Planning a European adventure this summer and only have 48 hours in Vienna? While there are a million reasons why the Austrian capitol city should be on everyone’s travel bucket list this year, below are 48 ways you can maximise a two day trip to the Imperial City!
Rooftop view of Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) from Lamée Rooftop Terrace; Photo Credit: East Coast Contessa
Where to Stay
Located just steps from St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Park Hyatt Vienna is one of the world’s most luxurious and historic hotels. Boasting sophisticated rooms and suites in a former 19th century bank vault, this Golden Quarter gem is sure to make any guest feel like royalty.
All of Park Hyatt Vienna’s rooms and suites contain elegant Viennese furnishings, modern appliances, a flat-screen TV with endless channel options (also in English), a fully-stocked mini bar, and free toiletries in each of the room’s private bathrooms.
The hotel itself also includes a top-notch wellness center, an underground swimming pool, 24-hour reception, free WiFi, and a Viennese-style coffee cafe and a la carte restaurant (jump to the “Where to Eat” section to learn more!)
To book your stay directly with the Park Hyatt Vienna, click here.
Where & What to Eat
While it is possible to dine at the Bank without being a guest at the Park Hyatt Vienna, guests of the hotel can also enjoy an extensive Viennese breakfast with fresh fruit, veggies, eggs, cured meats, and pastries for 37. Side note: the menu at the Bank changes regularly, so some of these items may not be available.
To make a reservation at the Bank Brasserie & Bar for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or cocktails, click here or call +43 12274012363.
3. Demel Cafe
4. Naschmarkt
5. Wiener Schnitzels at Salzamt**
Is it even a trip to Vienna without a proper wiener schnitzel? This breaded and pan-fried cutlet of either lamb, chicken, or pork is a true experience. Usually paired with potato salad and lemon wedges, it’s one of the official national dishes of Austria. Rumor has it that the best place to eat this delicacy is at Salzamt, but they can be found in most restaurants around the city.
6. Sacher Torte (one of the most famous Viennese culinary sweet specialties)
7. Sausage from a street food vendor (check out the best places for street food on TripAdvisor!)
8. Viennese coffee (or champagne) at Cafe Am Hof
Photo Credit: East Coast Contessa
9. Figlmuller for traditional Viennese food
10. Lamée Rooftop for Violet Spritz**
The “Violet Spritz” and the “Moscow Mule” cocktails at Lamée Rooftop in Vienna. Photo Credit: East Coast Contessa
For striking 360 views of the Imperial City, Lamée Rooftop is the place to go. Nestled on top of Hotel Lamée just a few minutes walk from Stephansdom, this rooftop terrace bar crafts the most perfect fruity and floral cocktails that are true works of art. Menu favourites are the “Violet Spritz (pictured below) and the “Aperol Maracuja Bowle” (rosé spritz).
12. Egger Beer (at pretty much any bar in Vienna)
13. Traditional Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel)
Apple strudel (or Apfelstrudel) is a popular dessert among Viennese. Photo credit: East Coast Contessa
If you’re only spending 48 hours in Vienna, a apple strudel experience is a must. The Master confectioners at Cafe Restaurant Residenz have this dessert art down to a science with their “strudel shows” (yes, strudel show) reveals how to make the super thin dough, how to stuff the filling, and what spices are used in the making. The best part? You get a strudel of your very own at the end!
14. Tafelspitz (boiled veal or beef in broth)
Where/What to Explore
18. St. Stephen’s Church**
48 hours in Vienna is certainly not enough time to see everything, but a stop by St. Stephen’s Cathedral should be on the top of the list. Just minutes from the Park Hyatt Vienna steps, you can find one of the most magnificent cathedrals in Europe: St. Stephen’s. For more than 700 years the cathedral has served as the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna. Public cathedral tours are offered daily in German and English, and there are also options to tour the catacombs (see below) and climb the South and North Towers.
