With just one day in Vienna – how to make the most of your time to see the famous landmarks, explore the city and cover some of the top cultural things to do in the Austrian capital – what will you be able to include with a bit of planning? Here, you will find a 24-hour itinerary that covers a couple of top museums, as well as famous monuments, architecture and churches that are must-sees in Vienna – not omitting the classical Viennese coffee house.

 
Vienna is situated along the Danube River and is one of the topmost cities in this part of Europe. The city has everything within culture, architecture, elegance, and economic prosperity. Moreover, Vienna has a comprehensive and rich history. That includes formerly being an imperial city, the seat of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Later, Austria was transformed into a republic. After World War II, Hitler’s ‘Greater’ Germany (at the time including Vienna) ceased to exist, and Austria regained its independence, with Vienna again becoming the sovereign capital of the Austrian Republic.

Although heavily damaged in the last months of World War II, extensive rebuilding took place after the war, preserving its pre-war character.

You will start your day in Vienna with an early morning stroll in the very city centre, the Innere Stadt, taking an itinerary through the famous pedestrian street Graben, Neuer Markt and Stephansplatz, flanked by classy, centuries-old buildings and historical architecture. It is all easily accessible on foot. At this time of day, you will likely have the inner city to yourself – and the opportunity to take photos at the top Vienna sights without too many tourists.

Photo: Andreas N / Pixabay

Stephansdom, or St Stephen’s Cathedral, is one of the things you must see in Vienna. The 12th-century cathedral is an iconic landmark symbolising the city – and world-famous for its Gothic architecture, colourful roof tiles, and precious relics. Although reconstructed several times in various architectural styles, there are still traces of the original Romanesque structure.

There are four cathedral towers, with the tallest rising 136 metres into the air. You can climb the tower for magnificent views across Vienna. In all, 13 bells are hanging up here to toll the hour.

The Hofburg | Photo: Travel In Culture

Now, you will cross over to Michaelerplatz and the impressive Hofburg, where the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule) is.

Beforehand, you will have made a reservation for the morning training session at the Spanish Riding School. It is a unique chance to see the training for the classical equitation performances and culture of the Austrian riding school, as it has existed for more than 450 years. This Renaissance tradition appears on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Photo: Martin Herfurt / Pixabay

Spanish horses formed one of the bases of the Lipizzan breed, which the horses performing in the Spanish Riding School belong to, and it is the oldest horse breed in Europe. Inside, the Lipizzaner horses are trained for equestrian performances at a very high level by their proficient riders. It is world-class entertainment to attend a performance here. Alternatively, the morning training of the Winter Riding School will also give you an impression of the particular Viennese discipline and cultural tradition. In July and August, the stallions are generally in the summer stables in Heldenberg-Wetzdorf, but at the Hofburg, you may still have the opportunity to see some training.

Photo: Travel In Culture

It is perhaps time for a coffee – and you should take the chance to visit one of the traditional Viennese coffee houses. They can be found all over the city, but why not visit one of the historic cafés such as Café Central just a few hundred metres away from Hofburg at Herrengasse.

That is your chance to experience a historic Vienna café from 1876 with all that it entails: stunningly elegant decorations and ornaments, delicious cake treats of which you can opt for the traditional Sacher-Torte, and great Viennese coffee specialities, perhaps accompanied by soft Mozart or Strauss music.

Café Central, located inside the mansion Palais Ferstel, a former bank and stockmarket building, seethes with atmosphere from another era. Some of our most famous poets and philosophers used to come here for a cup of coffee. The guests included Zweig, Trotsky, and Freud, among other intellectuals! Welcome to the Viennese coffee scene!

Photo: Wurliburli / Pixabay

Now you will continue your sightseeing inside the Imperial Palace, the Hofburg. The complex consists of several sumptuously ornamented building parts and beautiful courtyards that go back to the 13th century. Today, the Hofburg holds state apartments and imperial treasures of the Holy Roman and Austrian empires and serves as the office of the Federal President.

Photo: Leonhard Niederwimmer / Pixabay

For over 700 years, the Habsburg empire was reigned from the Hofburg Palace. The complex expanded in the city along with the increasing power of the House of Habsburg, and the Hofburg housed the imperial dynasty until 1918.

You can visit the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments and the fine Silver Collection. The Sisi Museum tells the life of Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), the renowned wife of Emperor Franz Joseph. Their historical home is accessible in the Imperial Apartments, with part of the original furniture being on display, and the Silver Collections is a journey into the mysteries of exquisite pieces of porcelain and other precious household items used at that time.

Filled with impressions of the former Imperial Palace, perhaps you want to look for a restaurant in the area to have lunch, for example along the Ringstrasse.

