A trip to Vienna had always been on our radar. When we recently got an opportunity to spend 2 days in Prague, we thought why not visit Vienna too? After all, it’s just a 4-hour train ride away from Prague. That itself was incentive enough for us to plan a quick Vienna 2-day itinerary, apart from the fact that the city is teeming with art, history and culture!
So on a cold, windy morning in January, we took off for Vienna from Prague. As our train rolled into Vienna’s Central Station, we couldn’t help but be awestruck at how massive and grand the station looked. Almost like a mini airport, we thought! Neil and I decided to grab a quick bite from a bakery at the station and get going because we only had 2 days in Vienna and LOTS to see and do!
While planning the trip to Vienna, we found out about the Vienna Pass and the Vienna City Card, and we immediately knew we wanted to make use of them to explore the city. While the Vienna Pass would give us skip-the-line access to over 60 attractions, the Vienna City Card would give us unlimited access to the city’s public transportation. A combination of both made perfect sense for exploring Vienna in 2 days. We purchased both passes online in advance and picked them up once we reached Vienna.
So before we get into the details of our itinerary, here’s more about why we chose to use the Vienna Pass and Vienna City Card for our trip and how you can make the best use of it too!
How to use the Vienna Pass & City Card for 2 days in Vienna
The Vienna Pass is an all inclusive sightseeing pass for the city. Available for 1, 2, 3 and 6 consecutive days, it includes free entry to more than 60 top attractions in Vienna, more than enough to keep you busy during your trip. Think of the Vienna Pass as an all-access card which you simply purchase online or once you reach Vienna and keep using to get entry to a long list of the designated sightseeing spots. All this without having to wait in ticketing or entry queues and without having to keep paying entry fees upfront. But besides these advantages, what impressed us the most was how much money we could actually save by buying just one pass as opposed to purchasing individual tickets at every attraction. The 2-day Vienna Pass is priced at 95 Euro for adults and 47.50 Euro for children. The price does seem steep at first glance, but towards the end of this article, we will showcase how much this itinerary would have cost us without the Vienna Pass.
Since we were visiting Vienna for 2 days, it made sense for us to get the 2-day Vienna Pass. Although there is no restriction on the number of places you can visit in Vienna with the pass, we obviously couldn’t have covered all 60 places in 2 days. So we chose to visit some of the most interesting places to visit in Vienna in 2 days that appealed to us, which we will also share with you in this itinerary.
The Vienna City Card serves a great complimentary function if you want to get around Vienna with ease. It is essentially a public transportation pass that allows you to use any mode of transport for an unlimited number of times for the duration it is valid. This card can be bought to last you for 24, 48 or 72 hours. Vienna is extremely well connected via different modes of transportation that includes – U-Bahn (Subway/underground train), S-Bahn (local train), tram and bus. So it made sense for us to have the 48-hour city card at hand to help us explore Vienna seamlessly without having to worry about covering long distances. The Vienna City Card for 2 days costs 25 Euros per person.
The only thing you must remember to do before you hop on to a bus/train/tram is to validate your ticket the first time you use each of these modes of public transportation. Validating the ticket simply means getting it electronically stamped by inserting it into a small machine you will find at all train stations and inside buses and trams. Without a validated/stamped ticket, you are as good as travelling without one and can be liable to pay a fine if caught by a ticketing officer.
Now that you are armed with the Vienna Pass and City Card, you are ready to take on our 2-day Vienna itinerary!
What to do in Vienna in 2 days
The answer to this question is surely not a straightforward one. Referred to as the City of Music, Vienna has been home to world-class artists like Mozart and Beethoven. The entire city itself has been demarcated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! It’s not hard to see that Vienna’s reputation precedes itself in more ways than one. And to cover a city of that stature in just 2 days is no small task. So the primary aim of this 2-day Vienna itinerary is to help you pick a few key attractions to visit during your trip, using the Vienna Pass and the City Card. For short trips such as this, it is important to remember not to try and cram the days with too many places to visit, to ensure that you have ample time to actually get a feel of the city. With that in mind, let’s deep dive into what to do and see in Vienna in 2 days!
