Vienna—Wiedeń in Polish—was the beating heart of the Habsburg Empire for centuries, and its stately palaces, grand boulevards, and world-class museums still tell that story. Yet it’s also a city of everyday pleasures: a melange at a marble-topped café table, a slice of Sachertorte, a lingering waltz of violins drifting from a concert hall.

Expect a delicious blend of old and new. Imperial apartments sit a short tram ride from creative districts like Neubau and the Danube Canal’s street art. You’ll move seamlessly from Gustav Klimt’s golden glow to a crisp schnitzel and an evening ride on the Prater’s historic Riesenrad.

Practicalities are easy. Vienna’s U-Bahn and trams are fast and safe, the Vienna City Card can save time and money, and most attractions are walkable. Cuisine spans hearty Viennese classics to Michelin-starred dining. This 7-day itinerary balances icons, neighborhoods, and two smart day trips.

Vienna

Vienna is a city of rituals: morning coffee at a traditional Kaffeehaus, a stroll along the Ringstrasse, a museum afternoon, and music at night. Baroque and Jugendstil architecture frame a lively dining scene and green parks that invite you to linger.

Top sights include Schönbrunn Palace, the Hofburg, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Belvedere’s “The Kiss,” and the MuseumsQuartier. Don’t miss the Spanish Riding School, the Vienna State Opera, and a turn on the Prater’s Giant Ferris Wheel.

Getting to Vienna

• Flights: Vienna International Airport (VIE) is a major hub. Search intercontinental options via Trip.com or Kiwi.com; within Europe compare fares on Omio (flights). Typical nonstop times: Paris 2h, London 2h15, New York 8–9h (1 stop).
• Trains: Fast, comfortable, and central to Wien Hbf. Examples: Budapest ~2h40, Prague ~4h, Munich ~4h. Compare schedules and prices on Omio (trains); regional buses on Omio (buses).
• Airport to city: S7 (26–28 min, ~€4–5) or ÖBB Railjet (15–18 min, ~€4–5) to Wien Mitte/Wien Hbf; CAT (~16 min, ~€14–16) to Wien Mitte.

Where to stay

• Innere Stadt (1st District): Walk to the Hofburg, Stephansdom, and top museums—ideal for first-time visitors.
• Neubau (7th) & Mariahilf (6th): Creative, central, and excellent for cafés and boutiques near MuseumsQuartier.
• Leopoldstadt (2nd): Leafy, riverside, and handy for the Prater and Danube Canal bars.
• Browse hotels on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO. Aim for proximity to a U-Bahn station.

Day 1: Arrival, St. Stephen’s, and the Coffeehouse Tradition

Morning: Fly or train into Vienna. If arriving early, drop bags and stretch your legs along the Ringstrasse to get your bearings.

Afternoon: Start in the heart of the old town at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Climb the South Tower for tiled-roof views. Walk the Graben and Kohlmarkt—historic promenades lined with façades from the city’s golden age—and peek at Adolf Loos’s modernist Looshaus across from Michaelerplatz.

Evening: Introduce your palate to Viennese classics: book Figlmüller (paper-thin schnitzel that hangs off the plate) or Gasthaus Pöschl for a cozy tafelspitz and seasonal specials. Cap the night at Loos American Bar (tiny, jewel-box interior) or the glass-walled Das Loft Bar at SO/ Vienna for a neon-lit skyline.

Day 2: Schönbrunn Palace and a Night at the Opera

Morning: U4 to Schönbrunn. Tour the palace (Imperial Tour ~45 min; Grand Tour ~60 min). Roam the gardens to the Gloriette for panoramic photos. If traveling with kids, the Children’s Museum and the Tiergarten (the world’s oldest zoo) are excellent.

Afternoon: Coffee and apple strudel demonstration at Café Residenz, then hop back toward the center. Pause at Café Sperl (velvet banquettes, billiard tables) for a melange and topfenstrudel. Late snack at Meierei im Stadtpark if you’re near the canal—its dairy-forward menu and cheese cart are a joy.

Evening: Try to catch a performance at the Vienna State Opera; standing-room is an affordable way in (often €13–15). Prefer dinner first? Book Plachutta Wollzeile for silky boiled beef (tafelspitz) served with bone marrow, creamed spinach, and apple-horseradish. Nightcap: Kleinod for polished cocktails.

Day 3: MuseumsQuartier, Klimt, and the Ringstrasse

Morning: Begin at the Kunsthistorisches Museum—one of Europe’s great art museums—then cross to the Naturhistorisches for an architectural twin. Alternatively, go straight to the Leopold Museum for Egon Schiele and early Klimt.

Afternoon: Lunch at Glacis Beisl (hidden garden courtyard; refined Austrian staples) or within MQ at Halle Café-Restaurant. Walk to the Secession building to see Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze, then continue to Karlskirche—the Baroque dome is stunning. Coffee stop at Café Museum (Adolf Loos design lineage) or contemporary-roaster Balthasar Kaffee Bar near Praterstrasse.

Evening: For a splurge, Steirereck im Stadtpark (two stars; inventive Austrian terroir) requires advance booking; its more casual Meierei counterpart is great too. Music lovers can opt for an orchestral concert at the Musikverein (the “Golden Hall”) or the Konzerthaus—both temples of sound.

