One Day in Vienna – Exploring with the Vienna FLEXI Pass
Why Vienna is Perfect for a City Trip
Vienna is like an open-air museum. Baroque palaces, imperial residences, modern museums, and a coffeehouse culture unlike anywhere else. The city offers an incredible variety in a compact space. Whether culture, history, or culinary delights – in Vienna you’ll get it all.
A short trip to Vienna is especially worth it because:
- Many sights are centrally located and easy to reach
- Cuisine and culture go hand in hand
- Vienna is very safe and well-organized
- With the Vienna FLEXI Pass, you can enjoy many top attractions with ease
How to Explore Vienna Best
Vienna FLEXI Pass: Your Advantage for Maximum Freedom
With the Vienna FLEXI Pass, you can plan your stay flexibly and individually. Simply choose 2, 3, 4, or 5 top attractions from a list of over 60 – whatever fits your interests best.
Your advantages at a glance:
- Free admission to 2–5 attractions
- Skip-the-line entry at many sights
- Valid for 60 days after first use (perfect for extended stays)
- HOP ON HOP OFF bus ticket included (for up to 72 hours)
- Ideal for first-time visitors and explorers
Tip: Activate the pass only when entering your first attraction – that way you save more time!
Getting to the City Center
There are several convenient ways to reach the heart of Vienna quickly. From Vienna International Airport, the City Airport Train gets you to Wien Mitte in just 16 minutes. A cheaper but slightly slower option is the Railjet (15–18 minutes to the main station) or the S-Bahn S7 (about 25 minutes). A taxi or transfer service takes about 30 minutes into the city center.
If you arrive by train, it’s particularly easy: from the main station, take the U1 subway line for just five minutes to Stephansplatz – right in the center – or to Schwedenplatz to start with your first program point. A taxi takes around 10–15 minutes.
Arriving at the Westbahnhof? You’re well-connected too: the U3 takes you directly to Stephansplatz in about 7 minutes. Several tram lines also get you into the city center quickly.
Your Perfect Day with the Vienna FLEXI Pass
With the FLEXI Pass, you can shape your Vienna day however you like. Here’s a suggestion on how to make the most of your day with 3 highlights, culinary breaks, and a HOP ON HOP OFF tour.
09:30 AM – Start with the HOP ON HOP OFF Bus (Red Line)
Begin your day comfortably with a sightseeing tour in a double-decker bus. Perfect to get an overview and listen to interesting details via the audio guide. There are 19 languages available, and you can even use your own headphones!
- Departure points: Opernring, Schwedenplatz, or directly in front of the Kunsthistorisches Museum
- Suitable for: all ages (children have their own audio channel in German and English)
- Duration: full loop approx. 1 hour
- Included in the Vienna FLEXI Pass
- GPS live tracking & schedules
Highlights along the route:
- Vienna State Opera
- Karlskirche
- Kunsthistorisches & Naturhistorisches Museum
- Parliament
- University
Tip: You can hop on and off as you please. Use this flexibility for photo stops, or ride a complete loop to save time and exit directly at your next attraction.
10:30 AM – Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
An absolute must for art and culture lovers. The collection is among the most significant in the world. And the building itself is a masterpiece: the grand entrance hall with marble, gilded details, and ceiling paintings is already a work of art before you even see the exhibitions.
- Opening hours: daily 10:00–18:00, Thursdays until 21:00
- Suitable for: adults, teens, art lovers
- Location: Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna
- Prices: included in the FLEXI Pass
- Website
Highlight: Works by Bruegel, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Egyptian treasures
12:00 PM – Lunch at the Museum Café
Located in the museum’s magnificent rotunda, it combines imperial architecture, Viennese coffeehouse culture, and modern gastronomy. PS: Access only if you’re already inside the museum.
- Address: Maria-Theresien-Platz 1, 1010 Vienna
- Prices: main courses from around €19
- Recommendation: Wiener Schnitzel with potato salad or Kaiserschmarrn with plum compote
- Reservation recommended
- Website
1:30 PM – Belvedere Palace & Klimt’s The Kiss
After a short walk (about 35 minutes) through the city center and Belvedere Gardens, you’ll reach the next highlight: Belvedere Palace – a baroque jewel with a world-class art collection. Why it’s worth it: The Kiss is one of the most iconic works of art history – a masterpiece of Viennese Jugendstil. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year and is symbolic of Vienna’s artistic soul.
