Vienna

Destination

Much is made of Vienna’s nightly musical masterpieces that play out across the city. And, we can’t blame Austria for blowing this particular trumpet. After all, this is the birthplace – or final resting place, of the classical greats. But if you’re not remotely interested in music, is there still much to see? You could ignore every concerto being robustly parped from every acoustically gifted building in Vienna and still have one of the best city breaks going. Museums and galleries notch up numbers in the dozens. Coffee houses switch from being living museums to third wave nooks slinging the finest espresso. Drag bunches pop up where you’d least expect them and the Hofburg Palace is a monster of a landmark for you to explore.

No decent European city worth its salt can ignore the Christmas markets. And Vienna? It lays on dozens of stall-filled, bratwurst-strewn markets that leaves the city glowing with the buzz of thousands of fairy-lights. Summers almost take a back seat, with everyone indoors for operas and sonatas. Which is a shame, as they miss out on a gelato and a stroll along the Donaukanal. Make sure you find your way outdoors too. Vienna’s got some cracking architecture to spot.

Vienna Philharmonic performing at the new years concert

A music lover’s tour of Vienna

See & Do

Would it be going too far to say Vienna is the epicentre of classic musical? Unlikely. Few other cities can lay claim to entertaining 10,000 people every day with a diary chock full with thousands of concerts. There’s a strong classical contingent waiting to wow you with concertos, operas and song books from history’s greats. Cafes tinkle with the sound of ivories played. And any stops to quaff coffees and cakes are usually just a moment’s respite before you’re on to the next statue, composer’s previous home or free walking tour. Here’s just a snippet of what you can expect…

restaurant with cathedral view in vienna

Breakfast, lunch and dinner in Vienna

Food & Drink

Of all the meals in Vienna, ice cream might not be your priority – but perhaps it should be? Gelato makers here go way back and – despite over a century of churning, they’ve opened their hearts to plant-based options. Which pretty much goes for the rest of the city. Even the most famous Vienna schnitzel slinger has a vegan version to serve. That said, Vienna restaurants aren’t all focused on plants. Breakfasts are boozy, lunches can be three course events and dinners come with views and Michelin craftsmanship – without the burden of a star or two. We’ve picked out some of the best restaurants in Vienna for you to muse over…

stalls and christmas lights at vienna christmas market

Get festive for Christmas in Vienna

See & Do

You could spend all of your Vienna city break skipping gaily from one festive market to another. There’s at least a dozen to knock back a cup of glüwein in – and that’s before you even get started on the concerts, festive shops and New Year market stalls. But before you launch headlong into each and every snow-sprinkled alley of crafts and baked goods, it pays to know that not all of Vienna’s Christmas events are worth your time. We’ll walk you through your best options, and clue you in to all the places to find festive fun in.

axe and skeleton in exhibit at vienna crime museum

Top 10 things to do in Vienna

See & Do

Wondering what to do in Vienna? Your options are almost endless. Which, if you’re a serial FOMO sufferer, could cause a problem or ten on a Vienna city break. You’ll stop counting the museums when you get past 50. Vienna’s landmarks are so huge you could easily lose a day in just one – and we’ve not found space in our list for the parks, gardens and markets. Needless to say, the sewer system hasn’t got a look in. And it really should have. Explore every inch of this city, just as soon as you’ve ticked off our choice of the top ten things to do.

al fresco coffee shop in vienna

A coffee lover’s guide to Vienna’s best coffee houses

Food & Drink

Vienna’s coffee houses can be steeped in history or freshly minted venues ready to serve you the low down on their single origin beans. It’s worth dropping into both types to really get to grips with this city’s coffee culture. Though, fair warning, the Viennese tend to label bars as cafes. Wine, spirits and beer may be temptingly close, but that shouldn’t stop you from sipping on at least a couple of Cortados during your stay. Cool cafes in Vienna aren’t in short supply. So to spare you the horror stopping by any slick but shocking coffee bars, we’ve got the inside intel on the best beans in Vienna…