Vienna

Vienna, Austria's capital, was the Habsburg seat for centuries, and it still has their palaces, traditional coffeehouses and an opera house. Three to four days covers the main sights at a relaxed pace.

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Vienna is the capital of Austria, on the Danube in the northeast of the country. For centuries it was the seat of the Habsburg monarchy, and the Hofburg and Schönbrunn palaces still show that history. After the old city walls were torn down, the Ringstrasse boulevards were built in their place, and the buildings along them are worth a slow walk. Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert all lived and worked here for long stretches, so classical music fills the concert halls and the opera house.

Vienna suits a slow trip. Mornings suit the big palaces and museums, afternoons a coffeehouse, a tradition UNESCO lists as intangible cultural heritage, and evenings the opera or a wine tavern in the outer districts, where heurigen pour young local wine. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking the city. Three to four days covers the core sights at an unhurried pace, with room for a day trip to the Wachau valley.

Vienna in five

Pick the S7 or the CAT bus from the airportThe CAT airport express currently runs as a replacement bus while its line is rebuilt, about 21 minutes to Wien Mitte. The S7 train covers the same route for less.
Book Schönbrunn with a time slotState room tours run on timed tickets that sell out on summer days. The gardens are free to walk, so book the rooms and spend the waiting time outside.
Buy a 24, 48 or 72-hour transit ticketOne Wiener Linien ticket covers the U-Bahn, trams and buses in the city. Trams 1 and 2 run most of the Ringstrasse, which saves a paid sightseeing tour.
Plan around Sunday closingsMost shops close on Sundays, while museums, cafés and restaurants stay open. Do your shopping on Saturday.
Stand at the State OperaStanding places at the Staatsoper cost far less than seats and go on sale for most performances. Check the opera's site for the current sale rules.

Things to do in Vienna

See all attractions in Vienna

low angle photography of brown and white ceiling

Museum · ViennaNatural History Museum ViennaWeekday mornings are generally quieter than afternoons.

Museum · ViennaSchmetterlinghausA weekday visit can help you avoid crowds in the compact enclosure.

Historic site · ViennaRoman RuinGo early for a quieter visit and photos.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to ViennaPut the places you like in Vienna on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Vienna (VIE), about 21 min to Wien Mitte by CAT bus
Getting there: Railjet from Salzburg about 2.5 hours, Munich about 4 hours
Getting around: U-Bahn, trams and buses on one ticket; the center is walkable
Best base: Inside the Ring for sights, Neubau or Wieden for value
Time needed: 3–4 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-1°Ball season
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low3°Cool, spring starts
AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low6°Mild, blossom
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Warm, green
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Warm, busy
JulyPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh27°Low17°Hot, busy
AugustPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh28°Low17°Hot, some closures
SeptemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Mild, wine taverns
OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh16°Low9°Cool, clear
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Gray, markets open
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low1°Christmas markets

Average daily high and low in Vienna, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: May Vienna Festival · Jun Vienna Festival · Oct Wien Modern · Nov Wien Modern

Right now in Vienna

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 5°
Humidity: 68%
Wind: 12 km/h
Chance of rain: 5%

The Danube Valley

09:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today10°7°5%Monday: Rain. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 5%.
Tue9°6°13%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 13%.
Wed10°5°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°2°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri9°2°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat11°2°0%Saturday: Clear. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun8°1°3%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 3%.

Updated 07:31 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Vienna

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Wiener Stadthalle · concertNickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027Jun 25, 2027 · Rooms near the venue

Every year

May–JunVienna FestivalVienna
Oct–NovWien ModernVienna

Day trips by train

Wachau valleyabout 1 hour by train to MelkMelk Abbey, then a boat or bike along the Danube to Dürnstein and Krems among the vineyards.Read the guide
Bratislavaabout 1 hour by trainSlovakia's capital, with a compact old town and a castle above the Danube. Both countries use the euro.
Baden bei Wienabout 1 hour by local tramA spa town south of the city, reached on the Badner Bahn from the opera.

Before you go to Vienna

Schönbrunn and palace ticketsTimed slots for the state roomsBook timed entry

Trains to Budapest and PragueRailjet routes from Vienna HbfRead the guide

eSIM for ViennaU-Bahn maps and ticket appsRead the guide

Insurance for ViennaPickpocket and delay cover on busy tramsRead the guide

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Rules for Vienna, checked

The City Airport Train (CAT) runs as a replacement bus, about 21 minutes to Wien Mitte, until around the end of October 2027.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

Plan around Vienna

All of Austria

Cities, Alps, rail and entry rules

Read the guide Salzburg

Baroque city, about 2.5 hours by Railjet

Read the guide Budapest

Danube capital, a short rail hop to the east

Read the guide Prague

Czech capital, about 4 hours by direct train

Read the guide The Danube Valley

Wachau boats, ferries and bike paths downriver

Read the guide Linz

Danube city and museum stop on the Westbahn

Read the guide Graz

Styria's capital, 2 hours 36 minutes by direct train

Read the guide

Vienna FAQ

How do I get from Vienna airport to the city center?

The CAT currently runs as a replacement bus to Wien Mitte, about 21 minutes. The S7 and some regional trains cover the same route more slowly and cost less; buy a ticket that covers the airport, since it lies outside the city zone.

How many days do I need in Vienna?

Three days covers the Hofburg, Schönbrunn, the Belvedere and one big museum at a calm pace. Add a fourth for the Wachau or Bratislava.

Is Vienna expensive to visit?

Rooms and restaurants cost about the same as other Western European capitals. Transit passes, free gardens and standing places at the opera keep daily costs down.

When are the Vienna Christmas markets?

Most open from mid-November and run until just before or after Christmas. The markets at Rathausplatz and Schönbrunn are the largest.

Is a Vienna sightseeing pass worth it?

Only if you plan several paid sights each day. For a typical mix of free gardens, cafés and two or three palaces, a transit ticket and single entries usually cost less.