You want to go to Vienna, have little money and still want to experience as much as possible? Then our travel tips are just right for you. We have compiled a variety of free and cheap activities in Vienna, with which you can save money on your trip and still experience a lot.
Experience Vienna on a Budget
- Enjoy a city view from the rooftop of the Leopold Museum (Free)
You can enjoy a magnificent view of Vienna’s city center from the observation terrace of the Leopold Museum in the Museumsquartier. The elevator is located to the left of the museum. | Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna - Experience the opera on a budget (Affordable)
If you’re an opera fan or simply want to get a taste of opera but don’t have the money for a regular ticket, you should queue up at the standing room ticket counter of the State Opera 2 hours before the performance starts and secure one of the 435 affordable standing places. - Enjoy summer evenings in Resselpark (Free)
In summer, instead of hanging out in one of the many Viennese outdoor cafes and spending a lot of money on drinks, you can pack some cool beverages in your backpack and enjoy the summer evenings in a cool atmosphere at the pond in Resselpark in front of Karlskirche. | Karlsplatz 10, 1040 Vienna - Experience history at the Central Cemetery (Free)
Experience a piece of Viennese history for free at the Vienna Central Cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in Europe. Here, you can visit the final resting places of composers such as Beethoven and Strauss and immerse yourself in different sections, such as the forest cemetery or the Jewish cemetery. It is not only a place of tranquility but also a reflection of Vienna’s rich culture and history. | Simmeringer Hauptstraße 234, 1110 Vienna - Visit Mozart’s grave in St. Marx (Free)
At the St. Marx Cemetery, you can visit the final resting place of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Although the exact grave location was unknown for a long time after his burial in 1791, today a monument marks the place where the influential composer is said to have found his final resting place. | Leberstraße 6, 1030 Vienna - Visit museums at a lower cost (Affordable)
If you’re a museum fan, the “Bundesmuseencard” might be interesting for you to save money. For €59 per year, you can visit 8 different museums. This means that each museum visit costs only €7.38. You can find more information at bundesmuseencard.at - Visit the Kunsthalle on Thursday evenings (Free)
At the Kunsthalle in the Museumsquartier, you can admire contemporary art free of charge every Thursday evening from 5 pm to 9 pm. kunsthallewien.at | Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna - Visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Free)
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is one of Vienna’s most famous landmarks, and you can visit the rear area completely free of charge. The atmosphere is particularly mystical in the evenings. | stephanskirche.at | Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Vienna - Votive Church (Free)
If you want to see an impressive Neo-Gothic church, you should definitely visit the stunning Votive Church. It is a rare opportunity to admire such a magnificent structure without an entrance fee. | votivkirche.at | Rooseveltplatz, 1090 Vienna - Explore the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace (Free)
The extensive gardens of Schönbrunn Palace can be visited free of charge. From the Gloriette, you have a magnificent view of the palace grounds and Vienna. | Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Vienna - Enjoy a regal atmosphere in the Belvedere Gardens (Free)
Another impressive palace park with a beautiful view and free admission is located at the Belvedere. | Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Vienna - Discover roses in Volksgarten (Free)
In summer, you can discover and smell hundreds of different varieties of roses in Volksgarten, and admission is free. | Volksgarten, 1100 Vienna - University of Vienna Botanical Garden (Free)
Botany enthusiasts will find the University of Vienna Botanical Garden fascinating. Located right next to Belvedere Palace, the garden features over ten thousand native and exotic plant species. Ambitious macro photographers will also find a paradise of motifs here. | botanischergarten.univie.ac.at | Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna - Experience the architecture of Hundertwasser (Free)
The famous Hundertwasser House, an active residential building, can be admired from the outside. You can also admire the waste incineration plant in Spittelau, designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. | Kegelgasse 36-38, 1030 Vienna & Spittelauer Lände 45, 1090 Vienna - Ostlicht Gallery (Free)
The Ostlicht Gallery in the former Ankerbrotfabrik showcases contemporary national and international photography on 400 m². Admission is free. | Absberggasse 27, 1100 Vienna | ostlicht.org - Lainzer Tiergarten (Free)
The Lainzer Tiergarten is a publicly accessible nature reserve in the west of Vienna with an extensive network of hiking trails. The 2,450-hectare forest area is home to red deer, roe deer, mouflons, wild boars, bats, and many other animals. There are also wildlife enclosures, the beautiful Hermesvilla, taverns, and an observation tower. | Lainzer Tor, 1130 Vienna | lainzer-tiergarten.at - Free guided tours (Tips)
Vienna offers a variety of tours in different languages where you can explore the city with a guide in a group and pay only with tips. wien.info provides a good overview of these tours.
Eating & Drinking on a Budget in Vienna
- Breakfast at IKEA near Westbahnhof (Affordable)
For less than €5, you can have breakfast at IKEA on the upper floor near Westbahnhof and drink as much coffee as you want. As a bonus, you’ll also have a nice view of the city. | Europaplatz 1, 1150 Vienna | ikea.com - Wiener Deewan (Affordable)
“All you can eat: Pay what you want” is the motto at Wiener Deewan. This Pakistani restaurant has been based on the fairness principle for years. The buffet offers a good selection of delicious curries. | deewan.at | Liechtensteinstraße 10, 1090 Vienna - Enjoy affordable craft beer at Mel’s (Affordable)
If you enjoy craft beer on tap but don’t want to spend too much, you should visit Mel’s. They offer around 30 varieties of draft beer. You can also choose smaller beer sizes since there are no savings when ordering larger beers. | Mel’s Diner, Wipplingerstraße 9, 1010 Vienna | paddysco.at - Turkish breakfast at Kent (Affordable)
If you have a big breakfast appetite and love Turkish-Levantine cuisine, Kent on Favoritenstraße is the place to go. They offer an extensive all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet for about €15 throughout the week. From Turkish tea to various salads, feta cheese rolls, and delicious cakes, everything is included. | Favoritenstraße 118, 1100 Vienna | kentrestaurant.at
Free & Affordable Events in Vienna
- Donauinselfest (Free)
Every year, the largest music festival with free admission takes place on the Danube towards the end of June. Over 3 million visitors attend the festival during the 3-day event. It features a diverse lineup, including local talents and renowned international music acts. | donauinselfest.at - Film Festival Rathausplatz (Free)
During the summer, the festival on Rathausplatz shows recorded classical music, operas, operettas, ballet, musicals, and jazz for two months. A wide range of gastronomic offerings completes the event. | Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna | filmfestival-rathausplatz.at - Sommernachtskonzert (Free)
Once a year, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performs an evening concert in front of the magnificent backdrop of Schönbrunn Palace. Admission is free, and no tickets are required. wienerphilharmoniker.at - Lange Nacht der Museen (Affordable)
Every year in late autumn, the Long Night of Museums takes place. During this event, you can visit as many participating museums as you want for a reduced price. The only disadvantage is that many people take advantage of this opportunity, and you may have limited time to enjoy each visit. langenacht.orf.at - Popfest at Karlsplatz (Free)
Since 2010, the Popfest has been held in summer around Karlsplatz. Here, you can enjoy a rich program of Austrian pop music. | popfest.at
