The Austrian capital is one of the largest contemporary art and cultural hub of Europe. The capital of Palaces, home to art collections and admirable architecture, Vienna has it all! I also included a weekend trip to Prague and a day trip to Budapest in my Vienna itinerary, & it was memorable! So, you’re planning to spend 2 days in Vienna? I have jotted down this 2-day Vienna itinerary with the best places to visit in Vienna in 2 days or more.
The Viennese capital has German as a primary language, but if you speak English, then you’re good to go. Vienna continuously manages to rank in the top European cities in the quality of living index survey done by Mercer, and indubitably, it is the classiest city on the European continent.
From the moment I landed in Vienna, Austria, I never looked down. I cherished its architectural beauty, residing not only in the palaces but precisely everywhere. It’s easy to love the city, despite that, I present the prime places to visit in Vienna in 2 days. If you’re heading to Austria in winter, do check out these amazing things to do in Vienna in winter.
Before you start your 2 days in Vienna, if you are interested in hitting more than 2 attractions, I would recommend getting the Vienna Pass, which will give you entry to 85+ attractions.
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Suggested Read: Budapest for free
Places to visit in Vienna in 2 days – Day 1
A Perfect Vienna 2-Day Itinerary
Admire Artwork at Belvedere Palace
A historic site from the Austrian capital, built during the period of the Habsburg Empire, characterised by the iconic Baroque style stemming from Rome in the 16th century.
The Belvedere Palace complex consists of two main palaces – Upper Belvedere and Lower Belvedere, and a garden separating them. I suggest seeing Belvedere Palace first, as it tops my list of places to visit in Vienna in 2 days.
Upper Belvedere was actually the first place I visited in the capital, and it easily got to my heart with its glittering white building and green dome. It was my photographic gem with a pond at the entrance and views of the capital at the rear. Upper Belvedere houses the famous painting by Gustav Klimt, ’ The Kiss’. Although all the paintings in the palace were jaw-dropping gorgeous, it was ‘The Kiss’ which caught the attention of tourists.
Buy your Belvedere Palace tickets here
There are two ticket options – one for either of the Boroques and the second one for both the Palaces. Still, a beginner in art discovery, I opted only for the Upper Belvedere, which sparked my ever-growing interest in art. Grab the ticket for Upper Belvedere here.
Upon exiting the Upper Belvedere, St. Stephen’s Cathedral can be seen from the gardens of the complex. However, I didn’t see the lower Belvedere Palace Museum, which had distinctive looks with red rooftops on the white facade. Photography is allowed in The Belvedere Museum, but no touching of paintings & sculptures.
A day in Vienna is enough to love Vienna, but I recommend spending at least 2 days in Vienna for a lifetime memory!
Discern Royalty at the Schönbrunn Palace
The 18th-century imperial Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists annually, making it one of the top places to visit in Vienna in 2 days. Grab the ticket here; the tickets will likely sell out soon.
Even occupied by Napoleon in the early 18th century, the architecture of the Palace had undergone major restorations since then. The Schönbrunn Palace is a former summer residence of various monarchs of the Habsburg dynasty. The palace is a historical, cultural and architectural marvel.
The Schönbrunn palace holds 1400+ rooms holding different styles, indicating the different styles of the rulers of Austria. The Schönbrunn Palace holds a variety of tours – Imperial Tour, Grand Tour, Sisi Ticket, and Classic Pass, among a few others.
The Imperial tour is the most basic one out of the lot and will give you an insight into the grandeur of the Palace, including the staterooms and private apartments of Frank Joseph and Sisi. Grand Tour includes the parts from the Imperial Tour along with centuries-old interiors & furniture. Sisi Ticket gives you access to the Sisi Museum, holding the detailed life story of the most beautiful Empress of Europe, ‘Sisi ‘, along with the ones clubbed in the grand tour.
Photography is not allowed inside the Palace. They don’t deposit your mobiles/cameras, but they keep a routine check at every step. Yet, when I went through a huge sculpture of Sisi looking into the mirror, I couldn’t stop myself from clicking. Considering it was a memory worth capturing in my camera roll, I’m not posting it here. Wouldn’t it be unfair to all those who want to go and see it themselves?
Gloriette
Apart from the Schönbrunn Palace, the complex also holds an enormous garden area on the rear side of the Palace, going up to the Gloriette – a facade on one end of the gardens. In the spring season, the Schönbrunn Palace gardens are blooming with flowers all over, making it a pleasing sight and also the garden worth capturing. No matter how many days you have, Schönbrunn Palace is one of the best places to visit in Vienna in 2 days.
