What can you see in Vienna in one day? You can see and experience a lot in one day in Vienna. But you must be wise and prepare your itinerary for one day in Vienna in advance to make the most of your time.
I have been to Vienna (Austria) many times. And here is my best one day in Vienna Itinerary.
In this One Day in Vienna itinerary, I covered the top attractions in Vienna, the most famous cafes in Vienna, the most popular restaurants in Vienna, the best Vienna museums, and more.
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- The Only One Day in Vienna Itinerary You Need
- 8.30 am: Start your day with traditional Wiener Melange and Wiener Frühstück in Cafe Central
- 9.30 am -12 pm: Visit Hofburg (Sisi Museum or the Spanish Riding School)
- 10 am – 12:15 pm: Make a short visit to the Austrian National Library
- 12:20 pm – 1:20 pm: Have lunch in Palmenhaus
- 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: See the art masterpieces in Albertina
- 3:40 pm – 4:30 pm: Visit the St Stephen Cathedral
- 3:40 pm – 4:50 pm: Grab Kaiserschmarrn in Demel
- 5 pm – 6.30 pm: Tour the Art History Museum
- 6:50 pm: Head to Griechenbeisl for dinner or back to your hotel to get ready for the evening concert
- 8:15 pm – 10:15 pm: Listen to a concert by the Vienna Philarmonic Orchestra in Vienna Music Society
- * Visiting Schönbrunn
The Only One Day in Vienna Itinerary You Need
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One Day in Vienna Itinerary:
8.30 am: Start your day with traditional Wiener Melange and Wiener Frühstück in Cafe Central
Vienna is famous for its coffee culture and historical cafes. The Café Central is the most famous historical cafe in Vienna. Many notable historical figures, like Sigmund Freud, Vladimir Lenin, and Leon Trotsky, enjoyed coffee in the elegant atmosphere of Cafe Central.
Wiener Malenge is a traditional Viennese coffee. This typical Viennese coffee, made with coffee and milk foam, resembles Italian cappuccino. But, there are two main differences between Wiener melange and cappuccino – the amount and intensity of the coffee. The Melange uses more but milder coffee. Wiener Melange has a similar coffee amount to Americano or Lungo, while cappuccino is prepared with an espresso shot.
Drinking coffee on an empty stomach is not healthy. So, order a traditional Viennese breakfast (Wiener Frühstück). You will get Wiener Melange, bread, jelly, cheese, ham, and cooked egg. There is no better way to start a day in Vienna than with a traditional Viennese breakfast. And there is no better place to do it than in the iconic Café Central.
Café Central is in Herrengasse 14. It is open from 8 am to 10 pm (Mon-Sat) and from 10 am to 10 pm (Sun).
9.30 am -12 pm: Visit Hofburg (Sisi Museum or the Spanish Riding School)
After breakfast, start with sightseeing in Vienna.
Head to Hofburg after your breakfast in Cafe Central. The Hofburg Palace is only a 5-minute walk from Cafe Central.
Hofburg Palace was a winter residence of Austrian sovereigns, while the Shonbrunn Palace served as a summer residence. Hofburg was the center of political and cultural life in Vienna for more than 600 years of the reign of the Habsburg dynasty. Visiting Hofburg is a must if you are in Vienna for the first time and want to understand the historical background of Vienna and Austria. Baroque architecture and stunning gardens make the Hofburg Palace one of the most beautiful European palaces.
The Imperial Apartments, Imperial Treasury Vienna, the Imperial Silver Collection, the Sisi Museum, the National Library of Austria, the Spanish Riding School, and the Collection of Arms and Armor are some parts of the Hofburg Palace to be visited.
I suggest visiting the Sisi Musuem or the Spanish Riding School and a short visit to the Austrian National Library to spend one day in Vienna.
Sisi Museum
Among them, Sisi Musuem is probably the most visited part of Hofburg. Visit the Sisi Museum and get in-depth insights into the life of Empress Elisabeth. See her clothing, letters, and other personal items and get familiar with her life filled with personal struggle as much as elegance. Buy a timed ticket to avoid standing in a queue, and take an audio guide to learn about Sisi and the history of Hofburg. A visit to the Sisii Museum takes about two hours. Sadly, taking photos is not allowed in the Sisi Museum, but you will love visiting the museum. Buy the skip-the-line tour for Sisi Musuem, Hopfbrug, and Gardens here. The starting time of this tour varies on the day. Adjust your itinerary to it! This tour takes 2 hours to 2 hours and a half.
