How to Plan a Day Trip to Vienna from Salzburg – Best Tips

To help you prepare for your day trip to Vienna, I’ve created this Vienna travel itinerary that gives you all the information you need to plan the best trip for your personal travel style.

While it may be challenging to see all of Vienna in one day, it’s still possible to explore some of its key attractions if you’re traveling from Salzburg.

Vienna in a Day: Quick Itinerary Overview

Time	Activity	Location
8:00 AM	Train from Salzburg	ÖBB Railjet
10:30 AM	Breakfast & Coffee	Café Central
11:30 AM	Visit Schönbrunn Palace	Historic Landmark
2:00 PM	Lunch & Exploration	Naschmarkt
4:00 PM	St. Stephen’s Cathedral	Old Town
6:00 PM	Train back to Salzburg	ÖBB Railjet

No time to read now? Pin it for later!

Vienna Day Trip Map

Below you can find a customized map that includes all the locations you’re going to visit on this Hallstatt itinerary.

If you open up this post on your phone and you click on the bracket in the upper right corner of the map, it will open up in your Google Maps app so you can always have it with you. Super convenient, right?

One Day in Vienna Itinerary

• Morning
• Afternoon
• Evening

Getting to Vienna From Salzburg

We took the ÖBB Railjet train takes 2 hours and 22 minutes from Salzburg to Vienna. Tickets start at €19 if booked in advance, according to the official Austrian Railway website.

There are several ways to get to Vienna from Salzburg:

• Train: This is the most popular and convenient way to travel. ÖBB trains operate frequent services between the two cities, and around 2.5 hours. You can book your tickets online or purchase them at the train station.
• Bus: Flixbus and other bus companies also operate services between Salzburg and Vienna. The ride takes around 3-4 hours, depending on the traffic and stops.
• Car: You can also rent a car and drive. The ride takes around 3 hours, depending on the traffic.
• Flight: If you’re short on time, you can also take a flight. Austrian Airlines operates several daily flights between the two cities, and takes around 50 minutes.

Getting from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Schloss Schönbrunn

Begin your day by visiting the stunning Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We head to Schloss Schönbrunn, or Schonbrunn Palace. The gardens are open from 6.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. While you have to pay to see the inside of the palace, roaming around the garden is free.

The palace and its gardens are one of the most visited attractions in Vienna, so it’s best to arrive early to avoid the crowds.

1. At Wien Hauptbahnhof, take the U1 subway line (red line) in the direction of Oberlaa.
2. Get off at the stop “Karlsplatz” and transfer to the U4 subway line (green line) in the direction of Hütteldorf.
3. Get off at the stop “Schönbrunn”.
4. Follow the signs to the Schloss Schönbrunn entrance.

Schloss Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace dates back to the fourteenth century and was, in 1693, commissioned as a grand hunting lodge from Leopold I and designed by the Baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. Though the palace displays many architectural styles from Gothic to Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo. Schönbrunn Palace was also Marie Antoinette‘s childhood summer home.

The park at Schönbrunn Palace opened in 1779 and was placed together with the palace on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1996. While roaming the park is free, there are exhibits that do require tickets for entrance such as the maze or the Orangery Garden.

You can learn more about my visit to Schloss Schonbrunn and see some more beautiful photos!

• Hours: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Address: Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47 1130 Vienna
• official site

Afternoon: Getting from Schloss Schönbrunn to Prater

After walking through the Palace gardens, we went back to the underground to head to Prater. Take the U4 metro line towards Wien Mitte. Get off at the station Landstraße/Wien Mitte. Transfer to the U3 metro line towards Ottakring. Get off at Praterstern station. From there, you can easily walk to the Prater amusement park.

The Prater is a park full of turbulent roller coasters, trains and other attractions, including the famous Wiener Riesenrad (Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel) and various amusement rides.

1. At Schönbrunn station, take the U4 subway line (green line) in the direction of Heiligenstadt.
2. Get off at the stop “Landstraße/Wien Mitte” and transfer to the U3 subway line (orange line) in the direction of Simmering.
3. Get off at the stop “Praterstern”.

Ride the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Prater

While you can spend a whole day here, take some time out to ride the Giant Ferris Wheel because it offers a spectacular view of the city on the Danube. It was constructed in 1897 and is one of Viennas landmarks and also the world-famous symbol of the Wurstelprater. The ride time is only 10-20 minutes.

