Vienna in 5 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

There are always plenty of activities and things to do in Vienna; the good news is that your five-day visit will give you time to see everything, or almost everything. As I know that it can sometimes be difficult to organise such a long itinerary, I'd like to share with you what I think would be a perfect tour.

The city of palaces and music is big, but not inaccessible. In fact, you can walk from one place to another and discover its most important buildings, such as the Opera House and the Cathedral.

Are you looking forward to your trip to Vienna? The first day is the perfect occasion to visit the most emblematic and central places, so get ready to walk around and get to know the historical (and imperial) area of Vienna.

Start the day between Helmut Zilk-Platz and Albertinaplatz

Your trip to Vienna has to start between Helmut Zilk-Platz and Albertinaplatz, two of the most important and central squares of the city, where you will find great monuments and buildings, such as the Albertina building, which was one of the residences of Prince Albert of Saxony-Teschen.

The Albertina is now a museum (admission is approximately €22). You can enter to see the permanent collections, which exhibit historical prints as well as works by more contemporary artists (Picasso, Monet...).

The visit can be interesting if you like art, although architecturally there are more special palaces. However, if you decide to go in, be sure to ask if all the rooms are open, as in bad weather some are closed as a precaution.

Marvel at the shelves of the National Library

I don't know which is more incredible, the building itself or the towering shelves filled with millions of books. History and culture run through the walls of the Austrian National Library, built in the 18th century on the orders of Emperor Charles III. In addition to books, other objects such as papyrus and globes are also on display.

Don't think you're entering a normal library, as it's more like a museum. The room that will leave you open-mouthed will be the Prunksaal (Imperial Hall) with its frescoes, marble statues and more than 200,000 books. You'll feel like you're in one of those movie libraries.

Take a break and pack a picnic in Burggarten

Before continuing with the day, it's best to stop for lunch, don't you think? Rather than recommending restaurants, I suggest a better plan: a picnic in Burggarten.

This park was once the emperor's private garden, although nowadays it is a public place where many Viennese (and now you too) come to stroll and enjoy its nature, fountains, sculptures and ponds. You can have your own picnic (you'll find food stalls and shops nearby) or if you prefer, you can order something in the Casa de Palma cafeteria.

When you've filled your stomach, don't go straight away, it's better to take a stroll and get to know the grounds. If you are very tired, you don't have to do this tour on foot. You can rent one of the many bicycles available in the city and explore the park in a more pleasant and agile way.

Discover the Habsburgs in the Hofburg Palace

The Hofburg Palace is one of Vienna's many palaces, but the best thing about it is that it is located right in the centre of the city, right in the Burggarten, which has made it one of the most visited places in the city. It's also the perfect place if you want to see how the Habsburg family lived.

The entrance fee is around 15€, so it's affordable and a good plan to do this first afternoon. Although there is a lot to see, my advice is to focus on the Imperial Apartments and the Sissi Museum.

At this point it is important that, before continuing with the guide, you know about the Vienna Pass, a tourist card with which you can enjoy more than 70 attractions in the city with unique discounts and skip-the-line tickets. If you're staying 5 days or more, I definitely recommend it, although there is the possibility of acquiring different modalities depending on the number of days you want it to be active. It is a more economical and convenient way to discover the city.

End the day at Vienna City Hall

Before ending the day it's time to go to the Wiener Rathaus, the Vienna City Hall. This building was designed as a cathedral by Friedrich Von Schmidt, one of the great Viennese architects, and was completed in just 11 years, which is quite amazing considering its grandeur. It is notable for its almost 100-metre-high tower, which is surrounded by other lower towers. If you go inside (it's free) you can also access its gardens and pavilions.

What started out as a cathedral is now the mayor's house and also the seat of the senate. During your visit you will walk through the rooms open to the public, such as the library or the ceremonial hall. If you get hungry, you're in luck because there are several restaurants in the basement where you can sample Austrian cuisine.

For your second day you will return to the centre of Vienna, but you will visit another area that will take you on a journey through the city's more recent history. You will also have the opportunity to get to know one of the most important elements of Viennese culture: its music.

See the art and gardens of the Belvedere Palace

Belvedere Palace was the summer residence of the Savoy family, so be prepared for the immensity of its gardens. The interiors are also spectacular (and huge, as they are actually two palaces), although they are now used as a museum. It's true that you won't be able to see the rooms as they were during the imperial era, but you will be able to see famous works of art such as Klimt's The Kiss and from different historical periods (from the Middle Ages to the present day).

