Austria · On a budget · 2 days · 11 stops
Vienna on a budget: 2 days, few entry fees
Vienna looks expensive, but plenty costs nothing: the Habsburg parks, the view from the Gloriette, the permanent exhibition at the Wien Museum and entry to the Prater. On day one you walk through the Innere Stadt to the Naschmarkt; on day two you head out to Schönbrunn and then right across town to the Danube Canal. Meals come from the sausage stand, the market and the stalls in the Prater.
In short
- Length
- 2 days, 11 stops
- Highlights
- St Stephen's Cathedral, Schönbrunn palace park, Heldenplatz, Volksgarten, Wien Museum
- 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 Karlsplatz
St Stephen's Cathedral
The back part of the nave is free to enter. The towers, the catacombs and guided tours cost extra.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): St Stephen's Cathedralabout 10 min on foot
Heldenplatz
Walk along Graben and Kohlmarkt and through the Hofburg onto the big square with its equestrian statues. The palace courtyards are free.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Heldenplatzabout 5 min on foot
Volksgarten
A free park right next to Heldenplatz. From early summer into autumn the large rose garden is in bloom.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Volksgartenabout 10 min on foot
Sausage stand by the Albertina
A cheese-filled Käsekrainer with mustard, eaten standing up opposite the opera. Vienna's classic quick lunch.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Sausage stand by the Albertinaabout 10 min on foot
Wien Museum
The permanent exhibition on the city's history is free, from the Romans to today. The roof terrace looks out on the Karlskirche.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Wien Museumabout 10 min on foot
Naschmarkt
Wander through the market and pick up falafel, börek or fruit at the stalls. Closed on Sundays.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Naschmarkt
Day 2
Schönbrunn, Hundertwasser and the Prater
Schönbrunn palace park
The palace charges admission, the vast park with its fountains and avenues does not. In the morning it is still almost empty.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Schönbrunn palace parkabout 10 min on foot
Gloriette
Climb the hill to the Gloriette. The view over the palace and the city is free.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): GlorietteBack to Schönbrunn U4 station, U4 to Landstraße, then about 15 min on foot – about 50 min in total.
Hundertwasserhaus
The colourful apartment block is free to look at from outside any time. Hundertwasser Village opposite has toilets and small shops.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Hundertwasserhausabout 15 min on foot
Wurstelprater
Walk across the Danube Canal. Entry to the Prater is free, and the stalls sell lángos and sausages.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Wurstelpraterabout 25 min on foot
Danube Canal
Between Schwedenplatz and Rossauer Lände the walls are covered in graffiti. In the evening locals sit on the steps by the water.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Danube Canal
Good to know
24-hour ticket
With more than three rides a day, a 24-hour Wiener Linien ticket usually pays off, for longer stays the 7-day ticket. Compare in the app or at the machine first.
Refill at fountains
Vienna's tap water comes from the Alps and is excellent. Fill your bottle for free at the drinking fountains around the city.
What's worth paying for
A standing place at the State Opera costs little and gets you into a real performance. Check how sales work on the opera's website first.
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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Vienna on a budget: frequently asked questions
What is free in Vienna?
The permanent exhibition at the Wien Museum, the Schönbrunn palace park with the view from the Gloriette, the Volksgarten and Burggarten, entry to the Prater and the back of St Stephen's Cathedral.
Where can you eat cheaply in Vienna?
At sausage stands, the stalls on the Naschmarkt and other markets, bakeries and the food stands in the Prater. Lunch menus in Beisl taverns are often cheaper than dinner.
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.
- 5 days5 days in Vienna with the Wachau valleyOld town, museums, palaces, the Prater and a wine tavern – plus a day on the Danube at Melk and Dürnstein.
- 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.
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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