19. Vienna City Hall
The main staircase inside the Austrian Supreme Court. Photo Credit: Alexane Said Editing: East Coast Contessa
24. Hofburg Palace
25. VotiveKirche
The largest library in Austria and one of the most stunning in the world, it holds more than 12 million items in its various collections. If you plan to visit, get in the que before it opens each day so you can buy the proper entry ticket from the ticket booth inside.
28. Viennese giant ferris wheel (Wiener Riesenrad)
One of Vienna’s most beautiful baroque churches, the Karlskirche is located on the south side of Karlsplatz and is surrounded by numerous cafes and street food vendors that are worth a visit. Cost of entry is 8€ for adults and 4€ for children and students.
Directly across from the Hundertwasser apartments, you can find the enchanting Hundertwasser Village! An old tire factory turned into a myriad of cafes, shops, and a rooftop rainforest, it’s worth exploring.
36. Vienna Zoo
Seated tickets cost between 45 – 99€
43. Stroll on a historical walking tour
There are an array of walking tours to choose from during a trip to Vienna, but for those on a budget, the free walking tours come in clutch. Side note: it’s always still a very good idea to tip your tour guide!
If you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for awhile, a day trip filled with wine from Wachau Valley is a great choice. Tour company Viator (direct link above) offers multiple trips at varying prices depending on what you’re looking for. Most tours start at $90USD.
How to Get Around the City
46. Vienna Travel Card**
The Vienna Travel Card is a necessity when visiting the Imperial City. Not only does it include free transport from the airport when you arrive, the card also allows children free travel and provides generous discounts to many of the city’s most popular museums, concert halls, and restaurants. You can purchase 24, 48, or 72 hour cards directly from the Vienna Tourist Board website (linked above) starting at 17€.
Photo Credit: Alexane Said; Editing: East Coast Contessa
47. U-Bahn trains
Why Vienna Waits for You (Really, It Does)
From the world’s most delicious cake (remember Sacher torte?) to mouth-dropping sights of cathedrals and libraries, Vienna holds wonders for travelers from all walks of life. With endless amounts of concerts, street food, luxury experiences, and museums, Vienna remains a charming fairytale city that is sure to impress during any time of year.
In addition to the guide to “48 Ways to Spend 48 Hours in Vienna, Austria”, check out my 36 Hour travel guide from my first trip to the Imperial City in 2017 here.
This post was created with sponsorship and support from the Park Hyatt Vienna, Lamée Rooftop Bar, and the Vienna Tourist Board.
I loved Vienna and loved reading your guide. It reminded of my trip a few years ago. It’s one of my favourite destinations. It’s such an elegant city with so much to see and great food! I hope to get there again soon and will check out some of your recommendations.
Annette
Minute By Minute Traveller
Vienna is truly a dream destination! It was my second time visiting and I loved it just as much as the first. If you get a chance to go and visit some of the locations recommended in the post, let me know 🙂 Happy and safe travels!
Hi Annette!
I am so glad you found my guide helpful. Vienna is a beautiful city and I am glad that you were able to experience it as well! I hope you get to return someday and safe travels!
So many things to do and experience in Vienna! Can’t wait to visit!
I wish I would have had this post before I went! You capture Vienna so beautifully. Thank you for bringing me back and for giving me new ideas for my next visit.
Wow those are wonderful pics and make me visit Vienna now.thanks for sharing
So many things to do in Vienna. I have been wanting to go for long. Now I will refer to this in the future.
Reading your post has made me want to visit Vienna. It looks very pretty and I’d love to try some of the dishes you’ve mentioned 🙂 I will save this guide for the future, I hope I can visit Vienna one day!
Vienna is such a beautiful city! Since I’m living in Budapest I’ve already visited a couple of times but I wanna go back again because I feel like there are still so much things to do. Thanks for this amazing guide, saved it for later!
So many things to do in Austria. It looks so pretty and loved reading food scene in the post. 48 hours is short time but still you covered lots of Places.
I totally agree! There ARE many reasons to visit Vienna!
I’ve never actually been to Vienna, but I hear that its marvellous! And these photographs are all absolutely gorgeous – I really cannot wait to go!
