Make the most of your 6 Day Vienna Pass and more
Vienna, Austria
How to get from Vienna International Airport to
Downtown
We purchased return bus
tickets online in advance from Vienna Airport Lines. The cost for 2 return
tickets was 40 Euro and the bus ride was only 20 minutes. The bus can be taken
from Level 0, just outside the Arrivals area and runs every half hour. The
route for downtown is VAL2 and the bus leaves from the stops 7,8 or 9.
Alternatively, City Airport Train (CAT) can be used. The train ride is 16 minutes,
leaves every half hour same as the bus but costs 25 Euro for a return ticket.
Our Vienna Accommodations - Hotel Pension Baron Am Schottentor
Our hotel was located in in
a classic Viennese residential-style building, just opposite the Votive Church and in walking distance from many major
attractions. The room was large, clean and included all the necessary
amenities. The only thing missing was the air conditioning which was
compensated by two big standing fans, but we knew from our research that AC is
not common in Vienna hotels, maybe just in the more expensive ones.
The most advantageous way
to visit Vienna is by buying a Vienna Pass. They offer passes for 1, 2, 3 and 6
consecutive days. We purchased the passes online before our trip and chose to
pick them up from their Service Center downtown. The cost for one pass is 179
Euro for 6 days and includes up to 90 attractions and you can also use the Hop
On Hop Off during this time. Other than churches, parks and city squares, all
the sights we visited were included in the Vienna Pass, the total value of what
we visited added to about 540 Euro per person.
The baroque historic
complex is made of Upper Belvedere and Lower Belvedere, and it was built as a
summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. The vast landscape that connects
the two palaces is well maintained ornamental gardens and fountains.
The combined ticket for both buildings is 28.30 Euro and for Belvedere 21 is
9.30 Euro.
Upper Belvedere Palace is known for its largest collection of Klimt’s
paintings including the famous "The Kiss" and works of other famous painters like Egon Schiele, Kokoschka,
Messerschmidt , Renoir, most of them part of Prince Eugen’s private collection.
Lower Belvedere Palace was the Prince’s former residence and here we
visited the Palace’s staterooms, the Orangery, the Palace Stables and the Privy
Garden.
Belvedere 21 is a modernist building used for contemporary art. The museum was included in the Pass but otherwise it was not
something we would usually pay for.
Johann Strauss Museum – New Dimensions
The place is more than a
museum, it is a fascinating audio-visual experience where you can immerse
yourself in a world of history and music. Scenes from the past are displayed on
5.5-metre-high walls showing the life and work of Johann Strauss. You could
even compose your own personalized waltz. The whole experience takes about 75
minutes. Ticket price is 25 Euro.
Naschmarkt
is Vienna's most famous open-air market. It is
a vibrant blend of food stalls, restaurants, and cafés offering a variety of
local and international delicacies
This attraction has four
floors of interactive exhibits. You start walking up the stairs resembling a
piano where you could create music by walking up and down the stairs. The
stairs will take into the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra exhibition. On the
second floor, Sonotopia, you can experiment with sounds from different
instruments. On the third floor, called Wiener Klassic, you move from room to
room, each displaying information about famous composers that lived and worked
in Vienna: Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert. And finally on the fourth floor you could virtually try conducting an orchestra and receive funny feedback and
remarks about how you performed. The place is located downtown and the ticket
cost is 17 Euro.
The gothic cathedral is a
symbol of Vienna and is considered the most visited attraction. Four towers
rise up 136 meters in the sky making it the tallest church in Austria. The
roof is made of colourful tiles, intricately laid to create the Royal and
Imperial double headed eagle and the coat of arms of the city of Vienna, making
the cathedral an instant recognizable international landmark. The cathedral is
open daily and is free to enter. If you want a more detailed visit, all
inclusive 25 Euro tickets are sold that include a tour of the cathedral, a tour
of the south and north towers, a catacomb tour, the cathedral museum and the
Treasury of the Teutonic Order.
Schonbrunn Palace Park
To get there we used metro
line U4 because we wanted to arrive early. To return we got on the Hop On
Hop Off yellow line. This was included in the Pass but the first bus was only after
9 am. The instructions for visiting the Palace with the Pass were that you had
to pick a time slot ticket from the Arrival Center starting at 8 am. We stayed
in line waiting for the opening of the office which happened a bit later than
scheduled. Also we noticed throughout the day that the information and the
direction to attractions was not well marked, letting us guess many times. Schonbrunn
is more than just the Palace. It is an entire park with many attractions, all
included in the Vienna Pass and it takes more than just a morning to do them
all.
