So you have the Vienna city card. Popular as one offering the highest quality of life, Vienna need not even compete for attention. There are historical museums and palaces on one side and altitudinous mountains on the other. You’ll prefer riding around a lot. A Lot! No sooner had you finish your trip than you’ll realise the Vienna city card was the best cost-cutting hack throughout. For more info about the card, head here. Also read Best time to visit Maldives.

Where and when should you collect it?

➤ You can collect the card at your airport from 9 AM to 7 PM.
➤ If you’ve missed it, you can get it at the Vienna info centre.

Itinerary for first-time visitors to Vienna:

? We agree it’s a lot of rides, but don’t worry, the Vienna card covers your transfer costs!

And also, the card offers discounts and free entries to most of these places. Check with them and avail the discount before entering.

9 AM:

Take the D tram line, reach the Schloss Belvedere stop and walk for 200m.

The Belvedere Palace — check out the highlight of medieval Baroque architecture!

Spend an hour of time unravelling the secrets of Belvedere in and out. Did you know there is a secret palace called the Winter Palace right there? Okay, not so secret, but we promise its history will fascinate you!

11 AM:

(~22 mins) Travel from Quartier Belvedere S to Volkstheater by D-Wien Nubdorf. Shift to the Wien Simmering line, reach Stephansplatz and walk for 140m.

Explore the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the well-preserved cultural heritage in Vienna.

You can spend a good half an hour here. And hey, there’s Cafe Leopold nearby which has good coffee and ambience (and discount for the card!). Also, if you’re in the mood for a classic Viennese breakfast, stop at Figlmuller Backerstrasse for some Wiener Schnitzel.

1 PM:

(~23 mins) Walk for 650m through the streets of Graben and Kohlmarkt

Visit the Hofburg Palace to know how imperial life in Vienna was like.

Keep your eyes wide open while crossing the graben street. It’s one the liveliest shopping streets in Vienna featuring decades-old cafes, luxury boutiques and quirky souvenir shops. Have lunch at Addicted to Rock restaurant, the card gets you a discount on your food!

4 PM:

(~5 mins) Walk for 350m through the In der Burg street

Explore the art collection in the Kunsthistorisches Museum until 6 PM, before catching your Opera concert!

Remember, you should reach the Operahouse at 6 if you want to catch a concert. Spend all the time in the museum or take a detour to the Naschmarkt—walk for 450m and you will find a bustling street shopping avenue.

6 PM:

(~8 mins) Walk for 650m through the Opernring street

The Vienna Operahouse — History and Food done, now it’s time to soak up the cults of Vienna!

Watching a Mozart show in the birthplace of Mozart — something which you can’t do every day, can you? The opulent ambience will elevate your experience to a whole new level! A concert show lasts for 2 hours on an average.

Itinerary for those who are (re)visiting Vienna!

? You’ve already been to these museums? Or have kids who are bored with sightseeing? Here are some add-ons for you:

9:30 AM:

Wien Praterstern is the nearest railway station to the Prater Park. The attraction opens at 10 AM.

Start off at the Prater park before the Belvedere Palace.

Prater is great for a family hangout. Enjoy the rides in its amusement park or picnic in its gardens. There’s also indoor skydiving at Windobona if you want to try.

12 PM:

Later catch the S1-Wien Meidling train to reach Wien Quartier Belvedere Bahnhof, which is a walk away from the palace.

Follow the same itinerary as above:
Belvedere → St. Stephen’s Cathedral → Hofburg Palace →Kunsthistorisches Museum → Skip Vienna Operahouse and head to the Schonbrunn Square.

If you prefer to skip the concert, head to the Schonbrunn square straight from the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

5 PM:

Travel from Volkstheater to Westbahnhof by U3-Wien Ottakring, shift to 60-Wien Rodaun and reach Schloss Schonbrunn. Walk for 210m.

End your day in the Schonbrunn Square—there’s a lot to do here!

Head to the Schonbrunn Schloss Park. Basically, it’s full of parks and zoos, where you can unwind after your long day. And whether or not you visit the other zoos, the Schonbrunn Zoo is a must.

Now it’s time for Sunset+Coffee at the Cafe Gloriette — Day 1 is over and you can’t ask for a better end.