Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs' summer palace and gardens; climb to the Gloriette for the view back over the city.
Imperial grandeur, coffee-house calm and cake taken very seriously.
When to go: April–May & September–October — balmy and uncrowded; Advent markets make December magic.
Best places to visit
Must-see
St. Stephen's Cathedral
The tiled-roof Gothic heart of the old town — climb the south tower's 343 steps for the rooftops.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Bruegel and Vermeer beneath a domed café — one of Europe's great art halls, never overrun.
Naschmarkt
A 1.5km market of meze, cheese and street food; Saturday adds a sprawling flea market at the end.
A coffee house (Café Central)
Order a melange and a slice of Sachertorte and linger — in Vienna, sitting for hours is the point.
Prater & Riesenrad
Ride the 1897 Ferris wheel over the funfair, then walk the long tree-lined avenue into the park.
Plan your trip to Vienna
WTFly finds the cheapest dates to fly there across a whole flexible window — then activities and a car to round out the trip.