Where to actually go in Vienna

Naschmarkt

Market · Wieden / Mariahilf

A long open-air market of food stalls and small restaurants along the Wienzeile.

Best for: a cheap lunch, browsing

Best time: late morning; Saturday flea market

Figlmüller

Restaurant · Innere Stadt

The famous schnitzel house: a pork schnitzel bigger than the plate, with potato salad.

Best for: the classic Wiener schnitzel dinner

Booking: Reserve, especially for dinner.

Best time: dinner

Café Central

Cafe · Innere Stadt

The grand vaulted coffee house where Freud and Trotsky drank coffee. Order a melange and Sachertorte or apple strudel.

Best for: the Viennese café ritual

Best time: afternoon

Schweizerhaus

Pub · Prater

A huge beer garden famous for roast pork knuckle and Budvar.

Best for: a big group dinner

Best time: evening (seasonal)

Zum Schwarzen Kameel

Restaurant · Innere Stadt

A historic deli where people stand for tiny open sandwiches and a glass of wine.

Best for: a quick classy lunch

Best time: lunch

Bitzinger Würstelstand

Restaurant · by the Albertina and the Opera

The famous sausage stand behind the Opera; try the Käsekrainer.

Best for: a late snack

Best time: late night

Café Sacher

Cafe · by the Opera

Home of the original Sachertorte chocolate cake.

Best for: the famous cake

Best time: afternoon

Schönbrunn Palace

Sight · Hietzing

The Habsburg summer palace. The gardens and the Gloriette hill view are free; the state rooms need a timed ticket.

Best for: the imperial palace, a free garden walk

Price: $$ — roughly $32 for the State Apartments; students 19–25 roughly $26

Booking: Timed entry; in busy seasons book online a couple of weeks ahead.

Best time: morning

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Sight · Innere Stadt

The Gothic cathedral with the patterned tile roof at the heart of the old city.

Best for: a central landmark, the tower view

Best time: any time

MuseumsQuartier

Area · Neubau

A courtyard of museums where young Viennese lounge on giant outdoor seats with a drink on warm evenings.

Best for: a free hangout, the Leopold Museum's Klimt and Schiele

Best time: early evening

Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel

Activity · Leopoldstadt

An old amusement park and a huge green park; the 1897 Riesenrad wheel gives a slow view of the city.

Best for: a fun evening, the Ferris wheel

Best time: evening

Danube Canal bars

Area · Donaukanal

Pop-up beach bars and graffiti walls along the canal.

Best for: a summer evening drink

Best time: summer evenings

Upper Belvedere

Museum · Landstraße

Baroque palace holding Klimt's The Kiss.

Best for: seeing The Kiss

Booking: Book a time slot online.

Best time: morning

Bermuda Triangle (Bermudadreieck)

Area · Innere Stadt (around Ruprechtsplatz)

A small knot of old-town lanes packed with bars, nicknamed for the people who 'disappear' into it.

Best for: a central bar crawl

Best time: from about 10 PM

Pratersauna

Club · Leopoldstadt (by the Prater)

A club in a 1960s bathhouse with the pool kept as a summer dance floor.

Best for: a big club night

Price: $ — cover roughly $14–21

Best time: after midnight

Fluc

Club · Praterstern

An alternative club and bar with a mixed crowd that opens early.

Best for: an easy, cheap start to a club night

Best time: from early evening

Flex

Club · Donaukanal

A long-running club on the Danube Canal with a famously good sound system.

Best for: electronic music

Best time: after midnight

U6 Gürtel viaduct bars

Area · Gürtel (between Thaliastraße and Nußdorfer Straße)

Bars and clubs in the arches under the elevated U6 line: the city's main going-out strip.

Best for: a bar crawl

Best time: from about 10 PM

Loos American Bar

Cocktail bar · Innere Stadt

A tiny 1908 cocktail bar designed by Adolf Loos, all marble and mirrors.

Best for: a classic cocktail

Best time: late evening

Josef Cocktail Bar

Cocktail bar · Innere Stadt

A newer cocktail bar recognised by World's 50 Best.

Best for: a special cocktail

Price: $$ — roughly $17–23 a cocktail

Best time: evening

Das Loft

Rooftop · Leopoldstadt (Sofitel, 18th floor)

A top-floor bar with a glass wall over the old city and a colourful light ceiling.

Best for: the view

Best time: sunset

Porgy & Bess

Live music · Innere Stadt

One of Europe's top jazz clubs.

Best for: live jazz

Best time: evening