Vienna non negotiables

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One person's "must see" is another person's "skip it". Hopefully you have a guide book and can further clarify your interests, budget, travel style. Join a few Vienna Facebook groups for on-the-ground, real-time info.
Have a great trip!

Last year when the Berlin, Prague, Vienna tour ended, I stayed four more nights in Vienna before traveling onwards. Because I was traveling solo, I did not have to Negotiate anything. But I did have a list of Must Sees: the Lippizan schooling session and performance; the Opera; the Imperial Armory; the Imperial Treasury; the Schonbrunn Palace and Carriage Museum; the Kunstkammer Museum. Ticket and passes were bought before leaving home. I saw them all plus went to a concert at Annakirche and added a strudel making demo. All were wonderful.
Unplanned fun was watching the Gay Pride Parade.
Buy a multi day transit pass so you can get around the city easily.

Schönbrunn palace (what was the royals’ getaway out in the country), the Hofburg (downtown) palace, and the Kunsthistorisches art museum are must-sees. Eating Wienerschnitzel is obvious, and don’t miss having chocolate Sachertorte, preferably at the Sacher Hotel, but anywhere else in town works. too.

Apple strudel or sacher torte every opportunity you get! I’m still dreaming about the pastries and we were there 6 years ago!

Riding the Ferris wheel at Prater - watch "The Third Man" before you go.

Coffee houses - there are better options than Sacher... watch some videos on the topic on YouTube.

Watch The Woman in Gold on Netflix. Then visit the Belvedere Museum and don't miss the Klimt art and lots of other amazing art. It's a wonderful museum. We also toured the Opera House.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch and people watching experience at Cafe Landtmann!

We happened upon a fun parade while we were there as well. Always celebrations going on.

I'll address "eat tips" by referring you to a thread started by Vienna resident and forum expert Emily. She kindly wrote about her top ten food experiences in Vienna: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/austria/my-top-ten-food-experiences-in-vienna

I'm curious who you are negotiating with. Your boyfriend?

I liked visiting the Spanish Riding school to see the lippanzer horses, but if your BF or you isn't interested in dressage or horses, then it might be boring for you, and that can be up for negotiation.

What are you interested in?

Famous sites in Vienna included Schönnbrunn palace, or walk around the old town (take a walking tour), Mozart's apartment and museum, the Hofburg Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum (if you like Empress Elisabeth) the Klimt museum, a food tour (since you are foodies), the giant ferris wheel at the Prater, seeing a concert in the evening, eating Sacher torte at cafe central or cafe Sacher, the Stephansdom cathedral,

Go to YouTube and search for things to do in Vienna and see if any of these things are interesting to you.

Years ago, in addition to many (most?) of the above, my Hubby had to make a pilgrimage to Freud's Vienna apartment and museum. That may be a very personal "must-see", but it is still one the unique Viennese experiences we recall decades later.

https://www.freud-museum.at/en/

See here: https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attractions-g190454-Activities-Vienna.html
Scroll down to "Top Attractions in Vienna".

I'm surprised never to see the Hundertwasser House mentioned as a must-see in Vienna. The exterior architecture is absolutely unique, and seeing it costs nothing.

The Prater is IMO a must-visit also, but not just for the ferris wheel. It's a huge, multipurpose park with facilities for horse riding, jogging, football and other outdoor recreation as well as kiddie rides and beer gardens. Immense fun.

The AT A GLANCE section here is a good place to check:
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/austria/vienna

One person's "must see" is another person's "skip it".

Could not agree more with this, especially in a city as wonderfully diverse as Vienna. Follow the ideas in this thread and make your trip your own. And if I may be so bold, a day or half-day with you and your boyfriend doing two different inineraries is not a bad thing. Makes for a great dinner conversation.

Thank you everyone. Just to clarify, by non negotiable I meant “must see”. I think this may have come across as my boyfriend and I have to negotiate places haha

Yeah, I don’t think this translated for this crowd (I understood).

My non-negotiables:

1. Schönbrunn (be sure to visit the carriage museum)
2. Up the St. Stephan’s tower
3. Belvedere to see The Kiss
4. Walk around the Ring
5. Up to Kahlenberg stopping at Mayer am Nussberg on the walk to Nussdorf
6. Wien Museum
7. If a Saturday, visit a local market (not Naschmarkt)
8. A kaffeehaus visit where you linger for two hours (I’ll send you recommendations by DM)
9. Schnitzel
10. An Opera