• Giant Ferris Wheel Cost: $13.50 for adults.
• Hours: Sunday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 7:45 p.m. Saturday from 10 a.m. – 9:45 p.m.
• Address: Riesenradplatz 2, A-1020 Vienna
• Buy tickets here.

Getting from Prater to Stephansplatz

We hopped on the underground U1 subway line. You can catch the subway at the Praterstern station and take it directly to Stephansplatz. The ride takes around 10 minutes.

Head to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece and one of Vienna’s most iconic landmarks. Take in the cathedral’s stunning architecture and climb up to the tower for a panoramic view of the city.

Next, visit the Hofburg Palace, the former imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. It’s a vast complex that includes museums, courtyards, and the Austrian National Library.

Walk Around Stephansplatz

Walk through Vienna’s best-known district which is full of a shopping, lots of retail, and really good cafés, bars and restaurants. It’s named after the Stephansdom, Vienna’s cathedral and one of the tallest church buildings in the world. There are always street performers and full of tourists.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is Vienna’s most geographically central and iconic building on the Stephansplatz, and the most visited attraction by tourists. The cathedral dates back to twelfth century.

You can marvel the beautiful architecture from the street and you can go inside to take a peek for free. For a fee, you can tour inside the cathedral, catacombs, south and north tower, the west gallery and the treasury of the Teutonic Order. For more information about ticket prices and opening times, please visit the official site.

• Hours: Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Address: Stephansplatz 3 1010 Vienna

Walk Along the Graben

Located just off of Stephansplatz, the Graben is full of historic architecture and many cafes, restaurants, and shops. It’s a popular pedestrian street in the heart of Vienna’s historic district. It’s lined with beautiful historic buildings, luxury shops, and cafes.

Michaelerplatz

Michaelerplatz is a historic square located in the heart of Vienna’s old town, near Hofburg Palace and the famous shopping street of Graben. You can visit the Michaelerkirche, Michaelertrakt, Looshaus and Ancient Roman ruins.

Hofburg Palace

The Hofburg Palace stands at Michaelerplatz and is where you can find 3 attractions: the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments and the Silver Collection.If you visit any of the museums it could take an entire day. We just admired the beautiful building from the outside and saying hello to the many horses and carriages that wait outside. For centuries, Vienna’s Imperial Palace was the seat of the Habsburgs who ruled Austria until the end of the 1st World War.

• Hours: Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Address: Hofburg, Michaelerkuppel 1010 Vienna

And if you want to hang around this location, you can visit the Volksgarten, Heldenplatz, or the Burggarten parks. There you’ll find the MuseumsQuartier, which is a restored area of historic & modern buildings containing many of the city’s museums. Here’s a couple of statues that we saw as we kept on walking through the city.

Evening: Head back to Salzburg

We made our way back to Stephansplatz and then we caught a train ride back to Salzburg at 5:30 p.m. We grabbed a sandwich before we got on the train.

Restaurants in Vienna

Vienna also has a vibrant atmosphere, with many cafes, bars, and restaurants where you can relax and enjoy the local culture.

Café Sacher

Just across the street of Vienna State Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper) is where you’ll find the Café Sacher which is home to the original Sacher-Torte.

• Hours: Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Address: Philharmoniker Str. 4, 1010 Veinna
• Make reservations here.

Café Central

Café Central is Vienna’s most attractive coffee and historic visitors such as Trotsky, Freud, several writers and poets including Polgar, Zweig and Altenberg, and an architect, Loos. The interior is beautiful if you can stay for a short coffee and sacher torte or have time for a full Vienesse meal.

• Hours: Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m
• Address: corner Herrengasse / Strauchgasse 1010 Vienna
• Make reservations here.

Other things to do in Vienna

While we saw a lot in our one day adventure, we didn’t get to see everything. Here’s a list of other things to do during your visit to Vienna.

Visit Mozart’s Grave

If you have a love of dark tourism, make sure to stop at Mozart’s Grave.

This was a little bit of a trek to get to, but if you’re a fan of Mozart you might want to stop by St. Marx cemetery in Vienna’s third district.

Take trams 18 or 71 (which leaves from the central stops along parts of the Ringstrassen) to the St.Marx stop, then walk for a few minutes following the “St. Marx Friedhof” signs.

