How to Plan the Perfect One Day in Vienna Itinerary
This one day in Vienna itinerary will help you make the most of a short visit to the capital of Austria, with tips for the best palaces, museums, and music venues to visit.
From imperial palaces with beautiful gardens to historic churches where classical music rings through elaborate sanctuaries, Vienna is full of incredible things to do. If you’re visiting on a short trip and only have time for one day in Vienna, it’s important to plan your stops to make sure you don’t miss anything important.
That’s where this Vienna one day itinerary comes in. I’ve rounded up a few of the best museums, palaces, markets, concert halls, and more into an easy-to-follow agenda that lets you choose which activities to focus on.
I’ve traveled to Vienna a couple of times in different seasons and the things I recommend below are a few of my favorites that I return to over and over again. Visiting Vienna in one day can be done, but you’ll have to narrow down what you want to see the most. The ideas below cover everything from art and history to shopping.
After browsing the list of the best things to do in Vienna, keep scrolling for three different ways to arrange your Vienna 1 day itinerary. Each focuses on a different theme, so you can pick the one that best fits your interests.
Day in Vienna Map
This map has all of the best things to do on a one-day Vienna itinerary.
Top 17 Things To Do in Vienna in One Day
Before you decide exactly how to arrange your one day in Vienna itinerary, I recommend looking over the top things to do on your first trip to the city. Everyone has different interests, so I put together the list below to show you a few of the best museums, palaces, tours, and views.
Browse through the list of activities and then scroll down for three options for how to spend 24 hours in Vienna. Each one has a theme that corresponds to different interests.
Vienna Innere Stadt
With just one day in Vienna, the Innere Stadt district is the perfect place to start sightseeing. This is Vienna’s historic city center full of old churches, intriguing museums, ancient squares, and shops. There are tons of places to see in the neighborhood, but to keep your itinerary moving, I recommend sticking to an Innere Stadt walking tour and only visiting inside one or two of the spots listed below.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
The medieval St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of the most noticeable landmarks in the middle of the Innere Stadt. The tallest church in Austria at more than 440 feet, the cathedral has four intricate towers and a roof adorned with colorful tiles.
You can pop inside for free to view the main sanctuary, but some areas like the catacombs and treasury require a ticket. If you have time and don’t mind a steep climb, I recommend walking up the 343 steps of the South Tower (the highest one). At the top, you can peek out of windows for sweeping views of the city.
The surrounding Stephensplatz square draws crowds throughout the day, so arrive early if you can.
Hofburg Palace
On a Vienna one-day trip, you may not have time to tour the entire Hofburg Palace, but it’s worth a stop on your Innere Stadt walking tour. Enter from the Michaelerplatz square to see the Roman wall ruins before crossing the gates to the palace courtyard.
The Habsburg-era Hofburg Palace is the current official headquarters for the president of Austria. Inside, visitors can tour the Imperial Apartments and museums to see displays of historic treasures, armor, instruments, and more.
The west end of the massive palace complex leads into a public square and gardens with flowers, monuments, and a little Greek-style temple with an art gallery inside.
Peterskirche
St. Peter’s Catholic Church is just a couple of blocks away from St. Stephen’s and less impressive from the outside, but it’s one of my favorite stops in the city center. The first church on this site may have dated as far back as the 4th century, but the current structure with a green dome was built in the early 1700s.
You have to step inside, though, for the best part — a Baroque interior with the most intricate details along the walls, ceiling, altar, and organ. Gilded decor and sunlight dancing into the sanctuary make it a jaw-dropping scene, only made better when music echoes through the hall. The church has frequent concerts, so check the outside bulletin board first thing in the morning if you want to catch a show.
Austrian National Library
The Österreichische Nationalbibliothek near Hofburg Palace is a must-see for book lovers. The Baroque-style hall features towering walls of wooden shelves, ceiling frescoes, and carved columns.
There is a fee to enter the State Hall, or you can add tickets to the Literature Museum and Papyrus Museum inside.
Rathausplatz
Rathausplatz and the surrounding parks sit in front of a huge, neo-Gothic city hall building on the northwestern boundary of the Innere Stadt. Throughout the year, you may stumble upon various markets, festivals, and fairs in this central gathering spot.
If you visit during the holiday season, though, you have to make a stop here to see one of the largest Christmas markets in Europe. The most popular Christmas market in Vienna, the Wiener Christkindlmarkt at Rathausplatz features dozens of vendors with food, gifts, and decor, plus an ice-skating rink, towering Christmas tree, carousel, and light displays.
The Ultimate Christmas in Europe Itinerary
Museums Quarter
Some 60 cultural venues fill Vienna’s Museums Quarter in the central city. It’s one of the largest museum districts in the world.
With just one day in Vienna, you’ll need to stick to a short visit to just one or two museums that catch your eye. A few popular options are below.
Vienna Art History Museum
Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of a pair of museums located on the picturesque Maria-Theresien-Platz square. The extravagantly decorated 19th-century building holds an art history museum with major pieces from Raphael, Velazquez, and Rembrandt in the painting gallery.
Natural History Museum Vienna
Sitting across from the Kunsthistorisches Museum on Maria-Theresien-Platz, Vienna’s Naturhistorisches Museum holds a collection of some 20 million objects related to nature and the earth. Launched in the Habsburg era, the museum displays prehistoric relics, dinosaur skeletons, meteorites, and an early Stone Age sculpture called “Venus von Willendorf.”