Schonbrunn Palace was the
summer residence of the Habsburg family and it is one of the most important
monuments in the country, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Palace is
impressive, with a nice Baroque architecture, opulent rooms and beautiful
manicured gardens. We started by visiting the State Apartments. We received
audio guides at the entrance and after leaving the backpack at the clock room,
wandered through a few very nice apartments and realized only when we were
stopped that the Pass only covered a shorter tour, not the full Imperial Tour,
which offered access to more rooms in the palace. We were asked when we picked
up our time slot if we wanted to upgrade our tickets but at the time we did not
realize exactly what that meant, and said no. It would have been probably
worth it, because our tour was really short. You can buy a ticket just for the Palace for 25 Euro or a combined
ticket for 40 Euro that would include the Palace, Privy
Garden, Orangery Garden, Maze and Gloriette.
Gloriette and Neptune Fountain
Situated on the crest of
the hill, Gloriette is a nice colonnaded structure with triumphal arches in the
middle section and flanked by arcaded sides with arches. It was built as a
temple of glory to glorify the Habsburg power and as a viewing point for the
gardens. Between the Palace and Gloriette, in the middle of the vast gardens
stands a stunning Baroque-style Neptune Fountain which shows the Roman sea god Neptune riding a chariot drawn by seahorses, with water flowing from the fountain in a cascading display.
We only visited the Zoo because it was included in the Pass, having seen plenty of similar places before. But we really enjoyed it. Built in 1752, Schonbrunn Zoo is the oldest in the world, part of UNESCO World Heritage Site and displays 700 different species. The entrance fee is 27 Euro.
Another nice place to relax
and have fun is the Maze which actually consists of three parts: the Maze, the
Labyrinth and the Labyrinthikon playground.
Schonbrunn Palm House and Desert House
The Palm House contains
5,000 tropical and subtropical plants and it is still operated as a plant
exhibition house to respect the original intent of the imperial family and the
tradition of the court gardeners. The entry costs 9 Euro. At the Desert House,
located opposite the Palm House, the highlight for us was seeing the Aldabra
giant tortoises.
The museum displays a
collection of the unique and magnificent carriages and vehicles used by the
Habsburg family for various ceremonies, unique robes and paintings to portray
the glamorous court life. A ticket costs 12 Euro.
Also known as the Crown
Prince Garden, this is a private baroque garden located on the east side of
the palace. The place was designed for the imperial family, with terraces
and avenues, well maintained lawns and flowerbeds.
We ended our visit at Schonnbrunn with a stroll through the Orangery Garden where exotic plants like bitter orange, olive trees and myrtles can be seen. In the winter the exotic plants are moved to the western part of the Orangery and in the summer they are set up in the park.
Vienna State Opera Guided Tour
We visited Vienna in July. You cannot see any concerts as the Opera House goes on a summer break in the
months of July and August. But through Vienna Pass we were able to book a 40-minute
guided tour for free. We made the reservation for a date and time in advance, online,
by using the discounted code offered in the Pass. This was one of the best
things we did in Vienna. The tour starts in the foyer, takes you up the grand
staircase to the state rooms and to the auditorium and in each place you learn
interesting facts about the history, architecture and the operations of the
Opera behind the scenes. The price of the tour if booked independently is 15
Euro.
The Kunsthistorisches
Museum is one of the most important art museums in the world and the largest in
Austria. It houses vast Habsburg collections and paintings of the famous
artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens, Carravagio, but also Egyptian,
Greek, Roman collections of sculptures, coins, musical instruments and other
historical artifacts. The impressive building’s architecture is also a wonder,
with a great stairway, 60 metres-high octagonal domes and interiors decorated
with marble, gold leaf and murals. Every wall, window, ceiling will steal your
attention. It took us at least 3-4
hours to visit. The ticket cost is 21 Euro.
House of Habsburg Tour and Weltmuseum Wien
Included in the Vienna
Pass, the self guided audio tour through the Neue Hofburg takes you on a journey into the history
of Habsburgs. You will see the Imperial Armoury, the collection of
Historical Musical Instruments and get access to visit the Weltmuseum Wien, an ethnographic
museum, as part of a combined ticket. The cost is 23 Euro.
Located in the Neue Burg
wing of the Hofburg Palace, the museum has an extensive papyrus collection.
Stone tablets, clay tablets and numerous other artifacts containing ancient
inscriptions are also found here. The entrance fee is 6 Euro.
This is a small museum
where Beethoven worked and lived for many years. He even composed the famous
“Fur Elise” here. We walked to the address and arrived at a big building with a
locked door even if we knew it was during the opening hours. We almost gave up when
we realized that we had to ring the bell to that apartment to be given entry
into the building.
Schottenkirche and the Museum at the Abbey of the Scots
This unique museum occupies
the former abbot’s quarters of one of Vienna’s oldest monastic sites, founded
in 1155 by Irish monks (mistakenly
referred to as “Scots”). Here you will see a stunning Gothic altarpiece with
rare historical city views, alongside religious and secular art, objects, and
archives.
