I thought I would share with the forum a really nice afternoon experience for Vienna. I did this myself yesterday and kept thinking about how folks often ask for authentic experiences.
First, hop on Bus 40a from Schottentor (right on the Ring) and get off the bus at the Cottagegasse stop (8 stops; 15 minutes). Stroll around the Cottage Quarter, using one of the two maps below. This is a very affluent area of Vienna, with huge houses (some with turrets, some with art deco touches) with beautiful leafy gardens. The maps (in German but easily translated with Google) highlight some of the more interesting homes. My personal favorite can be found at the corner of Cottagegasse and Colloredogasse - look for the blue shutters. This was the home of Felix Salten, the author of Bambi. The story was written when he lived in this house and a small statue of a deer sits on one of the fence posts.
https://www.cottageverein.at/2016/rundgaenge/66-rundgang-01
https://www.cottageverein.at/images/cottageverein/pdf/CottageSpaziergnge_Route2.pdf
As you work your way through the neighborhood, you will notice that you are walking alongside an absolutely stunning park called Türkenschanzpark. This park has rolling hills, a wide variety of flora and lots of Viennese hanging out in the sunshine - https://www.wien.gv.at/english/environment/parks/tuerkenschanz.html. The water tower, built in 1888, stands watch over the park. I can highly recommend a lunch or afternoon drink from the Diglas Meierei, a fantastic restaurant run by the Diglas group which runs one of my favorite cafes in the first district of the same name on Wollzeile. Yesterday, for example, most of the menu items featured asparagus as it is Spargelzeit (asparagus time) in Austria. The beer on tap was also fresh and cold, with a great sunny view of the park. Website for the restaurant - https://www.meierei-diglas.at/
Enjoy!