Picture this: you step onto one of Vienna’s grand boulevards to start your weekend trip. A tram glides past an ornate façade while the sun catches on its gilded details, and the sweet smell of coffee and cake wafts from a nearby coffee house. You’re spending 2 days in Vienna, ready for a weekend admiring imperial palaces, wandering elegant yet unintimidating streets, and feasting on schnitzel and strudel.
Perfect as a standalone itinerary or as part of a longer European trip, this guide has everything you need to plan your weekend in Vienna – including a detailed itinerary, where to stay, where to eat and drink, and all the very best things to do!
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How many days in Vienna is enough?
Vienna makes for an ideal weekend city break. There’s plenty of culture and food to fill your days, but not so much to do that you’ll leave wishing you had more time.
Spending two days in Vienna is perfect if you’re looking for a Friday-Sunday getaway without using any annual leave, or are adding the city onto a wider itinerary across central Europe. If you have more time, an extra day will allow you to slow the pace and explore beyond the main sights.
What to do with 2 days in Vienna
With 2 days in Vienna, you’ll be able to explore pretty much all of the city’s highlights and main attractions. Here are all the best things you can get up to, featuring an abundance of ornate palaces, interesting museums, musical culture and hearty food.
Belvedere Palace
In the southeast of Vienna (and perfectly situated if you’re arriving to Vienna by train!) is Belvedere Palace, where you’ll find some of the city’s most beautiful Baroque architecture. Built in the 1700s as a residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, the palace is split into two buildings: Upper and Lower Belvedere, which are separated by some immaculately landscaped gardens.
Upper Belvedere is the star of the show here. It has been a museum for most of its existence; in fact, it’s one of the oldest public museums in the world, and contains a large collection of Gustav Klimt paintings. You can also visit the art museum in Lower Belvedere, and after exploring the galleries, take a wander through the public gardens to find the best views of Upper Belvedere.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Stepping onto Stephansplatz, your eyes can’t help but be drawn upwards to the towering Gothic spire in front of you. This is St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Domkirche St. Stephan in the local tongue, Vienna’s most recognisable landmark.
The original cathedral has stood in the heart of the city for over 800 years, undergoing extensions and restorations after surviving wars and fires. You can tour the cathedral, visit the underground catacombs, and climb the 136-metre-tall south tower – I recommend the latter for close-up views of the intricately tiled roof and beautiful panoramic views over Vienna.
Eat Wiener schnitzel and other Austrian food
If a dish is named after a city, it would be rude not to try it, right? Wiener schnitzel is one of Austria’s most famous dishes, and there’s no better place to try it than Vienna. Traditionally, it’s made of thinly-sliced, breaded veal that’s fried until golden and crispy – simple, yet oh so comforting. Make sure you try some Austrian potato salad on the side for a real treat for the taste buds!
Beyond schnitzel, Vienna’s food scene is full of comforting sweet treats at traditional Austrian coffee houses. Try Kaiserschmarr’n, a dish of fluffy shredded pancakes dusted with sugar and often served with applesauce, or a warming slice of apple strudel and custard. There’s also sachertorte – a decadent glazed chocolate cake filled with apricot jam that’s best enjoyed in a classic Viennese café with a coffee on the side.
Schönbrunn Palace
Even with only 48 hours in Vienna, no visit to the city is complete without seeing Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburgs. It’s a little outside the city centre (but easily reached by public transport), which allows for a sprawling palace complex that brings new meaning to the word grand.
You can visit the lavish palace interiors to explore some of the 1400 rooms, but even just a walk around the grounds is well worth the visit here. There are manicured gardens, panoramic views from the Gloriette or the Neptune Fountain, a rosary, a Japanese garden, and even a zoo! You’ll easily spend half a day exploring Schönbrunn Palace.
Walk around the Ringstrasse
Vienna has a built-in self-guided walking route, and it’s the perfect way to experience the city. Built on Vienna’s old city walls, the Ringstrasse perfectly surrounds the Old Town and is lined with some of the city’s most impressive landmarks.