• Address: Sankt Marx Cemetery, Leberstraße 6-8, 1030 Vienna

Visit Naschmarkt

Naschmarkt is Vienna’s best-known market has around 120 market stands and restaurants for a colorful culinary offering ranging from Viennese to Indian, from Vietnamese to Italian. The Naschmarkt has developed into a meeting point for young and old. It was way too early when we passed by and none of the stations were open.

• Hours: Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Address: Wienzeile 1060 Vienna

Visit Schloss Belvedere

The Belvedere is a historic building complex in Vienna, Austria, consisting of two Baroque palaces, the Orangery, and the Palace Stables. The buildings are set in a Baroque park landscape in the third district of the city, on the south-eastern edge of its centre. It houses the Belvedere museum.

• Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
• Address: Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Vienna

Visit Karlskirche

The Rektoratskirche St. Karl Borromäus, commonly called the Karlskirche, is a Baroque church located on the south side of Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria.

• Hours: Monday to Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Address: Kreuzherrengasse 1, 1040 Vienna

Vienna State Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper)

Wiener Staatsoper, opened in 1869, is a stunning French Renaissance-style building where you can buy tickets to see a show. But if you want to see inside this historical building, you don’t need a ticket for an opera. The Staatsoper offers guided tours in various languages.

• Hours: See the events schedule here.
• Address: Opernring 2, 1010 Wien

Tips for Visiting Vienna

• Plan your itinerary in advance: Vienna has many attractions, and it’s essential to plan your itinerary to make the most of your visit. Consider booking tickets in advance to avoid long queues.
• Use public transportation: Vienna has an excellent public transportation system, including buses, trams, and trains. Purchase a 24-hour or 72-hour ticket, which allows unlimited travel on all public transportation.
• Visit museums: Vienna is home to many museums, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Belvedere Palace, and the Sigmund Freud Museum. Consider purchasing a Vienna Pass, which includes free admission to many attractions.
• Try Viennese cuisine: Vienna is famous for its cuisine, and it’s essential to try local specialties such as Schnitzel, Apfelstrudel, and Sachertorte. You can find many traditional restaurants throughout the city.
• Explore Vienna’s parks: Vienna has many beautiful parks, including the Stadtpark and the Schönbrunn Palace gardens. Take a stroll or enjoy a picnic in one of these parks.
• Bring a Reusable water bottle: Tap water is drinkable https://borgenproject.org/water-quality-in-austria-among-highest-world/
• Get the Vienna Pass: The Vienna PASS gives you free access to over 70 museums, sights and attractions in and around Vienna.

Looking to Stay in Vienna? Best Hotels for Every Budget

Whether you’re looking for luxury, a mid-range boutique stay, or budget-friendly accommodation, Vienna has plenty of fantastic options. Here are our top picks based on location, comfort, and guest reviews:

🏨 Hotel	💰 Budget	📍 Location	⭐ Rating	🔗 Book
Palais Coburg Residenz	💎 Luxury	Inner City, near St. Stephen’s Cathedral	⭐ 9.4/10	Book Now
Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof	💶 Mid-Budget	Historic City Center, near Hofburg Palace	⭐ 8.8/10	Book Now
prizeotel Vienna-City	💰 Budget	Leopoldstadt, near Prater Park	⭐ 8.4/10	Book Now

Frequently Asked Questions About Vienna

Final Thoughts

I hope that you’ve got the information you needed to make your Vienna trip a wonderful success!

If you have any questions about visiting Vienna, please feel free to reach out. You can email me, direct message via social media, or drop a comment below.

If you’ve already visited, let me know what you thought and if there’s anything else you’d like to recommend!

If you are planning a trip to Austria, you may also want to check these other articles:

• Salzburg Food Guide – Where to Eat in Salzburg, Austria
• How To See Hallstatt In One Day From Salzburg: The Ultimate Guide
• 4 Days in Salzburg, Austria: The Ultimate Itinerary
• Mozart’s Birthplace and Residence
• Visiting a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Schonbrunn Palace
• One Perfect Day in Vienna Itinerary

Liked this day trip to Vienna post? Share it on Pinterest!

If you found this guide useful, follow me on Instagram to stay up to date with my travels. You can also follow my Travel Hashtag on Instagram #TravelWithKinsley.

I would love it if you could follow me on Pinterest and share this guide on your social media.