The Perfect Itinerary for 4 Days in Vienna (FREE printable inside!)

This post is for anyone who is looking for the perfect itinerary for 4 days in Vienna. It contains a 4 days in Vienna itinerary, tips on using public transportation in Vienna, where to stay in Vienna, vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Vienna, and money-saving tips. Plus, a free 4 Days in Vienna itinerary printable! 

I think 4 days in Vienna is the right amount of time to get a feel for the old-world charm this incredible city has to offer. The Austrian capital has been at the intersection of many different cultures, and its history as a city goes back to the time of Ancient Rome.

My friend, Victoria, and I planned a winter birthday trip to Europe and our first country on the incredible journey was Austria. Vienna was the city we flew into, with Victoria flying in from New York, and myself, flying in from Bangalore. We had no idea what to expect in Vienna; from our research and talking to friends that had visited, they all seemed to describe it quite romantically.

It’s hard not to fall in love with Vienna – the city seamlessly brings together imperial charm and modernity. For art lovers, the city is filled with museums, galleries, and palaces, and even has a vibrant street art scene. But if art isn’t your thing, don’t fret, because there’s still plenty to see, do and eat in Vienna. Read on to find out my 4 days in Vienna itinerary.

How to Get Around Vienna

We chose to stay in the 3rd district of Landstrasse, which was quiet but still in walking distance to the city center and all the monuments and museums. Even though the weather was chilly during our trip in November, we enjoyed walking around and exploring the city by foot.

We did make use of the excellent public transportation (we got a three-day Vienna City Card) a number of times, especially when heading to Schönbrunn Palace, and the Prater. And, when we didn’t feel like figuring out public transportation, we conveniently hopped in an Uber to take us straight to our door.

Where to Stay in Vienna for 4 Days

During our stay in Vienna, we booked a charming 1-bedroom AirBnB apartment in a historic building located in the 3rd district of Landstrasse. Our host was a lover of art, which was well reflected in the decor, and fellow vegetarian with plenty of restaurant recommendations.

Of course, there are plenty of options other than AirBnb in Vienna to suit any budget. Depending on your needs and size of your travel party, there are hostels, budget hotels, and the ultra luxe five-star hotels in Vienna. I recommend checking out my Vienna hotel listings via HotelsCombined, it searches and compares rates from most booking sites and provides me with the best deals.

 4 Days in Vienna Itinerary

 

Day 1

1. The Kunsthistorisches Museum

Dive right into Viennese history and art by heading to the Art History museum built in 1891 which houses the extensive collections of the Imperial family. In addition to seeing famous works of art from Rembrandt, Titian, and Vermeer, the museum is also home to an Egyptian and Near Eastern collection. The impressive staircase which leads to the galleries also contains a series of paintings that Gustav Klimt (one of my favs) collaborated on. Skip the line & get your tickets now. 

2. Lippizaner Horse Show

As someone who loves horses (in a life prior to what I do now, I was supposed to be an Equine Veterinary surgeon!), getting a chance to see one of Europe’s oldest horse breeds is something not to be missed. The Spanish Riding School, a UNESCO world heritage site, is the only place where the classic equestrian skills (haute école) have been preserved and are still practiced in their original form.

Tickets to the Spanish Riding School

3. Get a breath of fresh air in Stadtpark

We decided to walk from our apartment in the 3rd district of Landstrasse to Stephanspltaz to check out St. Stephan’s cathedral when we surprisingly walked right into Stadtpark. Did you know that half of Vienna’s total area is accounted for by gardens, parks, woods, and agricultural land? The city is considered one of the greenest cities in the world, and Stadtpark serves as a welcoming oasis in the heart of the city. It extends all the way from Ringstrasse in the first district to Landstrasse in the third district. The park is especially beautiful in the Fall when the leaves have turned colors and are beginning to fall.

4. St. Stephan’s Cathedral

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Considered one of Austria’s most impressive Gothic structures, St. Stephan’s Cathedral is well worth your time especially to watch the sunset from its tower. 230,000 glazed tiles decorate the roof in ornate patterns and bold colors. You’ll even find a mosaic of the double-headed eagle, a symbol of the Habsburgs, the empire that ruled from Vienna for over 600 years. Click here to get your tickets to St. Stephan’s Cathedral tower & catacombs. 

