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VIENNA HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.

It was the first city I visited in Europe, more than a decade ago, and more recently I’ve visited for both business and pleasure.

I never spend much time in Vienna, though you could easily spend a week meandering through its world-class museums and taking in orchestral shows at some of Europe’s best music halls.

Since my trips to the city have all been quick one or one and a half day trips, I wanted to share a snapshot of my favorite Vienna attractions for those spending 36 hours in the Austrian capital.

36 Hours In Vienna: The Best Itinerary For Art-Lovers

Top Experiences in Vienna

Planning your trip to Vienna?
Here are my FAVORITE experiences for a memorable visit to Vienna.

🔍 Discovery | Learn more about your destination

🤝 Connection | Meet locals, learn a craft, and trade stories

🎭 Performance | Immerse yourself in the local art and culture

🚌 Excursion | Explore nearby places of interest

Danube Valley Castles and Wine Tour

🚀 Adventure | Seek thrill and excitement in the great outdoors

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Take a Morning Stroll through the Naschmarkt

Start your trip to Vienna with a stroll through the Naschmarkt.

On my first ever flight to Europe, we flew from Austrian Airlines from JFK airport direct to Vienna, arriving shortly before nine in the morning.

Our first stop was the Naschmarkt, a large, open air market serving everything from spices and fresh produce to baked goods, coffee and wine.

WALKING THROUGH THE NASCHMARKT IS A GREAT JETLAG BUSTER.

It felt so nice to stretch our legs and take in the crisp air as we browsed the stalls.

Eventually, we settled on a breakfast of apple strudel, croissants, coffee, and Grüner Veltliner, Austria’s iconic crisp, white wine.

Tour the Schönbrunn Palace

For centuries, Vienna was home to the Habsburg ruling dynasty.

Their fingerprints are all over Vienna, in its art and architecture, but perhaps no place serves as a better monument to the former royal family than Schönbrunn Palace.

The main palace is a showpiece of Baroque architecture, and private tours are available to guide you through its rooms.

THE GARDENS ARE THE REAL TREAT, THOUGH.

If you visit on a nice day, it’s easy to spend two or three hours exploring its features, like the hedge maze, the Palmenhaus, and the hilltop Gloriette.

The palace complex is very large — they even have a zoo — so strategizing your visit is a must.

While the Palace sits slightly outside of Vienna proper, it’s easily accessible via the U-Bahn (subway) from the city center.

BOOK A SKIP-THE-LINE TOUR SO THAT YOU CAN OPTIMIZE YOUR TIME, WHILE A DEDICATED TOUR GUIDE IS ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

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Visit Vienna's Best Art Museums

The art on display in Vienna is truly exceptional.

Its MuseumsQuartier covers more than twenty-two acres in the 7th district, and is one of the largest contemporary art districts in the world.

To help you optimize your time in Vienna, here are my picks for the top three best art museums in Vienna:

Leopold Museum

Home to one of the largest collections of Austrian modern art, the Leopold Museum opened in 2001 with over 5,000 works collected by Austrian art collector Rudolf Leopold and his wife Elisabeth.

THE COUPLE’S TASTES WERE DRAWN TO AUSTRIAN ART OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY.

Leopold eventually became a major patron of Egon Schiele, an Austrian expressionist painter.

They also collected big names, like Austria’s most famous painter today, Gustav Klimt, and Viennese Expressionism painter Oskar Kokoschka.

Belvedere Museum Vienna

The Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, more colloquially known as the Belvedere Museum Vienna, offers an insight into the history of Austria through artworks ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day.

It includes the largest collection of Gustav Klimt works, including the native son’s most important works, The Kiss and Judith.

It has also featured, since 1843, one of Jacques-Louis David’s five versions of Napoleon Crossing the Alps.

THE BELVEDERE IS A MUST-VISIT FOR ANY STUDY OF AUSTRIAN ART, AND ONE THAT MOSTLY OMITS HOMAGES TO THE HABSBURG DYNASTY.

Those works are housed in the museum that the family established for their own art collection, at the fin de siècle.

Kunsthistorisches Museum

The largest art museum in Austria, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is a grand museum borne out of the vast art and relic collections of the Habsburg dynasty.

Its picture gallery includes everything from early Renaissance religious tableaus to Dutch masters and portraiture of the Spanish Habsburgs by Diego Velázquez.

THE MUSEUM ALSO HOUSES THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS BY FLEMISH RENAISSANCE PAINTER PIETER BRUEGEL THE ELDER.

Beyond paintings, the museum includes a collection of historical musical instruments and the most diverse collection of imperial armory in the western world.

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Enjoy a Museum Break at a Viennese Coffee House

In between museum visits, soak up the elegance of Vienna’s legendary coffee houses.

These grand cafés, often upholstered in rich fabrics, with newspapers on offer and glass cases full of äpfelstrudel and Sachertorte, are a great spot to relax.

Some of the capital's best coffee houses include:

TRY AN EINSPÄNNER, TWO SHOTS OF ESPRESSO WITH A BIT OF MILK AND COCOA-DUSTED WHIPPED CREAM ON TOP.

Or the local favorite Wiener Melange, a cappuccino-like beverage made with milder coffee rather than espresso.

End the Day with Austrian Cuisine

WRAP UP YOUR DAY IN VIENNA WITH A RELAXED DINNER THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE BEST OF AUSTRIAN CUISINE.

While Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte, and Grüner Veltliner may be the holy trinity of Viennese classics, there’s so much more to try if you have the appetite.

Kaiserschmarrn, a fluffy, caramelized pancake dish torn into pieces and dusted with powdered sugar, makes a great shared dessert.

If you’re in the mood for something comforting, look for tafelspitz, a traditional boiled beef dish served with horseradish, apple, and crispy rösti potatoes.

For drinks, Grüner Veltliner is a go-to, but don’t sleep on the herbal, slightly gingery Almdudler, Austria’s beloved soft drink.

Whether you’re dining at a cozy beisl (a casual Viennese tavern) or a more upscale spot, end your day the way the Viennese do: with good food, conversation, and maybe just one more glass of wine.

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Conclusion

Making the most of a day and a half in Vienna will take some planning and prioritization, but it’s a fantastic town to see in such a short amount of time.

If your itinerary is especially tight, the trip out to the Schönbrunn Palace might be the first attraction to sacrifice.

I SAY THIS FROM EXPERIENCE, IT’S BEEN BUMPED ON MY OWN VISITS!

Easy, spontaneous activities like visiting a classic Vienna coffee house and trying a bite of delicious Sachertorte, though, should not be missed.

Soak up the imperial charm and Habsburg-constructed grandeur of Austria’s capital, no matter how pressed for time you may be!

Until next time,

Angela

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