Great post. I would love to explore Vienna, and particularly to see the Hundertwasser House. The whole place looks magical. Thanks for sharing your ideas and tips.
I loved Vienna! It was the cleanest city ever and had such beautiful architecture. And now I have more ideas for my return trip!
This post is making me miss Vienna! I wish I could go back and do a few more things on this bucket list 🙂
Love this so much! Vienna is such an incredible city!
OH i loved this post!! I am planning a trip to Vienna for next year and I’m definitely saving your photo locations <3
I love how elegant this city is and the grandeur of it all! Thank you for this guide and lovely images!
Your post is really making me want to go back to Vienna! Such good tips here, I especially want to see Hundertwasser House! 🙂
Great post!! I love Vienna and I plan on returning one day. Will be sure to come back to this post 🙂
I feel like the more I read about Vienna and see photos, the more I want to visit. Great list!
I cannot believe I still didn’t have the opportunity to visit Vienna! The city looks really beautiful and it’s so close to Paris! Maybe soon!
That’s a cool guide! Loved the photos btw!
This has definitely made me want to go back to Vienna – I went back in 2007 during a heat wave so I am definitely due for another visit – and a bonus is that my cousin lives there
I’ve never been to Vienna but I’d love to go. I will definitely be bookmarking this for when I get there, it looks like a really beautiful city with so much to do.
Wow, sooo many ideas! I’d never heard of Hundertwasser House before, that looks amazing! And the strudel show sounds really fun. I went to Cafe Central and was so overwhelmed by the cake selection that I had an apple strudel instead (…and then had a cake afterwards, HAHA). This gives me so many ideas for if I get back there!
Vienna is such a beautiful city! I loved it when I visited for the Christmas markets. I need to go back and do everything you mention in this blog. Your photos are beautiful too! 🙂
That apple strudel looks absolutely amazing–I’d love to try it someday!! I’d really like to check out the gardens/zoo + the Vienna State Opera!
I love this! Half of my family live in Vienna and I love going there to visit! If you go there at Christmas time be sure to try Kaiserschmarnn, a delicious dessert!
Vienna is one of those magical European cities that I’ve been eager to visit! And I really envy your stay at Park Hyatt Vienna. I’ve stayed at the Park Hyatt in Vietnam and Cambodia so I know it must be an even more amazing experience at the hotel in Vienna.
Austria is up there on my ‘bucket list’. Hoping I can make it there next year. Your post gives me itchy feet! I’ve pinned it so I can come back to it when I get to plan the trip for real.
This is such a great guide! I’ve been to Vienna numerous times but haven’t even done half the things on your list. I’ll definitely be saving this for my next visit 🙂
Vienna is my favourite city! Did an exchange here a few years ago and there really is so much to do and see 🙂 Love your photos!
Great guide. I love Vienna and cannot wait to return. Definitely pinning so I have this guide for my next visit. Great post!
It looks like you had an amazing time in Vienna! I was there a couple years ago as a solo backpacker and I fell in love with the city. I’d love to return eventually to explore more! My first time there I stayed in a dorm room in a hostel so it’d be nice to upgrade to the Hyatt. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never been to Vienna but it looks as picturesque of a city as I’ve ever seen! And your photos are totally beautiful. Short guides are really helpful to me because I don’t tend to stay very long in cities….Love this so so much.
I loved visiting Vienna a couple of years ago. You are right there is so much to do and the city definitely needs more than one visit. One of my favorite places was the Spanish Riding School. Even though I am not particularly into horses I found the tour really interesting.
Couldn’t manage to go here on my last trip to Italy, but someday I’ll be crossing this off the bucket list for sure! Gorgeous pics!
Love this guide and love Vienna! I had no idea there are so many different things to see. I definitely need to go back! Especially because I haven’t seen the Hundertwasser House!
Thank you for sharing some many lovely tips for a place where I used to live for 14 years! Vienna is beautiful and charming!
I have been to Austria but not Vienna. I explored Innsbruck and till date, it is my favourite city in the world alongside Istanbul. Your post on Vienna brought back so many memories. Can’t visit to visit the place after lockdown!