Austria · 5 days · 5 days · 19 stops
5 days in Vienna with the Wachau valley
Five days take Vienna beyond the Ringstraße: out to the Wachau, up to the vineyards of Grinzing and into the Prater. The first two days stay in the old town and the museum quarter, and the third heads to the Danube for Melk Abbey and Dürnstein. Then come Schönbrunn and the Belvedere, and finally an easy day with Hundertwasser, the Ferris wheel and a wine tavern.
In short
- Length
- 5 days, 19 stops
- Highlights
- St Stephen's Cathedral, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Melk Abbey, Schönbrunn Palace, Hundertwasserhaus
- Day trips
- Day trip to the Wachau
- Where to stay
- Innere Stadt, Neubau and Mariahilf
- Getting around
- The Innere Stadt is easy on foot.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October are ideal.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Day 1
Innere Stadt and the Treasury
St Stephen's Cathedral
A guided tour takes you down into the catacombs below the cathedral. Times and tickets are available on site.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): St Stephen's Cathedralabout 5 min on foot
Anker Clock
At noon every day all the figures parade across the bridge to music at Hoher Markt. About 10 min on foot from the cathedral.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Anker Clockright next door
Figlmüller
The schnitzel is pounded thin and bigger than the plate. A table is easier to get at lunch than in the evening.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Figlmüllerabout 10 min on foot
Imperial Treasury
Inside the Hofburg are the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg crown jewels. Allow about 1.5 hours.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Imperial Treasury
Day 2
Museums and Spittelberg
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Paintings upstairs, Egyptian rooms downstairs. Lunch in the café under the dome fits nicely before you move on.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Kunsthistorisches Museumabout 5 min on foot
Leopold Museum
The world's largest Egon Schiele collection, plus Klimt and the Wiener Werkstätte. Right across the way in the MuseumsQuartier.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Leopold Museumabout 10 min on foot
Volksgarten
Hundreds of varieties bloom in the rose garden from early summer into autumn. A quiet path between the Hofburg and Parliament.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Volksgartenabout 10 min on foot
Spittelberg
Dinner in the narrow lanes with taverns and wine bars, just a few minutes behind the MuseumsQuartier.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Spittelberg
Day 3
Day trip to the Wachau
Train from Vienna to Melk, about 1–1.5 hours, depending on the connection with a change in St. Pölten. Back by bus to Krems and train to Vienna, about 1 hour. Boats run only in season – check timetables and opening hours before you go.
Melk Abbey
The baroque monastery above the Danube, with its library, marble hall and golden abbey church. About 15 min on foot from the station.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Melk Abbeyabout 20 min on foot
Melk old town
Below the abbey there are inns around the town hall square. Then down to the boat landing on the Danube.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Melk old townBoat downstream to Dürnstein, about 1.5 hours (in season only) – otherwise a bus through the Wachau.
Dürnstein
A small wine town with a blue-and-white church tower on the riverbank. The main street is short, and apricot products are everywhere.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Dürnsteinabout 5 min on foot
Dürnstein Castle ruins
A steep climb of about 20 min to the ruin where Richard the Lionheart was held. From the top you look over the Danube and the vineyards.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Dürnstein Castle ruins
Day 4
Schönbrunn and the Belvedere
Schönbrunn Palace
The Grand Tour covers more rooms than the short one. An early time slot gets you in ahead of the groups.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Schönbrunn Palaceabout 10 min on foot
Gloriette
Have lunch in the café inside the Gloriette, looking back down at the palace.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): GlorietteThrough the park to Schönbrunn U4 station (about 20 min), U4 to Karlsplatz, then tram D to Schloss Belvedere – about 50 min in total.
Belvedere
Klimt and Schiele hang in the Upper Belvedere, the Lower Belvedere has temporary shows. The baroque garden lies in between.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Belvedere
Day 5
Hundertwasser, the Prater and a wine tavern
Hundertwasserhaus
Colourful facades, uneven floors and trees on the balconies. People live here, so you see it from outside only.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hundertwasserhausabout 15 min on foot
Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel
Cross the Danube Canal to the Prater. From the top you can see the Vienna Woods hills, where the day ends at a wine tavern.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Vienna Giant Ferris Wheelabout 10 min on foot
Schweizerhaus
Lunch in the beer garden under chestnut trees, a few steps from the wheel. Open in the warmer months only – otherwise try one of the places in the Wurstelprater.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): SchweizerhausU2 from Praterstern to Schottentor, then tram 38 to Grinzing, about 45 min.
Wine tavern in Grinzing
Taverns serving their own wine, often with a garden. At a Heuriger you fetch food from the buffet and order wine at the table.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Wine tavern in Grinzing
Good to know
Planning the Wachau
Boats between Melk and Dürnstein only run from roughly spring to autumn. Out of season take the bus and train – check connections before you go.
Spotting a Heuriger
A bunch of pine twigs hung over the door means a Heuriger is currently serving. Not every one is open every day.
One ticket, many rides
For the city days the Wiener Linien 7-day ticket pays off. The Wachau day needs a separate rail ticket.
For the best time to go, public transport and where to stay, see the 3-day plan for Vienna.
Your plan
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5 days in Vienna: frequently asked questions
Are 5 days in Vienna too long?
No. Five days let you see the old town, the museums and the palaces without rushing, and still leave time for the Wachau and a wine tavern.
How do I get from Vienna to the Wachau?
By train to Melk, about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the connection. In season a boat runs between Melk and Dürnstein, and you return via Krems.
Is the Vienna City Card worth it?
That depends on how many discounted museums you visit. Compare the prices of the places on your list with the price of the card first.
More plans for Vienna
- One dayVienna in one day: old town walking routeFrom St Stephen's past the Hofburg to a coffee house, then the opera, Karlsplatz, Naschmarkt and Spittelberg.
- WeekendA weekend in Vienna, Friday to SundayFriday cathedral and schnitzel, Saturday emperors, art and the Ferris wheel, Sunday Schönbrunn and the Belvedere.
- 3 days3 days in Vienna – a ready-made itineraryInner city and Hofburg, Schönbrunn and the Naschmarkt, Klimt at the Belvedere and the giant wheel.
- With kidsVienna with kids: zoo, maze and the PraterA day of zoo, maze and Gloriette, a day of dinosaurs, a children's museum and the Ferris wheel.
- On a budgetVienna on a budget: 2 days, few entry feesA free museum on Karlsplatz, imperial parks, the Prater and a sausage stand – two days in Vienna for little money.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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