7 Unusual Things To Do in Vienna

Share This Article

Once the powerhouse of the Habsburg Empire, which at it’s height controlled vast swathes of Europe, Vienna is grand on a scale like no other. Its regal palaces, Gothic municipal buildings and Baroque churches have stood the test of time.

Yet despite its almost intimidating power, Vienna is relaxed. There’s never not enough time to stop for coffee. And coffee, in Vienna, is about so much more than getting a caffeine fix. Viennese coffee house culture is so much a part of the city that it’s UNESCO have it listed as part of Austria’s intangible cultural heritage.

Over the years, the Austrian capital has given us many famous names. Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler and Marie Antoinette all hail from the city. More recently, Vienna has lent its name to the only Ultravox song most people have heard of, and the internet meme of a counter at Vienna Airport to assist wayward travelers who confused Austria with Australia. I’d love the latter to be true.

Assuming you don’t mistakenly end up in Sydney, there’s more to do in Vienna than you can cram into any city break. If you’ve got any time left over once you’ve soaked up the architecture, explored the palaces and ticked off the museums, these are some of the more unusual things to do in Vienna.

1. Discover Why Vienna is “the City of Music”

Of all the famous names from the world of music associated with Vienna, only Schubert was born in the city. Beethoven and Mozart made Vienna their adoptive home. It was here they spent the pinnacles of their careers.

To learn more about their influence of Vienna, and its on them, head to the House of Music. Once darkness falls, pay a visit to Musikverein. Vienna’s grandest concert hall opened its doors in 1870. Ever since, it has been one of the most iconic classical music venues in the world.

Topping our list of unusual things to do in Vienna is the chance to catch a concert for yourself. At least three nights per week, Musikverein hosts a Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Mozart evening. Be sure to book tickets in advance; they do sell out.

As an alternative, another of the great unusual things to do in Vienna is to attend a Johann Strauss dinner show at the Prater. You’ll be treated to ballet, sopranos and a 20-piece orchestra, all accompanied by a four-course meal.

2. Make Time for Coffee

Viennese coffee house culture is ingrained upon Austrian life. More an institution that anyone can join than the simple act of drinking your morning cappuccino, coffee house culture has been a part of Vienna for almost 400 years.

It’s thought that Polish soldiers were behind the birth of Viennese coffee houses. After liberating Vienna from the Ottoman army in 1683, soldiers found several bags of coffee beans. King Jan III Sobieski of Poland granted the bags to Jerzy Kulczycki, one of his army officers, and he in turned opened Vienna’s first coffee house.

Back then, coffee was rarely drunk in Europe. In fact, it was relatively new to the Ottoman soldiers who’d left the bags behind; coffee only became popular across the Islamic world around 100 years earlier. Fast forward four centuries, and coffee is everywhere. With that, you may well be wondering why the very usual act of getting a coffee appears on our list of unusual things to do in Vienna.

The reality is, Viennese coffee houses are no Starbucks. These are grand affairs where the atmosphere is more important than even the coffee. Lavishly decorated with smarty dressed wait staff, you’ll often find a live pianist playing in the corner. Aside from coffee, expect stunning cakes along with a number of classic Viennese dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

3. Sausages and Schnitzels

Two dishes we often associate more with Germany than Austria, there’s a reason Weiner and Weiner schnitzel have Weiner in their name. If you’ve ever wondered why they share a name, it’s because Weiner is the German word for Viennese.

Weiner sausages, literally Vienna sausages, feature a mix of beef and pork, smoked and often sold in tins. They’re very similar to classic American hot dogs, although the casing tends to be a little thinner. Weiner schnitzel, on the other hand, is a pork cutlet served breaded and deep fried. You’ll often find them served with spaetzle in Germany in Eastern Europe, but in Vienna, fried potatoes or potato salad tend to accompany schnitzel.

Naturally, sampling a Weiner and schnitzel has to be on your Vienna to-do list. Grab a sausage at one of the many stalls and carts; Bitzinger Wursteland, near the State Opera, is my go-to. If one sausage isn’t enough, take a tasting tour of the best sausage stands in Vienna.

Weiner schnitzel is popular for dinner and most authentic Austrian restaurants feature it on their menu. Griechenbeisl, Vienna’s oldest restaurant, do a schnitzel you won’t forget in a hurry. They’ve been dishing up Viennese classics since 1447.

