While one day in Vienna is not nearly enough time to capture all the charm of this city, it’s plenty of time to see the highlights! Break out the walking shoes and don’t forget your appetite! Here is how to spend one day in Vienna, Austria!
Coffee and Viennese Breakfast at Cafe Central
First opened in 1878 (and now one of the oldest coffee houses in the city), Cafe Central is a perfect way to start your one day in Vienna! They cook up authentic Viennese breakfast dishes, fresh pastries and picture-perfect baked goods every day. It is open daily from 8:00 am – 10:00 pm, but I’d recommend getting there right when they open (or even getting in line a little before!). The large ceilings, pillars, and archways will definitely set the scene for hands down one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever sip a morning coffee!
Wander Around Old Town
After fueling up, spend time wandering around Vienna’s Old Town! These streets are lined with Baroque architecture, tons of shops, restaurants, and charm. I’d recommend not relying on your map and just wandering! Some of my favorite streets were Kohlmarkt and Graben. Graben begins at Stock-im-Eisen-Platz next to the Palais Equitable, and ends at the junction of Kohlmarkt and Tuchlauben. These are right in the city center and are large, pedestrian-only streets filled with lots of high-end shopping (or window shopping, if you’re like me). I also loved sneaking into some of the hidden alleyways and arcades that veer off the main streets. Some of my favorites include Ballgasse and Griechengasse. Keep your eye out for these though as you can often walk right by them without noticing!
Afternoon Treats at Demel
Demel is another picture-perfect stop that must be on your one day in Vienna itinerary! During my planning, a lot of people recommended Demel as an alternative if the line at Cafe Central was too long. However, when I arrived the line for Demel was longer than at Cafe Central! Instead of waiting in a long line for a table, I opted to order from their to-go window. Here, you can order from their express menu which consists of Kaiserschmarrn, coffee, and hot chocolate. The only flavor of Kaiserschmarrn that they offered at the window was plum, which I am not a fan of, so I opted just for a cup of hot chocolate (complete with whipped topping, of course). After, you can also go inside and explore their store to buy chocolates, confections, and order other fresh baked goods to go. The vibe is *chef’s kiss*!
Hofburg Palace, Volksgarten, and Ausgrabungen Michaelerplatz
Just outside of Demel is Ausgrabungen Michaelerplatz, a town square that is the gateway to some of Vienna’s best attractions! Ausgrabungen Michaelerplatz alone is impressive as it has an open-air exhibit of ruins from the Roman Empire. Just off the square is a gated entry that leads to the Sisi Museum, Heldenplatz, Hofburg Palace, and the Volksgarten. You could spend an entire day just exploring this area alone! I unfortunately didn’t have time to tour the Hofburg Palace, but it’s high on my list for when I get back to Vienna, as I have heard how impressive it is! Instead, I just strolled the open areas and enjoyed people watching as I sipped my hot chocolate from Demel. The Volksgarten was a nice walk, but I visited in December so everything was dead. I’ve seen pictures of what it looks like in the spring and summer and I am swooning!
Tour the Vienna State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper)
No visit to Vienna is complete without visiting their iconic opera house! The Vienna State Opera (also known as the Wiener Staatsoper in German) is an absolute sight to see. I opted to do a guided tour during the day, which was a fantastic way to see everything from the main staircase, the grand lobby, sit in the royal suites, and of course- take it all in from the main theatre! If you wanted to see a show, tickets are very affordable and they translate the show into eight languages.
Read More: 5 Tips for Visiting the Vienna State Opera
Catch the Sunset at St. Stephen’s Cathedral
About an hour before sunset, there is nowhere else in the city you’d rather be than at St. Stephen’s Cathedral! The church is open and free to enter (and is a spectacular sight to see in itself), but the real star of the show is to go to the top of the steeples! There are two options: the North Tower and the South Tower. The South Tower is the highest viewpoint, but you’ll have to climb 343 steep, spiral steps to get to the top.
The North Tower, instead, is where I recommend visiting! For €7, there is an elevator that takes you directly to the top. Here, you’ll get spectacular 360 degree views over the city and get to see the largest bell in Austria: the Pummerin. My favorite view was to the right when you get off the elevator. I loved admiring the beautiful mosaic roof of the cathedral while seeing the setting sun in the background. After, make sure you spend some time back down in the church, as it’s an incredible building and deserves your time as well!
Schnitzel Dinner at Figlmüller
After a jam-packed day, take a seat and down some schnitzel at Figlmüller! This restaurant is famous for their veal and pork Wiener schnitzel, as well as other Viennese dishes! There are two restaurant locations located only a couple blocks apart: Figlmüller at Wollzeile and Figlmüller Bäckerstraße. The former is their original location, but it’s small and hard to get into. Figlmüller Bäckerstraße is larger, easier to get a reservation at, and serves the exact same menu. I’d highly recommend making reservations online by clicking here. The stand-by lines can get crazy and you can end up waiting for hours! The schnitzel though, was fantastic. I got the pork plate, which was a huge patty pounded razor thin, battered, and fried. How could it be bad?!
Stay at the Hilton Vienna Plaza
During my trip to Vienna, I stayed at the Hilton Vienna Plaza, which was the absolute perfect landing spot. The hotel was centrally located– only a few block walk away from Rathausplatz and about 10 minutes from the central old town. It was beautiful, safe, clean, and I’d highly recommend it!
Bonus: Christmas Markets!
Vienna is a magical city, that comes to light during the holiday season! If you are only spending one day in Vienna, I’d highly recommend doing it in December! Visiting Vienna’s Christmas markets is a bucket list scratch, and the absolute perfect way to get into the holiday spirit. Bring your appetite, plenty of room in your bag for souvenirs, and get ready to down your weight in glühwein.
Read More: 6 Tips for Visiting Vienna’s Christmas Markets
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