Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 Palaces & Imperial Grandeur
Morning Arrivée à Vienne & installation
Arrive in Vienna by train (Hauptbahnhof, central) or by plane (Vienna-Schwechat Airport). From the airport, the CAT (City Airport Train) reaches Wien Mitte in 16 min (€14.90), or the OBB Railjet in 15 min (€4.30). From Hauptbahnhof or Wien Mitte, tram or metro takes you to your hotel in the Innere Stadt (1st district) or around the Ring. Drop off your luggage, then enjoy a Wiener Melange at a traditional café to soak in the Viennese rhythm.
Afternoon Hofburg & Kunsthistorisches Museum
Dive into Vienna's imperial heart. Start with the Hofburg Palace's imperial apartments - Habsburg residence for over six centuries; the Sisi Museum traces the life of Empress Elisabeth. Then cross Maria-Theresien-Platz (5 min walk) to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, one of the world's greatest art collections: Vermeer, Bruegel the Elder (the world's largest collection), Raphael and antiquities under Klimt-painted ceilings.
Evening Café Central
Dinner at a traditional Beisl (tavern). Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz, Apfelstrudel - the Austrian holy trinity.
Day 2 Music & Museums
Morning Château de Schönbrunn
Tour the Habsburgs' Baroque summer residence with 1,441 rooms and 160 hectares of French gardens leading to the Gloriette - where six-year-old Mozart once played for Empress Maria Theresa.
Afternoon Naschmarkt
Walk through the Innere Stadt: St. Stephen's Cathedral (climb the south tower), Graben, Kohlmarkt. Café Central for coffee and cake.
Evening Wiener Staatsoper
Concert at the Musikverein or Vienna State Opera. Even standing tickets offer world-class acoustics.
Day 3 Art Nouveau & Naschmarkt
Morning MuseumsQuartier
Explore the Secession Building (Klimt's Beethoven Frieze), the Belvedere Palace (The Kiss), and Art Nouveau treasures.
Afternoon Wiener Prater
Ride the historic Riesenrad Ferris wheel (1897), made famous by The Third Man, then explore the free-entry Prater amusement park and the 6 km2 Grüner Prater greenery.
Evening Transfert vers Vienne-Schwechat ou gare & départ
Head to your departure point. For Vienna-Schwechat Airport, the CAT (City Airport Train) leaves Wien Mitte every 30 min and reaches the airport in 16 min (€14.90). The OBB Railjet is as fast for €4.30. A taxi from the Innere Stadt runs €35-45 and takes 20-30 min depending on traffic. For an international train departure (Munich, Prague, Budapest, Zurich), Wien Hauptbahnhof is the main station - 15 min by metro from Stephansplatz. Auf Wiedersehen Wien.