How to Squeeze One Day in Vienna? The Best Things to Do!

Want to travel the whole of Vienna but have limited time? No worries, we have got you covered! Just some tips first: wear comfy shoes and maybe drink coffee, lots of it. Vienna is the capital of Austria and was once a city ruled by the Habsburg Empire, with a population of 1.9 million people. Don’t be surprised if you see some old statues here, because in the end, it's all part of the experience. This city houses over 100 museums and is a haven for history lovers, starting from the famous imperial complex of Hofburg, home to 2600 rooms (you can’t nap in any, sorry), to the famous district of Schwedenplatz. Vienna has everything for every type of tourist. In this blog, we will go through a full one-day guide for the best things to do in Vienna. Let's start!

Kick off your morning with a lazy breakfast from ULRICH. They offer visitors a delicious avocado toast (with optional eggs, feta, bacon, or roasted salmon), and it is worth the hype!

Start your tour from the renowned Stephansdom, one of Vienna's most famous churches and a must-visit! Fun fact: this church was constructed back in the 12th century, and it is actually older than many castles in the world. Here you can explore the South Tower, a remarkable building that has about 343 steps in total and is about 137 meters tall. As you go to the top, as a reward, you can savor a dessert! The top of the church features over 230,000 kaleidoscopic tiles that form different patterns, making it worth a look.

The interiors of the church feature small chapels, catacombs, and Gothic pillars. A scary fact: there are more than 11000 skeletons buried in this church, so make sure to be careful! When you visit the area, you will often hear about the word Pummerin. Well, it is considered to be one of the largest bells in Europe and weighs more than an elephant, and no, you cannot ring it here because it needs extra stamina! For your ease, you can also join guided tours!

Next up, visit the Hofburg Palace, one of the best places to visit in Vienna, once home to the Habsburgs, who ruled the country for over 600 years, and collected palaces like some individuals collecting tickets or books, weird. The complex is basically huge with over 18 wings, 2600 rooms (yes, insane), and 19 courtyards. You can also explore the royal Imperial Apartments, where the ruler, Emperor Franz Joseph, used to work.

Don’t miss out on the famous Sisi Museum, which has possessions and history of Empress Elisabeth, the most photographed royal of Vienna. Want some more fun? Well, as you enter inside, you may find the Imperial Silver Collection; it has many forks and plates and a gold soup ladle too, crazy right? Outside, the Heldenplatz (Heroes' Square) is great for a walk.

For a great lunch nearby, visit Leto Restaurant and Bar, which serves fresh Mediterranean cuisine along with seafood. You can have fresh octopus and prawns alongside tasty pastas and salads.

Want to visit Vienna's best museum?  Kunsthistorisches Museum has been around since 1891 and features many old artifacts and treasures of the famous Habsburg dynasty. The construction itself is really cool with golden ceilings, marble stairways, and many rows and columns! The museum has the famous works of Bruegel, Titian, Velázquez, and Raphael, yes, that’s a lot of names to memorize. One of the famous paintings illustrates a tower of people baking bread while a goat climbs it. What is the meaning of this? You will get to know once you visit the museum! There is also a section dedicated to Egyptian artifacts, and there are real mummies (yes, they are real).

The Danube Tower is considered to be Vienna’s tallest building, it is 252 meters high, and was built in 1964 for a garden exhibition because who doesn’t love flowers with heights? In the afternoon, take the elevator up, as it zooms to the top in 35 seconds, and at the top you’ll find a rotating café and a restaurant that spins slowly, so you can eat cake while watching Vienna spin, impressive. From up here, you can see the Danube River, the Vienna Woods, and maybe your hotel if you try to look hard enough. The view is best between 3–5 p.m., when the sun starts to turn golden. Brave? There’s also a bungee jumping platform, but maybe just order a strudel instead.

At night, enjoy a dinner at SIXTA, and try their vegetarian mains like mushroom risotto and gorgonzola gnocchi for an exceptional experience.

The Viennese Giant Ferris Wheel is illuminated at night like a red donut in the sky. This beautiful Ferris Wheel was built in 1897, and is 65 meters tall; it was featured in The Third Man, too. Each cabin looks like a tiny train car floating in the sky. A full ride takes about 12–15 minutes, just enough to fall in love or finish a hot chocolate. Why ride it at night? Because every city looks more romantic from above, especially when your cabin doesn’t come with traffic.

At night, Schwedenplatz becomes Vienna’s real snack-and-view zone. Named after Sweden’s help after World War I, it now hosts hungry locals, trams, and street musicians trying to be the next Mozart. The Danube Canal sparkles under city lights, and people eat gelato, even in winter (why not?). Food stands sell kebabs, sausages, and midnight fries. The graffiti along the walls looks cooler at night, like an art show with better lighting. Why visit Schwedenplatz at night? Because where else can you drink soda, watch boats travel by, and listen to violins and techno at the same time?

In a nutshell, Vienna is a great city to explore if you are looking for a place with views, activities, and history. From the beauty of the Danube River to the history of Hofburg, there are many attractions in Vienna catering to the choices of every tourist!

Make your one day in Vienna stress-free—book your stay from our handpicked list of comfy hotels!

8.4 Very good

Theaterhotel Wien

Josefstädter Straße 22 Vienna, at

8.6 Very good

Flemings Selection Hotel Wien-City

Josefstädter Straße 10-12 Vienna, at

8.2 Very good

City Rooms Hotel

Daungasse 1/6-7 Vienna, at