Summary of our Vienna 2-day itinerary
Places to visit in 2 days in Vienna: Day 1
- Hofburg Imperial Palace
- Albertina
- Austrian National Library
- Kunsthistorisches Museum
- Upper & Lower Belvedere
Places to visit in Vienna in 2 days: Day 2
- Schönbrunn Palace & Zoo
- Vienna City Cruise
- House of Music
- Danube Tower
- Vienna Ferris Wheel
Vienna itinerary 2 days – Day 1
Hofburg Imperial Palace
Lying in the heart of the city, there’s no better way to start your exploration of Vienna than to visit the gigantic Hofburg Palace of the Habsburg empire. This palace complex has held a position of prime importance in Austria’s political history. While it used to be the house of the Austrian monarchy till the early 1900s, it currently serves as the office of the President of the Republic of Austria along with the secretaries of state. Over the decades, the palace has expanded and has come to occupy a large and prominent space in the centre of Vienna.
It’s easy to lose track of time when walking through the many wings of the Hofburg Palace. Some of the most notable parts of the palace you must visit are – Sisi Museum, Imperial Apartments and the Spanish Riding School. Keep about 2 hours in hand if you want to properly experience the museums and the artefacts housed in the palace. We wouldn’t be lying if we said we didn’t realise how time flew once we were inside, listening to the audio guide provided at the entrance and marvelling at the richness of the palace!
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 15 Euro for adults, 9 Euro for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours – 9 am to 5:30 pm from September to June, 9 am to 6 pm in July & August
How to get there – Underground: U3 Herrengasse
Tram: 1, 2, 71, D Burgring
Bus: 2A, 3A Hofburg
Albertina
The Albertina Museum is technically a part of one of the several wings of the Hofburg Palace but it has to be visited as a separate entity. An imposing building that’s hard to miss, it is known to house one of the largest art galleries in the world, containing about 65000 drawings and paintings! It is not only a place to appreciate famous artwork by the likes of Picasso and Monet, but it also gives a glimpse into the luxurious lives of the Habsburg dynasty.
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 16 Euro for adults, Free for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours – 10 am to 9 pm on Wednesdays & Fridays, 10 am to 6 pm on all other days
How to get there – Underground: U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz; U3 Stephansplatz,
Trams: 1, 2, D, 62, 71, Badner Bahn Staatsoper / Kärntner Ring,
Bus: 3A Albertina
Austrian National Library
Whether you are a self-proclaimed bibliophile or have never read a book beyond your school textbooks, the State Hall of the Austrian National Library is bound to leave you awestruck with its grandeur. It is a sight to behold and undoubtedly is one of the most beautiful libraries I have ever seen in my life.
Frescoed ceilings, intricate woodwork, shelves lined with antique books and manuscripts – this baroque library is one of a kind and immediately inspires a sense of wonder! Whether you have just 2 days in Vienna or more, this is one place we highly recommend you visit.
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 8 Euro for adults, Free for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours – 10 am to 9 pm on Wednesdays & Fridays, 10 am to 6 pm on all other days
How to get there – Underground: U1, U2, U4 Karlsplatz; U3 Stephansplatz,
Trams: 1, 2, D, 62, 71, Badner Bahn Staatsoper / Kärntner Ring,
Bus: 3A Albertina
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Hands down our favourite museum in Vienna, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is home to some of the most exquisite art collections in the world, standing testament to the rich taste of the Habsburg dynasty members. But it’s not just the sculptures and paintings that drew our attention, it was the entire museum building itself that looked no less than an ornate palace! Walls and ceilings decorated with frescoes, carved marble pillars, walls adorned with intricate sculptures and carvings – this museum was every art history lover’s dream come to life!
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 16 Euro for adults, Free for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours – 10 am to 6 pm from June to August, 10 am to 6 pm every day except Monday from September to May
How to get there – Underground: U2, U3 Volkstheater
Tram: D, 1, 2, 71 Burgring/Kunsthistorisches Museum
Bus: 2A, 57A
Upper & Lower Belvedere
One of the most stunning and unique palaces in Vienna, and probably our favourite too, the Upper and Lower Belvedere are a pair of palaces connected by a sprawling garden in between. While the Upper Belvedere is constructed on an elevation, the Lower Belvedere rightfully sits at the lower end of the slope.
Once inside the palace, take your time and visit the several baroque-style staterooms in Upper Belvedere showcasing famous artworks like Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” among others. If you need a break from being inside palaces and museums, the immaculately manicured gardens outside the palace are also worth taking a stroll through.
