Bild: Stefan Liewehr
Vienna’s always worth a visit – and there’s always a lot to experience. We have a few tips for you and reveal a few of our favourite places and to-dos.
If you land in Vienna-Schwechat by plane, don't let your money be taken out of your pocket and avoid the green, overpriced CAT train! Instead, take the frequently running S-Bahn number 7 to Wien-Landstraße or the ÖBB (Austrian Railway) to Vienna Central Station - depending on where your hotel is located. The ride takes roughly 15 minutes. You can get tickets at the red ticket counters either to the right of the arrivals, one floor below or directly on the platform for well under 5 euros!
If you are travelling to Vienna by train, it is best to get off at the main station and take the underground line number 1 (coloured in red) to the city centre (Karlsplatz, Stephansplatz) in under 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can also use trams (e.g. D, 18) or bus lines (e. g. 13 A), depending on where your hotel is located. It's best to buy a ticket for several days at once to save money! Wiener Linien (the public transport) offers tickets for 24, 48 or 72 hours, as well as for 7 days. Especially for visitors to Vienna, there is also the Vienna City Card with numerous tourist extras, which can either be ordered online or purchased at the Wiener Linien counter at the main railway station (or at the airport).
What we find particularly great in Vienna: You don't have to pay extra for the night connections on Friday and Saturday!
Vienna offers a vast selection of hotels - ranging from the luxurious establishments along the Ringstraße, where stars like The Rolling Stones and U2 have stayed, to trendy hotels outside the Ringstraße that particularly appeal to younger couples. The best way to find the perfect stay is to browse booking.com and see which hotel suits you best. But I wouldn’t want to keep my five favorite hotels from you!
Superbude is quite literally super - located right next to Vienna’s Prater! From your room, you can soak up the unique fairground atmosphere. And since Superbude is both a hotel and a hostel, there’s a room for every budget. On the hotel’s rooftop, you’ll also find a branch of the NENI restaurant, which I’ll tell you more about later.
25hours Hotel is situated right next to the MuseumsQuartier and very close to the city center. It’s one of the coolest hotels in Vienna, with colorful, stylishly designed, and cozy rooms. A major plus of 25hours is its excellent in-house restaurant, and the rooftop Dachboden bar not only offers fantastic views over Vienna but also serves top-notch drinks - sometimes even accompanied by live music!
Hotel am Brillantengrund is a charming hotel with a family-like atmosphere. Although you’ll be staying right in the city - near the famous shopping street Mariahilferstraße - you’ll feel surprisingly surrounded by greenery. Its idyllic courtyard immediately puts you in a vacation mood! And once again, the hotel restaurant here is truly outstanding.
At Jaz in the City in Vienna’s 6th district, everything revolves around music - not just jazz! It starts at the reception, which doubles as a record store (!), and continues into the rooms, where every guest has access to a record player to enjoy their vinyl finds. A special highlight is the rooftop bar, where you can sip fantastic cocktails while taking in a breathtaking view over Vienna - also of the nearby Haus des Meeres, one of the city’s top tourist attractions.
Also highly recommended (and not just if you're attending a concert at the Wiener Stadthalle) is the Boutiquehotel Stadthalle. Sustainability is a top priority here, reflected in the upcycled furniture in the rooms - where an old airplane seat might be transformed into a cozy lounge chair. It doesn’t get much cooler and more comfortable than this! Oh, and of course, the breakfast is entirely organic!
Viennese coffee houses are a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, so you should definitely add a visit to a typical Viennese café to your list. It doesn't necessarily have to be the Hotel Sacher with its famous Sacher Torte or the Café Central, where there is often a long queue.
I particularly like Café Sperl in 1060 Vienna, a café with a cosy atmosphere, classic coffee variations and traditional Austrian delicacies. In the city centre, you should also check out Café Hawelka, as the famous Austrian musician Georg Danzer even dedicated a song to the café. You absolutely have to try the “Buchteln” there!
When the Viennese have time, they like to enjoy an extended breakfast. For you as a tourist, it is of course a special experience if you can also enjoy a great view over Vienna at breakfast!
You can do this, for example, at Café Gloriette with a view on the famous Schönbrunn Palace! You can enjoy the all-you-can-eat buffet in a stately atmosphere on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, with subtle musical accompaniment included! However, due to the high demand, you should reserve a place in advance!
You can also enjoy a breathtaking view at the Turmcafé am Donauturm in 1220 Vienna. As the restaurant slowly rotates on its own axis, you can enjoy not only food and drink, but also a unique all-round view of Vienna. Every Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays, brunch is served up here according to all the rules of the art.
The breakfast at Vollpension in 1040 Vienna may not have a view, but it's hard to beat when it comes to cosiness. In addition to delicious cake creations and coffee specialities, grandmas and grandpas (!) are also happy to serve you a pinch of wisdom.
People love to eat in Vienna - in addition to local specialities, of course, pizza and pasta, burgers and delicacies from all over the world. It would be impossible to list all the good restaurants for your lunch or dinner, but I do have a few tips for you.
