Travel Tips for Vienna, Austria

Cost: €€ (expensive)

Safety: 5/5 for solo female travellers

Vienna is a beautiful city in eastern Austria that is steeped in history. With its stunning architecture and vibrant cultural scene, the city has so much to offer.

In my opinion, 3 days in Vienna is sufficient, as it gives you lots of time to explore the city’s beautiful landmarks. However you should consider booking a longer trip if you want to fit in day trips to Hallstatt, Graz or Bratislava in Slovakia.

I felt quite safe throughout my trip, so I would recommend this city for solo female travellers.

How to get there

You can fly direct from Dublin to Vienna Airport via Aer Lingus or Ryanair. The flight length is about 2 hours and 50 minutes. You can also fly from Cork or Shannon but there will be stop-overs. 

As I was already in Prague in the Czech Republic, I travelled via train from Prague hlavní nádraží (the main station) to Vienna Hauptbahnhof. The journey took about 4 hours and it was very scenic.

Language, Currency & Weather

German is the main language spoken in Vienna, however you will be fine speaking English. The currency in Austria is the Euro.

During summer in Vienna, temperatures range between 20 and 27 degrees Celsius so the weather is pleasant. During winter the weather is cold and wet. Temperatures can drop between 0 and -5 degrees Celsius, so if you are travelling at this time make sure to bring warm, rainproof clothes.

Public Transport

The public transport network in Vienna is excellent, and is so easy to use. Run by Wiener Linien, it operates the U-Bahn (subway), Schnellbahn or S-Bahn (local train), Straßenbahn (tram) and Autobus (bus).

In my opinion, if you’re just looking around the city it’s best to walk as most of the city’s attractions are very central. If you are travelling outside the city centre, it is possible to buy single tickets for about 2 euro at most stations.

However, if you think you are going to be using transport a lot, I would recommend getting a Vienna City Card. It offers free travel, 7 days of discounts, and optional add-ons that can include sightseeing buses and an airport transfer. You can get a 24, 48 or 72-hour card.

To get between the airport and the city centre, you can travel via the City Airport Train which takes about 15 minutes or the S7 Schnellbahn city train which takes about 25 minutes. Many bus services also serve the airport, including VAL1, VAL2 and VAL3. Bus journeys take about 20 minutes.

Where To Stay

While in Vienna, I stayed at The Social Hub. It is a little bit away from the city centre, but there is metro access nearby. I would highly recommend this spot for young people or solo female travellers.

For accommodation in the city centre, I would advise you to book Hotel Stefanie (Vienna’s oldest hotel) or Hotel Domizil.

Ruby Marie Hotel, ibis Styles Wien Messe Prater or Best Western Plus Hotel are also good options. They are a little bit away from the city centre, but there is metro access.

There are a few hostels in the city, including Wombat’s City Hostel and Vienna Boutique. 

Where To Go & What To Do

Firstly, I would recommend booking a walking tour to get a feel for the city and learn all about its history and culture.

I would then advise you to visit the Spanish Riding School, Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens, Belvedere Palace to see Klimt’s famous painting ‘The Kiss’, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, the Empress Sisi Museum and Mozarthaus.

If you are interested in classical music, there are a number of concerts on offer in Vienna featuring music written by Mozart, the Strauss family and Vivaldi.

Meanwhile if you are planning a trip to Vienna during summer, travel to the Alte Donau area where you’ll find beaches, great seafood, and places to hire boats.

For a day trip, I would highly recommend Hallstatt. On the way, the tour guides brought the group and I to the Schloss Ort (a snow-white castle with a famous wooden bridge). We then travelled to Hallstatt in Austria’s mountainous Salzkammergut region. This was an amazing experience.

What & Where To Eat

Vienna has a few classic dishes, including the Wiener schnitzel and the Sachertorte. I tried the latter at Hotel Sacher (it was amazing) and I tried the schnitzel at Pfarrwirt (also amazing).

For breakfast, I travelled to the great tourist attraction Café Central for a coffee and some apricot jam pancakes. While there is a queue to enter the cafe, in my opinion it’s definitely worth it.

I would advise you to explore the MuseumsQuartier (MQ), which offers lots of bars, cafés and restaurants. It’s a great spot if you want to grab a drink and unwind.

There are so many rooftop bars and terraces in Vienna, offering fantastic views of the city. I tried the colourful Das LOFT and the Lamée Rooftop bar which looks out on Stephansdom cathedral’s single tower.

Booking a spot for dinner in Palmenhaus is essential while in Vienna. It’s located in Burggarten park by Hofburg Palace and is considered the world’s grandest greenhouse. The cheeseboard here is delicious, along with the local wine.

Speaking of local wine, Vienna’s vineyards warrant a visit at some point during your trip. The 38A bus travels to the top of Kahlenberg and through the city’s main wine-making districts. You can taste delicious wine, cheese and admire the stunning views.

Enjoy Vienna!