5. Seasonal Activity: Exploring the Christkindlmarkt’s

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Winter in Europe means one thing – Christmas is right around the corner and as a result, Christkinlmarkt’s or holiday markets pop up all around town. Locals go to get unique artisanal Christmas ornaments and handicrafts from the numerous vendors, taste the delicious Christmas pastries, savory meats, all while walking around with a glass of mulled wine or gluwhein. The biggest market in Vienna is right in front of City Hall at Rathausplatz, but our favorite was the one we walked through in Stephansplatz, right in front of St. Stephan’s Cathedral. Generally open from mid-November to December 26. 

Day 2

6. Schönbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn Palace is the former summer residence of the imperial family. Just like the Belvedere, it is renowned for its stunning Baroque architecture. It’s the palace where Marie Antoinette spent her summers growing up, running wild in the gardens and park surrounding the Palace. For convenience, I recommend getting your tickets in advance, or if you have a Vienna Pass, you can get in for free.

The palace grounds are impressive, and I highly recommend walking up the Schonbrunn hill to grab a bite at the cafe inside the Gloriette while looking at stunning views of the city in the distance.

Other things to do when you’re at Schonbrunn 

7. Vienna State Opera House

The Vienna State Opera House is one of the world’s leading opera houses, and is simply breathtaking. While you can take a guided tour of the building, we chose not to, and instead showed up an hour before our opera performance and walked around. If you’re visiting in July and August, get your tickets in advance to see Mozart & Strauss at the Vienna State Opera, or head to the official website to see what opera is playing while you’re there. The opera is not just popular with tourists, it’s an activity most locals partake in, so get your tickets in advance – popular shows like La Bohème are known to sell out months in advance.

8. Eat Sachertorte 

The Sacher hotel, which is conveniently located across the street from the Vienna State Opera House is most popularly known for its famed sachertorte. The Sacher Torte is one of Vienna’s signature cakes, with the recipe first dreamt up in 1832 by Franz Sacher while he was 16 and working as a kitchen hand. Head over after your opera ends and you won’t have to wait in the long lines that commonly plague the Sacher Hotel Café and get a taste of one of the 360,000 pieces of handmade Original Sacher Torte that are produced each year.

Day 3

9. Walk the Ringstrasse

The history of the Ringstrasse began when Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the fortifications surrounding Vienna’s city centre to be demolished, and for a boulevard complete with showpiece buildings to be constructed. The buildings on the Ringstrasse are among the city’s most important sights and comprises of a variety of architectural styles. For each building, a style was selected that echoed its intended purpose – for example, the Parliament building was modeled on a Greek temple, and the new section of the imperial residence on a Roman forum. The State Opera (at that time the Court Opera), the University, the Stock Exchange, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Natural History Museum were built in the Neo-Renaissance style, while the Burgtheater is Neo-Baroque, the City Hall is an example of Flemish gothic and the Votive Church was built in the Neo-Gothic style. Or alternatively, take a 3-hour biking tour of the city!

10. Cruise along the Danube

Cruising along lakes and rivers is a popular thing to do in many European cities. The Danube is an important waterway in Vienna, and is one that residents use for recreation and sports. A river cruise is an ideal way to see the city sights without having to move from your seat! Cruises are also a great way to explore neighboring cities like Bratislava in Slovakia, or the Wachau Valley.

11. Prater Park and Ferris Wheel

The Prater Park is home of one of Vienna’s most famous symbols, the Ferris Wheel. A ride on the ferris wheel provides you with unparalleled views of the city on the Danube. My favorite part of Prater park is away from the amusement rides, and in a section known as Green Prater. It was once a spacious forest and meadow area and used by the imperials as a hunting ground before Emperor Jospeh II opened it up to the public. Now residents use the area for walking, running, cycling, and horse riding.

12. Belvedere Palace

The Belvedere Palaces (get your tickets in advance) and formal gardens make up one of Europe’s most attractive Baroque ensembles. The Upper Belvedere is home to the world’s leading collection of Austrian art, AND, houses the world’s largest collection of works by Gustav Klimt – including his famous composition, The Kiss. I like going to museums when they’re not crowded (I mean who doesn’t), and I find an hour or two before closing to always be the least crowded time to visit. Once you’re done, you can watch the sunset over the city (or in the winter months when we visited, watch the sunset and then head in to explore the museum).

Day 4

13. Hundertwasser Haus

Located in the 3rd district (and very close to our Airbnb), the Hundertwasser Haus is a funky and modern apartment complex in Vienna built by architect’s Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Joseph Krawina. While it’s now considered to be an architectural marvel in Vienna, a lot of resident’s don’t feel the same. It’s definitely in stark contrast to the buildings surrounding it, but I quite like the design.