Tiergarten Schönbrunn – Zoo
Raise your hands if you love Pandas 🙂 A part of the Schönbrunn Palace Complex, the Tiergarten Zoo is the world’s oldest zoo and is not to be missed if visiting Vienna for 2 days.
Schönbrunn is the Palace no tourist would miss. I recommend visiting the zoo highly, as it’s part of the Schönbrunn complex.
Even I was sceptical about visiting the zoo as an adult and a solo traveller, but isn’t that the plus point of travelling solo that you can go where your heart takes you?
Pandas and more…
I must admit, I went in there primarily for my love for pandas, but let me tell you honestly, after my personal experience, the zoo is much more than just Pandas.
Yes, undeniably, Pandas are a hit with every generation, and a huge number of tourists line up to get a glance at Pandas.
Admittedly, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo was not something I initially intended to include in my Vienna itinerary, but I went for it knowing that it provides a natural habitat for a variety of species.
I hopped onto the opportunity and took a chance, which, by the way, turned out to be great. So, surely a place to visit in Vienna in 2 days or more.
The Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo is gigantic in the area, and you will need 2-3 hours to cover it all if you want to photograph the wonderful creatures, too, then add an hour to that.
You will come across Sea Lions, Zebras, Leopards, Kangaroos, Penguins, Polar Bears and Pandas (of course) amongst a lot of others. Visiting the zoo brought the child out of me, and there were times when I laughed like a child and added this to my good decision-making skills 😉
Tip for Families – Children below the age of 12 can not visit alone and may need adult supervision as per the Zoo rules. If you’re heading to the world’s capital of Music with the family and especially kids, don’t miss the zoo!
Quick Tip – Phone cameras are good, but you might need a DSLR with a good zoom lens to capture the animals in your camera roll. I didn’t have one, hence the picture quality isn’t as good as I wanted it to be.
Places to visit in Vienna in 2 days – Day 2
Visit historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral, bearing the brunt of over 7 centuries, is one of the most distinctive buildings in the capital of Austria. The St. Stephan Church’s spire is visible from Belvedere Gardens.
Located in the city centre, the St. Stephan Cathedral is not only an architectural landmark but also the *only* Roman Catholic church in the city. The Cathedral attracts as many as a million tourists throughout the year.
The St. Stephan church embraces peculiar Gothic architecture with a highly gracious rooftop and a distinctive 137-meter-high spire.
The city can be viewed from the top of the cathedral, including 343 steps. For those fit ones out there, this should be a must-do, as I don’t fall under those, so I gave it a pass.
The St. Stephan church is also a historical landmark, as it was almost completely destroyed during WWII but was reconstructed during the 1960s. St. Stephan Cathedral is easily accessible by U-Bahn or the underground rail network, and the nearest station is Stephansplatz. As the church is located in the city centre, you can not drive/board cabs until you get there. Either a walk or the subway is the best way to head to St. Stephen’s Church. The first time, I walked to the Church from the Belvedere Gardens, but that wasn’t an optimal way. Also, I tried to ask locals for the right way, which didn’t help because of language constraints. So on the second visit, I chose U-Bahn, which took me directly to the church, so a win-win 🙂
Walk in the Historic City Centre
The centre of the capital will give you an amazing vibe of Viennese culture. Vienna’s historic city centre is buzzing with all sorts of activities, artists & local shopping. The tourists enjoy the culture of the city, and the typical Viennese food and wine culture is evident on the street.
The cafes on the road add to the hustle and bustle of the Vienna city centre. The city centre can get crowded as a prime spot for tourists and locals alike. It might even feel annihilating to some, but it is still the best way to get a hint of the city’s culture.
Check out my must-have European delicacies
Fancy a ride on the fiaker, a medieval-style horse-drawn carriage? They’re easily spotted in the city centre and primarily around St. Stephen’s Cathedral. I was on a budget, so I didn’t ride them. You can try them at 40-70 Euros and cover Stephansplatz and some other historic sites of Vienna.
Be a child at the Prater amusement park
Think amusement parks are only for kids? What if I say you can ride a giant wheel to get an amazing 360-degree view of Vienna’s skyline – Do you still want to skip it?
Dating back to the 19th century & destroyed heavily during World War II, the Ferris wheel still attracts millions of tourists. And if you’re visiting Vienna with kids, they will enjoy this amusement park too. This certainly tops my list of top places to visit in Vienna in 2 days. If you have 3 days or more, I’d recommend enjoying the entire amusement park.
Linger in the Hofburg Palace
Hofburg Palace is for those who love lavish palaces, although it usually doesn’t come among the top places to visit in Vienna.
