Before you visit Vienna use this page to plan: Pinpoint Vienna's exact location, look up its weather, hotels, flights, maps, transport, and city cards. Find out how to book restaurants, arrange local wifi, and more. You can also use it for inspiration: how to spend 24 hours in Vienna, what to do with kids, Jewish Vienna, how to spend a halal holiday there, and other tips.
1. Where Is Vienna Exactly?
Visit Vienna. Vienna, or Wien in German, lies in northeastern Austria, close to the borders with Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Due to its historical and geographical position people often refer to the city as a gateway between Western and Eastern Europe: To Slovakia's capital it's only 60 km whereas Budapest is a 250 km journey southeast and Prague lies 300 km northwest.
Specifically, the river Danube connects Vienna to Eastern European cities like Budapest and Belgrade. Unlike in Budapest, the Danube only cuts through the northeastern part of Austria's capital.
The city lies in the Vienna Basin, which is part of the larger Pannonian Plain.
Vienna is in the Central European Time zone (CET), or Central European Summer Time (CEST) during daylight saving periods.
To learn more access my primer on the city's geographic location, its climate zone, and Vienna's distance to 10 key European cities.
2. What Is The Weather in Vienna Like? When To Go, What To Pack
Visit Vienna. Because Vienna experiences a transitional climate between oceanic and continental influences we go through four distinct seasons.
There are two seasonal extremes in my hometown that travellers chronically underestimate: winter and summer (the sky in the photo is NOT paintbrushed). While temperatures in July and August reach an average of 22 to 32 degrees Celsius, we have been seeing hotter spikes of up to 37 degrees in recent years. During the winter, snowfall is common, though heavy accumulations are rare in the city. In the coldest month of January, expect temperatures of up to -5 degrees Celsius.
My Vienna Austria Weather one pager helps you pack the right clothes by season, and decide when to go, if you have a choice. Access the included 10-day weather forecast for Vienna a week before you travel.
3. Vienna Tourist Checklist
Visit Vienna. How can a small European capital be so overwhelming? I have put together a simple 8-points Vienna tourist checklist to help you create a smooth and exciting stay.
4. Hotels Vienna Austria
Visit Vienna. Where would Natives stay if they were tourists? If you search for accommodation from a Native's perspective, you'll experience Vienna's unique spirit more quickly: For example, search for location-specific styles, whether historic or contemporary. Choose a location that will either em-bed you directly in the UNESCO World Heritage city center, or that enables you to experience the most charming residential neighbourhoods of the city.
In Hotels Vienna Austria I share my take on the best hotels of all categories, as well as Bed and Breakfasts and apartment rentals. All tips include links to independent customer reviews.
5. All About Flights To Vienna Austria
Visit Vienna. Each year I fly back to my hometown Vienna a couple of times. While I love Austrian Airlines I do tend to use my favourite tool to compare flight prices and book flights. It's free and simple to use. Sometimes I also use it to compare flights to Bratislava (64 km from Vienna) as an alternative option.
To plan transfers to and from your hotel in Vienna, and for general orientation, look into Vienna International Airport. If you plan a stopover in Vienna, Flights To Vienna Austria includes my family's stopover itinerary that we followed during a multiple hour time window in my home city.
6. Vienna Central Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof)
Visit Vienna. When you take the train to Vienna you will likely arrive at Vienna's main train station, Wien Hauptbahnhof aka Vienna Central Station. Located just south of the city center the station is about 2.5 km from Stephansplatz (St. Stephen's Cathedral). Serving as a major hub for domestic and international rail travel it lets you connect directly to major European cities like Budapest, Munich, Zurich, and Prague.
While the majority of trains are run by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) the Central Station also hosts other international operators.
Operating on five levels the Hauptbahnhof's 12 platforms serve six island platform tracks. Apart from a mall with 90 shops, you can expect to find luggage lockers and storage facilities, a tourist information centre and car rental facilities.
To find your way around the station, stay at a good hotel or visit the nearest great restaurant and attraction, read my practical guide to the Vienna Central Station.
7. What Are The Best Things To Do In Vienna Austria?
Visit Vienna. Whether you want ideas for 24 hours in Vienna, visit Wien with children, are arranging a ladies' trip, or are interested in Jewish Vienna and Halal Holidays in Vienna: My free guides have inspired thousands of travellers with their trip planning. Because of the insider tips from a native Viennese travellers also use these guides for an authentic trip experience.
