Two Days In Vienna

This two days in Vienna plan is a budget itinerary with many incredible things to do.

Vienna, Austria’s enchanting capital, is a city that waltzes between historical grandeur and modern charm. Once the heart of the sprawling Habsburg Empire, Vienna stuns with its opulent palaces, world-class museums, and a rich cultural heritage that echoes with the melodies of Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss.

But Vienna isn’t just about the past. Beyond the imperial air, a vibrant cafe scene bubbles with life, fueled by steaming cups of Viennese coffee and frothy mugs of lager. Speaking of beverages, the currency in Vienna is the Euro (€), so be sure to exchange your cash or have a travel card ready.

Day 1

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

We start the first day in the most iconic building in Vienna. St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or Stephansdom as locals affectionately call it, is the heart of Vienna. This majestic Gothic masterpiece dominates the city’s skyline with its towering South Tower, a landmark visible from afar.

Construction began in the 12th century, and the cathedral has since witnessed centuries of history. Its ornate roof, adorned with colourful tiles, is a breathtaking sight, while the interior is an architectural and an artistic wonders. The sound of the cathedral’s bells ringing out over the city is unforgettable, and stepping inside, one can feel the might of history and reverence in the air.

Visiting the Cathedral is completely FREE.
Visiting hours:

• 9 Hs – 11:30 Hs and 13 Hs – 16:30 Hs (Mon – Sat)
• 13 Hs – 16:30 Hs (Sun and holidays)

Plague Column And Graben

Only four minutes walking, you’ll find the Plague Column, a striking Baroque masterpiece. Erected as a token of gratitude after the devastating plague of 1679, it stands as a powerful symbol of faith and resilience. Adorned with intricate sculptures, the column is a testament to the city’s history and a must-see for any visitor.

Its location on the Graben, a vibrant hub of activity, creates a fascinating juxtaposition of old and new. While you admire the column’s artistry, you’ll also be surrounded by the bustling energy of Vienna’s modern life. When you’re there, be sure to explore the Schenkenstraße and Kohlmarkt, two adjacent streets known for their luxurious shops. Get lost in the beautiful narrow, vibrant and beautiful streets of the city centre.

St. Peter’s Catholic Church (Peterskirche)

From the Column, walk just two minutes to find St. Peter’s Catholic Church, a stunning Baroque masterpiece that graces Vienna’s cityscape. This incredible church, with its imposing dome, is a testament to the city’s rich architectural heritage. Built in the early 18th century, it was the first domed church in Baroque Vienna, drawing inspiration from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

The interior is a breathtaking symphony of ornate details, statues, and gilded accents. We were lucky enough to see the it decorated for Christmas; just admire what we fond in the picture below.

The entrance to the Church is FREE.
Visiting hours:

• The church is generally open daily from 8 AM till 7 PM.

Café Landtmann

About 15 minutes walking we have Café Landtmann. This cafe has been a cornerstone of Viennese culture for over 150 years. Since its building in 1876, the café has welcomed a diverse clientele, from intellectuals and artists to politicians and revolutionaries. Among its notable patrons was Adolf Hitler, who frequented the establishment during his time in Vienna.

This place can be costly, but if you are a history fan, enjoy an apple strudel and coffee, imagining all the historic figures who stayed where you are now.

Burgtheater And Rathausplatz

Crossing the street from Cafe Landtmann you have the incredible Burgtheater. This grand, historic building, located on the Ringstrasse, is Austria’s national theatre and one of Europe’s most prestigious stages.

Right across from the Burgtheater, Rathausplatz is the hearth of Vienna’s city centre with its vibrant public square. Surrounded by impressive buildings, including the majestic City Hall, the square comes alive with various events throughout the year. In winter, it becomes a magical winter wonderland with a large ice rink; while in summer, it hosts open-air concerts and festivals.

Volksgarten And Austrian Parliament

Walking along Universitätsring you’ll find Volksgarten opposite the Austrian Parliament.

The Volksgarten (People’s Garden) is a beautifully landscaped public park located in the Innere Stadt district. It was originally part of the Hofburg Palace gardens and opened to the public in 1820. Its highlights are: Rose Garden with over 400 varieties, Theseus Temple, a replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, and many more monuments and fountains. The best season to visit is from late spring to early autumn, when the roses are in full bloom.

The Austrian Parliament Building, a monumental structure, stands as a testament to Austria’s legislative power towards democracy. Designed by Theophil Hansen, it was completed in 1883 and serves as the seat of the National Council and the Federal Council.

You can visit the Parliament for free and they also offer free guided tours.
Scheduled tours of Parliament:

• Monday to Friday: 11.45am, 1.45pm, 3.45pm CET
  Duration of the guided tours: 55 minutes. The guided tours at 3.45pm are always long tours and last 85 minutes.
• Saturday: 11.45am, 1.45pm, 3.45pm CET
  Duration of the guided tours: 55 minutes.

Scheduled tours of Palais Epstein:

• Saturday: 11.30am, 1.30pm CET.
  Duration of the guided tours: 55 minutes.

Maria-Theresien-Platz

Only Four minutes walking you’ll be in the incredible Maria-Theresien-Platz, one of the most striking and historically rich sites in the city and a hub for art and history enthusiasts.
Maria-Theresien-Platz is uniquely bordered by two identical museum buildings, both masterpieces of Renaissance Revival architecture.

If you decide to go to any of the identical museum here are the prices.

Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History):

• Adult: €21
• Kids and Teens under 19 years old: FREE

Naturhistorisches Museum (Museum of Natural History):

• Adults: €18
• Kids and Teens under 19 years old: FREE

Heldenplatz And Hofburg Palace

Right across the street from Maria-Theresien-Platz, is Heldenplatz. Notably, it was here on March 15, 1938, that Adolf Hitler delivered his speech announcing the Anschluss, marking Austria’s annexation into Nazi Germany. The square features impressive equestrian statues of Archduke Charles and Prince Eugene of Savoy, celebrating Austria’s military heroes.