You can now make your tour of historical Vienna’s mid-19th-century architecture. The famous Ringstrasse consists of several stretches, including the Kärntner Ring, Opernring and Burgring. Along the Ringstrasse, some of Vienna’s most splendid architectural constructions stand, some decorated with arcades and colonnades.

The Burgtheater | Photo: Neugiernase / Pixabay

A stroll along the Ringstrasse will, besides the Hofburg, take you past the Wiener Staatsoper from the 1860s, the Burggarten, the neo-Renaissance Naturhistorisches Museum, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Volksgarten, the neo-Flemish Gothic City Hall, the neoclassical Parliament, the Renaissance-baroque Burgtheater, as well as the University of Vienna founded in 1365 and designed in an Italian Renaissance style. These museums, mansions and palaces are all magnificent examples of outstanding Viennese architecture.

If you continue round the Ringstrasse, you will reach the neoclassical-Renassaice-style Stock Exchange north of the city centre.

Photo: Travel In Culture

It is now time for some very different architecture. You will visit the Hundertwasserhaus (near Landstrasse), a vibrant block of architecture consisting of irregular elements, created for residential purposes. It is a highly unusual structure of vividly patterned façades, decorative columns, a plethora of plants winding their way up the walls from balconies, pots, and a spectacular roof, all contributing to the lush look of the colourful house. The house is named after the artist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000). The project was carried out with the architects Josef Krawina and Peter Pelikan.

The Hundertwasserhaus from 1985 can only be admired from the outside. Nevertheless, the Hundertwasser Village, right opposite, has been created as a public shopping centre with a village square, a bar and various stores in the characteristic ‘Hundertwasser style’. You need to enter it to experience the extraordinary architecture and ambience for yourself!

Photo: Travel In Culture

Another possibility to see the works by the artist is Kunst Haus Wien, a museum located a few streets north of the Hundertwasserhaus. Inside Kunst Haus Wien, you will, through the permanent exhibition of Hundertwasser’s artwork, gain insight into his life and controversial art projects.

From Landstrasse, you can take the U-Bahn U4 down to Karlsplatz. The buildings of Karlsplatz Stadtbahn Station have been designed in the Austrian Jugendstil /art nouveau style, known as Secession, by Otto Wagner and Joseph Maria Olbrich. A few hundred metres from here, you will catch sight of the Secession building, characterised by its golden leafwork dome. The remarkable building was also designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich, who worked for the Viennese architect and city planner Otto Wagner.

Cultural things to see in Vienna: Secession | Photo: Travel In Culture

An art association called ‘Secession’ was founded in 1897 by Gustav Klimt and other Austrian breakaway artists. The year after, the Secession building in Friedrichstrasse was complete, representing the Austrian art nouveau style movement and exhibition – which slightly differed from the art nouveau styles in other European cities at the time.

Inside the building, you will find Gustav Klimt’s famous Beethoven Frieze, created for an exhibition in 1902, the artist’s interpretation of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

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A stone’s throw from Karlsplatz, the impressive 18th-century baroque Karlskirche rises. It was built by Emperor Charles VI and dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo, a plague saint. Rich in marble stonework, beautiful paintings, carvings, and reliefs, it is considered the most outstanding baroque church in Vienna.

The church, characterised by its impressive dome and two lavishly ornamented columns, can be viewed from afar when approaching.

Karlskirche is recognised for its magnificent ceiling frescoes in bright colours. A panorama lift can take you up to the dome ceiling for interior views of the dome frescoes and exceptional views across Vienna.

Cultural Things to See in Vienna: Naschmarkt | Photo: Travel In Culture

Finally, it is time for dinner! Near Karlsplatz, you will find Naschmarkt, Vienna’s fantastic street food market with over a hundred market stands and restaurants. It is a popular meeting place in Vienna, and you can find all kinds of international and Viennese cuisine here. The open stalls offer take-away food and the numerous restaurants range from simple sit-down meals to more fine dining.

Since the 16th century, Naschmarkt has been a marketplace where farmers came to sell their produce. During the last hundred years, the place has served its purpose of being a street food market in its current form with enticing stalls and a plethora of restaurants.

Naschmarkt is also an excellent place for people-watching, and you can easily spend a couple of hours in one of the restaurants here – maybe before going to the Prater (Wurstelprater) for the evening. The Prater is an amusement park in Leopoldstadt with the giant Ferris wheel (Wiener Riesenrad) visible on the Vienna skyline. It has a centuries-old background as both a former imperial hunting ground and a popular site for public entertainment.

An alternative for the evening is to buy tickets for a classical concert in one of the churches or concert halls – perhaps Mozart or Strauss…

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