Vienna Travel - Best Things to Do and Places to See on a Budget

Last Updated on May 2, 2024 by gregor

Vienna is full of amazing history, architecture, and music and you will fall in love with the place at first sight. On the other hand, there are parts of the city where you will get a more modern feel. This is one of the many reasons why Vienna is one of the most visited countries in Europe, and due to that, the travel prices keep getting higher each year.

Despite that, there is still a way you get to see the beautiful experiences the city has to offer on a budget. To help you out, we have listed the top tips to take in as much as you can, without blowing through your budget.

If you are looking for a fairy-tale trip, then there is no better place than Vienna.

Things to Do and Places to See on a Budget in Vienna

The best way to get started is by taking a walk outside the Ringstrasse. This is a ring road that is placed outside the city center. While walking on the route you will see the Vienna State Opera House, Imperial Palace, City Hall, and the Parliament. There is a free guided tour of the City Hall every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This starts at 1 pm and will help you get all the information you need to experience the place. If you visit during the Christmas season, you will be able to enjoy the traditional Christmas market and even a skating rink outside the Rathaus. Moreover, from July to August there is a free open-air cinema and many food and beverage stands, offering various cuisines.

Moreover, it is completely free to visit some of the many gorgeous parks, such as the Stadtpark (CLICK for more) , and Burggaten. In addition, the entrance to the Schönbrunn Palace garden is absolutely free. However, you will have to pay a few euros to get into the Gloriette terrace and the maze.

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Vienna – Public Parks in the City Center (CLICK)

Vienna – Schönbrunn Palace public park (CLICK)

If you are in Vienna during the summer season and feel the need to cool off then you can head to the Donauinsel. The island has a 42 km long beach, that offers a range of cafes, bike for hire, and even boat rides.

The Vienna Card

If you plan to visit some of the many historic city attraction, then the best way is to invest in a Vienna Card here online (CLICK). That will allow you unlimited public transport, and even a special discount of 210 museums, shops, restaurants, and sights. These cards offer various ranges:

For €17.00 you get a 24 hour Vienna Card.
For €25.00 you get a 48 hour Vienna Card.
For €29.00 you get a 72 hour Vienna Card.

You can purchase the Vienna Card here online (CLICK) or from the Tourist Information Center.

Galleries and Museums

When it comes to galleries and museums, Vienna has a spectacular collection that will blow your mind away. For €17 you get a pass, and the cost will keep adding up as you visit more place. The best way to save money is by taking advantage of the Vienna Card (CLICK) , where you can enjoy a 5% to 50% discount on various places. Furthermore, you can buy joint tickets for a number of museums, which will help you cut down on the full entry price. There are a number of deals you can pick from, allowing you to visit the places you would wish to see and save money at the same time.

The best part is that many of the museums in Vienna have discontinued their entry tickets on various days, or timings. For instance, the Wien Museum is free for anyone who is under 19 years old and free for all on every first Sunday of the month. Moreover, there is an Evening Art program, where some of the museums stay open later than usual on some days. This is when they offer a discount entry price. Additionally, the Museum of Applied Arts offers free entry every Tuesday from 6 pm to 10 pm, the Museum of /modernist art offers a reduced price on Thursday from 6 pm to 9 pm (This includes a tour). The house of Music also offers half price on a daily basis from 8 pm to 9:30 pm.

Best 12 museums in Vienna (CLICK)

Best City Views

One of the best view you can enjoy in Vienna is from the South Tower of the St Stephen’s Cathedral. It is 137 meters high and offers a great view of the beautiful city. The entry is completely free, but you will have to climb 343 stairs to get to the top. There you will be required to pay €5 for adults. Day and night, you can have a cocktail or a excellent meal at the Sky Bar Restaurant, while enjoying the view over the Cathedral.

If you go towards the northern side of the Danube, you will find the Danube tower, which is the tallest structure in Austria. It measures about 252 meters, and there is a spectacular revolving restaurant on the top. Furthermore, some of the best views from Vienna are from the hills surrounding the city. There are a number of places that can be reached by a short bus ride and makes for a great way to spend the day.

Entertainment in Vienna

Vienna is the city of Music, and the tickets to the leading opera houses are not only sold months in advance, but they will cost you a great deal. However, you can score a bargain offer if you don’t mind standing during the entire performance. These standing tickers go on sale 80 minutes before the performance, and the price varies based on the location. If you get to the State Opera House early enough, you will be able to get the best possible deal. Keep in mind that one person can only buy one ticket, so you will all need to stand in line. However, you also score standing tickers for Burgtheater, and Volkstheater online.

The Spanish riding school is another pricey attraction, where main seats cost from €50 to €217 per person. However, you can get standing room tickers from €25–€37 which can be booked in advance. Furthermore, you can watch these mesmerizing horses during their morning performance routine from 10am–12pm for €15. During the summer season, there is a Piper Meets Vienna show that features young horses that offer performance, which costs about €12–€45.

Dining and Drinking

Restaurants and cafes that are located in the center of the city are mostly expensive. So if you are looking to save some cash, then have your main meal during lunch hours. As most restaurants offer cheaper main courses, ordeals of two to three-course meals under €10. Another way to save money on dining and drinking is by visiting student hotspots, where you will always find attractive deals. If you wish to eat at your apartment, or outside then you can head to the Naschmarkt that offers more than 120 stalls selling food and drinks. (Open on Monday–Friday from 6 am–7.30 pm and Saturday from 6 am–5 pm).

However, it would be a shame to leave Vienna without visiting one of the traditional cafes, that offer coffee and Sacher torte. Try to stay away from well-known cafes, as they can be expensive. If you want to get the most out of your trip, then get a table at one of the free music performance cafes. Such as the Schwarzenberg on Thursday and Friday from 7:30 am to 11 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 5 pm to 8:30 pm. The Cafe Weimar offers live music from Monday to Saturday till 7:30 pm, and on Sunday afternoon. Lastly, the 1950’s Cafe Prückel offers live music on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 7 pm to 10 pm.

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Best Coffeehouses in the City Center of Vienna (CLICK)

Getting Around in Vienna

When you land you can get a discount City Airport Train (CAT), or the Airport Lines bus using a Vienna Card here online (CLICK). However, the cheapest way to get into town is on the S-Bahn Train. It will cost you €4.40 and take about 25 minutes from the airport to the Wien Mitte Station. Here you will find underground connections to all around town, so you can get to your hotel/apartment/hostel/etc. On the other hand, when you are traveling within Vienna, you can use the Vienna Card to get unlimited rides on the trams, underground, and buses. Another option is a travel pass, that last for a specific period, and cost varies on time.

There are a number of companies that offer cheap boat trips on the Danube coast, so if you are traveling to another city nearby; you can easily catch a cruise. There are many offers based on the city you wish to travel to, so pick your pass carefully.

And last but not least, UBER.