The museum, located in
Hofburg Palace, showcases the life of Empress
Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi. The museum features personal items,
clothing, and portraits of Sisi, offering insight into her beauty,
independence, and struggles at the Habsburg court. Highlights include her
famous wardrobe and items related to her travels and passions. It provides a
unique glimpse into the life of one of Europe’s most iconic monarchs. There is
no priority entrance at Sisi Museum so if using a Vienna Pass, free tickets
with a fixed admission time are handed out at the ticket counter on the day of
visit. The ticket cost is 20 Euro.
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A hundred meters away from
Sisi Museum, in the Hofburg Palace, the Imperial Treasury displays unique Habsburg treasures, including the
Imperial Crown and the Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire with the crown and the Holy Lance. Other
highlights include the treasures of the Order of the Golden Fleece and parts of
the Burgundian Treasury from the 15th century. The largest cut emerald in the
world is also on display. Entry fee is 16 Euro.
State Hall of the Austrian National Library
The Austrian National
Library is the largest library in Austria and is located in the
Neue Burg wing of the Hofburg Palace. Visiting the State Hall requires a ticket
which costs 11 Euro. With a length of 80 meters and a height of 20 meters, the sheer scale
of the State Hall comes as a surprise. With a nicely decorated dome and
frescoes, and with over 200,000 historical books on its shelves, the State Hall
is the most beautiful library we have seen so far in our travels.
The Imperial Crypt in
Vienna is a historic burial site located beneath the Capuchin Church. It houses
the remains of Austrian royalty, including members of the Habsburg family,
spanning several centuries. The crypt is renowned for its ornate tombs and
serves as a symbol of Austria’s imperial past. 12 emperors and 19 empresses and
queens have been buried in the Imperial Crypt to date. Entry fee is 13 Euro.
This 60-minute immersive
multimedia experience takes you through five rooms, on an amazing visual journey
in the world of Mozart. A ticket is 23 Euro.
Mozarthaus Vienna is a
museum dedicated to the life and work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Located steps
away from St Stephen’s Cathedral downtown, in the apartment where Mozart lived
from 1784 to 1787, it showcases personal artifacts, manuscripts, and exhibits
about his time in Vienna. Entry fee is 14 Euro.
Located next to St. Stephen's Cathedral, in the heart of Vienna, here you can see an impressive collection of religious art and objects, including altars, sculptures, manuscripts, created for or inspired by the cathedral. The cost of a ticket is 10 Euro.
We visited this museum
before going to Schlumberger Cellars, as it was in the same neighbourhood. A bit further from downtown, we just got there by Hop On Hop
Off green line. The place houses an audio visual exhibition about the world of
Strauss dynasty and an impressive 15-minute
multimedia show held in the last remaining original venue where all four
Strauss geniuses performed themselves. There are also hands on stations where by scanning your face you
can immerse yourself and experience famous Strauss compositions.
Being our first time
visiting wine cellars, this was one of our favourite attractions in Vienna. To
visit for free using the Vienna Pass we booked a time slot online in advance.
The visit is a self audio guided tour through the sparkling wine cellar, ending
with sampling a free glass of their Schlumberger Sparkling Brut champagne. The
cost of this tour is 12 Euro. They offer other tours as well, where you get to taste more varieties of their sparkling wines.
Situated across the Danube
River, at the entrance to the Prater Amusement Park, the Giant Ferris Wheel is
one of the oldest of its kind in the world. The red unique cabins, featured
in many classic movies, allow you to experience panoramic views of Vienna. We
used the Hop On Hop Off blue line to get there. A ride ticket on this attraction is 14.50 Euro.
Also located at the
entrance to the Prater Amusement Park was this
classic wax museum, where we had fun posing with our favourite celebrities. The
fee to enter without the Pass is 26.50 Euro.
The Prater Museum in Vienna
showcases the rich history of the iconic Prater Amusement park, highlighting
its evolution and cultural significance. On the day we visited the entry was
free, normal entry fee is 8 Euro.
From the Prater Amusement
Park, a ride on Hop On Hop Off bus blue line took us to the Danube Tower.
Standing at 252 meters, it is one of the tallest structures in Austria. The elevator
takes you to the observation deck for a 360-degree view of Vienna’s skyline,
the lush green Danube Park, and beyond. The admission ticket is 18 Euro.
The free tour included in
the Vienna Pass is Tour C (City
Cruise) and requires reserving a timeslot in advance. The ride is 75 minutes
and takes you along the Danube Canal where you can see some of the iconic
Vienna buildings but otherwise there is not much to see for the 32 Euro price
of a ticket.
The Globe and Esperanto Museum is a fascinating and
unique cultural destination in Vienna
and is housed within the Austrian National Library.
