Your ultimate guide to Vienna
The best of Vienna
Vienna has topped every quality of life survey going in recent years and it doesn’t take long to work out why. With clean air, a low crime rate and cheap, reliable public transport, tourists can benefit from a trip here as much as the locals. Much of the city centre looks like the film set of a period drama. But don’t be fooled by the grand imperial buildings and all the ticket touts dressed as Mozart, there’s more to this great European city than first meets the eye. Scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a vibrant social scene, particularly in summer when outdoor bars and food stalls spring up across the city. In winter visitors can spend a good afternoon or two hopping between the Glühwein stands of Christmas markets. From world-class restaurants and attractions to open-air swimming spots and hillside wineries, the Austrian capital can cater to all tastes. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. You can also find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.
Vienna’s food scene may be synonymous with Schnitzel but there’s far more to this place than just stodgy comfort food. Like the city itself, Viennese cuisine is something of a cultural melting pot with influences from across lands once part of the Habsburg Empire, like Hungarian-style goulash, still making their way on to modern-day menus. An ever-expanding array of international restaurants and multicultural food markets means that these days you can get your hands on everything from imperial favourite Tafelspitz to Mediterranean mezze and Asian-style dumplings here. Eating out is a popular pastime in the Austrian capital and dishes often place a focus on high-quality seasonal and regionally sourced ingredients. The Viennese also have an undeniable sweet tooth and no visit here would be complete without a trip to at least one of the city’s ubiquitous Kaffeehaüser (cafés) for Kaffee und Kuchen (that’s coffee and cake), surely one of the city’s headline attractions. Be it a Beisl-style tavern or a casual urban bistro, there’s plenty to satisfy all budgets and palates here. Feeling a little peckish? These, we reckon, are the best restaurant in Vienna right now. Eaten somewhere on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutEatList. You can find out more about how Time Out makes recommendations and reviews restaurants here.
Sure, you could sit down with a foaming stein almost anywhere in Vienna and it’d do the job. But this grandiose city has a thriving cocktail culture that’s also worth exploring. From ritzy rooftops to underground dives and cutting-edge conversions – plus hotels and restaurants with dazzling in-house mixology – there’s a bar to suit pretty much every taste in the Austrian capital. If you feel a little worn out after a long day traipsing round the best attractions in Vienna, it’s probably time to sip something strong. Here are 10 excellent spots to get you started. Drank somewhere on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDrinkList. You can also find out more about how Time Out makes recommendations and reviews bars.
It may not have the clubbing chops of Berlin or Barcelona, but Vienna’s nightlife scene certainly has its own charm. From down-at-heel indie rock clubs beneath metro-station arches to sleek cocktail joints and rooftop bars with unparalleled city views, the Austrian capital does dingy and classy with equal aplomb. Techno and house are the genres of choice after hours, and the city boasts a handful of decent homegrown promoters, including DJ-producer Wolfram and hip-hop collective Beat the Fish, who both put on their own nights. Given its Central European location, it’s also a semi-regular stop for big-name touring bands. And the best news? The metro runs through the night on Fridays and Saturdays, meaning you can easily venue-hop if you fancy a change of scenery. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Vienna
With scale and glamour to rival those in much larger capitals like London and New York, it’s fair to say Vienna’s museums are truly top-tier. And no wonder, given this is a city that’s played such a crucial role in the development of pretty much every art form. To learn more about the city itself, and particularly its intellectual and imperial heyday during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, head to the institutions dedicated to Sigmund Freud and Empress Elisabeth. Into your classical music? The Haus der Musik and Beethoven Museum are well worth a trip. But it’s art historians who are really spoilt for choice in the Austrian capital – you could spend pretty much an entire weekend exploring the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Belvedere Palace, the Albertina and the MuseumsQuartier alone. Looking for more than just museums in Vienna? Then check out our guide to the city’s can’t-miss attractions. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Vienna
Historic museums, centuries-old palaces, open-air markets—our list of Vienna's top attractions has all that and more