In addition, senior travellers, honeymooners and romantics, wine lovers and sporty people will find more ideas in my tourism guide sorted by personal interests. To access all the seven free guides visit Vienna Austria Things To Do.
8. Guide To Vienna Districts And Best Neighborhoods
Visit Vienna. Despite the plethora of tourist sights and attractions you won't really get a grip on Wien until you explore some of its neighborhoods. Vienna is divided into 23 districts (Bezirke), each with its own government, character and features: from the historic city centre and the island district of Leopoldstadt to multicultural Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus and villa paradise Währing.
To give you an idea of the world beyond the city centre, you will find district profiles, tips and addresses for each of Wien's 23 districts, along with particularly interesting neighborhoods. Check them out in my Vienna Districts and Best Neighborhoods guide.
9. Which Vienna City Pass Should You Buy?
Visit Vienna. There are two main tourist passes available for Vienna: the Vienna City Card and the Vienna Pass. Each has its own benefits, so the best choice depends on your travel plans and preferences.
With oth the Vienna City Card and the VIENNA PASS you have options of using public transport or a Hop On Hop Off Bus, visit attractions either for free or and get discounts. In brief, the Vienna City Card is the more budget-friendly option, and best for those who plan to use public transport extensively and visit a mix of attractions. However, the VIENNA PASS is most popular for those who plan to visit many of the included attractions in a short time.
To find out which of the various card types on offer is best for you, check my decision maker tool, a in Vienna Travel Card.
10. How To Book Restaurants in Vienna
Visit Vienna. Online restaurant booking sites are nothing new. But it is not easy to find a good one for Vienna. For the past couple of years I have been using my favourite booking site before I wrote about it here. Not only is it easy to use but lists wonderful restaurants off the beaten tourist path.
However, probably the biggest financial advantage with this site is that you get up to 30 percent off your restaurant bill. Find out more about my Vienna restaurants booking tool.
Feel overwhelmed? I can help. To find out more, check out Vienna Travel Planning - Trip Planning and Travel Consulting by Vienna Unwrapped.
11. Map of Vienna x 7
Visit Vienna. Clearly, the ideal map of Vienna depends on your specific needs and preferences. To help you find your favourite, I compare seven maps. For example, Google Maps provides general navigation, real-time traffic updates, and public transit information, and is available offline. Open Street Map is best for detailed street-level information, especially for pedestrians and cyclists.
To navigate Vienna's public transportation system, the Vienna Public Transport Authority's (Wiener Linien) map is hard to beat. It shows all metro, tram, and bus lines; On top, you will also discover the best free Wifi hotspots in town. The maps is available as a PDF or in the Wiener Linien app.
To explore Vienna's main attractions and districts use the Vienna City Map from Vienna's official tourism board. You can get it in all tourist information centres and as a pdf online.
I have pulled together half a dozen city maps, online and in print, in Map Of Vienna to help you smoothen your inner city journeys.
12. Local Transport: Public Transport, City Bike Scheme and Taxis
Visit Vienna. When you visit Vienna, get the most out of its excellent public transport network. Vienna's public transport network is considered one of the most reliable and efficient in Europe.
Its network is extensive, covering the city comprehensively: You are never more than 7 min walk away from any public transport station. In addition, transport services, especially the U-Bahn (underground), run very frequently and are known for being clean and well-maintained. Many of its stations are accessible. In the last years, Vienna even replaced its traditional tramways with lower-floor models to ease access for users of wheelchairs and prams.
For more active residents and visitors Vienna's city bike scheme offers a great alternative. Just be careful when crossing tramway tracks, and icy streets in the winter.
If you need a taxi, get familiar with the key taxi stands, official tariffs and environmentally-friendly options such as the Green Taxis. I have also included a few tips on how to use the Vienna metro for efficient sightseeing. In any case, do download the brilliant free Wien Mobil app.
13. How To Rent A Car In Vienna
Visit Vienna. If you start searching for car rentals upon arrival in Vienna you won't necessarily find the best car rental deals. To help you sort out rentals in advance, my resource guide gives you access to the best car rental search engines.
Besides you will find a handy checklist of things to go through with the car rental firm: from highway taxes, insurance and driving regulations to contract fees. For example, some rental companies charge extra fees for dropping off the car at a different location. If you're visiting during the winter, ensure the rental car has winter tires.