Even if the Esperanto
Museum might not be on many people’s list of attractions, the price of a
combined ticket is only 6 Euro. While the objects displayed are mostly
about Esperanto, the world's most successful planned
language, you can also find exhibits about other invented languages, such as
Klingon from “Star Trek”.
Globe Museum was another favourite attraction in Vienna. This is the only museum in
the world dedicated exclusively to globes, three-dimensional models of
the Earth and celestial spheres. The museum displays over 250 globes and related
objects.
Museum of Natural History Vienna
The
museum’s building was commissioned by the emperor Franz Joseph I at the same
time as Kunsthistorisches Museum, both
buildings having similar architecture and ornamentations. The collections
displayed are the same as in any natural history in the world but for that
reason they are always interesting to visit. We especially enjoyed the
minerals, gemstones and rocks collections. The meteorite collection found here is
the world largest. Ticket price is 18 Euro.
Because it is housed in
the Albertina Palace, a former
Habsburg Palace, aside from seeing modern and contemporary art, you can tour
the State Rooms showcasing the lavish interiors and imperial
opulence. Albertina Museum is home to major works from Monet, Cézanne, Matisse, Chagall, Picasso
but also to one of the greatest graphic collections, including works by Dürer, Michelangelo, Rubens, Klimt, Schiele, and Picasso. The
entry fee is 19.90 Euro.
Nestled in Vienna’s
vibrant Museums Quartier, the Leopold Museum is centered on modern Austrian
art. This striking white cube-shaped building houses one of the world’s most
important collections of works by Egon Schiele, as well as masterpieces by
Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, and other key figures of Viennese Modernism. The ticket cost is 17 Euro.
Located in the heart of
Vienna, the museum offers a powerful journey through Jewish history, culture,
and resilience. The entry fee is 15 Euro.
The museum offers a
fascinating glimpse into the life, work, and legacy of the father of
psychoanalysis in his original Vienna home. This is where Freud lived and
worked for nearly 47 years before fleeing the Nazis in 1938. Ticket price is 15
Euro.
The City Hall is one of the most striking
buildings in Vienna. Currently the City Hall is the head office of Vienna's
municipal administration. Guided free tours are offered every Monday, Wednesday
and Fridays at 1 pm and free tickets are issued at the City Information
desk, from 8 am on the day of the tour. Unfortunately, on the day we went there
to visit there was some other event planned. But we were lucky to be able to
experience the yearly Vienna Film festival, which is organized in front of the
City Hall. A giant screen was set up with the music programme starting at nightfall.
Depending on the day of the week it could be anything from opera, to rock or
jazz. There were also numerous gourmet stands for everybody’s taste.
This striking church was
located just across our hotel so we could see it lit up every evening from our
hotel window. It was built as a token of gratitude after Emperor Franz Joseph
survived an assassination attempt in 1853. The church features soaring twin
spires, intricate stained glass windows, and impressive altars and it is
also a venue for the "Light
of Creation" immersive light and sound 30-minute show.
The cemetery is the second
largest in Europe and the resting place for famous composers such as Beethoven,
members of Strauss family, Schubert, Brahms, renowned singers like Falco or Udo
Jurgens and the Austrian-American actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr. The most
visited tomb at Central Cemetery is that of Falco, famous for his “Rock me
Amadeus” song.
Vienna is a city that blends imperial grandeur with vibrant modern culture. Known for its opulent palaces, such as Schönbrunn and the Hofburg, and its legacy of classical music, with composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Strauss calling the city home, Vienna is a place rich in history. It is a place where you can wander through world-class museums, from the Belvedere to the Albertina, sip coffee in atmospheric traditional cafés, and stroll along the charming streets of the old town. Safe, walkable, and full of cultural treasures, Vienna offers something for every traveler and we surely experienced and enjoyed most of them, leaving Vienna feeling richer in experience and knowledge.
Hi your account is very informative. We are going to Vienna in September, seems that buying a Vienna Pass is good idea. I'm wondering how did you book the Vienna State Opera House guided tour? through their website? I checked the website, it doesn't seem to offer any guided tour.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. The Vienna Opera guided tour is included for free in the Vienna Pass. Once you get your Vienna Pass you you'll get this information:
DeleteReservations required
Vienna State Opera: Please book your time slot with the code "VP0" (number ZERO, not letter O) on the official website of the Vienna State Opera www.wiener-staatsoper.at. Only with a reservation can a visit be guaranteed! (Attention! You have to choose full price ticket). You must first choose the payment option, register and in the last step you can enter the promotion code, then the reservation is free. We kindly ask you to be on site at least 15 minutes before the tour starts. Please do not forget to bring your Vienna Pass/Flexipass with you!
We hope this info will help