On the Ringstrasse, you can see Vienna City Hall (Rathaus), the stunning Greek Revival Austrian Parliament building and Vienna Opera House, to name just a few. The full loop is just over 5km, but even tackling a small section makes for an easy and scenic way to tie a lot of Vienna’s top sights together.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
The calibre of museums in Vienna can make it tough to decide which ones to add to your itinerary, but my top pick is the Kunsthistorisches Museum. In classic Vienna style, it’s housed in an opulent building on Maria-Theresien-Platz, with an interior as interesting as the artwork on display.
There’s an extraordinary collection to be found here, with pieces from Bruegel, Vermeer and Velázquez in the Picture Gallery, and ancient artefacts from the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Habsburgs. And as a self-confessed coin nerd (and collector), the Coin Cabinet on the top floor was one of my personal highlights.
Hofburg Palace & Heldenplatz
The sprawling complex of museums, courtyards, statues and palace buildings at Hofburg was once the political centre of the Habsburg Monarchy. So much history is packed into this area, right in the heart of Vienna.
Start in Heldenplatz, where you can get the best view of Hofburg Palace and take in Vienna’s imperial grandeur. From here, you can explore the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum and Spanish Riding School. Or, simply walk around the courtyard and imagine life during the height of the empire.
Check out these other top activities in Vienna.
Jesuit Church
When spending two days in Vienna, you might think you don’t have time to discover hidden gems. However, tucked away on a quiet street in the city centre is one of the city’s most underrated spots that will easily slot into your itinerary. The Jesuit Church is an explosion of Baroque splendour, although its modest exterior may not suggest it!
Step inside for a close-up look at the lavish and theatrical interiors of the church, with its trompe-l’œil ceiling, colourful and abstract towers, and gilded detailing.
Volksgarten
Find a moment of quiet during a busy couple of days in Vienna at the Volksgarten. The central park sits between Hofburg and the Vienna City Hall, welcoming visitors to take a stroll through the elegant green space.
In the summer months, you’ll find a lovely collection of flowers in the Rose Garden. Make sure you also stop by the Theseus Temple – the unique attraction is managed by the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Weltmuseum, who choose a singular piece of art to be displayed inside annually.
Vienna State Opera
Vienna is famous for its Opera, and visiting the city gives you the chance to experience a show at one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world.
The exterior alone is worth a look while strolling along the Ringstrasse, but I recommend adding an evening performance at the opera to your Vienna itinerary. You can book tickets online for the dates of your trip, but make sure you do this in advance to have the best chance. Otherwise, you can try to get some standing tickets on the day of the show, which is a more affordable option too.
Where to eat in Vienna
Lean into the ornate and traditional when it comes to eating in Vienna, with classic Austrian comfort food dishes and legendary cosy coffee houses. This list is fairly extensive for a two-day trip to Vienna, but it gives you plenty of options to choose from and will leave you wanting to come back for more!
Brunch & Lunch
Fill up for a busy day of sightseeing with a relaxed brunch or lunch in Vienna. You’ll find sweet and savoury toasts at toast.ed, or Korean-inspired dishes and matcha at Choi Café. If you’re after something a little more traditional, Adlerhof and Bizu are both solid options.
Cake & traditional coffee houses
48 hours in Vienna is enough time to visit at least six different Viennese coffee houses, right? Jokes aside, these opulent cafés offer a quintessentially Austrian experience, and I recommend visiting at least one during your trip. Café Central and Demel are two of the most famous, with ornate interiors and impressive cake displays.
For slightly quieter alternatives, head to Heiner or Gerstner, try the original Sachertorte at Café Sacher, or step back in time at Café Sperl. Looking for a more laid-back coffee spot? Check out Caffè Couture or KAFFEIN.
Dinner
As night falls, Vienna is the perfect place for a comforting plate of Austrian food – and the natural highlight is classic Viennese schnitzel. Zwölf Apostelkeller is my favourite spot, thanks to its rustic cellar dining space, while Figlmüller and Gasthaus Pöschl are also excellent choices.