If you want to get tickets for the Belvedere Palace, I recommend you book them in advance, as there are usually long queues and waiting times. The price is approximately 16€ and includes access to the two palaces and the Orangery (also known as the Orangery), as well as the gardens, which are the great treasure of this place. To get there I recommend taking the tram(line D has a stop at the palace).

Visit Karlskirche

Did you know that in the 18th century Vienna suffered a great plague epidemic? More than seventy thousand people died. To give hope to his people, Emperor Charles VI promised that, when it was over, he would have a church built to St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of the fight against the plague. So he did, and thus was born Karlskirche, which is only a 15-minute walk from Belvedere. This church is notable for the two columns that preside over it and which depict, through reliefs, the life of the saint.

Admission is cheap (approximately €8) and I recommend you buy it to see the frescoes on the ceiling of the church. You can also take advantage of the opportunity to climb up to the dome and get a nice panoramic view of Vienna.

Eat (and buy) something at the Naschmarkt market

After a whole morning indoors, there's nothing better than a stroll around the Naschmarkt market, where you can do some shopping or grab a bite to eat at the stalls and restaurants in the area. This market is one of the most famous in Vienna and is open every weekday from 6am to 6.30pm (Saturdays only until 2pm).

Naschmarkt has been Vienna' s urban shopping centre since the 16th century, although since then more and more goods have started to be sold on this square, which is located halfway between Karlskirche and the museum quarter. Now you can buy food (fresh and cooked) as well as flowers and handicrafts.

Tour the Vienna Museums

Continuing on your way, in about a quarter of an hour, you will reach the museum quarter, where some of Vienna's best museums are located.

You might not have time to visit them all, but I would like to recommend a few of them, as they contain contemporary works by well-known artists from all over the world. If you're more into other types of collections, you'll be spoilt for choice too.

Tickets to each museum cost around €15, but if you're planning to visit several, it's best to buy the Vienna Pass, which includes access to several of the city's most important sites for around €80.

• Leopold Museum: art takes on a holistic meaning in its rooms and you'll find everything from paintings to furniture.
• Kunsthistorischen: this is where you can best understand and explore the artistic value of the city, from Egypt to Rembrandt. To make the most of your visit, I recommend booking a guided tour of the Vienna Museum of Art History.
• Natural History Museum: you will be impressed by the dinosaur skeletons and the possibility of learning about the world we inhabit.

Attend an 18th-century concert in Vienna

There's no way you can't leave without listening to a classical music concert (dinner included) in Vienna. It's the perfect way to end the day, especially since most of these shows take place in the Musikverein, the city's great concert hall, or in other equally historic venues, such as the Sala Terrena or the Kursalon.

The musicians are usually dressed in 18th-century costumes and the auditorium is also decorated, so you can feel like you're really in that era attending a Mozart or Beethoven recital. If you love music and want to experience it in one of its capitals, book your ticket (approximately €50) and enjoy a unique evening.

The days are getting longer and so is your knowledge of Vienna, so today it's time to visit one of its most important sights, such as Schoenbrunn Palace and the Vienna State Opera. Between visits, you'll also be able to take a walk in the countryside, so be prepared with comfortable shoes.

Visit Schoenbrunn Palace and gardens

Of all the palaces in Vienna, Schoenbrunn Palace is the one you will have seen most often as a must-see. No wonder, because both its interior and its gardens are a great treasure.

Thousands of square metres await you to explore them and discover how the emperors enjoyed their summers there. To make your visit even more worthwhile, I recommend you buy tickets to Schönbrunn Palace that include a guide. Of the rooms you will visit, one of the most important is the Great Gallery, where the banquets were held. During your walk through the gardens, especially if the weather is good, you will see beautiful sculptures. Don't leave without climbing the Gloriette, a hill from which you can see the whole site.

If I had to say something bad about this palace, it's that it's on the outskirts of the city, so you'll have to go by public transport (the U4 metro line is the best way to get there).

Stroll through Stadtpark

When you finish your visit to Schoenbrunn Palace, I recommend you take the U4 underground line, which in about 20 minutes will take you to Stadtpark, one of the most visited and famous parks in Vienna.

The best plan there is to take a stroll and cross one of its bridges, which connect both banks of the Wien River. It was designed in the purest English style, so you can imagine that you will find colourful flowers and many decorative elements made of marble.

