How to Make the Most of 36 Hours in Vienna

Planning a vacation is a balancing act. How much time do you have? What can you do to make the most of that time without going too quickly? I know the feeling. Vienna is an incredible city to visit.

But if you’re running short on time, is it worth it?

It’s a resounding yes.

My time in Vienna was short. It’s still one of my favorite cities! Even if you only have 36 hours in Vienna, you’ll be amazed by the city. But you’ll need a plan to make the most of your time there.

In this post, you’ll learn how to get around Vienna, what to see when you’re there, and anything else you may need to plan a trip to the city. You’ll even find a sample itinerary to get an idea of how to plan your 36 hours in Vienna.

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Why Visit Vienna?

Vienna has a long history, but it’s best known for two things. First, it was the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. You’ll find many sites in the city that trace back to the Hapsburgs and their rule. Even if you don’t know much about it before you visit, you’ll learn about the family at the center of World War I while you’re there.

Second, the city is known for its relationship with music. Beethoven, Mozart, and many others called Vienna home. Even now, the city is home to multiple theatres and opera houses. It’s a hub for classical music. You’ll find opportunities to watch a performance or, at the very least, hear some outrageously talented buskers.

Vienna has a vibe similar to Paris if you’re looking for a comparison. It’s elegant and ornate, but it has its own feel.

Itinerary to See as Much as Possible

Move this itinerary around as you need to depending on when you arrive in Vienna. This itinerary starts at noon for a good starting point. It assumes 2 nights in Vienna.

Day 1

• 12:00 p.m. – Arrive, check in to the hotel, and eat lunch
• 2:00 p.m.- Tour Historic Town: St Stephens Cathedral, Karlskirche, Opera House, & wander the historic center.
• 4:30 p.m. – Walk through the grounds at the Belvedere.
  Note that The Belvedere Museum and Grounds close at 6:00 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m.- Grab some traditional Austrian food for dinner.

Day 2

Get an early start to make the most of your day!

• 8:00 a.m. – Tour the Hofburg Palace and museums
• Lunch
• 12:00 p.m. – Train to Schönbrunn Palace. Visit the palace and gardens.
• Return to Vienna. Spend more time in the historic center if you can.
• Dinner.
• Catch a concert at one of the churches or a performance at the Opera House if you’d like.

What to Do with 36 Hours in Vienna

You’ll be surprised by how much you can visit in Vienna in such a short amount of time. Before looking over this list, you should know that there are several museums in Vienna. You won’t be able to see them all in 36 hours.

Hofburg House

Vienna Hofburg was the center of the Hapsburg Empire for centuries. The first phase was built in the 13th century and continued to grow with each generation of rulers. It’s an elaborate palace that is now a museum. There are three different museums you can visit on the property. You’ll need 2-3 hours to visit them all.

Imperial Apartments

The main attraction at the Hofburg is the imperial apartments. Tour the apartments of Franz Joseph and Sisi. Visit their bedrooms and ballrooms to learn about their life in the palace. SiSi’s apartments are particularly interesting with her gym equipment and details about how she lived her life.

Even if you’ve visited palaces and royal apartments in other parts of Europe, it’s still worth touring them here.

SiSi Museum

The SiSi Museum is dedicated to the life of Empress Elizabeth. She was a beloved monarch known for her beauty. She was also quite eccentric in her pursuit of that beauty. You may not know much about Elizabeth before you visit but she is an intriguing character to learn about. The museum does a good job helping you get to know her.

Silver Collection

To visit the SiSi museum you more or less have to walk through the Silver Collection. It’s a display of the ornate china and silver that was used by the Hapsburgs. It’s over-the-top and hard to wrap your mind around just how much there is.

While it doesn’t warrant an extended visit it is worth walking through.

St Stephen’s Cathedral

Down in the Historic Center, St Stephen’s Cathedral dominates the main square.

The rising spires and the tiled roof create a striking appearance from the outside. Circle the entire exterior of the cathedral to see all of the tilework; one side has the coat of arms of Vienna on it.

The cathedral has seen the wedding of Mozart and suffered from bombings during World War II. It was rebuilt carefully and stands proud today.

The interior of the church is decorated as many churches are; with incredibly intricate designs and great a deal of symbolism.

There is an option to climb the bell tower if you’d like. If you’re interested in the bell you should climb up to see it. But, the view from the cathedral isn’t a highlight; the building you’d most like in your picture is the one you’re in!

There are concerts featuring the music of Beethoven and Mozart, among others. If you’re interested in seeing the cathedral in a different way, a concert is a good option.

Vienna-Historic Center

The Vienna Historic Center encompasses the most beautiful part of the city. It stretches from the Hofburg toward the Danube River. On a map, you’ll see “innere stadt.”