The best schnitzel is definitely at Meissl & Schadn in the first district of Vienna, where not only the schnitzel is excellent, but also the garnish in its original form with parsley, shallots, lemon, capers, egg and anchovies. Of course, the Tafelspitz and Kaiserschmarrn are also outstanding here! And: Even David Hasselhoff has eaten there!
The best burger not only in Vienna, but perhaps even in the world, can be found at XO Grill in 1050 Vienna. The smash burgers are made from local XO Beef, the bun is homemade - and to accompany the burgers (and fries), there is not only craft beer, but even natural wine, including from our favourite winery Oggau from Burgenland!
You can get the best pizza at Pizzeria Randale, also in 1050 Vienna: but beware, the pizzas are not run-of-the-mill, you'll also find figs, apples or black pudding on them, for example!
If you like oriental food, you can also combine a visit to the famous Naschmarkt with a visit to NENI - the food there is not only delicious, but also balanced and healthy!
If you like sushi, you have to stop by Mochi in the 2nd district: Here, Japanese cuisine is combined with international flavours. But beware, you should definitely make a reservation here!
And of course you have to stop by the Leberkas-Pepi: Very close to the Vienna Opera, you can get the classic Austrian speciality ‘Leberkäse’ here, for example in a roll with mustard and horseradish. And while we're on the subject of street food: A visit to one of the many great sausage stands is also worthwhile, for example the Wiener Würstelstand in 1080 Vienna or the Bitzinger sausage stand between the Opera House and the Albertina or in the Prater!
By the way, my favourite restaurant is BRUDER in 1060 Vienna - not only do they serve fantastic cocktails and outstanding natural wines, but also the best cuisine with sometimes unusual, modern interpretations of dishes.
Of course, people visit Vienna primarily to experience something special! Here are a few highlights that I always recommend to my visitors:
On 14th of March 2025, the great Austrian all-round artist André Heller – who is not only responsible for the beautiful ANIMA garden in Morocco but also for the famous Kasperltheater at the Vienna Urania – opened a new theater in Vienna. Just around the corner from the Vienna Opera, his “Remassuri” is now located at the Stadttheater Walfischgasse.
“Remassuri” ist an exceptional journey into the wide world of traditional Viennese music, based on ideas not only by André Heller, but also based on the ideas of the famous contemporary Austrian musicians Ursula Strauss and Ernst Molden.
On the stage of “Remassuri”, the famous group Neue Wiener Concert Schrammeln perform authentic “Schrammelmusik” - grumbling, plaintive, lively, melancholic, and full of Viennese “Schmäh”. It’s the kind of music that has echoed through Vienna’s Heurigen since the 19th century. Accompanying them, renowned singers such as Tini Kainrath and Maria Stippich lend their voices to the traditional “Dudler” melodies. Even Kasperl and Pezi from the Urania make a guest appearance in the show. A special highlight of “Remassuri” is the Mummenschanz duo, who, without speaking a single word, transport the audience into a limitless yet familiar world of imagination.
For 75 minutes, music and theater transport you to a Vienna you may know from history books, old films, or classic literature. It’s a revue - but unlike the famous cabaret venue SIMPL, it does without a conférencier. Merriment, bliss, and an exuberant yet subtly tongue-in-cheek tribute to Viennese local color are the essence of this evening - one that will fill locals with nostalgia (it did for me!) and entertain visitors far more than the “entertainment” sold by ticket vendors in Mozart wigs around the opera (Beware of them!).
That’s why my recommendation is clear: If you’re a tourist looking to experience the true, authentic Vienna, immerse yourself in André Heller’s fantastic vision “Remassuri”!
Of course, “Remassuri” is not the only cultural highlight you can experience in Vienna. Currently, you can visit Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical “The Phantom of the Opera” in a more-than-spectacular new production at Vienna’s famous Raimund Theater. Meanwhile, at the equally renowned Ronacher Theater, you can immerse yourself in the eventful story of Falco, one of Austria’s most famous musicians - after Mozart and Strauss - through the “Rock Me Amadeus”-musical, running until the end of May!
In October, a true highlight will celebrate its world premiere at the Ronacher Theater! The epic musical “Maria Theresia” brings to life the fascinating story and legacy of one of the most influential monarchs of the 18th century, Maria Theresia. It is a vivid portrait of power, passion, and historical change. This opulent production combines monumental drama with a modern sound, pulsating beats with compelling lyrics. Timeless history meets contemporary staging, creating a captivating theatrical experience full of energy and surprises. This is a must-see!
But even beyond “Remassuri” and the musical highlights, Vienna (almost) never sleeps! Hardly a day goes by without a concert, a theater performance, a show, or a cabaret program on one of Vienna’s many stages. At Austria’s official ticket provider, oeticket.com, you’ll find official tickets - but not just for Vienna, also for events across the entire country. From concerts at the legendary Ernst Happel Stadium to festivals like the Nova Rock Festival, there’s something for everyone!
(This site will be updated regularly.)
