How to Spend 3 Days in Vienna (Updated 2023)

Posted: 7/21/2023 | July 21st, 2023

Steeped in culture, arts, music, and history, Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. (At least I think so!)

The entire historic center of Vienna is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is filled with countless museums and art galleries, grand Baroque palaces, traditional markets, and fantastic restaurants.

I’ll admit that I didn’t love Vienna when I first visited. I found it a bit stuffy and imperial (which makes sense given its history). But, after a couple of visits, I grew to love it and found it a city full of life, art, and music. I loved it so much I took groups of readers here!

There is a lot to do here. (In fact, there’s so much that you could easily spend a week here and not get bored.)

But, if you only have a few days, here’s my suggested three-day Vienna itinerary if you’re short on time. It hits all the highlights.

Vienna itinerary: Day 1

Take a free walking tour
I always take a walking tour whenever I arrive in a destination. Starting your trip with a walking tour is a fun way to get a sense of the city, as a taste of its history and culture. Plus, you can ask your guide questions about where to eat and go since they are always locals so they know the inside scoop!

Two excellent free walking tours are:

If you’d like to cover more ground, consider taking a bike tour. I like the tour offered by Pedal Power Vienna. It’s three hours and covers all the major highlights.

Admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Built in Romanesque and Gothic styles, the Stephansdom has been standing since the 12th century. It is most famous for its colorful roof of 230,000 glazed tiles, but the inside is ornately decorated as well, with high archways, vaulted ceilings, and a plethora of statues and religious paintings. There are two beautiful altars inside too: the 17th-century High Altar and the 15th-century Wiener Neustadt Altar.

The cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt over the years, with the current version largely initiated by Duke Rudolf IV (1339–1365). Its most recent reconstruction took place just after World War II.

Stephansplatz 3, +43 1 515523530, stephanskirche.at. Open for worship Monday-Saturday 6am-10pm and Sundays 7am-10pm. Open for visitors Monday-Saturday 9am-11:30am and 1pm-4:30pm, and Sunday 1pm-4:30pm. Admission is 20 EUR, guided tours are 3.50 EUR, and audio guides are 6 EUR. Catacomb tours are 6 EUR; going up the towers costs 5.50 EUR for the South Tower and 6…