The Spanish Riding School
However, if you want to see one of the most spectacular shows, book your ticket for a horse show at the famous Spanish Riding School. See a fascinating performance of the Lipizzaner horses and learn about the history and traditions of the school. The show takes up to an hour and a half. Taking photos is not allowed, but watching the show will bring some of the most memorable moments of your time in Vienna. Get your ticket here.
10 am – 12:15 pm: Make a short visit to the Austrian National Library
The Austrian National Library is in a wing of the Hofburg. This elegant Baroque library with its majestic Grand Hall is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Austrian National Library has one of the largest book collections in the world. 200,000 historical books are arranged neatly on its adorned wooden shelves, but the collection of the libarary counts more than 12 million items in total. The Gospel book by Johannes von Troppau, printed in 1368, is the oldest book of teh collection. The library dates back to the 1730s. It was the court library of Habusburgs.
There is no waiting time, and a visit to the library takes 10-15 minutes on average. The ticket to the Austrian National Library is 10 €. Visit the Austrian National Library quickly and see one of the prettiest libraries in the world.
12:20 pm – 1:20 pm: Have lunch in Palmenhaus
It is time to have the lunch on your Vienna itinerary.
Luckily, the Palmenhaus is only a few steps from the Austrian National Library.
The Palmenhaus was the greenhouse of the Imperial Hofburg Palace. The greenhouse was open for growing exotic palms in 1822. The greenhouse is a beautiful Art Nouveau building made of steel and glass.
The Palmehaus is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Vienna since 1992. It offers one of the most unique places for dining in Vienna. Head for lunch to the Palmenhaus in Vienna and enjoy your meal in a unique atmosphere among the palms. The restaurant has a terrace that overlooks the imperial gardens. On a sunny day in Vienna, you can enjoy your delicious bites with the sights of the imperial gardens. In any case, dining in the Palmenhaus is an exceptional experience!
Palmenhaus in Bugarten 1, a few minutes from the Austrian National Library.
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm: See the art masterpieces in Albertina
Vienna is a city of rich history, art, and culture. Head for a dose of art at the Albertina Museum.
The Albertina Musuem is a 4-minute walk from Palmenhaus.
Albertina in Vienna is a top modern art museum in Europe. It is one of the most visited art museums in the world. It houses a permanent collection of Impressionists and early 20th-century art called Monet to Picasso, along with temporary exhibitions. Albertina is home to many masterpieces like The Water Lily Pond and House Among the Roses by Claude Monet, Woman in a Green Hat and Still Life with Guitar by Pablo Picasso, Two Dancers by Edgar Degas, Young Woman in a Shirt by Amadeo Modigliani, London, Small Thames Landscape by Oskar Kokoschka, Sleeping Woman with Flowers by Marc Chagall, Birds and Insects Painting by Joan Miro, The Sideboard by Georges Braque.
Besides that, Albertina has outstanding temporary exhibitions. On my recent trip to Vienna in November 2024, I saw an exhibition of Marc Chagall in Albertina. The exhibition showed around 100 pieces of his works. The retrospective exhibition of work by Marc Chagall in Albertina runs from September 2024 until February 2025.
The ticket for Albertina is 19,90 €. Book your ticket here.
Plan to spend two hours immersing yourself in the art at Albertina. The Albertina Museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm (Sat, Sun, Mon, Tue, Thur) and from 10 am to 9 pm (Wed and Fri).
3:40 pm – 4:30 pm: Visit the St Stephen Cathedral
After the Albertina Musuem, head to the Cathedral of St Stephen.
St Stephen Cathedral is a landmark of Vienna. Its construction finished in 1160, and ever since then, it has been the most famous Catholic church in Austria. The cathedral is a Gothic building with an ornately patterned roof, intricate stonework, large stained glass windows, and beautiful altarpieces. It often houses concerts of choral and organ music.
The cathedral is free of charge, but some of its parts have paid access. There are fees for climbing its two towers or visiting the catacombs under the cathedral. A guided tour of the catacombs is 6 €. Climbing the Northern Tower is 6 €. Climbing the Southern Tower is 5 €. Each of these endeavors takes about 30 minutes. I suggest choosing one of them. Visit the catacombs, climb the 343 steps of the Southern Tower for the panoramic views of Vienna, or climb the Northern Tower to see the patterned roof closer. You can buy tickets on the site.
The Cathedral of St Stephen in Vienna is open for tourist visits from 9 am to 11.30 am, and from 1 pm to 4.30 pm from Monday to Saturday. And, from 1 pm to 4.30 pm on Sun and public holidays.
