Frankfurt and Vienna make a smart winter pairing: one a river city of glass towers, trading guilds, and apple wine; the other an imperial capital where art and music shaped Europe. In a week you’ll sample both sides of Central Europe—from the Rhine’s castle-dotted slopes to Habsburg palaces, Klimt, and candlelit coffeehouses.

Frankfurt’s Altstadt was painstakingly rebuilt after WWII, yet its medieval squares still frame the modern skyline. Vienna’s center is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure, wrapped by the Ringstrasse and studded with grand museums, the Hofburg, and the neo-Gothic St. Stephen’s Cathedral. January brings frosty air, early sunsets, and cozy evenings—pack layers, waterproof shoes, and a warm hat.

Practical notes: Germany and Austria use the euro; card payments are widely accepted but small cafés may prefer cash. Trains are frequent and punctual; for Frankfurt–Vienna compare flights versus rail (city-center to city-center convenience often tips the balance). Classic dishes to seek out: Frankfurt’s Grüne Soße and Apfelwein; Vienna’s Tafelspitz, schnitzel, and pastries like Sachertorte. If your travel window is Jan 7–10, follow Days 1–4 for a condensed version.

Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt marries medieval lanes and river isles with Europe’s most recognizable skyline. Wander Römerberg’s stepped façades, cross the iron footbridge for city views, and dive into the Museumsufer on the south bank for Old Masters and contemporary art.

• Top sights: Römerberg, Eiserner Steg, Kleinmarkthalle, Städel Museum, Goethe House, Palmengarten, Main Tower observation deck.
• What to eat: hearty Grüne Soße (herb sauce), Handkäse mit Musik, and Apfelwein in cozy Sachsenhausen taverns.
• Good to know: The Frankfurt Card offers unlimited public transit and museum discounts; trams and S-Bahn are efficient for crisscrossing the center.

Stay: Browse centrally located stays near the Altstadt, Bahnhofsviertel (close to the station), or leafy Westend.

VRBO Frankfurt am Main stays | Hotels.com Frankfurt am Main hotels

Getting in and around: From Frankfurt Airport, S-Bahn S8/S9 reach the center in ~15 minutes. Prefer a door-to-door ride?

Private Transfer: Frankfurt Airport ↔ City

Day 1: Arrive in Frankfurt (afternoon), Old Town and River Views

Morning: Travel to Frankfurt. If you arrive early, drop bags and revive with specialty coffee at Hoppenworth & Ploch (Campus shop roasts in-house; try a fruity filter).

Afternoon: Stroll Römerberg’s timbered square and visit the Kaiserdom, where emperors were crowned. Browse Kleinmarkthalle’s food stalls—sample a warm Fleischwurst at Metzgerei Schreiber or Sicilian cannoli at Il Siciliano.

Evening: Cross Eiserner Steg at sunset for skyline photos. Dinner in Sachsenhausen at Atschel (classic Apfelwein tavern; order schnitzel with Grüne Soße) or Dauth-Schneider for crispy potatoes and cider. Nightcap at The Kinly Bar (award-winning cocktail den; reservations recommended).

Day 2: Frankfurt Highlights and Museumsufer

Morning: Join a guided city walk to get the lay of the land and stories behind the facades.

Frankfurt Highlights English Walking Tour

Grab breakfast at Café Maingold (vintage vibe; homemade cakes) before the tour. You’ll cover the Old Town core, the riverfront, and modern finance quarter.

Afternoon: Museum time along the south bank. The Städel Museum spans 700 years of European art; the nearby Museum Angewandte Kunst explores design. Coffee break at The Holy Cross Brewing Society (excellent espresso). Late-afternoon up Main Tower for a panoramic view.

Evening: Dinner at Margarete (modern German, seasonal produce) or Ariston (Greek; order grilled octopus and lemon potatoes). If you’re hungry for more local flavor, try Frankfurter Rippchen (cured pork chops) at Salzkammer.

Day 3: Day Trip—The Romantic Rhine (or Heidelberg)

Head out to castles, vineyards, and storybook villages on the UNESCO-listed Rhine Valley. This is a full-day excursion with a river cruise and wine tasting.

Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise

Prefer a half-day focused on a single city? Opt for romantic Heidelberg to see its red sandstone castle and Baroque Old Town.

Heidelberg Castle and Old Town Tour from Frankfurt

Back in Frankfurt, celebrate with regional plates at Zum Gemalten Haus (lively tavern) or classy seasonal fare at Emma Metzler by the Museum Angewandte Kunst.