Dining in a 13th century restaurant has to be one of the most unusual things to do in Vienna. But for something even more unusual, try your hand at making your own. Along with schnitzel, you’ll prepare a classic Austrian strudel for dessert.

4. Take a Day Trip to Two Eastern European Countries

One of the reasons the Habsburg Empire had such a stronghold over Europe was Vienna’s central location. Take a look at a map of Europe and you’ll notice that Vienna is almost slap bang in the middle. In modern Austria, Vienna sits within 75km of its borders with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

Just as this was extremely handy for Habsburg rulers, it’s even better news for us as travelers. To clarify, I’m not suggesting launching an invasion, but you can use the opportunity to tick off a couple of new countries.

Head first for Bratislava. Slovakia’s medieval capital is one of the more off-the-radar Eastern European cities. Spend a while wandering through the impressive Gothic old town, before scaling the hill to the castle to admire the city spread out below.

Next, make your way south, crossing the Hungarian border en-route to Budapest. A city of two halves, divided nicely by the Danube river, Budapest was formed by the merger of Buda and Pest. With just an afternoon to explore, I suggest focusing your efforts on Buda, the historic core of the city. If you have any time left over after exploring the castle and the cave network beneath it, take the chance to relax at one of Budapest’s thermal hot springs.

Getting to Bratislava and Budapest

To visit both Bratislava and Budapest on a day trip whilst working through all the other unusual things to do in Vienna, the best way to travel is to join a tour. This full day guided tour lasts 12 hours and departs Vienna every morning.

If you prefer to fly solo, the easiest option is to rent a car. Alternatively, take a train to Bratislava (one hour), train or bus to Budapest (two-and-a-half hours) and the train back to Vienna (two hours).

5. Hear Tales of Scandal with a Slice of Cake

Like any great powerhouse, Viennese history isn’t without its fair share of skeletons in the closet. In fact, Vienna is often regarded as the “spy capital of the world”. If you’re a James Bond fan, you’ll no doubt remember the closing scene of The Living Daylights which was filmed at Schonbrunn Palace.

Head to Café Landtmann, a Viennese coffee house even more lavish than Café Central, to learn more about the shady side of Vienna’s past. Every day, except Mondays, they offer a Spies and Scandals experience where tales are accompanied by plenty of helpings of their homemade cakes and pastries. Their chocolate eclairs are divine, but don’t leave without sampling the Sacher torte.

6. Learn to Make Kaiserschmarrn

You can be excused for never having heard of Kaiserschmarrn. Whereas most famous Viennese dishes have spread outside of Austria, it’s very rare to come across this classic dessert anywhere else. In fact, the first time I came across it was on an Austrian Airlines flight to Amman. It was absolutely delicious, but I think the flight attendant thought I was a bit strange the third time I asked what on earth it was.

Kaiserschmarrn translates from German as “Emperor’s mess”, having got its name after becoming a favorite of Franz Josef I. It consists of small pieces of light, fluffy sweet pancake, sometimes filled with raisins, served warm with a fruit compote.

One of the more unusual things to do in Vienna, that you won’t find outside of Austria, is the chance to make your own. As well as whipping up Kaiserschmarrn from scratch, you’ll have the opportunity to taste it with a whole variety of toppings and sauces.

7. Explore the Austrian Alps

They are few places in the world you’ll be provided with the opportunity to take a day trip to somewhere as beautiful as the Austrian Alps. Taking a trip to the picture-postcard village of Hallstatt certainly makes the cut as one of the top unusual things to do in Vienna.

Part of a Cultural Landscape designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hallstatt begin life as a salt mining community. That salt mine remains today, making it the oldest operational salt mine in the world.

The best way to experience the beauty of Hallstatt in one day is to join a group tour. This full day tour includes a stop at Schloss Ort castle, with the chance to take a boat ride on Hallstatter See as well as enjoy a traditional Alpine lunch. Alternatively, it is possible to take a train (3 hours).

---

Read more of our best insights from around the world

• 
  7 Unusual Things To Do in Vienna
• 
  7 Unusual Things To Do In Seoul Off The Beaten Track: Spas, Speakeasies & Street Art
• 
  7 Best Beaches In Unawatuna For Swimming, Snorkeling & Surfing
• 
  Insider Guide to the Best Area To Stay in Rome in 2026: Centro Storico and Beyond
• 
  Check Out These 6 Unusual Things To Do in San Diego
• 
  8 Best Restaurants In Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka: Local Cuisine to Trendy Vegan