The cathedral and other attractions are in the historic center. But, give yourself time to walk around the historic center with no destination. This part of the city is beautiful. There’s no better place to wander.

Several of the most popular gluten-free friendly restaurants are near the historic center.

The Belvedere

The Belvedere is an art museum in a Baroque Palace. The exterior of the building is stunning and walking the gardens doesn’t require a ticket.

The museum boasts art from many different styles: medieval, avant-garde, contemporary, baroque, and more.

Art museums aren’t something I’m exceptionally interested in. But, the gardens are beautiful so I wanted to visit anyway. Even if you aren’t going to go to the museum be sure to walk through the gardens.

St. Charles’s Church

St Stephen’s gets a lot of credit but Karlskirche is my favorite of the two. The baroque church is stunning with the two massive columns out front.

Karlskirche is unique because it has a large plaza in front of it. You’re able to see the whole front facade of the church from a distance.

Touring the church is about €10. The entrance is on the right side of the building if you’re facing the front from the square.

For a unique way to experience the church, there are Vivaldi concerts in the church some evenings.

Even if you don’t tour the inside, the church and plaza are worth a visit. During the Advent season, you’ll find an excellent Christmas market here.

Vienna State Opera House

This opera house is beautiful. The archways and general grandeur make it hard to miss when you walk by. Since music and opera are such an important part of the history of Vienna, of course, the opera house is as well.

No matter what, walk by the outside and admire the opera house.

If you want to add to the experience, get tickets to a show or take a guided tour.

Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace is outside of Vienna. It takes about 30 minutes via public transportation. Schönbrunn Palace is incredible. It’s another palatial home of the Hapsburg empire.

It may seem redundant to tour both Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn Palace. But, they are different. It’s worth it. Plus, the gardens at Schönbrunn are absolutely incredible.

Tickets can be purchased at the palace or in advance. This is a popular destination. If you plan to purchase tickets in person, you may have to wait a bit for your entrance time.

Since you’re only spending 36 hours in Vienna, it’s wise to purchase in advance.

You could spend most of the day wandering around the palace building and the gardens. Take your time walking through the palace and make sure you see the gardens. Even if you spend a lot of time here it will be worth it.

It’s one of the prettiest areas in Vienna. It’s also home to one of the top Christmas markets in the city.

More Than 36 Hours in Vienna

Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School is at the Hofburg but it is a separate attraction. This is a school of riding that has been practiced since the Renaissance. You can see the horses and riders in the workouts and practicing this form of dressage.

There are limited performances and tickets sell out. If this is something you’re interested in seeing you’ll need to plan your day to make sure you’re there at an appropriate time. But, if you love horses it would be special to see.

Kunsthistorisches Museum

This art museum has two massive floors with an extensive collection of artwork through different eras. There are options to tour on your own or have a guided visit.

Tickets are €21.

With only 36 hours in the city, The Hofburg is a more unique use of time. But, if you find yourself with more time, consider the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Mozart’s House

This can be confusing because when Mozart lived in Vienna he lived in several different houses. But, near St Stephen’s Cathedral, one of these homes has been turned into a museum.

Learn about Mozart and his relationship with Vienna in one of the places he lived during his time in the city. The visit includes a rotating exhibition. You’ll also be able to tour the apartment of Mozart; set up in much the same way it would have been when he lived in the city.

Tickets are €12.

If you aren’t interested in visiting the museum this is still a beautiful part of town to wander around. So, you may consider walking to the museum just to see more of the historic center.

Day Trip to Bratislava

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is about an hour from Vienna.

Even though there is plenty to see in Vienna, Bratislava is a great day trip option if you want to see something totally different.

Getting Around Vienna

Public transportation in Vienna is extensive and easy to navigate. There are subways (U-Bahn), trains (S-Bahn), trams (Straßenbahn), and busses.

You can buy individual rides as you go. But if you’re short on time, a 48-hour pass is a good deal. At €14, you can use the transit as much as you’d like to travel quickly.

The Vienna city card isn’t worth it for a short visit; especially if you’re following this itinerary.

Where to Sleep in Vienna

When looking at hotels in Vienna for a short trip, look for places that are conveniently located near transit stations. This means you won’t spend lots of time getting to and from your lodging. There are plenty of options depending on where you decide you want to be.

The Intercontinental is a great splurge (or points redemption) near Karlskirche.

There are also a number of apartment-style rentals in the historic center near St. Stephen’s.

Enjoy the Capital of the Hapsburgs

Enjoy exploring Vienna. Even if you don’t have a lot of time, you can visit the highlights of the city and take in the spectacle. Fair warning, though, that you’ll want to go back!

Vienna has more to offer than you could ever experience in 36 hours!