Albertina Museum
Housed in the largest of the residential Habsburg palaces, the Albertina is filled with modern art and the most valuable graphical art collection in the world. The permanent exhibit spans some 130 years of art movements, from French impressionism to Russian avant-garde.
Among the more famous works are Monet’s “Water Lily Pond” and Renoir’s “Girl.”
Leopold Museum
For a taste of modern Austrian art, the Leopold Museum is a can’t-miss. It has one of the largest collections of the genre, with more than 8,300 pieces from the late 19th century and beyond.
Naschmarkt
The Naschmarkt is the perfect spot to grab breakfast or lunch while sighting Vienna in 1 day. Located in the fourth district (Wieden), a 15-minute walk from the Innere Stadt, the market has about 120 different vendors and eateries. Here, you might find everything from fresh produce to gourmet cheese to piles of colorful spices.
The food market on this site dates back to the 16 century, but today you’ll also find textile vendors and cafes. On Saturdays, the popular Flea Market draws crowds.
Belvedere Palace
A pair of Baroque palaces sit on opposite ends of verdant gardens full of sculptures and fountains at Belvedere. Both palaces contain museums — the Upper Belvedere’s art display has the largest collection from Gustav Klimt and the Lower Belvedere and Orangerie house special exhibits.
While you have to buy a ticket for the museums, you can enter and explore the complex for free, including the gardens, terraces, and reflection pool. Belvedere sits on the outskirts of central Vienna in the third district (Landstrasse), but it’s well connected by tram for easy access.
Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens
Once an imperial summer estate, Schonbrunn Palace is one of my favorite spots in Vienna. The site dates back to the 1500s and consists of a large creamy-yellow mansion with 1,441 rooms and expansive grounds full of walking paths, gardens, statues, and fountains.
Visitors can tour a few dozen of the Rococo-style rooms to see where Napoleon once led conferences and a young Mozart played music. Schlosspark Schonbrunn, the exterior parklands, are free to visit.
I highly recommend setting aside enough time to wander the grounds and climb the hill behind the 1770s marble Neptune Fountain. From the top, the panoramic view takes in the palace, the perfectly manicured gardens, and the Vienna skyline in the distance. It’s one of the best spots to catch the sunset at the end of the day.
This palace is a few miles away from the city center, so you may not have time to visit with just one day in Vienna. However, it is my favorite of the palaces in the city, and with a full day, you could split your time between this one and the sites around the historic center.
Mariahilferstrasse
If you want to do some shopping during your one day in Vienna, Mariahilferstrasse is the place to go. The longest shopping street in the city, it’s packed with apparel, jewelry, and souvenir retailers, plus bars and restaurants.
While I wouldn’t recommend spending too much time here during a Vienna one day itinerary, it is a hub of activity and somewhere you can peruse after dark to find a spot for dinner.
Music Performances
Vienna’s musical heritage includes such greats as Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, and the city still pays homage with classical concerts at stunning venues. Catching a show is one of the best ways to end your one day Vienna itinerary.
St. Charles Church
The Baroque Karlskirch is one of the most beautiful churches in the city, built in 1739 and featuring a massive green dome and towering exterior columns. By day, you can tour the interior to see the organ and frescoes or climb up to an outside terrace for views over Karlsplatz.
If you don’t have time to stop by during your Vienna one day trip, the church offers frequent Vivaldi and Mozart concerts and special holiday performances in the evening. This is a great chance to soak up the atmosphere of the historic venue while listening to classical music.
Wiener Staatsoper
Located in the Innere Stadt, the Wiener Staatsoper is a famous opera house that puts on some 350 music and ballet performances throughout the year. The 1869 building features Renaissance Revival touches, and you can join guided tours during the day to see the grand staircase, Tea Salon, Marble Hall, and auditorium.
Musikverein Wein
Musikverein Wein is a concert hall for classical music on Karlsplatz near the Albertina Modern Museum. The venue has multiple performance halls and a robust calendar of events featuring the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Mozart Orchestra, and touring acts.
Vienna 1 Day Itinerary Options
One Day Vienna Itinerary for First Timers
8 AM-12 PM: Vienna Innere Stadt sightseeing and attractions
12-1 PM: Lunch at Naschmarkt
1-3 PM: Museum visit or Belvedere Palace
3-6 PM: Schonbrunn Palace tour and grounds
Sunset: Schonbrunn Palace hill or St. Stephen’s Cathedral tower
Evening: Concert at Wiener Staatsoper, Musikverein Wein, or Karlskirch
Vienna Itinerary 1 Day for History and Culture
8 AM-10 AM: Vienna city center tour by bike or bus
10 AM-12 PM: Vienna Museums Quarter first choice
12-1 PM: Lunch in the Innere Stadt
1-3 PM: Vienna Museums Quarter second choice
3-5 PM: Hofburg Palace museums tour
5-6 PM: St. Stephen’s Cathedral North Tower ascent
Evening: Performance at Musikverein Wein, Wiener Staatsoper, or Karlskirch
Vienna One Day Itinerary for Palaces
8-10 AM: Vienna Innere Stadt walking, bike, or bus tour
10 AM-12 PM: Hofburg Palace museums
12-1 PM: Lunch at Naschmarkt
1-3 PM: Belvedere Palace museums
3-6 PM: Schonbrunn Palace and gardens
Sunset: Schonbrunn Palace hill
Evening: Downtown Vienna or classical music performance
Tips for a Day in Vienna
Where to Stay in Vienna
Vienna also has some nice 4-star properties at reasonable prices, like Hotel Beethoven Wien near the Naschmarkt and Boutiquehotel Das Tyrol off of Mariahilferstrasse.
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