Michaelerplatz

Just Four minutes walking you end up in Michaelerplatz.
Michaelerplatz is a historic square in Vienna, renowned for its striking architecture and central location. It features the majestic Michaelerkirche (St. Michael’s Church) with its Baroque facade, and the Hofburg Palace, which houses several museums and the Imperial Apartments. The square is a vibrant hub, blending Vienna’s rich history with its lively present.

Relax after a long day walking and enjoy a cold Austrian beer served by the litre to finish our first day out of this two days in Vienna.

Day 2

We will start our second day of this two days in Vienna in a breathtaking and unforgattable library! On this second day, we will visit some places where you need to take public transport, unlike the first day where everything was within walking distance.

Austrian National Library, State Hall

The Austrian National Library’s State Hall, located within the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, is a baroque masterpiece and one of the world’s most beautiful historic libraries. Completed in the 18th century, the hall stretches over 80 meters and houses more than 200,000 volumes, including rare and ancient manuscripts. Its stunning architecture features ornate frescoes by Daniel Gran, marble statues, and richly decorated wooden bookshelves.
This place blew my mind! I couldn’t believe how many details and how incredible it was.

Prices for the Austrian National Library’s State Hall:

• Adult: €10
• Family group (2 adults with at least one child under 19): €16

St. Charles’s Church

It’s up to you to take the Subway U1 and get there in 13 minutes or go walking and be there in 15 minutes.

St. Charles’s Church (Karlskirche) in Vienna is a baroque masterpiece built in 1737. Commissioned by Emperor Charles VI, it honours St. Charles Borromeo, a plague saint. Fun fact: the church features two columns inspired by Trajan’s Column in Rome, and an elevator inside takes visitors up close to the stunning dome frescoes. Don’t miss this architectural gem in Karlsplatz!

Belvedere Palace And Garden

Take the tram 1 or D to be there in 12 minutes.
Vienna’s crown shimmers with many facets, but for art lovers, the Belvedere Palace reigns supreme. This magnificent complex, of two palaces, isn’t just a visual feast – it’s a portal to Vienna’s artistic heritage.

Built in the opulent Baroque style, the Belvedere was once the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, a legendary military leader. Today, it houses an art collection that will blow your mind.

But the Belvedere is more than just a gallery. Imagine strolling through impressive gardens, adorned with sculptures and cascading fountains, all leading up to the palaces themselves.

Be aware that the Palace is divided in two sections, the upper Belvedere and the lower Belvedere. You need at least a couple of hours to visit each of them and explore properly.

The price and opening hours are:
Upper Belvedere

• Adult: €18,60
• Children and teens under 19: FREE

Lower Belvedere

• Adult: €15,6
• Children and teens under 19: FREE

2 in 1 Day Ticket With Upper And Lower

• Adult: €28,3

Mozartgrab

If you like classical music, St. Marx Cemetery has a treasure waiting for you: the grave of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Take the Tram 18 from the Belvedere Palace and get there in 19 minutes.

Mozart’s grave is located in Vienna’s St. Marx Cemetery, where the composer was buried in 1791. Although the exact location of his grave is unknown, a memorial tomb marks the site. This simple yet poignant tribute reflects Mozart’s lasting legacy. A visit here offers a moment to pay respects to one of classical music’s greatest geniuses.
If you get there by dusk, the whole place has an eerie atmosphere, and many of the decorations on the graves are beautiful.

Important Detail: Google Maps will send you to the wrong entrance, or better say, no entrance at all. You can find the entrance of the cemetery where the toilets are. Click Here to have the correct location on your Google Maps.

The entrance is FREE.

With this, we end our two days in Vienna, full of history, good food, real beer, and having learned about this incredible capital city.

If you are travelling through Europe, click here on my Europe page, to enjoy more awesome destinations to discover and explore!

How To Move Around Vienna

1 Taxi (Bolt)

If you need/want to use a Taxi I always recommend to use the Bolt app, most taxis in Vienna are associated to this app and they can’t scam you if you use it because is a fix rate so there’s no chance of them going in circles to charge you more.

• Download the app for Apple devices Bolt
• Download the app for Android devices Bolt

2 Public Transport

Vienna has many public transports to offer, from trains, trams, subways and buses. Tickets can be purchased:

• At a multilingual ticket machine (subway stations)

• At any booking office and the Wiener Linien online store

• In most tobacconists

• Via a smartphone using the WienMobil app for iOS or Android

The Prices are:

• Single ticket: For a journey in one direction including (multiple) changes, valid for 80 minutes from the moment of validation: €2.40 (children €1.20)

• 24-hour ticket: €8.00

• 48-hour ticket: €14.10

• 72-hour ticket: €17.10

3 Rent a Bicycle

As a personal preference I’m always trying to use a bicycle because is easy, cheap and it’s fun! Next is an app available in over hundred cities.

• Download the app for Apple devices NEXT
• Download the app for Android devices NEXT

Price of the bike rent:

• Basic Tariff is €0,75 per every 30 minutes

One important thing to have in mind, always remember to return the bike in a designated parking, if not you will be charged an extra Euro as a fine.

How To Get To The City Centre From The Airport

I would recommend The CAT which is the fastest express airport train that travels direct to the central Wien Mitte station, which connects with the U3 and U4 subway lines to start your adventure in Vienna.

Wien Mitte area is on the edge of the old town / first district, so its a convenient starting point. And the big advantage of the CAT compared to other trains is comfort and, particularly, space for luggage.

You can buy the ticket in advanced HERE and the price is:

• Basic Tariff is €14,90