The beautiful Austrian capital is known for its rich operatic history and status as the largest wine-growing city in the world, with over 700 hectares of vineyards. It is a great city break spot in Europe, but it can be more expensive compared to other destinations. There are many incredible sites to see in Vienna and most of these you can visit for free or at a low cost if you choose wisely. I have put together a list of the best things to do:
1. St. Stephens Cathedral (aka Stephansdom); This Gothic cathedral with Baroque fittings and iconic multicoloured tiled roof is in the Stephansplatz square. You can get one of the best views of the city from the South Tower of the cathedral. You can go up to the top of the tower for €6 per adult but it is worth it, especially if you get a clear day.
2. Schmetterlinghaus (meaning Butterfly House): The Butterfly House is located on the same grounds and costs 7 Euro to enter as an adult or 5.50 with valid student ID. If you’re a nature lover this is an interesting activity to do in the city. You will see many different species flying around with the most common being Dryas Julia (orange with long wings), Morpho peleides (emerald blue) and Heliconius Melpomene (red and black coloured wings).
3. Vienna State Opera; Of course, you will have to visit the Opera House when visiting Vienna and it was my favourite activity from my trip. The guided English tours start every day at 10AM,11AM and 12PM and I recommend booking a day in advance on the website. Inside the Opera House is magnificent and very interesting to learn all about the history.
4. Belvedere Palace; One of Vienna’s must-see attractions and an important UNESCO site for its showy architectural ensemble. The Belvedere Palace is in fact a museum where you can appreciate art pieces such as the famous painting The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. It costs between 14-16 Euro for an adult entry into the museum but you can visit the Palace to just admire the architecture and wander around the stunning gardens.
5. Prater Theme Park: This is an amusement park located in the city and is free to enter and you can just pay per ride. Each ride costs about from 3Euro-5Euro and I recommend going on one of the Ferris Wheels. The Riesenrad is the wheel at the front of the park and has been there since it opened to the public in 1897. There are many food and drinks stalls in the park so you could make a day trip for the theme park alone if you have the time.
Places to Eat & Drink:
Café Mozart – Vienna is known as the "City of Music" due to its musical legacy, as it is the homeplace of many famous classical musicians such as Beethoven and Mozart. Back in the 19th century there was a there was a Viennese coffee house culture and Café Mozart was one of the first established.
Café Frauenhuber; This is the oldest coffee house in the city and worth a visit. However, these coffee houses are a bit pricey. I would try pick one to experience the atmosphere of this culture and enjoy one cup of coffee to stay in your budget.
360 Ocean Sky – My favourite restaurant from the city as the food was incredible and the views of the city at night were spectacular. It is located in Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz.
Swing Kitchen – If you are Vegetarian, Vegan or looking for ways to be sustainable when travelling then you will love this Austrian restaurant chain. They serve a wide range of options from veggies burgers to veggie chicken nuggets.
Thank you for reading this blog post on how to visit Vienna on a budget! I hope this helps with your travel planning.
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