How to Spend 2 Great Days in Vienna
I find Central Europe to have one of the best balances of classical city architecture as well as subtly beautiful nature. Vienna was a fantastic capital to get the best of these two worlds; the city is not that large that just a weekend should suffice to see the main attractions and get a feel for life here. Let’s walk through what a perfect two-day plan would look like in the city.
Day One: Arrive and Explore the main buildings & cafes
The culture of Vienna is more slow-paced and with an emphasis on the aesthetic. Let that serve as a model for your trip structure and take a leisurely approach to the vacation. Upon arrival, enjoy the great breakfast food & drinks the city is known for. Cafe Central and Cafe Hawelka are great options to try apfelstrudel (apple strudel), sachertorte (chocolate sponge cake), and rich coffee of the area.
Now that you’re in the city’s center (Innere Stadt), take a picturesque walk around all the main buildings. The Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn Palace are the two most famous castles in the city, blanketed by many public gardens. The Schönbrunn also has a zoo, that I think is worth checking out if you have some extra time, but is not a must. The Volksgarten is a great spot to relax, as it is near the impressive steps of the Austrian Parliament building.
To round out the afternoon, I would recommend visiting the Belvedere Palace/Museum, one of the oldest art museums in all of Europe. There is an upper and lower castle, and I think if you are pressed to check out one, the Upper is the best option. See the most famous work of art here (The Kiss by Gustav Klimt) and spend an hour or two exploring the museum’s three floors.
There isn’t a huge nightlife presence in the city, but back in Innere Stadt, shops are open till around midnight with a lot of street performances making it a fun option to explore more of the city in the evening.
Day Two: Delve into Vienna’s food & winery scene
While Vienna isn’t the world’s #1 foodie destination, there are definitely pockets worth checking out which is what your second day will focus on. Start your morning at Naschmarkt, a large public food market serving everything from fruit to meats. This is a great place to try the capital’s main food: Wiener Schnitzel (Viennese Cutlet), as well as get some fun drinks and pastries.
From here, take a break to explore the Albertina, another massive palace that serves as an art museum as well. Feel free to spend some time inside the museum as well if you aren’t burnt out after your time at the Belvedere Museum yesterday; however, if you choose not to enter, it could be a great time to go see the main church building in a city filled with history: Karlskirche. Nearby to the church is a statue of Vienna’s most famous resident, Mozart; these two make for great photo opportunities!
Next, take a taxi/Uber around 30 minutes outside of the city center to Kahlenberg to visit one of the many vineyards in the area. Wine is a 1000+ year old industry in the city, so these vineyards are not only old, but showcase a great part of the city’s history. I specifically recommend Der Hirt, up in the hills, as a great place to drink some quality wine and see the incredible skyline of Vienna. This is a perfect way to close out your two day trip to Vienna!
Make sure to leave enough time to head back home/to your next destination in the evening. Pro tip: the Airport Lounge at VIE is one of the best I have ever been to, so being early to enjoy the great food/drink options they have here is not a bad plan!
Anything we missed about Vienna? Let us know!
