Is Vienna worth visiting? My Experience in the Capital of Austria

I have visited Vienna twice, and I think this is gonna be a very unpopular opinion but…I did not like Vienna. Maybe it was the freezing cold, or that I just found it boring and expensive, but it is just not one of my favorite places at all and the second visit just confirmed it.

In this guide I will be answering the simple question: Is Vienna worth visiting? I will tell you my personal experience in the city, my first impressions, what I liked and didn’t like, my favorite things to do and some practical tips to help you plan your trip.

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📱 Get an eSIM before you arrive

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🎟️ Book the best tours and activities

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Is Vienna worth visiting? My Quick Answer

Now, just because I say I didn’t like Vienna it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit. I think Vienna is defnitely worth visiting and my personal opinion doesn’t mean it’s a bad place, it just means it didn’t give me what I was looking for at the time.

And if you are a bit unsure now simply because I said I didn’t exactly like Vienna and I’m here telling you to visit, I’ll tell you the most shocking: I also didn’t like Paris. PARIS! I know! And would I tell people that Paris isn’t worth visiting? Absolutely not.
So, Is Vienna worth visiting? Absolutely yes!

My First Impressions of Vienna

I first traveled to Vienna on a 3-months solo backpacking trip. I had no idea what I was doing, I was traveling on a budget, and somehow managed to visit 13 countries and traveled all of them by land.

I arrived in Vienna from Bratislava on short 1h train, and what I immediately found was a HUGE city to learn to navigate as a lost solo traveler. Compared to Bratislava it was defnitely a shock and took a bit of time to adjust – arriving in a new country and in a big city and immediately having to understand public transport and everything in a different language is NOT fun.

Since Vienna was so expensive for accommodation I made another rookie mistake and decided it was a good idea to book the cheapest hostel I could find. It wasn’t. The one good thing about this hostel was that I ended up meeting other travelers to explore the city and that made a huge diference.

If I had to describe my first impressions of Vienna it would be: big, expensive, freezing cold, big buildings. Not the most exciting thing you’ve heard right? Well, I guess that is how excited I felt about Vienna overall.

What I liked about Vienna

Okay, so I clearly didn’t love Vienna, but there were things I liked. The architecture is beautiful and there are some really impressive buildings everywhere you go.

I also liked Schönbrunn Palace, which was probably my favorite place in the city. And I have to give Vienna credit for the public transport because once you figure it out, getting around the city is actually pretty easy.

What I didn’t like about Vienna

I think the biggest problem was that I just found Vienna boring. I know that sounds insane because there is so much to see and do, but I just didn’t connect with the city.

I also found it very expensive, especially for accommodation, and the fact that it was freezing cold both times I visited definitely didn’t help.

The size of the city also overwhelmed me a bit during my first visit. Coming from Bratislava, Vienna felt HUGE and it took me some time to understand the public transport and figure out where everything was.

And honestly, going back a second time and feeling basically the same way probably confirmed that Vienna just isn’t for me.

My Favorite Things to Do in Vienna

Even though Vienna wasn’t my favorite city, there are definitely some things I would recommend seeing.

Schönbrunn Palace – This was probably my favorite place in Vienna and I think it’s worth visiting even if you’re not really into palaces.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral – One of the most famous buildings in Vienna and right in the center, so it’s pretty hard to miss.

Hofburg Palace – Another huge and impressive part of Vienna’s historic center.

Belvedere Palace – Definitely worth adding to your list if you like beautiful buildings and gardens.

Vienna State Opera – One of the city’s most famous landmarks and worth seeing even if you don’t go to a performance.

Vienna’s historic center – just walking around the center is one of the easiest ways to see a lot of the city.

Practical Information

How to get to Vienna

Vienna is very easy to reach from other cities in Central Europe. I arrived from Bratislava by train and the journey was only around 1 hour, so you can easily visit both cities on the same trip.

→ Find trains and buses to Vienna here

Where to stay in Vienna

Vienna is expensive for accommodation, especially if you’re traveling on a budget like I was. I would definitely compare different hostels and locations before booking because staying somewhere close to public transport can make your life much easier in such a big city.

→ Find the best hotels in Vienna

Travel Insurance

Luckily I didn’t need my Travel Insurance in Vienna, but while traveling to 62 countries I needed it more times than I can count. For the last few years I’ve been using SafetyWing and they’ve never let me down – including when I had my father passing away while I was abroad and they covered my ticket fully and refunded me in a few days. So, always make sure you are covered on your travels, because you really never know what might happen.

→ Check SafetyWing Travel Insurance

Stay Connected

To stay connected in Vienna you obviously have two choices. Get a physical SIM card or get an eSIM. I highly suggest an eSIM because I’ve spent too much time in my past arriving in new countries with no connection and then having to run around trying to find a physical SIM card. I just find it so much easier to have data as soon as I land, or cross a border when traveling by land.

→ Get an eSIM for Austria

FAQs

Is Vienna expensive?

Yes, Vienna is one of the more expensive cities in Central Europe, especially when it comes to accommodation. You can save money by staying in a hostel and using public transport instead of taxis.

Is Vienna good for solo travelers?

Yes. Vienna is easy to get around by public transport and there is plenty to do on your own. I visited Vienna solo and never felt like being alone was a problem.

Is Vienna safe?

Yes, Vienna is generally a very safe city for travelers. As always, use normal precautions, especially in crowded areas and on public transport.

What currency is used in Vienna?

Vienna uses the Euro (€), so if you’re traveling from another Eurozone country you don’t need to worry about exchanging money.

Do you need a car in Vienna?

No. You definitely don’t need a car to visit Vienna. The public transport system is extensive and is the easiest way to get around the city.

Is Vienna worth visiting? Final Thoughts

So, Is Vienna worth visiting? I would say yes. I think it’s a beautiful city, even if I didn’t like it that much, but I think a lot of people will love it. Just make sure you do your research well and you know what you want to visit because it is a big city and you need to know where you are going and how to get there – or you’ll be wasting a lot of your time trying to figure out logistics.
Read my other Vienna Guides