14. Explore Naschmarkt

With a history dating back to the 16th century, Nachmarkt is one of Vienna’s oldest and most popular markets built along the Wien river. The market sells everything from fruits and veggies, to cheeses and meats, and there’s also a section full of restaurants offering both local favorites and international cuisines. Want to know where to find the best things to eat and drink in Naschmarkt? Take a food market tastings tour with a local guide!  There’s a lot going on at Naschmarkt, especially on the weekends – Saturday is the day of the weekly flea market which runs from 6:30am-6:00pm.

Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants in Vienna

I have to admit as vegetarians visiting Vienna, both Victoria and I found it difficult to find meals. Since we had a kitchen in our apartment, we went to the grocery store and ate some of our meals at home, and the rest, we ate at international restaurants.

The traditional Austrian diet is not vegetarian-friendly, unless you can live off sauerkraut. I remember our first meal at this traditional Viennese cafe in our neighborhood – we were locked out of our apartment, stressed because we couldn’t get in touch with our host, and looking at an Austrian menu we couldn’t decipher. We ordered what we thought was a salad, only to have the server bring us a plate of wet lettuce. I’m not even sure why it was on the menu? But that’s what we got! We both looked at each other and just laughed at just how ludicrous the situation was.

I typically find restaurants using Instagram’s geotag option, and also Happy Cow is a great resource for discovering vegetarian and vegan restaurants around the world. Here are a few I tried out in Vienna:

1. Cafe Rochus

Great for weekend brunch – plenty of vegetarian-friendly options. Located in Landstrasse, I recommend getting their early especially on Saturday or Sunday because it’s popular and usually has a wait.
Address: Landstraßer Hauptstraße 55-57, 1030 Wien, Austria

2. Sacher Hotel Café

The Sacher Torte is one of Vienna’s signature cakes, with the recipe first dreamt up in 1832 by Franz Sacher while he was 16 and working as a kitchen hand. Getting a taste of the Sacher is a popular tourist thing to do, so if you go during the day, the lines are incredibly long. I recommend going after dinner – we walked over after our opera performance and didn’t have to wait for a table!

3. Ströck

I think we ate our weight in pastries during our four days in Vienna – unlike those in the US, Austrian pastries are delicious and not cloyingly sweet. Which can be dangerous, because you tend to eat a lot of them. Like I did. Ströck (they have multiple locations in Vienna) is a bakery right next to the Hundertwasser Haus where we got breakfast, coffee, and a few pastries for our train journey to Salzburg.
Address: Ströck, Löwengasse 39, 1030 Wien, Austria

What to Eat and Drink in Vienna

• The famed Sachertorte from Sacher Hotel – some say its overrated, but I thoroughly enjoyed my slice.
• Apfelstrudel – aka apple strudel, a popular Viennese pastry. Thin, flaky outer pastry with an inner filling made of  apples, sugar, cinnamon, and raisins. So delicious, it’s hard to each just one slice.
• Marillenknödel – they’re a traditional Austrian/Czech pastry of apricot dumplings. Delicious, and like most Austrian desserts, not overly sweet.
• All these Viennese coffee shop drinks!
• Seasonal drink: Glühwein or Weihnachtspunch served at Christkindlmarkt’s across the city.

Vienna Culinary Food Tours

Food tours are an incredible way to experience any city – here are a few recommended Viennese food tours!

Money Saving Tips for Your Vienna Itinerary

Vienna is not by any means cheap city, but it is possible to visit it on a budget. The first thing Victoria and I got in Vienna was the Vienna City Card – it allowed us free public transportation within the city, as well as discounts to all the monuments we wanted to see. There are three options: 24, 48, or 72 hours of access and since we stayed for four days, we planned our last day to be within walking distance of our accommodation, so we didn’t have to depend on public transport!

Depending on how many paid attractions you intend to visit, the Vienna Pass is seriously a great money-saving option. It provides free access to over 60 of Vienna’s top attractions, including a skip-the-line option, which in the summer months comes in real clutch.

Recommended Reading for Building your Perfect 4 Days in Vienna Itinerary 

This is the itinerary my friend and I created during our 4 day trip to Vienna. Here are some additional resources that you may find useful when planning your own Vienna itinerary.

•  My guide of Places to Visit in Vienna – an in-depth look of Vienna sights as well as tips on getting tickets to a performance at the Vienna Opera
• My guide to Vienna Coffee House culture – ordering a cup of coffee is srs business!
• I also visited Salzburg after Vienna, you can find my articles here
• Looking for guidebook recommendations? I used the Lonely Planet Vienna (Travel Guide) while Victoria used Fodor’s Vienna and the best of Austria and we found both to be informative.

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