You’ll find other traditional Austrian dishes, such as Tafelspitz, at most of these restaurants, but to try the classic boiled beef dish, you’ll want to head to Plachutta’s Gasthaus zur Oper.
If you’re craving something a little more casual, Rinderwahn in the city centre does some excellent gourmet burgers and fries.
Where to stay in Vienna
Don’t be overwhelmed by where to stay during your 2 days in Vienna. The city is compact and well-connected, meaning you can choose to stay in the heart of the old town or a quieter, more affordable area and still make the most of your trip. Here are some of my top picks:
- Hotel Mercure Wien Westbahnhof: Where I stayed on my trip. A basic but solid budget choice, that’s 10 minutes to the centre by metro and closer to Schönbrunn Palace.
- Hotel Sans Souci Wien: A romantic 5-star hotel that’s perfect for couples on a special getaway.
- Motel One Wien-Staatsoper: A stylish yet affordable option right in the city centre, just steps from the State Opera and Karlsplatz.
- ARTIST Boutique Hotel: A small, design-led boutique hotel in the Josefstadt district, offering a quieter local feel. Perfect if you like your hotels with more of a personal touch.
The perfect 2 days in Vienna itinerary
With so much to see, do and eat in Vienna, you might wonder how you’ll fit it all into your itinerary. Luckily, I’ve planned everything in this guide into the perfect 2 days in Vienna itinerary, so you won’t miss out on anything.
Day 1: City centre & museum visit
Start the first of your two days in Vienna with a visit to Belvedere Palace. You can opt to visit the museums inside or simply take a stroll around the pristine gardens and surrounding area. From here, set off to walk around the Ringstrasse. Coming from Belvedere, you’ll start around Schwarzenbergplatz, and for this itinerary, it makes the most sense to go anti-clockwise. You’ll pass the Austrian Parliament, Vienna City Hall and Volksgarten along the way.
You can choose to walk the full Ringstrasse loop, or finish at Schwedenplatz, where you can easily head into the city centre to explore Vienna’s Old Town. Pass the Jesuit Church and then St. Stephen’s Cathedral, stopping to climb the towers and see Vienna from above. If you’re getting hungry, fill up with some lunch – but save room for cake later on!
Now, take some time to wander through the city centre, and don’t worry about getting lost – it’s all part of the charm. You might want to visit Mozart’s House to see where the Austrian composer spent his late twenties. Spend the afternoon of your first day in Vienna at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, for which you’ll want to set aside at least 2-3 hours to enjoy. Afterwards, choose a Viennese coffee house for a decadent slice of cake and a coffee for a much-needed pick-me-up.
Once evening falls, choose one of my recommended Austrian restaurants and dine on some traditional Wiener schnitzel with potato salad. Save room for a warm slice of strudel for dessert! After a busy day of exploring, slow things down with an evening stroll around the city, grab a drink, or head back to your hotel for a well-earned early night.
Day 2: Palaces & Vienna State Opera
The morning of your second day is dedicated to Schönbrunn Palace. You’ll want to get an early start and head here as close to opening as possible, as it gets very busy here. Buy a ticket for the interior rooms, or opt to take a stroll around the grounds – and trust me, the walk to the Gloriette is worth it. Expect to spend at least 2-3 hours here.
There’s a small pavilion café in the gardens of Schönbrunn where you could grab a bite to eat, or head back to the centre of Vienna for a hearty lunch – more Wiener schnitzel, anyone?
In the afternoon, it’s time for your second palace of the day: Hofburg. There’s plenty to do here, and you can choose what piques your interest. Visit the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum or the Spanish Riding School, or take a walk around the courtyard grounds and opt to tour a different Vienna museum, such as the Military History Museum or the Hundertwasser Museum.
After some downtime at your hotel, get dressed up for a memorable final evening in Vienna with a nice dinner followed by a performance at the Vienna State Opera. Make sure to book your tickets in advance or try for standing tickets on the day.
I hope you enjoyed this guide and that you’re ready to spend 2 days in Vienna! Make sure you save my handy map with all the locations mentioned here for easy navigation during your trip. Happy travels!