- Opening hours: daily 10:00–18:00
- Suitable for: adults, art enthusiasts
- Location: Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Vienna
- Prices: included in the FLEXI Pass
- Website
3:30 PM – Coffee Break across the Vienna State Opera
The Palais Todesco spreads across three floors right next to the State Opera: time for a Melange and a slice of Sachertorte in an imperial setting.
- Address: Kärntner Straße 51, 1010 Vienna
- Style: classic Viennese coffeehouse with unique ambience and great view
- Reservation recommended
- Website
Tip:Vegan cakes are also available, and in summer you can sit in the lovely outdoor garden
4:30 PM – Schönbrunn Palace (State Apartment Tour with Audio Guide)
From the State Opera, hop back on the HOP ON HOP OFF bus (yellow line) directly to Schönbrunn (allow around 35 minutes travel).
Important: You’ll receive your free ticket with a fixed entry time at the Group Center/Arrival Center Schönbrunn, right next to the bus stop.
The former summer residence of the Habsburgs – grand, imposing, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The State Apartments Tour takes you through the most important living and ceremonial rooms of Empress Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph, and Empress Sisi. The audio guide provides fascinating background stories and anecdotes – compact and engaging.
- Opening hours: daily from 08:30
- Suitable for: all ages
- Location: Schönbrunner Schlossstraße 47, 1130 Vienna
- Prices: included in the FLEXI Pass
- Website
Tip: Stroll through the baroque gardens or visit the Gloriette. For photography lovers, the Gloriette viewing platform (small additional fee) is perfect for panoramic shots of the palace.
6:30 PM – Dinner at Glacis Beisl
Hidden in the MuseumsQuartier, this charming restaurant with a shaded garden is a true insider tip. The MuseumsQuartier (MQ) combines baroque architecture with modern design, making it unique, lively, and very photogenic. The colorful outdoor lounges are iconic. Especially in summer, MQ is a hotspot with open-air cinema, DJ sets, or simply enjoying a spritzer.
- Address: Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna
- Cuisine: Viennese-modern
- Prices: mains €14–20
- Website
Recommendation: Zwiebelrostbraten or vegan spinach dumplings
8:00 PM – Concert at the Vienna Musikverein
Not tired yet after your Vienna day? Then end the evening with an unforgettable experience in the world-famous Golden Hall of the Musikverein – one of the best concert halls acoustically worldwide. It’s also home to the legendary New Year’s Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic!
- Venue: Musikverein Wien, Bösendorferstraße 12, 1010 Vienna
- Duration: approx. 2 hours
- Suitable for: classical music lovers, cultural travelers, enthusiasts
- Prices: around €60 (discounts available for under 30s and standing tickets)
- Website
Tip: Programs featuring Mozart, Strauss, or Haydn deliver authentic Viennese musical pleasure!
Additional Recommendations for the FLEXI Pass
Depending on the FLEXI Pass option, you could also include:
- Danube Tower with 360° view
- Boat cruise on the Danube Canal
- Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater
- Spanish Riding School (morning training or tour)
With up to 60 attractions to choose from, you can check the full overview here.
If you’d prefer curated program suggestions, click here.
Checklist for Your FLEXI Vienna Day
- Buy your FLEXI Pass online in advance - click here for the shop
- Roughly plan your route (depending on your interests)
- Don’t forget comfortable shoes & camera
- Start early at popular attractions
Conclusion
With the Vienna FLEXI Pass, you can shape your Vienna trip entirely around your interests. Decide what you want to see – without any time pressure. Combined with the HOP ON HOP OFF tour, you’ll explore the city conveniently and efficiently. Culinary highlights and cultural experiences will make your Vienna day truly unforgettable.
Pack your curiosity – Vienna is waiting for you!
Just one more step to your Vienna sightseeing tour