Direct your steps towards the statue of Johann Strauss, which is one of the emblems of the park and of the city, and then go to the Kursalon, a former spa that is now a concert hall. The best thing is that the Stadtpark is right in the city centre, so it's a good place to continue your tour.

Enjoy one of the symbols of Vienna: the Opera House

Next stop is the Vienna State Opera, one of the great symbols of the city. How can you miss it? Guided tours are organised every day and, for around €8, you can get to know the ins and outs of this Renaissance-style building.

If you fancy attending a show, you can do so. There are very expensive tickets (over €100) but other cheaper ones (between €3 and €5), which go on sale a few hours before the performance starts at the box office, although I warn you that they are standing room only.

Building and designing it was not easy, as the Viennese were very demanding, but it was finally inaugurated at the end of the 19th century. If you go inside, you can see its huge auditorium and also other more private rooms, such as the place where Emperor Franz Joseph used to rest during opera intermissions.

See Vienna from above at Stephansdom

Just a ten-minute walk from the Opera House is Stephansdom, Vienna's cathedral, which still retains part of the structure of the old (12th-century) church on which it was built.

The city's religious headquarters par excellence, St. Stephansdom is striking for its tiled roof and 130-metre-high tower. Yes, the views from the top are incredible, so I recommend you buy the general admission ticket (approximately 14€) to go up.

With this full ticket you can also access the interior of the cathedral, where you will find a large bell made from war cannons, the catacombs, where thousands of Viennese citizens are buried, and also the tombs of the Habsburg family.

Visit the Mozart Museum

Before ending the day, it's time for a visit to the home of one of Vienna's most illustrious composers: Mozart. Now a memorial museum, the Mozart House is where the musician and his family lived for a few years. Among its four floors (all of which can be visited if you buy a ticket for approximately 12€), you can get a closer look at his history.

Although the decoration of the house is not preserved as it was, it is a place with a lot of information about his life there, his work and his daily life. It is a visit that I especially recommend if you like music and in particular Mozart's music. And if you want more, you can always go to a concert of the composer in Vienna.

Vienna is a city with a lot to see, but close by there are other places that are also worth a visit. That's why my suggestion for your fourth day of your trip is to go on an excursion to Salzburg, one of the most beautiful places in Austria. Don't miss the opportunity to get to know it with an organised tour.

Discover the Old Town of Salzburg

If you book an excursion from Vienna to Salzburg, one of the first stops will be the old town, which has been declared a World Heritage Site.

The best advice I can give you is to wander around the streets and the stone houses with their fairytale-like appearance. Of course, pay a visit to Salzburg Cathedral, which is the heart of the neighbourhood and, why not say it, of the city.

Although the Cathedral is one of the most important buildings, when you buy the ticket to see it inside (approximately 4€) you also get access to other places such as St. Peter's Abbey, which dates from the end of the 7th century, and the Franciscan Church, which mixes different architectural styles and is very beautiful inside and out.

Get to know Mozart's personal life

Salzburg is home to Mozart's Birthplace, where he composed his first works when he was still a child. He lived there for about 20 years and it is now a large museum housing scores, personal objects and portraits of the artist.

As soon as you enter Salzburg's main avenue, Getreidegasse, you'll know which building houses the house, as there is a large golden sign and the façade is bright yellow. If you want to go inside, you'll have to pay about €7.

My advice is to go in, as it's quite an interesting visit as you'll be inches away from Mozart's first pianos and his personal studio.

Grab a bite to eat at Alter Markt

Before continuing, I recommend you go to the Alter Markt and have a bite to eat there. In the past it was not only the city market, but also a centre for celebrations and folk dances.

Nowadays it has changed somewhat; there are no longer so many stalls and the medieval noble houses have been replaced by baroque buildings. Nevertheless, it is a good place to sit and have a drink.

Of all the stalls that are set up in the market, especially at Christmas time, one of the ones I recommend you try is the pretzel stall. These typical Austrian and Salzburg buns are very good value compared to other places in the city, so take the opportunity to eat one at one of the little tables set up around the market.

Visit Hohensalzburg Fortress

There are many interesting places to see in Salzburg, but one of the best known is the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It's pretty well preserved, especially considering it's from the 11th century, and you can walk up to it (even if it costs a bit) to get some good photos of the city.

