Language: German    |    Currency: Euros (€)    |    Local time: UTC +1:00   |    Avg. Flight time: 2.0 hrs

The Spanish Riding School

Every Lipizzaner stallion is directly descended from an Arab warhorse, so if you’re thinking Strictly Come Ponies, think again: these snowy white steeds may be graceful, but they can also handle themselves.

Pitch up any weekday morning at the Spanish Riding School and you can see the Lipizzaner in rehearsal for less than the price of coffee.

Schönbrunn Palace

The former Empress of Austria’s summer residence is the most-visited tourist attraction in Vienna, but don’t turn up expecting to nip round in five minutes.

This impressive Baroque palace is so immense that guided tours are mandatory – fortunately, they’re also fascinating and multilingual. 

MuseumsQuartier (MQ)

This 60,000-square-metre spread of art and architecture sprawls across the city’s 7th district.

The Leopold Museum alone could fill an entire day, but if you’re short on time choose Museum Moderner Kunst (known as ‘mumok’) for its art by modern masters and Kunsthalle Wien for its contemporary works. If you’re looking for what to do in Vienna with kids, ZOOM Children’s Museum has play areas and creative exhibits. 

Vienna Prater

Prater Park has a famous Ferris wheel and dozens of other classic Vienna activities spread over six million square metres of lush, green space. The funfair is summer only, but the big wheel revolves all year round. 

Goldenes Quartier

Vienna’s historic centre isn’t short on shops to make you forget all financial reason.

The most ridiculously tempting are in the Goldenes Quartier; if you’re in the market for haute couture or ready-to-wear designer labels, this is where to go. And if rampant spending isn’t on your what to do in Vienna list, check out the quarter’s Imperial architecture; it’s even grander than the shops.

Figure out how to be close to your favourite attractions with the advice on our Vienna hotels page.