Are you ready to make your way through 48 unforgettable hours in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria? Buckle up because we’re about to embark on a fun adventure that’s equal parts yummy eats, great sightseeing, and pure charm. Vienna isn’t just a destination; it’s a symphony of experiences waiting to be explored. From the beauty of historical palaces to the sweet embrace of apple strudel, this city has a lot to offer. So, let’s get into the perfect 48 hours in Vienna!
A Beautiful Hotel: Zoku
If you are staying in Vienna for just a few nights like I did, or for a longer period, Zoku Vienna is the perfect hotel to stay at. Zoku is located in the Leopoldstadt neighborhood of Vienna. Convenient to the central city and Old Town by public transportation, this is a lovely hotel. The unique and modern decor is extremely aesthetic and the views from the terrace lounge are unmatched!
It can get pricy to stay in the central city so I found that Zoku is still a great location at a relatively fair price. This hotel is very accommodating to people traveling for business or just a leisurely vacation. If you do not stay at this hotel, I at least recommend checking out the terrace lounge area for the sunset and panoramic views of the Prater Amusement Park.
The rooms are loft-style with a cozy, modern feel. I personally found the beds to be comfortable. Each room is also equipped with a little kitchenette as well as a small dining table. The staff working here during my visit were welcoming and overall, I recommend staying at the Zoku in Vienna.
When To Visit
Vienna is a great city to visit at basically any time of the year, but my favorite season to visit is fall. Early Autumn such as September to October is a pleasant time to visit as it can be a little less crowded than the summer months. The city’s parks and gardens still display some bloomed florals, plus fall foliage starts to show. The weather is typically nice with not too many rainy days and warm-to-mild temperatures. When I recently visited at the end of September, it was unusually hot for the time of year with average temperatures around 80 degrees during the day. I would expect temperatures in the 60s or even 70s during early fall, but it can drop into the 50s at night.
Day 1 Itinerary
If you take a red-eye flight like I did from New Jersey to Vienna, you will likely arrive in the early morning between 7 AM and 9 AM. From the airport, you can take either public transportation, a taxi, or an Uber to your accommodations. It is about a 30-minute drive to Zoku Vienna from the airport with some traffic.
Most hotels do not allow check-in until the mid-to-late afternoon, so having a plan to store your luggage is key. Fortunately, the Zoku Vienna Hotel has a luggage locker room where we were able to safely store our luggage and freshen up for the day. We arrived at our accommodations around 9 AM and began the day from there. Below is a bulleted itinerary of our day 1 in Vienna.
- 9 AM: Drop luggage off at the Zoku Vienna Hotel
- 9:30 AM: Breakfast near the Zoku at BRENNER
- I enjoyed a simple and quick avocado toast here with a poached egg on top
- The hotel also offers breakfast for a little over twenty euros per person
- 10:30 AM: Take public transportation into the Old Town for Sightseeing
- Walk 5 minutes from the hotel to Messe-Prater metro station (enter via Ausstellungsstrabe)
- Ride the U2 metro 4 stops to Schottentor U
- Walk 11 minutes to Mozart Wohnhaus
- 11 AM – 5 PM: Sightseeing in Vienna’s Old Town
- Walk from the U-Bahn station to Mozart Wohnhaus (free walk-by)
- 3-minute walk to the Column of Pest (free historical landmark to walk by)
- 4-minute walk to St. Stephen’s Cathedral (see exterior for free & then you can pay €5.5/person CASH ONLY to climb up the South Tower for panoramic views of the city)
- 10-minute walk to the Vienna State Opera House (see exterior for free – paid tours are also available for the interior – you can also pay to see a show here)
- 9-minute walk to Pane é Cafe (enjoy yummy apple strudel)
- 5-minute walk to Burggarten within The Hofburg grounds (historical palace and grounds – explore the grounds for free and/or purchase a ticket to tour one of the museums.)