Another 12th-century icon from Vienna is the Hofburg Imperial Palace, which bore the brunt of every ruler Austria had. A unique palace, currently the Seat of the Austrian Federal President, flaunts different architectural styles ranging from Gothic to Baroque. Having said that, Hofburg Palace is one of the best places to visit in Vienna in 2 days.
If you have 3 days in Vienna, I advise visiting Hofburg Palace. If you have 2 days or less in Vienna, then covering this 50-acre palace might leave you with crunching moments.
Don’t miss these places in Vienna for a lifetime of memories and a city to cherish forever.
Where to Stay in Vienna
Budget – If you are on a budget, do try this highly recommended hostel – Rioca Vienna Posto 2. The name is a hostel, but it also has proper rooms and is centrally located.
Mid Range: I stayed in Aparthotel Adagio – ‘A home away from Home’ – a stay I can proudly convey. The hotel was not exactly in the city centre of Vienna, but near some residential and office complexes. It was another feel of Vienna. A superior room on the 5th floor at the Aparthotel gave me views like this in the mornings –
The room was wonderfully spacious, with a mini kitchen and literally all the required utensils. The cupboards were unimaginably huge with not only iron but also iron board. I mean, it was truly a home away from home for me. I would recommend Aparthotel Adagio to anyone visiting Vienna, as this is truly the best place to stay in Vienna.
Interested? You can check the prices here – Aparthotel Adagio!
Splurge – If you would like to stay in one of the most luxurious hotels in Vienna, then do try The Amauris Vienna – Relais & Châteaux. Located right in the city centre, with a Micellen star in-house restaurant, this is the place to stay in Vienna when luxury is the topic.
Where to eat in Vienna
Wondering where to eat in Vienna? I strongly recommend trying the Nirvana restaurant in Vienna. An authentic Indian/ Asian restaurant serving both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals both. Although the restaurant is priced slightly on the higher side, if on a budget, you can skip this one. Otherwise, you should give it a try.
Try Pasha Kebad & more for delicious Chinese culinary delights, located right in the city centre.
Fancy authentic Indian food?
Most Asked Questions
Are 2 days enough to see Vienna?
Two days are absolutely enough to cover Vienna’s major attractions comfortably — Belvedere Palace, Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg, and a walk through the city centre. Although if you don’t like rushed travel, and slow travel in a place is your thing, then no. You won’t have time to go deep into every museum or add a day trip to Salzburg or Hallstatt, but you’ll leave with a real feel for the city.
What is the ideal 2-day itinerary for Vienna?
Day 1: Belvedere Palace in the morning, then Schönbrunn Palace and gardens in the afternoon.
Day 2: St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the city centre in the morning, followed by the Hofburg Palace and Prater in the afternoon/evening.
How much does a 2-day trip to Vienna cost?
Approximately 100 EUR a day, including accommodations (mid-range), food and Vienna Pass. It completely depends on your preferences for the attractions that you’d like to see. For example, entry to Schönbrunn Palace alone ranges from the Imperial Tour to the more comprehensive Sisi Ticket, so ticket choice affects your total more than most other costs.
Do I need to pre-book tickets for Schönbrunn and Belvedere?
Yes — both get busy, especially in peak season. Booking Schönbrunn’s timed-entry ticket and Belvedere’s skip-the-line entry in advance saves you real queue time on a tight 2-day schedule.
Is Vienna walkable, or do I need public transport?
The city centre (Innere Stadt) is actually walkable, and most sights like St. Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hofburg are close together on foot. Schönbrunn Palace and Belvedere are outside the core centre, so you’ll want the U-Bahn (metro) or tram to reach them efficiently.
Is a horse-drawn carriage (fiaker) ride worth it in Vienna?
It’s a classic Vienna experience but honestly a premium experience — expect to pay 40-70 EUR depending on the route and duration. Worth it if you want the postcard experience; skippable if you’re tight on budget or time.
Where should I stay for 2 days in Vienna?
Staying centrally near Innere Stadt keeps everything within walking distance, but hotel rates are much higher. I would suggest anything accessible via U-Bahn, like my hotel, Aparthotel Adagio was well connected via public transport.
If interested in other parts of Austria, know more about this travel guide to Hallstatt, another beautiful place in Austria.
Have only one day in Vienna? Check out this itinerary for spending a perfect day in Vienna.
Have you been to Vienna yet? Would you like to see these places to visit in Vienna in 2 days? Do share your experience with me.
HAVE YOU TRAVELED TO VIENNA? DID YOU SPEND 2 DAYS IN VIENNA OR MORE? WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!
If you’d like more options on where to stay in Vienna, you may check out these amazing places to stay in Vienna, catering for every budget.
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