If you want to go up, you can go inside for about €10. The entrance includes a visit to the princely chambers, where the princes protected themselves during the attacks, which the Hohensalzburg always resisted. Although it's a bit more gloomy, you can also enter the torture room.

Walk through the Mirabell Gardens

Like most cities in Austria, Salzburg also has a palace to boast about: Mirabell Palace. This will be your last stop before returning to Vienna.

The best thing, apart from its rose-filled gardens and ponds, is that admission is free. As you read, you don't have to pay anything to get in, although I warn you that the use of this place is governmental, so sometimes there are rooms closed to the general public.

In any case, I recommend you go and at least take a stroll through the gardens. Whether it is winter or summer, you will be greeted by a well-tended landscape, full of life and colour, within the possibilities of each season. Its beauty is such that it has been the setting for some films, such as The Sound of Music and Tears.

There's not long to go before your trip to Vienna comes to an end, but first it's time to say goodbye to Vienna with a stroll along the Danube and also enjoy its treasures, both underground and on the table. It's time to get moving!

Enjoy and learn about music at the Haus der Musik

If there's one place you have to go if you're travelling to Vienna with kids (and if you're not, too) it's the Haus der Musik, an interactive museum where you can learn, experiment and play with sound and music.

During your visit you can become a conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra and also compose your own melodies. Tickets to the Vienna House of Music cost approximately €16 and include a whole morning of fun.

In an entertaining way, at the Haus der Musik you can learn a lot about music, from its history and its relationship to the city of Vienna, to its scientific side, which will answer your questions about how sound is produced and how we perceive it.

Dive into the secrets of the Imperial Crypt

A five-minute walk will take you to Vienna's Imperial Crypt, which is located in one of the central areas (Neuer Markt). The sarcophagi of Austrian monarchs and nobles, including that of the Empress Sisi, are buried here.

The building in which it is located is the Church of the Capuchins, which is small, austere and a visit to which, if it were not for the Crypt, would be dispensable.

However, in addition to the tombs, there is a lot of art underground, something that might surprise you. Just think that all those noble people were buried with their belongings and in style, with paintings and jewellery placed on their graves.

Try the original Sacher Cake

When the hunger pangs start to call out to your stomach in Neuer Markt, there are several restaurants to choose from.

There are several places in the area serving typical dishes such as Wiener Schnitzel (a breaded veal fillet) or Speckknödeln (a dish of meatballs typical of the Alpine region). Of course, for dessert you have to order a piece of Sacher cake, the famous (and very sweet) chocolate cake.

You are relatively close to the Café Sacher, where the original is served. Be careful, the price is expensive (about 8€). Although it's almost a crime to leave Vienna without trying the Sacher cake, if you find chocolate too cloying, you can order apple strudel.

Learn about the history of Vienna's Jews

After the Sacher tart, continue your itinerary by heading to the Vienna Jewish Museum, which is about a five-minute walk away. It is one of the most important centres on Judaism in Europe, allowing you to learn about Jewish culture on a global as well as local level.

The great thing is that the entrance fee (approximately €10) also includes access to a second location at Judenplatz, which is a 15-minute walk away.

These two Jewish history museums house the collection contributed by Max Berger, the only German-Polish Jew to survive the Holocaust. He collected thousands of objects during his lifetime to reopen this museum in the mid-20th century, which was obviously closed during the Nazi invasion.

Embark on a Danube cruise

What better way to end your trip to Vienna than by seeing its most important sights from the Danube? Plus, these cruises usually include dinner, the best way to end the day with good food and the city's illuminated skyline. In total, you'll have a 3-hour cruise along the Danube Canal in Vienna during which, in addition to dinner, a guide will explain the sites you pass by.

On one bank you'll see Vienna's old town, with its church towers and cathedral towering above the rest of the buildings. On the other side, the more modern part of the city. No doubt, the €50 or so cost of this activity is the perfect farewell.

In general, most of Vienna's landmarks and monuments are located in the city centre. Between them you can get around on foot, although you'll need to use public transport to get to more distant but equally important sites, such as Schönnbrunn Palace. Don't worry because everything is well connected by tram and metro.

If you don't plan on taking too much transport, it's best to buy a day pass (approximately €8) or a single ticket (approximately €2.40). You can buy them from machines at metro stations, from the official website or, on trams and buses, from the driver.

If you think you'll need more journeys (for example, if you're travelling to Vienna in winter when cold and wet weather makes it difficult to get around), I recommend getting a weekly pass (about €16).