Ideas to kill a few hours in Vienna (while on Viking Cruise)

Walking tour from the RS guidebook. Snack at Naschmarkt, don't miss the art deco buildings across the street. The Viking cruise ships don't always dock at the same spot. Consider talking to the concierge and book a taxi/uber.

It does dock in an industrial area, but they take you to the historic town center via bus with a little bit of a tour along the way. I remember I went in to the Cathedral which has lovely and found a coffee shop and had a sweet and coffee. BTW, I loved the concert. It had a lot of variety.

If you like art, the Kundhistoriches Museum. There is also a good music museum.

I went on a Viking cruise last September and I thought they were going to stop there too, and they didn't. They docked near Mexikoplatz. Look on Google maps for it and you'll see the "Anlegstelle" which is where multiple cruise ships were docked that evening.

So you might be docked out of the city, but you might not.

Regardless of where they are docked, you could go on one of the free tours and then stay in the city. They had the usual free bus tour offered, but the evening before at the port talk, they also offered a free tour via u-bahn and walking, which I did. (This was not one of the tours you can sign up for way in advance in your Viking account.)

We had a guide who led us to the nearest station (maybe 1/3 mile away, Vorgartenstrasse) and into the city, where she gave us a guided tour. Viking provided the u-bahn tickets so we could either return to the ship with the guide, or get ourselves back (which I did). If you don't know how to use the u-bahn, the guide can tell you. I don't know if they would offer that tour option if you are NOT docked near Mexikoplatz.

So if you take one of their free tours into the city, from wherever they dock, you can stay in the city when the tour is over, do and see what you'd like, and return to the ship at your leisure, via u-bahn, bus or taxi. There are multiple museums to see and lots of places to lunch or coffee and cake. The tour(s) will end in the city center, so if you opt for a museum out of the city center, be sure to allow enough time to get back to the ship.

Thanks all for the thoughtful and constructive advice. I understand now that the ship's docking isn't a fixed location; that notwithstanding public or taxi/Uber transportation are available options. That's good to know.

After the morning (Viking conducted tour) we might stick around in the city, spend the afternoon at the Schönbrunn Palace and return back for dinner & concert. That's going to be a full day ;-)

stick around in the city, spend the afternoon at the Schönbrunn Palace
and return back for dinner & concert. That's going to be a full day
;-)

If you want the day to be a little less full, visit the Hofburg rather than Schonbrunn. The Hofburg is in the city center and on Rick's walking tour, which I also recommend for getting an overview of Vienna.

My concern is that where I think the ship will dock looks like an industrial area ...

This link points to the wrong location, a freight harbor. The picture does not match, it is from the dock at Mexikoplatz near Reichsbrücke. (You can see the church in the background.)

Most ships dock near Mexikopatz, only if they run out of docking space then the dock in Nussdorf (about 3 miles upstream) is used, too.

My personal favorite things to see in Vienna include:

1. Hundertwasser House
2. The Prater (park and amusement park)
3. Stephanskirche
4. Kunsthistorisches Museum
5. Ringstrasse, generally

You'll have a great visit. In Vienna, everyone does!

Hundertwasser House

I would add the nearby Hundertwasser Museum. It had been refurbished and the permanent collection of his works rearranged.

I would add the nearby Hundertwasser Museum

Museum is compact and offers great focus on an artist/activist with a unique vision. And the cafe is a great place for lunch - how many places offer nettle soup? A visit takes you outside the Ring for a taste of the "real" Vienna.

Walk the old town and have a coffee. Maybe visit the Cathedral. Vienna is one of the most compact and beautiful places in Europe. I would not waste your limited time on an indoor activity.