Finally, you will find my tips for driving and parking your car in town (I practiced this for 12 years when driving regularly in Vienna.)
14. Using Your Cell Phone And Mobile Devices
Visit Vienna. Vienna, like most European cities, has a strong mobile network infrastructure.
If you like using your cell phone, smartphone, tablet or laptop when travelling take care of your roaming charges when in Austria. To start with, contact your mobile carrier to inquire about roaming charges. They can provide specific rates for data, calls, and texts in Austria. If you plan to use your phone extensively, a roaming plan might be more cost-effective than paying per-minute or per-megabyte rates.
Good to know: In Vienna, too, many hotels, cafés, and public spaces offer free Wi-Fi, which can help you reduce roaming costs.
In Austria Cell Phone Use I share my best tips on how to avoid big roaming charges during your visit. If you are specifically interested in portable mobile hotspots, learn all about renting and using them most cost effectively in WiFi in Vienna. Includes map of free Wifi hotspots.
15. Currency And Money Matters
Which currency does Austria have, how important is cash and what are the best forms of payment?
While Austria has a modern economy, cash is still widely appreciated in most places. Many small shops, especially those in Vienna's outskirts, still prefer cash payments. At markets such as Naschmarkt, and street vendors, cash is the primary payment method. While many restaurants and cafés accept cards, you might encounter some smaller establishments that only accept cash.
Although the Eurozone has largely homogenized Europe's key travel destinations there are still differences in payment practices. Learn how to handle your money during your trip in Austria's Money and Currency.
16. Tipping in Austria
Visit Vienna. Should you tip room maids, valets, waiters, taxi drivers and tour guides when in Austria? And how much is appropriate and expected? While it's not mandatory, a small tip is often appreciated in Austria, as a gesture of appreciation for good service. For example, tipping is not mandatory in taxis, but it's appreciated. A tip of around 10-15% of the fare is common. In restaurants, a tip of around 10-15% of the total bill is customary for table service.
Tipping in Europe can differ greatly so I have pulled together practical advice about Austrian etiquette when it comes to tipping. Find out more in Tipping in Austria.
17. How Safe Is Vienna?
Visit Vienna. Is Vienna a safe place to visit? Is it ok to go out in Vienna at night?
Vienna is generally considered a very safe city. It has a low crime rate compared to many other major European cities. However, like any city, it's always wise to take precautions to ensure your safety.
Instead of stories I have collected statistical evidence to demonstrate that Vienna is one of the safest cities on the planet. That said, you will also find useful reminders on how to keep safe when visiting a city like Wien. Since the post includes important phone numbers for travellers in Vienna, do bookmark Is Vienna Safe?
18. Live Webcam Of Wien
Visit Vienna. Amidst all your planning getting a live impression of your target destination helps soak up the atmosphere before your arrive. This Vienna webcam provides views of City Hall, Ringstrasse boulevard, the Austrian Parliament, lovely Volksgarten and the hills of the Vienna Woods.
My favourite view is the festival square in front of City Hall: it's either work in progress or full party ahead. The webcam is also great for a current weather check. Access Webcam Wien.
19. The Best Day Trips To Vienna From Budapest
Visit Vienna. Not only are Wien and Budapest highly popular city break destinations, they are also complementary in culture. If you stay in Budapest and want to visit Vienna for a day make sure you make the most out it. In Day Trip To Vienna from Budapest I share the top three travel options, including car, train, group tour, private tour and transfer service.
20. Top Ten Travel Bloggers About Vienna
Visit Vienna. An insightful blog post about Vienna is not something you casually stumble upon on the internet. I have scoured through well over 100 of the most popular and of niche travel blogs to find those rare gems that will inspire you further for your trip to Vienna.
And ended up collecting 10 wonderfully inspiring stories that will make you click with my hometown. Access the ten travel bloggers with the best Vienna travel blog posts.
21. Visit Vienna: Other Vienna Articles
Visit Vienna. In addition to my tips and views, do get more inspiration on what to do in my hometown by other travellers who know the city inside out. In Vienna Articles I'm teaming up with savvy travel writers and bloggers who will share the most unusual places with you.
visit Austria Capital - Top Facts for Travellers
need help sorting out your program in Vienna? Check out Vienna Unwrapped's bespoke travel planning service