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 22 Euro for adults, Free for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours – 9 am to 6 pm for Upper Belvedere, 10 am to 6 pm for Lower Belvedere
How to get there –
Upper Belvedere: Tram O, 18: Quartier Belvedere / Tram D: Schloss Belvedere
Lower Belvedere: Tram 71: Unteres Belvedere / Tram D, 2: Schwarzenbergplatz
Vienna itinerary 2 days – Day 2
Schönbrunn Palace & Zoo
The Schönbrunn Palace complex in Vienna is of huge historical importance for multiple reasons. Apart from the fact that this was a 6-year old Mozart’s first concert venue, the palace complex houses more than just the main palace of Empress Maria Theresa. The huge palace itself is known to have more than 1400 rooms, each one designed in a different way! Other than the palace, notable sections of the complex include the massive landscaped palace gardens, a children’s museum, an orangery, a zoo and the Privy Garden. With so much to do inside one palace complex, it is easy to spend half a day exploring all of it!
The Schönbrunn Zoo is also a major highlight of this imperial palace, especially for those travelling to Vienna with kids. Touted to be the oldest zoo in the world, it is home to more than 500 different species of animals. In addition to experiencing the gamut of wildlife in the zoo, there are several other activities you could opt for. The Rainforest House, Schönbrunn Panorama Train and the Nature Experience Trail are just some of those experiences you can look forward to!
Entry fees without Vienna Pass (For the Grand Palace Tour)- 20 Euro for adults, 13 Euro for children
Entry fees without Vienna Pass (For the Zoo)- 20 Euro for adults, 10 Euro for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours (For the palace) – 8 am to 5:30 pm from April to October, 8 am to 5 pm from November to March
Opening hours (For the zoo) – 9 am to 4:30 pm from November to February, 9 am to 6:30 pm from March to October
How to get there (For the palace) – Underground: U4 Schönbrunn
Trams: 10 and 58 Schönbrunn
Bus: 10A Schönbrunn station
How to get there (For the zoo) – Underground: U4 Hietzing
Trams: 10, 58, 60
Bus: 10A, 51A, 56B, 156B
Vienna City Cruise
Think you’ve seen enough of Vienna? Not until you’ve experienced the Vienna City Cruise. How about gliding past Vienna’s skyline while sailing on the Danube Canal? The Danube Canal is one of the primary branches of the Danube River that flows right through Vienna. This cruise is a brilliant way to sit back and relax while you get a glimpse of the historic city flanked by modern and upcoming neighbourhoods.
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 23 Euro for adults, 11.50 Euro for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Cruise timings – 11 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm, 4 pm, 5:30 pm from June to September, 11 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm, 4 pm rest of the year
How to get there – Underground: U1, U4 Schwedenplatz
Tram: 1, 2
Bus: 2A
House of Music
Vienna is as much a city of history as it is of arts and culture, especially classical music. The House of Music offers a great opportunity to visitors to get a taste of Viennese musical heritage in an immersive setup. Its interactive installations are an interesting way to understand the evolution of music and appreciate the city’s love for its musicians like Mozart and Beethoven.
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 13 Euro for adults, 6 Euro for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours – 10 am to 10 pm
How to get there – Underground: U1, U2, U4: Karlsplatz; U1, U3: Stephansplatz
Tram: D, 1, 2 Oper
Vienna Ferris Wheel
Located at the entrance of the Prater Amusement Park, the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel has been around since the year 1900! With such a long history to boast of, the Ferris Wheel has become more of a cultural icon over the years. Offering an unparalleled view of Vienna, especially after sunset, this historic Ferris Wheel is a fun place to visit in 2 days in Vienna, for kids and adults alike!
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 12 Euro for adults, 5 Euro for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours – The timings change throughout the year, which you can check out here.
How to get there – Underground: U1, U2 Praterstern
Trams: 5
Danube Tower
Overlooking the old part of Vienna city, the Danube Tower is the tallest tower in Austria and is iconic in its own way! Standing at a height of 826 feet, it offers stunning panoramic views of the city. It is possible for visitors to take an elevator up to the top of the tower to enjoy the view and also dine at the 360-degree rotating restaurant there. Even better if you can make it to the top in the evening since the tower can be accessed till midnight. Perfect way to relax and end your 2 day trip to Vienna, if you ask me!
Entry fees without Vienna Pass – 14.50 Euro for adults, 9.90 Euro for children
Entry fees with Vienna Pass – Free
Opening hours – 10 am to midnight
How to get there – Underground: U1 Kaisermühlen VIC / Alte Donau
That brings us to the end of our two days in Vienna. Now let’s take a look at how much this whole itinerary would have cost us had we not used the Vienna Pass.
