The Atlas & Aire Guide to Vienna
From Habsburg palaces and Klimt masterpieces to riverside swimming and hillside vineyards, here's how to appreciate Vienna's history while experiencing the city like a local today.
At a Glance
Attend a performance at the Vienna State Opera
Tour Schönbrunn Palace’s interiors
Spend an afternoon swimming in the Danube
Sip wine while overlooking Vienna from the Heuriger wine taverns of Grinzing
See Klimt at Upper Belvedere
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is one of the world's most celebrated opera houses, renowned for its exceptional acoustics, lavish interiors, and nearly nightly performances during the season. Whether attending opera or ballet, it's one of the city's quintessential cultural experiences. You can find upcoming performances at the Vienna State Opera.
Below’s view of Manon cast is from Box 3, Row 1, First Balcony. Booking first row for the box balcony is a must.
Atlas & Aire Tips
The side boxes on the lower levels offer some of the best views in the house while providing the classic Vienna State Opera experience.
Consider reserving a table and pre-ordering food from the elevated “interval buffet”. When intermission begins, everything is waiting at your table, making the short break completely stress-free, and allowing you to skip the long lines.
Bring cash if you'd like to purchase the printed program.
Most visitors don't realize there's an outdoor terrace on the upper floor. While the largest balcony is closed-of, there's a side terrace that's worth seeking out.
Allow: 3-4 hours including the performance.
Schönbrunn Palace Interiors
The Habsburgs' magnificent summer residence, Schönbrunn Palace was once home to generations of Austrian royalty—including a young Marie Antoinette before she left for France. If you're deciding between the palace interiors and the gardens, prioritize the palace. Schönbrunn is often compared to Versailles—and while Versailles has the more spectacular gardens—Schönbrunn's remarkably well-preserved interiors are the real highlight. Because the palace escaped the widespread destruction that affected many European royal residences during major conflicts, its lavish state rooms remain exceptionally intact, with original furnishings, intricate woodwork, and even sections of hand-painted wallpaper dating back more than 200 years. A guided tour is highly recommended, as the historical context brings the palace to life.
Beyond the Palace
Schönbrunn is much more than the palace itself, with extensive gardens, the Gloriette, the Palm House, the world's oldest zoo (Tiergarten Schönbrunn), the Children's Museum, and several smaller attractions spread throughout the estate.
The Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker Café is an excellent choice for lunch, coffee, or pastries during your visit.
Allow: 4-5 hours for interior tour and a bit of garden exploration; full day if you plan to visit other sites on the grounds
Upper Belvedere Palace
Looking out onto Lower Belvedere.
Even if you're not a huge art museum person, Upper Belvedere is absolutely worth visiting and can be done in a brief amount of time, if desired. The palace itself is stunning, but most visitors come for Gustav Klimt's collection, including The Kiss. If you have more time to spare, consider a full visit, including Lower Belvedere. Tickets may be booked in advance (€23 for Upper Belvedere).
Allow: 1.5-2 hours
Enjoy Vienna Outdoors
Vienna is one of Europe's greenest capitals. Between grand parks, vineyard-covered hillsides, and clean swimming spots along the Danube, it's remarkably easy to balance museum days with time outdoors.
Volksgarten
Take a leisurely stroll through one of Vienna's most beautiful formal gardens before continuing past the Austrian Parliament to the magnificent City Hall. It's an ideal stop to slow down between sightseeing.
Allow: 0.5 hour
Swim in the Danube
On warm days, locals head to the Danube to swim, sunbathe, and relax. Around Copa Beach, south of the Danube, follow the locals to the river's edge, where staircases and small paths lead directly into the water. Bring a few snacks and spend an afternoon enjoying one of Vienna's best-kept summer traditions. Or, if you value the convenience of cocktails, head over to Vienna City Beach Club where you’ll find lounge chairs, a waterfront bar, and locals playing volleyball.
Allow: 2-4 hours
Wine in the Vineyards of Grinzing
One of Vienna's most unique distinctions is that it's the only major capital city with significant commercial vineyards within its city limits. Grinzing and it’s Heuriger (wine taverns) are just a twenty minute Uber from central Vienna. Head to Mayer am Nussberg, Weingut Wailand, or any of the other wineries in the area for a glass of local wine overlooking the city—a perfect way to start or end an afternoon. If you're feeling active, pair your wine tasting with a walk through the surrounding vineyards and hillside.
Allow: 2-4 hours
Where to Eat & Drink
Vienna's food scene extends well beyond schnitzel and classic cafes. Alongside its historic institutions, you'll find inventive restaurants, exceptional cocktail bars, and a growing natural wine scene.
While Vienna's historic cafés are undeniably beautiful and culturally significant (honored with the UNESCO World Heritage intangible designation), they aren't essential if your priority is food and drink. Stop in for the atmosphere if it interests you, but save your appetite for lesser known spots along the way.
Figlmüller
No first visit to Vienna is complete without a stop at Figlmüller (locations throughout the city). While the menu has expanded over the years, the original 1905 Wiener Schnitzel remains the reason to come—paired with the traditional potato salad and a cool glass of Weissburgunder. One schnitzel can easily feed two, though you can take leftovers to go (if you don’t mind walking around Vienna with schnitzel wrapped in aluminum). Reservations here are strongly recommended. Once they are full, they may stop taking walk-ins all together (i.e., you can’t put your name down and wait).
Order: Wiener schnitzel, potato salad, and Weissburgunder
Bitzinger Würstelstand
An institution just outside the Vienna State Opera, Bitzinger Würsttelstand is one of the city's classic late-night and lunchtime stops.
Order: Käsekrainer sausage with mustard and a local beer.
Glasswing Bar & Bistro
Glasswing Restaurant & Bar, located inside the elegant The Amauris Vienna – Relais & Châteaux, offers a 7-course Michelin-starred tasting menu in a sophisticated and intimate setting. The menu celebrates Austrian ingredients with refined technique. One of the most notable dishes is the deeply savory bread “essence” which accompanies the bread course. It’s a delicate and deeply delicious concoction made from the liquid bi-product of the sourdough bread making process, served in an elegant coupe—a clever nod to reducing food waste.
Cocktails
Soulmate: One of Vienna's standout cocktail bars, serving inventive drinks in a moody atmosphere.
Die Rundbar: A stylish wine shop, come bar, serving small bites
Blaue Bar: Set inside Hotel Sacher, Blaue Bar offers one of Vienna's most beautiful historic cocktail settings.
Needle Vinyl Bar: An intimate listening bar where carefully selected vinyl accompanies an excellent drinks program.
Kleinlaut: A dimly lit, quirky neighborhood cocktail and natural wine bar.
Shop Independent
Vienna is an exceptional city for independent design. You'll find artisan makers, contemporary Austrian designers, and beautifully curated boutiques.
Please Milk: Almost a hole-in-the-wall boutique showcasing high quality, hand crafted garments from quality linen and cotton fabrics.
amour fou: Curates beautiful, ethically made European lingerie and swimwear selected for exceptional comfort, thoughtful design, and craftsmanship.
Galleria Febella: Febella has specialized in beautifully crafted hats since 1998, offering a carefully curated collection that celebrates timeless design, exceptional quality, and European craftsmanship.
Mothwurf: Contemporary Austrian couture that reinterprets traditional textiles and craftsmanship into striking modern pieces.
Other Activities to Consider
Attend one of Vienna's famous balls.
See a smaller classical music performance with traditional Viennese waltzing.
Visit the Sigmund Freud Museum.
Explore more of Vienna's museums beyond the major highlights.
Planning a Trip to Vienna?
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