Vienna

Vienna is Europe’s grand salon: Baroque palaces, 19th-century grandeur, and a café culture where time lingers over newspapers and whipped cream. Music infuses everything—Mozart, Mahler, and modern virtuosos still fill the city’s gilded halls.

• Top sights: Hofburg and Spanish Riding School, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn, Belvedere (Klimt’s “The Kiss”), MuseumsQuartier, the Ringstrasse, Prater’s Giant Ferris Wheel.
• What to eat: Tafelspitz at Plachutta, schnitzel at Figlmüller, pastries at Café Central or Demel, and market bites at Naschmarkt.
• Good to know: The U-Bahn is fast and safe; 24/48/72-hour tickets are great value for visitors. Many cafés seat by host—wait to be guided.

Stay: For classic elegance, book in the Innere Stadt. For art-forward boutiques, look in Neubau (7th), or choose Landstraße (3rd) for easy transit and space.

VRBO Vienna apartments | Hotels.com Vienna hotels

Day 4: Frankfurt → Vienna, Innere Stadt Walk

Morning (travel): Frankfurt to Vienna by train is ~6–7 hours (often one direct Railjet; ~€40–120). Flying takes ~1h25 (about 3.5–4 hours door-to-door; ~€80–180 round trip). Compare options and schedules:

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Afternoon: Drop bags and set off around the Graben and Kohlmarkt. Step inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral (don’t miss the tiled roof), then warm up at Café Central (historic literati haunt; try a mini Sacher). Window-shop on the Ringstrasse arcades.

Evening: Dinner at Figlmüller Wollzeile for a plate-sized schnitzel (book ahead). If you love music, look for an evening performance at the Musikverein or a salon concert at the Kursalon.

Day 5: Hofburg, MuseumsQuartier, and Naschmarkt

Morning: Coffee and croissants at Joseph Brot (artisan bakery) before touring the Hofburg’s Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum. Peek into the Spanish Riding School stables if you’re nearby.

Afternoon: Explore the MuseumsQuartier: choose the Leopold Museum (Egon Schiele and Vienna 1900) or mumok for modern art. Lunch at NENI am Naschmarkt (Middle Eastern plates to share) or Umar Fisch for Viennese seafood classics.

Evening: Tram D or U4 to Grinzing for a heuriger (wine tavern). Schübel-Auer pours house wine with live Schrammelmusik; pair with Liptauer, schnitzel, and potato salad.

Day 6: Schönbrunn and Belvedere

Morning: Schönbrunn Palace tour (Grand Tour if you love interiors); stroll the gardens and climb to the Gloriette for a city view. Warm up with strudel at Café Residenz.

Afternoon: Head to the Belvedere: Upper Belvedere holds Klimt’s “The Kiss” and luminous Viennese Secession works; Lower Belvedere hosts rotating exhibitions. Coffee at Café Sperl (1880 charm, billiards, waltz-time ambience).

Evening: Dinner at Plachutta Wollzeile for Tafelspitz in copper pots, with bone marrow toast and apple-horseradish. Nightcap at Krypt (hidden cellar bar with impeccable classics).

Day 7: Prater, Hundertwasser, and Return to Frankfurt

Morning: Ride the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Prater for a wintery panorama, then detour to the whimsical Hundertwasserhaus. Coffee at Balthasar (bright, third-wave roastery vibes).

Afternoon (travel): Fly or rail back to Frankfurt for your roundtrip. Expect ~1h25 flight time (plan 3.5–4 hours door-to-door) or ~6–7 hours by train. Check times and fares:

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Evening: If you have a late departure, early dinner near Wien Mitte at Gasthaus Pöschl (unpretentious, perfectly fried schnitzel) or grab a final slice of Esterházy cake for the journey.

Optional Add‑Ons and Swaps

• Short on time (Jan 7–10)? Follow Days 1–4 (Frankfurt highlights + travel to Vienna + historic center) for a compact roundtrip.
• If weather is wet, swap an outdoor walk for the Kunsthistorisches Museum (imperial art collection) or Palmengarten back in Frankfurt.

Booking Pointers

• Accommodations: VRBO Frankfurt am Main, Hotels.com Frankfurt | VRBO Vienna, Hotels.com Vienna
• Transport within Europe: Omio trains, Omio flights, Omio buses
• Frankfurt tours featured: walking tour, Rhine cruise day trip, and Heidelberg half-day for flexible pacing.

In a single week you’ll taste two sides of Central Europe: Frankfurt’s riverfront energy and vineyard-lined day trips, then Vienna’s palaces, paintings, and perfect pastries. Come for the skyline and the Strauss waltzes; leave with a camera full of spires and a new fondness for long, unhurried coffee breaks.