- 5-minute walk to the Volksgarten (free to walk through – my favorite spot we saw)
- 10-minute walk to Rathausplatz (see exterior for free)
- 13-minute walk to the Kunsthistorisches Museum
- €21/person to tour this museum. Closes at 6 PM – Tickets can be found here
- We spent about an hour here
- 5 PM – 5:30 PM: Take transportation back to the Zoku Hotel (below is one route option)
- Walk 3 minutes to the “Line 2” tram at Burgring
- Ride the tram 9 stops (16 min) to Taborstrabe
- Walk 1 minute to the U-Bahn station at Taborstrabe (enter via Obere Augartenstrabe)
- Ride 2 stops (3 min) to Messe-Prater
- Walk 3 minutes to Zoku (hotel)
- 5:30 PM – 7 PM: Relax and enjoy the view and sunset from the outside terrace lounge at Zoku
- 7 PM – 9 PM: Get a traditional Austrian dinner from Gasthaus Möslinger
- A quick walk from Zoku with yummy Austrian food (I recommend the Käsespätzle or a schnitzel)
Day 2 Itinerary
Hoping you got a good night’s sleep after a long day of travel and sightseeing on Day 1, it is time for Day 2! Day 2 is another day filled with beautiful sightseeing and delicious food! Below is a bulleted itinerary for how my Day 2 in Vienna went.
Note: We started our day a little later than expected, but it did not affect our timing for sightseeing.
- 10 AM – 11:30 AM: Take the U-Bahn/walk to Das Eduard and enjoy a delicious breakfast
- I loved this restaurant – the food is delicious and the service is friendly
- 11:30 AM – 12 PM: Walk a little over 20 minutes from breakfast to the Schönbrunn Palace
- 11:50 AM – 2:30 PM: Explore the Schönbrunn Palace
- There is a lot to see here – some things for free and some things for an entrance fee
- It is free to explore most of the grounds and I recommend walking around to see the exterior of the Palace, the surrounding gardens, the fountain, and the Gloriette
- Tickets and info on all paid attractions within the Palace grounds can be found here
- 2:30 PM – 3 PM: Take the U-Bahn/walk to the Belvedere Palace
- 3 PM – 5:30 PM: Walk around the Belvedere Palace grounds for free and tour the museum (paid ticket required)
- Tour Upper Belvedere – €16,70/adult – beautiful art museum
- 5:30 PM – 7 PM: Get Dinner near the Belvedere Palace
- We went to Salm Bräu, which is a local brewery (a bit touristy) that offers Austrian food. This spot was convenient for our large group, but there are plenty of great restaurants you can find otherwise. I thought the food was decent, but nothing that stood out.
- 7 PM – 7:30 PM: Take the U-Bahn/walk back to Zoku
- 7:45 PM – 10 PM: Enjoy a fun night at the Prater Amusement Park
- It is free to enter and you pay by ride – the Ferris Wheel offers nice views of the city
Day 3 (Last Morning in Vienna)
Day 3 is the final morning in the marvelous city of Vienna. Check-out times at most hotels are between 10 AM and 11 AM. We checked out of the Zoku and put our suitcases in the luggage locker room while getting a local breakfast. If you stay at the Zoku, then you can get a nice breakfast at Baschly, which is just a few minutes’ walk away. Enjoy egg dishes, coffee, toast, and more at this restaurant.
From Baschly, you can take a roughly 20-minute walk to the famous Danube River. Depending on the time of your departure flight, you may or may not have time to do more exploring in Vienna. Our flight departed in the early afternoon, so we made our way to the airport via Uber from Zoku.
Vienna is a historic and charming city that I recommend visiting at least once! In this blog post, we’ve journeyed through 48 hours (maybe a little more) of enchantment in the imperial city of Vienna. From savoring the yummy apple strudel to waltzing through the Old Town and the city’s famous palaces, Vienna truly has a way of stealing your heart in just two days. Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or simply in search of the perfect photo, this Austrian gem does not disappoint!
Comment below your favorite European city that you have traveled to!
