What NOT to Do On a Trip to Vienna
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about what NOT to do when you plan a trip to Vienna, Austria. While most travel blogs will tell you the best things to do in Vienna, we want to be sure you know what NOT to do on your Vienna vacation.
Don’t Expect Vienna to Be Cheap
Vienna is not a budget destination, although there are ways to make your trip to Vienna more affordable. It’s not crazy expensive, but it is the capital city so it’s one of the more expensive towns in Austria. Fortunately, there are tons of street food vendors, so you can save money by eating on the street instead of in restaurants. The stalls at Naschmarkt have good prices as well.
Don’t Expect Attentive Service
Austrian service is effective and efficient, but it’s not the over-the-top service you might expect in other destinations. Servers are typically well-trained and knowledgeable, but they’re not usually effusive, attentive, or fast. Even though tipping is customary in Austria, they are also paid a normal wage, so they aren’t hustling for tips like in the United States.
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Austria also has a strong cafe culture, where restaurant patrons can linger for hours without being rushed. However, this also means you must request your check when you are ready. They won’t automatically bring it to your table.
Don’t Forget to Carry Cash
Most places in Vienna will take credit cards, but you may run into a few places that still only accept cash. Christmas markets, street food vendors, and amusement park rides are a few examples of where you might need to have cash. If you need to use the restroom in train stations, you might also need some small change to enter.
Don’t Be Loud
Vienna is really quiet for a large city. You can sit in a cafe and people have quiet conversations, they don’t get heated or loud enough for everyone to hear their conversation. It’s the same on public transportation and I’ve even seen a group of school kids quietly walking down the street. It’s just not a loud culture, so check your volume when you’re out and about. Otherwise, prepare to be shushed by the locals!
Don’t Block the Flow of Traffic
This is especially true for the escalators at the train stations. If you’re not moving, stand to the right so that others can pass you on the left. This is certainly not unique to Vienna, but they will definitely say something to you if you are blocking their way. Remember, this is a city where people are trying to get to work or school so they may be in a hurry even though you are not.
Don’t Be Afraid to Use Public Transportation
You can get plenty of taxis or rideshare cars in Vienna, but the public transportation is very easy to use, and it goes to nearly everywhere you would want to visit. It’s also typically much faster than driving.
When you enter the train station and purchase your ticket, don’t forget that you have to validate that ticket before you get on the train. The trains in Vienna are kind of on the honor system, but there are occasionally people checking tickets. If you want to avoid a fine and embarrassment, buy a ticket and get it validated.
Don’t Assume Your “Wochenticket” Lasts a Week
Yes, Wochenticket means week ticket, but there are different variations of the ticket. Most are valid Monday through Sunday, so if you buy this ticket on a Thursday, it’s only good for four days. There are flexible start date tickets, but they are not the default. Make sure you do some research ahead of time to find the ticket that makes the most sense for you.
Don’t Walk on the Grass
Vienna has beautiful gardens and parks, with lots of green open space. Before you go hang out on the grass, look for signs because many parks don’t want you on the grass. Vienna has a very rule-following culture, and you will stand out if you are breaking the rules.
Don’t Wait in Line for Sacher Torte
Vienna is famous for desserts, especially the Sacher Torte which was invented at Hotel Sacher. Most days, you’ll find a line outside the hotel as everyone wants to taste the famous cake. However, you don’t need to wait in line. Just go around the corner to the Mozart Cafe and they serve the same cake, without the crowds.
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Don’t Forget to Look Beyond the Exhibits at Vienna Museums
Vienna has some fantastic museums, but even more impressive than what’s inside are the buildings they are housed in. The architecture in Vienna is spectacular, so make sure you look around the interior and exterior of some of these museums.
Don’t Miss These Top Sights in Vienna
There are a lot of fun things to do in Vienna. One of the best things to do in Vienna is to walk around and just admire the architecture and the gardens and parks, followed by a cafe culture experience. Other things to see in Vienna include:
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a symbol of Vienna and it’s beautiful both inside and out. But what many people don’t know is that you can also book a tour of the catacombs at the cathedral. If you’ve toured the catacombs in Paris or Rome, you won’t be shocked, but be prepared to see human bones.
- Schonbrunn Palace is another spot you should not miss when visiting Vienna. It was the summer residence of the Hapsburgs and it is quite beautiful, with gorgeous gardens and even a small zoo on the property. When I last visited Vienna, there were several different tour options of varying lengths. The longest one was a bit too long, so I don’t recommend that one unless you are super into the Hapsburg dynasty.
- Hofburg is the city residence of the Hapsburgs, and that is also worth visiting. You can tour the apartments and learn more about Sisi, who was an important Empress at the time.
- Karl’s Church is one of Mark’s favorite attractions in Vienna. It looks like it is straight out of the Vatican. The interior is amazing and well worth the entrance fee.
- For a break from the historic and cultural attractions in Vienna, head to Prater, the amusement park. The Ferris Wheel is an icon of the city!
- Belvedere Palace is a palace and an art museum. It contains 800 years of art, including a vast collection of work from Gustav Klimt, including The Kiss.
- The Naschmarkt is another fun Vienna attraction. This open-air market is perfect for sampling sausages, cheeses, bread, and much more! If you’re in Vienna on a budget, eating at the Naschmarkt stalls is a great way to save money!
- For a fun day trip from Vienna, check out the Heuriger, which are taverns at the wine cellars and vineyards. These are best visited in the fall when they are harvesting and producing new wines.
- If you are looking for more museums in Vienna, head to the Museum Quarter, which has dozens of museums to explore.
Don’t Give to Beggars
You will see some beggars on the streets, near popular Vienna attractions. Austria actually has a very good social system in place to take care of these people, so many times it is just a scam to tug at your heartstrings. They’re not generally aggressive, so just keep walking.
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Vienna truly has something for everyone, whether you prefer food, culture or history. Mark studied and taught in Vienna, so it’s a special place to return to again and again. Don’t let these don’ts keep you from planning a trip to Vienna. Want more tips for traveling in Central Europe?