Vienna is a cultural hub full of gorgeous architecture and lots of history. It was once home to Beethoven and Mozart and is a must-visit destination! You can easily spend a few days exploring the city and everything it has to offer, however, if you only have 1 day I’m sharing the highlights that you need to check out with this Vienna one-day itinerary! You’ll want to start your day early to fit everything in after you eat breakfast.
Now, let’s dive into the itinerary!
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Check Out the Votivkirche
First, you’ll start your day by checking out the Votivkirche. The Votivkirche (in English Voltive Church) is one of the many iconic landmarks in Vienna. This neo-gothic church took 20 years to build and is incredibly ornate in the detail of the architecture. On days that it is open, the church is free to enter and there is a small museum within the church that you can pay to go into.
Walk to Rathaus (Vienna City Hall)
Next, you’ll make a short walk from the Voltivkirche to Rathaus. Rathaus is another iconic landmark in Vienna and serves as the main government building. About 2,000 people work out of this building every day. It is often the backdrop for concerts, press conferences, and balls. It has beautiful architecture and is a building worth checking out.
Walk Through The Volksgarten
The Volksgarten is a beautiful public park located next to Hofburg Palace. It was built in the 1820s as a private garden for the Archduke who lived in the palace. Today, it’s a beautiful public park to take a stroll through.
Check Out the Hofburg Palace
The Hofburg Palace is a grand building that once housed the royal family of Austria. Today, the president works and lives in the palace. You can walk around the palace grounds and if you wish to enter you can do so by booking a private tour or by paying to enter one of the museums within the palace.
Visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum & Cafe
Next, you’ll visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum and cafe. This museum is an art museum and if you are more interested in natural history, there is a natural history museum directly across from the Kunsthistorisches. The Kunsthistorisches Museum is very impressive. Not only in the curated exhibits but also in the incredible decor inside. The exhibits change but and when we went we went to an art, Egyptian, and ancient coin exhibit.
Also, when you’re visiting this museum I highly recommend visiting the cafe. The cafe is very extravagant and is a lovely spot to have coffee and a cake, or if you’re hungry they also serve meals.
Make sure to book tickets and a reservation for the cafe ahead of time!
Explore the City Center
Exploring the city center is a must for any major city you visit. The city center in Vienna is often referred to as the Old Town and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Not only are the buildings insanely beautiful and ornate, but you will also be able to walk around and see some popular landmarks. You can check out the many shops along the street or visit landmarks such as the St. Stephen Cathedral, Wiener Pestsaule ( a statue to commemorate victims of the plague), Mozart’s apartment, etc.
Lugeck for Dinner
For dinner, you’ll head to Lugeck for Viennesian food. The building where this restaurant is located is quite grand and is located in the city center. You’ll be able to pick from a variety of traditional foods that are all quite tasty. I recommend booking a reservation ahead of time for here.
String Quartet Performance at St. Peters
There is no better way to end your day in Vienna than with a live string performance in an ancient church. Be taken back in time by listening to the music Mozart wrote in a beautiful venue. This is a bit of a surreal experience and one I highly recommend you add to your itinerary. The performance is only one hour and is magical.
Wrapping Up
From beautiful architecture to a string quartet performance in an ancient church, Vienna has something for everyone. Vienna is a must-visit destination that will have you feel like you’re walking around in a fairy tale. It feels like there is a grand building around every corner and is such a fun city to explore. If you only have one day in Vienna this is everything I think you should do, I hope you found this Vienna one-day itinerary helpful for your trip, happy travels!
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