Budget traveler Dreamzh spent 14 days exploring around Austria, visiting countless coffee shops and art galleries, with a total expenditure of 15,000 yuan including airfare. During the trip in Austria, he mainly immersed himself in art museums and cafés.
Dreamzh followed an old town loop route, starting from the iconic St. Stephen's Cathedral (Subway Lines 1 and 3, Stephansplatz), passing through Graben Street (where you’ll find the Plague Column), Kärntner Straße (with Demel Café along the way, a great spot for a break), crossing through the Hofburg Palace (definitely worth going inside—you can also buy the Sisi Ticket for 25.5 euros), and then walking counterclockwise along the Ringstrasse to see the grand Parliament Building and City Hall. From there, you can take the tram back along the Ringstrasse, getting off at the Hofburg Palace entrance, where you’ll find the Museum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History right across the street. Continue walking clockwise along the Ringstrasse, where you’ll see statues of Mozart and Goethe in Burggarten, then head to the Vienna State Opera before returning to St. Stephen's Cathedral via Kärntner Straße.
Another spot recommended by Dreamzh is Schönbrunn Palace, which can be reached via Subway Line 4. If you’ve purchased the Sisi Ticket (25.5 euros, covering the Hofburg Palace, Schönbrunn Grand Tour, and the Imperial Furniture Collection Museum), you can skip the line here. The audio guides for both the palace and Schönbrunn are included with your ticket—be sure to pick one up.
Another more off-the-beaten-path attraction is the whimsical architecture of Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Dreamzh visited two of his works in Vienna: the iconic waste incineration plant (Fernwärme) and the Hundertwasser House. Nearby, there’s also the Kunst Haus Wien (Hundertwasser Museum), which you can visit for 10 euros, or 12 euros including special exhibitions.
If you only have one day for museums in Vienna, the Museum of Art History is the only choice. It houses a wealth of priceless paintings, most notably an extensive collection of Bruegel’s works, as well as masterpieces by Titian, Raphael, Rubens, and many other renowned artists—it would take all day just to appreciate them one by one. In addition, the Imperial Furniture Collection Museum, the Museum of Hunting Weapons and Old Musical Instruments, the Crime Museum, the Clock Museum, the Tram Museum, and the Theater Museum are all must-visits for museum enthusiasts.
Transportation Tips
● It’s recommended to stay at motel one near West Railway Station. While not the cheapest (86 euros), its location is excellent, especially convenient for catching trains or flights, with the airport bus stopping right outside.
● It’s advisable to buy a public transport pass, available for 24, 48, or 72 hours, valid for both subway and tram, but not for the airport. For example, a 24-hour pass costs 6.7 euros, whereas a single ticket alone is 2 euros. If you’re in Vienna for a full calendar week, consider the 15-euro weekly pass, which is similarly priced to the 72-hour pass and offers great value. For a five-day stay, that averages out to just 3 euros per day.
● To get from the airport to the city center, if you’re staying near West Railway Station, the airport bus is the top choice—direct and only 8 euros per person. To save money, take the S7 suburban train to Wien Mitte Central Station, then transfer to the U3 subway line to West Railway Station. For other locations, you can transfer to the subway at the Central Station—very convenient for just 4 euros total, and tickets can be purchased at the airport’s ticket machines.
Café Tips
● In Vienna’s cafés, you simply find a seat, signal the waiter to order, and regulars usually don’t need to look at the menu—the waiter will bring one over if they see you’re a tourist.
● Tipping around 10% is customary in Viennese cafés. For bills under 10 euros, tip at least 1–1.5 euros. For an 18-euro bill, simply hand over a 20-euro note and say “keep the change.”
Café Central: Highly recommended, with classic old-world café charm and a wide variety of food options.
Demel Café: Known for delicious coffee and pastries, with a shop up front and live cake-making on display inside.
Café Imperial: Offers the best service and a pleasant ambiance—definitely worth a visit.