3:40 pm – 4:50 pm: Grab Kaiserschmarrn in Demel
Head to the Art History Museum after visiting the Cathedral, and on your way make a short stop at Demel. Demel is only 7 minutes from the Cathedral.
Demel is a famous traditional Viennese café, pastry shop, and chocolate. It is best known for its finest chocolate and cakes. If you need a rest, sit and order its Sacher torte. Or take its Kaiserschmarrn to-go and proceed with your Vienna itinerary. Demel had legal disputes over the original Sacher torte recipe with the Sacher Hotel in teh past. The Sacher Hotel won the legal battle for the label of The Original Sachertorte. But Sachertorte at Demel is still incredibly delicious.
If you already tried Sachetorte and wish to try something new, try Kaiserschmarrn, a well-loved Austrian dessert made of shredded pancake with plum jam and a favorite dish of Emperor Franz Joseph once. Demel even offers Kaiserschmarrn as a takeaway. Order your Kaiserschmarrn through the takeout window, and get your Kaiserschmarrn to go!
Demel is in Kohlmarkt 14 and it is open from 10 am to 7 pm (Mon – Sun).
5 pm – 6.30 pm: Tour the Art History Museum
The Art History Museum (Kunsthistorische Museum) in Vienna is one of the top art history museums in the world. The museum is in a beautiful building with a grand staircase and frescoed ceilings.
The Art History Museum in Vienna houses Greek, Roman, and Egyptian antiques and works by Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Klimt, and many other grandmasters. The Tower of Bebel by Pieter Bruegel is one of the best-known paintings of the musuem.
The museum has a cafe, one of the most famous cafes in Vienna. The Cafe in the Art History Museum in Vienna (Cafe im Kunsthistorische Museum) offers dishes, pastries, coffee, and drinks in a spectacular ambiance. Tour the art collection and take a break in its fabulous cafe!
The admission fee to the museum is 20 €. You can book your ticket in advance here.
Note: The Art History Museum in Vienna is open from 10 am to 6 pm (Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, and Fri) and from 10 am to 9 pm (Thur and Sat). Adjust your schedule according to the day of your visit to Vienna.
6:50 pm: Head to Griechenbeisl for dinner or back to your hotel to get ready for the evening concert
Griechenbeisl is the oldest restaurant in Vienna. It opened in 1447 and welcomed many guests, including Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss, Schubert, Richard Wagner, and Mark Twain.
Let me mention that Griechenbeisl served the first Pilsner Urquell beer in Vienna. Pilsner Urquell was unknown at that time. Today, Griechenbeisl is the best place to have Pilsner Urquell in Vienna.
Reserve your table in advance. Have your dinner in the impressive historical Griechenbeisl restaurant.
The restaurant is in Fleischmarkt 11 near the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, a 20-minute walk or a 15-minute tram ride (tram no 2) from the Art History Museum. Griechenbeisl is open from noon to 11 pm. You can reserve the table here.
If you are not so hungry, get back to your hotel and get ready for the evening concert.
8:15 pm – 10:15 pm: Listen to a concert by the Vienna Philarmonic Orchestra in Vienna Music Society
Vienna is a city of classical music. Vienna is the birthplace of the waltzer, and some of the most famous classical music genius like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, the Strauss family, Johannes Brahms, and Gustav Mahler lived and worked in Vienna.
The Musikverein (Music Society) is an iconic music institution in Vienna and one of the most famous music halls in the world. Its acoustics are incredible, and the building itself is stunning.
Experience a concert in its Golden Hall is a ‘dream come true’ for all classical music lovers. Listen to classics of Mozart and Strauss, performed by the celebrated Vienna Mozart Orchestra. Mozart Concert at the Golden Hall is the most sought-after concert in Vienna. It is hard to find a ticket for it.
A concert starts at 8:15 pm and lasts 2 hours on average. Ticket prices go from 59 € to 125 €, depending on the seating. Discounts are available for children and students. Book your seat and have the most memorable evening in Vienna! Check more details here.
* Visiting Schönbrunn
This Vienna itinerary does not include a visit to Schönbrunn Palace. Why? The Schönbrunn Palace is about 30 minutes from the city center. When you add 30 minutes to your way back, you will spend 1 hour commuting. An average visit to the Schönbrunn Palace takes 3 hours. However, if you wish to visit its stunning gardens as well, it will take 4 hours. So, your visit to Schönbrunn will take 5 hours on your Vienna itinerary.
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