Vienna is a city where historical charm meets contemporary culture. There are enormous amounts of things to see and do. What if you only have a couple of days? What are the best things to see and do in such a short time?
When you’ve only got a couple of day’s to explore exploration time, fitting everything in can be tricky. If you are planning to book Vienna city breaks, here’s how to enjoy the city when you only have 48 hours.
Start off by exploring one of Vienna’s most popular attractions, the Schönbrunn Palace. This baroque complex, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, was a gift to Empress Sisi but also served as the summer residence of the Imperial family. Be sure to spend time wandering around the beautiful gardens outside too.
After a morning of on your feet, why not have lunch and relax at one of Vienna’s heurigen, which is essentially a wine tavern. One notable example is Mayer am Pfarrplatz, which was once home to Ludwig van Beethoven, but today serves traditional Austrian food such as Wiener Schnitzel (breaded veal) and some truly delectable wine.
While not the most adrenaline-pumping theme park in the world, the Prater has a special charm and is a great way to spend an evening. The park’s biggest attraction, the century-old Riesenrad (Ferris wheel), becomes a clock at night and flashes the right number of times on the hour. If you're a film buff, this was - among others - a location in Orson Welles' The Third Man and the James Bond movie The Living Daylights.
Between 10am-12pm Tuesday to Saturday, you can watch the Spanish Riding School at their morning training sessions. For more than 400 years, these horses have performed their routines and manoeuvres at the Imperial Stables. Tickets for performances are much sought-after though and will need to be booked in advance.
At DSTRIKT in the Ritz-Carlton, acclaimed Austrian chef Wini Brugger presents a unique menu consisting of traditional Austrian fare alongside reworked French and Italian favourites. After eating, make your way to the Atmosphere Rooftop Bar & Lounge (opening times vary ), where 360-degree views of the city can be taken in.
Along with Beethoven, Vienna has also been home to Mozart and Strauss among many others. You can learn about the work of these famous composers at the Museum of Sound during the day, but on certain evenings it is also possible to watch live performances on a huge screen at the side of the Vienna State Opera.
Although these suggestions only scratch the surface of Vienna, they manage to encapsulate what this captivating city is all about. But if you have any other recommendations on what to see and do on Vienna city breaks, let us know by commenting below.
Images by Gabriele Diwald and John Harwood.