick the one that suits you best!
Honestly, I would have skipped the paid outdoor areas (the maze, Orangerie, and Gloriette). Most of the park is free to visit, and I think that’s more than enough! But of course, that’s just my personal opinion.
Inside Schönbrunn Palace: what to know before you visit
Inside the palace, photos of the rooms are not allowed, so unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of the interiors! Be very careful — if they catch you, they treat you like a criminal.
We had lunch at the stalls in front of Schönbrunn, set up for the Easter holidays!
The Ringstrasse: Vienna’s most famous pedestrian boulevard
We then headed towards the centre on foot. We didn’t take the metro because we wanted to reach Vienna’s most famous pedestrian area, the Ringstrasse.
Next, we had a snack at Café Mozart, trying their most famous cake — the Mozart Torte. I’m telling you — way better than the Sachertorte.
After a final stroll through the shops, we had dinner at Hungry Guy Wien, where I chose the house vegetarian dish, which I really loved! A final walk through Vienna at night — even more beautiful in the dark. ❤️
Day 3: Museums, Panoramic Bus Tour and Vienna’s Best Markets
Breakfast in Vienna: Café Frauenhuber, one of the oldest coffee houses in the city
A rainy day means only one thing: museums! But first, we headed for breakfast at Café Frauenhuber, one of the oldest coffee houses in Vienna still in operation.
Belvedere Museum: Klimt’s masterpieces and how to buy tickets
We headed to the Belvedere Museum and, of course, were mesmerised by Klimt’s masterpieces. Once again, I purchased the tickets online: https://www.belvedere.at/en/visit
Stadtpark: green space in the heart of Vienna
On our way back to the city centre, we stopped for a while at Stadtpark, which, with its 65,000 square metres, allows you to enjoy some green space in the heart of the city. Vienna is already one of the greenest cities in the world, thanks to its numerous parks and green spaces — it ranked first in the World’s 10 Greenest Cities 2020 ranking by Resonance Consultancy.
Back near Café Mozart, we noticed the Big Bus Vienna panoramic tour bus. Since it had started raining again, we took advantage of the moment and hopped on! The ticket allowed us to hop on and off for the next 24 hours, but most importantly, we were curious to see what we had missed so far. And well, the answer is: a lot!
Vienna truly has so much to offer, and there are many parts of the city that are difficult to reach in just a few days. From the bus, we saw the Prater amusement park, featuring the historic giant Ferris wheel from 1897, the Town Hall, Parliament and Donauinsel — the island on the Danube, which has become a popular gathering place for locals. Honestly, I would do this bus tour again a thousand times!
Aida Vienna: great pastries, but avoid the main location
After two hours on the bus, we got off and went for a snack at Aida. The pastries were delicious, but we waited an hour for just two desserts and the order was wrong! My recommendation: definitely visit Aida, but NOT the main location near the cathedral. There are several branches around the city — go to one of those instead!
Naschmarkt: Vienna’s most famous open-air market
We ended the day with a visit to Naschmarkt, an open-air market filled with countless stalls and small restaurants!
Day 4: The Sisi Museum and Last Hours in Vienna
Breakfast at Castelletto
Last day — we packed our bags and left them at the hotel reception. But first — breakfast! We stopped at Castelletto, which had a huge variety of options. I even found my beloved yogurt with fruit and honey.
Sisi Museum Vienna: tickets, audio guide and honest review
We headed straight to the Sisi Museum — an unmissable stop for anyone who, like my mom and me, is a fan of Princess Sissi’s history. You can buy tickets online here: https://www.sisimuseum-hofburg.at/en/tickets/tickets-prices
Once again, photos were strictly FORBIDDEN. In fact, the only one I managed to take is below — so if I get arrested, you all better come bail me out! 😂
I have to admit, those who told me that the Sisi Museum is a bit long and heavy were right. That being said, I’d still go back! The audio guide (included in the ticket price) tells the entire life story of the Princess, and I found it really interesting.
Other Things to See in Vienna
Vienna has so many attractions, but due to ticket prices (I would’ve needed a loan 🤣), I had to skip a few. That’s why I highly recommend getting the Vienna Pass if you plan to visit multiple places!
On my next trip to Vienna, these are the places I definitely won’t miss:
- Albertina Museum
- National Library
- Mozart’s House
- Vienna State Opera
- Freud Museum
- Hofburg Palace
Vienna Pass or Vienna City Card: which one is worth it?
If you are planning to visit several attractions, it is worth comparing these two options before you buy anything:
- Vienna City Card: offers discounts on individual attractions. More info and purchase here. Price: €29.00 for 72 hours.
- Vienna Pass: includes free entry to all the attractions mentioned above, plus free access to the hop-on hop-off panoramic bus. Buy it here. Price: €141.00 for 3 days.
So, it depends on how many attractions you plan to visit! 😊
What to pack for a trip to Vienna