Total cost of entry fees for 1 adult without Vienna Pass – Euro 180
Cost of the 2-day Vienna Pass for 1 adult – Euro 95
That’s already a saving of Euro 85 with the Vienna 2-day itinerary we shared above. If you have the time to visit a few more places in the city during your visit, it’ll only mean more value gained out of the Vienna Pass. In addition to that, this entire itinerary can be covered using public transportation with the Vienna City Card, without the need to keep purchasing bus or train tickets.
Now that your Vienna itinerary is sorted, it’s time to figure out the rest of the logistics of the trip.
How to get to Vienna
Our favourite mode of transportation in Europe is definitely the trains, and it was no different for our trip from Prague to Vienna. If you are taking the same journey, we highly recommend booking your train tickets directly on the Czech Railways website. It not only has a simple interface to help you navigate the website, but the train ticket prices are also extremely competitive. The journey takes only 4 hours and does not require any train changes in between. If you are planning to travel to Vienna from other nearby cities like Munich, Brno, Budapest and Bratislava, you will still be able to find direct trains to Vienna on the same website, making it easy for you to plan your route.
Alternatively, you can also explore the Austrian Railways website to find various trains going to and from Vienna. They have great connectivity to Vienna from many European cities and have competitive prices too.
However, if trains are not your transportation of choice, you can always opt for buses that travel from all these cities to Vienna. In that case, Flixbus is your best bet for booking bus tickets to Vienna. The tickets are extremely affordable and the entire booking process is done in just a few minutes!
Best time to visit Vienna
The best time to Visit Vienna mostly hinges on the weather at that time of the year. March to May and September to November are the times when the weather in Vienna is at its best (pleasant and mild), at the same time the crowds are also manageable, keeping hotel prices relatively lower. The rest of the year has either extreme temperatures, like the rain and snow we experienced in January or an inflow of thousands of tourists during the summer months. However, if you are willing to deal with the colder temperature, Vienna’s gorgeous Christmas markets held in December are a huge highlight and it is worth planning a trip at that time. As a thumb-rule, try to stick to the slightly off-peak season for your 2-day Vienna trip and you are guaranteed to have a great time!
What to eat in Vienna
No trip to the Austrian capital can be complete without tasting some of the famous dishes that have come to be associated with the city! Eating out in Vienna can be an expensive affair, each meal costing about 12-15 Euros per person at a budget restaurant and easily more than 20 Euros per person at slightly more posh restaurants. However, that shouldn’t stop you from indulging in some of our favourite Viennese delicacies.
Weiner Schnitzel
A thin slice or veal, pork or chicken crumbed and shallow-fried in butter or oil – there is probably no dish more iconic in Vienna than its Schnitzel! Typically served with a potato salad or sometimes with mashed potatoes, the Viennese Schnitzel is a crowd-pleaser and is easily available at most restaurants and cafes in the city.
Apple Strudel
If there is one dessert you have during your stay in Vienna, make it this! Apple Strudels are all about jammy, caramelized apples encased in a crisp, flaky puff pastry. It has just the right balance of sweet, savoury and tart, making it a perfect go-to dish for anytime during the day.
Viennese Sausages
A great budget eat in Vienna are the local sausages. They are affordable, filling and delicious! While you can get them at proper cafes and restaurants too, we think the best sausages come from the smaller street stalls like Bitzinger that sell a variety of sausages like the popular Bratwurst and Currywurst.
The Sachertorte
Sachertorte, a decadent chocolate cake with a hint of orange was first made in Vienna and has since then become synonymous with the city’s culinary landscape. And the best place to enjoy a piece of this historic cake is where it was first made – Cafe Sacher, which is the only place to make and sell the authentic Sachertorte.
Goulash
Originally a Hungarian dish, the humble Goulash was also adopted and adapted by the Austrians and the Czechs. The Austrian Goulash is a hearty meat stew typically served with potato or bread dumplings and makes for a filling meal.
We hope that this itinerary with our favourite things to do in Vienna in 2 days inspires you to plan a trip to the city if you are heading to Europe. Vienna is one city where it’s hard to get disappointed, no matter how many days you’re spending there. So take your time to soak in this historic city and let Vienna spell its magic on you!
Have an additional day in Vienna? A day trip from Vienna to Salzburg is probably the best way to make the most of it!
If you are looking for more Europe travel inspiration, take a look at this 12-day itinerary for Italy that was one of our favourite adventures in Europe!