Vienna is a very cultural city. It has plenty of museums and cultural options, and most of them are close to each other. So you can feel surrounded by culture and historical buildings. It is also called the city of music because of its musical legacy, which most people know.
Must Do’s
Because Old Town Vienna (the city centre) is no that big and has lots of attractions, I would recommend making your own walking tour. The blog bigboytravel.com has done a really good job compiling the main places, resulting in the following itinerary:
The city has plenty of museums (around 100, you can find the complete list here); but the main and most important one is Belvedere. Especially if like Gustav Klimt, as I do.
You can find many of his paintings, including The Kiss, Judith and the Head of Halofernes, Avenue in Schloss Kammer Park, and more. The former is one of his most famous works, and you can (or cannot) imagine its price by looking at the security around it (no photos allowed). Visit our “Where to find Gustav Klimt’s paintings around the World” post for more information about Klimt’s artwork.
The other two museums I would recommend are Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Art History Museum) and Museum of Modern Art – mumok.
Where to Stay
I would recommend staying in the area of Museumsquartier (MQ). From there you are within walking distance from all the attractions. And you would be close to the best pubs and restaurants. We stayed at ViennaArt Hotel and it was a great choice, especially for its location and breakfast.
Going out
When going out for dinner or drinks, you should walk along Siebensterngasse Street in the Museumsquartier area. There are a few little great places in Gutenbengasse, Spittelbergasse, Kirchbergasse and around.
Restaurants
Our favourite traditional restaurant was 7 Stern Brau. It is a friendly and warm place, nothing fancy, with a good variety of beer and typical Austrian food. All portions were generous and very tasty. If you are vegetarian you must try the spinach strudel, otherwise, you can go for sausages or lamb.
If you fancy a fine and stylish place, I would go to Kussmaul. It is more expensive, but both the cocktails and the food are good. Nice wine selection as well. The audience is quite posh.
Pubs
Bukowski would be my choice for a night pub. Good beer, cocktails, and an even better atmosphere. They also have good prices and it is open from 3 pm until 6 am (except for Sundays).
My second choice is Kreisky. Small, hipster and comradely. Opens every day from 6 pm to 4 am. Good vibe and you will only find locals. Very relaxed.
Coffee
For a delicate, delicious and sophisticated experience, you should visit Cafe Central. Superb cakes and pastries. The place is beautiful and there is always someone playing the piano.
You can also read newspapers and magazines using some curious wooden handles. Mozart himself used to hang out here.
If you are looking for a more relaxed, friendly, amicable environment, my recommendations are Phil and Liebling. You can also find a good selection of Die hippsten (Hipster-Cafés) here.