Day 4: Belvedere, Hundertwasser, and the Danube

Morning: Tram D to Upper Belvedere for Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss,” plus Schiele and Kokoschka. Stroll the terraced Baroque gardens to Lower Belvedere and the new exhibition spaces.

Afternoon: Walk or tram to Hundertwasserhaus to admire Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s colorful, undulating façades, then explore the Danube Canal murals. Late lunch at Motto am Fluss (stylish riverside spot) or NENI am Naschmarkt for vibrant Middle Eastern plates.

Evening: Head to the Prater for sunset on the Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel). For dinner, Schweizerhaus (seasonal; famed for crispy Stelze pork knuckle and Budweiser Budvar) is a beer-garden classic; off-season, try Lugeck (Viennese classics with lighter, modern touches). Post-dinner, slip into Krypt (a vaulted, subterranean speakeasy) if you fancy a crafted cocktail.

Day 5: Day Trip to the Wachau Valley (Melk–Dürnstein–Krems)

Morning: Take an early ÖBB regional train from Wien Hbf to Melk (~1h; ~€15–22 each way; compare on Omio). Tour the Benedictine Melk Abbey—its Baroque library and terrace are unforgettable.

Afternoon: In season (roughly Apr–Oct), cruise the Danube to Dürnstein (~1.5–2.5h; ~€30–45 one-way), passing terraced vineyards and castles. Wander Dürnstein’s lanes, sample Wachauer Marillen (apricots) in summer, and, time permitting, continue to Krems for the train back to Vienna. Off-season, use regional trains/buses between towns.

Evening: Back in Vienna, enjoy a light dinner of open-faced sandwiches and Austrian wine at Zum Schwarzen Kameel’s standing bar, or settle into Skopik & Lohn in the 2nd district for creative, art-splashed bistro vibes. If you still have energy, stroll the illuminated Ringstrasse.

Day 6: Spanish Riding School, Jewish Vienna, and Bratislava (Flex Option)

Morning: Catch the Spanish Riding School’s morning exercise (usually cheaper than performances; check schedule) and tour the Hofburg’s Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum. Coffee and cakes at Café Central—marble columns, newspapers on wooden holders, and a case full of tortes—define the ritual.

Afternoon: Choose your deep dive: the Jewish Museum (Judenplatz and Dorotheergasse) for layered local history, the Third Man Museum for postwar cinema buffs, or shopping the indie boutiques of Neubau (look for Austrian design and small roasters like Süssmund). Lunch at Gasthaus Zur Oper (solid Viennese dishes) or a Naschmarkt graze—try Umar for ultra-fresh fish or Deli for mezze.

Evening: If you want a short international jaunt, do a late afternoon/evening hop to Bratislava another day—or make today a Vienna night: book Mraz & Sohn (innovative tasting menu) or the easier-to-book Mraz & Sohn’s offshoots; otherwise, go for hearty Reinthaler’s Beisl. Drinks at If Dogs Run Free (minimalist, balanced cocktails) or Onyx Bar overlooking Stephansplatz.

Day 7: Markets, Farewell Brunch, and Departure

Morning: Easy start at Karmelitermarkt (Saturdays are best) for local produce, coffee at the nearby cafès, or opt for a nostalgic brunch at Vollpension where “grandmas” bake cakes and chat. Pick up last-minute Mozartkugeln or Manner wafers.

Afternoon: Depending on your flight or train, take a final walk through Stadtpark to say goodbye to Strauss, then head to VIE. For airport transfers, use the S7/ÖBB Railjet (~15–28 min, ~€4–5) or CAT (~16 min, ~€14–16). Compare flights on Omio (Europe) or long-haul on Trip.com/Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you have a late departure, squeeze in one last slice of Sachertorte—Hotel Sacher for the classic or Demel for imperial-era tradition—and a quick toast with a spritzer along the Danube Canal.

Insider tips

• Passes: The Vienna City Card (24/48/72h) includes transit and discounts; consider the Vienna Pass for bundled museum entries if you’ll tour heavily.
• Reservations: Book Steirereck, the State Opera, Spanish Riding School, and Figlmüller well ahead, especially May–September and December.
• Coffeehouse etiquette: Seat yourself unless guided; linger as long as you like—ordering a coffee buys time.
• Seasonal notes: Danube cruises and Prater beer gardens are mostly April–October; winter brings top-tier Christmas markets (Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn).

Alternative Day Trip (swap with Day 6 if desired): Bratislava — Trains from Wien Hbf take ~1h; return tickets often ~€15–20 (the “Bratislava Ticket” typically includes Bratislava public transport). Explore the compact Old Town, Bratislava Castle for Danube views, Blue Church (St. Elizabeth), and lunch at a Slovak spot like Flagship for bryndzové halušky and local beer. Compare options on Omio (trains) or Omio (buses).

Wherever you stay, keep logistics simple: pick a base near a U-Bahn line and use Hotels.com or VRBO to compare neighborhoods and amenities.

In one week, you’ll trace Vienna’s story from Habsburg opulence to contemporary creativity, with time for vineyards and a neighboring capital. Between coffeehouses, galleries, and music halls, Wiedeń rewards every unhurried step—and beckons you back for an encore.