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Feeling overwhelmed with Vienna sites – suggestions please

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My husband and I will be in Vienna for four nights in May. I've been looking through Rick's recommendations and there are so many great places, but we can't visit them all. Any suggestions (including what NOT to see) would be really helpful!

Just for context, my husband is a music professor, so we're going to prioritize those sites (in addition to composer sites like Heiligenstadt and the Central Cemetery, he wants to see the Beethoven Frieze at the Secession).

Here are some other sites we're considering.

  • Schönbrunn Palace
  • Kunsthistoriches Museum
  • Leopold Museum
  • Albertina Museum (we love impressionism)
  • Belvedere Palace
  • Austrian National Library
  • Vienna State Opera (might buy standing-room tix or a tour; we're already doing the Musikverein)

We'll also want time for some of the free sites like St. Stephen's Catherdral and the Naschmarkt.

My personal opinion: I'm not a big palace person, so maybe it's better to choose museum-inside-palace options like Belvedere and Albertina over Schönbrunn or Hofburg? Also, if we're already seeing The Secession, maybe we should skip Leopold since there's some overlap? I also wonder if we can save time by only visiting the gardens at certain sites.

P.S. Other places we're going on this trip: Würzburg (1 day), Nürnberg, Bamberg (1 day), Bayreuth (1 day), Salzburg. So maybe it's best to spread out the palace sites—see the Residenz at Würzburg instead Schönbrunn Palace, for example?

Posted by
3703 posts

I’d put Schonbronn at the top of my skip list. It’s harder to get to than some of the others; and I dislike Baroque/Roccoco architecture. The Belvedere has some wonderful art and pretty gardens, too. The Kunsthistorische Museum is a don’t miss; and it has a good cafe for lunching. So atmospheric being surrounded by the Klimt figures !

You can combine a Naschmarkt visit with a stroll along the waterfront lined with Jugenstihl buildings.
We liked Vienna so much that we returned the following year for another week.

Posted by
816 posts

Loved the Kunchh??? Museum..Introduced me to Brugels now a favorite. Dad and I had one day in Vienna and are slow walkers. We were able to do the Kunch? Museum, St.Stephens have lunch from street vendor and then coffee and cake at a Cafe and took the tour of the Opera House. In the evening the cruise has an optional trip to a concert which was great.
Enjoy

Posted by
30090 posts

There's not much art at the Secession, so I wouldn't skip the Leopold. Sorry!

Maybe you can settle for just the Upper Belvedere, skipping the Lower Belvedere.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum is huge, but it's possible you won't be equally interested in all its exhibitions. Spend a bit of time looking at the floor plan and focus on what's most important to you.

I dislike palaces and stately homes, so I skipped the Schonbrunn without a second thought. I did go to the Treasury at the Hofburg.

I'd suggest trying not to agonize over your choice of sights in Vienna. Opt for places that give you a good variety and are convenient to each other. I spent 17 days in Vienna in 2024 because of the art and the Art Nouveau architecture; if you like art, you simply cannot see all you'll want to see in 4 days.

Posted by
4017 posts

I was in Vienna last March with my sister and really enjoyed it. You might find my trip report helpful. We stayed in Vienna at the beginning and end of our trip, so be sure to read both those sections.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/sisters-in-vienna-and-prague-our-trip-report

St. Stephen’s opens at 6am. So, you can save time and visit early while you are waiting for the museums to open. You can’t walk through it that early, but you can see a lot from the entry way.

If you are a Phantom of the Opera fan, I cannot recommend that show enough. It’s in German and it was fabulous! It’s there through June, so will still be playing in May when you are there.

https://www.musicalvienna.at/en/schedule/100004/THE-PHANTOM-OF-THE-OPERA

So many great choices. If you’re not a fan of palaces, I would skip them. Leave some time for just walking around. It’s a gorgeous city!!

Good luck and have a great trip!!

Posted by
174 posts

The Schonbrunn Palace was a definite highlight for us. We reserved tickets in advance for the Grand Tour of 40 rooms. The grounds are magnificent. Walk up to the Gloriette for the view. We have seen many palaces in Europe over the years and this is one of the best.

Posted by
5134 posts

My top 3 must dos for him are the Augustiner Church on Sunday-the music is sublime, the music museum mentioned in Rick's book and the Kunsthistoriches(be sure to have lunch in their beautiful cafe). I haven't been to Schonbrunn but went to Hofburg and honestly it wasn't the best palace I've ever seen-it wasn't nearly as interesting as the Royal Palace in Madrid or Windsor Castle.

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