Are you visiting Vienna and want to get off the beaten track to discover the beauty of the Austrian capital? The city has a lot to offer. So, if you’re looking to escape the crowds, here’s our list of some of the things to do that are off the beaten track. So you can enjoy an exceptional and, above all, unexpected holiday.
Discover Vienna off the beaten track
Vienna is famous for its magnificent buildings. Take a look at our selection of must-see attractions, including Schönbrunn Palace, the Hofburg Palace and St Stephen’s Cathedral. However, if you do a little research, you can discover a little-known part of the city. That’s why we’ve put together our list of activities that are off the beaten track.
1. Visit the University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is one of the most hidden places in Vienna. The old library and the presentation room, with its paintings by Klimt, are particularly popular.
Inside, you’ll also find a number of tributes to Nobel laureates such as Freud, Mendel, Frankl and Doppler. Nearby, you’ll find some of Vienna’s best bars.
Fancy a drink? Check out our selection of the 10 best bars in Vienna, for a good beer or a great cocktail.
2. Enjoy the funfair
Next to Vienna’s Ferris wheel is the Prater. This is the oldest amusement park in the world. A real destination that’s off the beaten track. You’ll find great rides and plenty of sweet shops. The Vienna Prater is just 3 kilometres from Stephansplatz (city centre).
3. The Türkenschanzpark
This park is magnificent. It was built exactly where the Turkish army’s entrenchments were built in 1683. To get there, take trams 40 and 41. There is a superb belvedere, sports facilities, a pond and a beautiful waterfall.
The oriental-style fountain in the middle of the park is a tribute to the friendship between Turkey and Vienna. The fountain is located in the middle of the park.
Discover our selection of the 10 best brunches in Vienna, for a breakfast impossible to forget…
4. Le Kurpark Oberlaa
One of Vienna’s most interesting off-the-beaten-track monuments. Getting there is easy. Take the U1 underground line to Oberlaa. You’ll then get off opposite the Therme Wien (Vienna thermal baths). Unusually, it’s Europe’s largest urban spa. Nearby is the Kurkonditorei Oberlaa, a famous producer of Viennese pastries.
5. The Danube Tower
It is the highest point in Austria. Magnificent, it is located in the heart of the Danube Park. It was built in the 1960s to celebrate the Vienna International Horticultural Show. If you’re feeling brave, you can climb all the steps to get to the top.
You can also choose to take the express lift. You can also have brunch at the Tower Café, around 150 metres up. The restaurant rotates. So you have an exceptional view of the whole city. You’ll also find some of Vienna’s best hotels nearby.
6. Strolling through local markets
Vienna has many district markets. Each district has its own style. Unique, these neighbourhood markets are very clearly on Vienna’s list of off-the-beaten-track activities.
In addition to the famous Naschmarkt, you can visit the Karmelitermarkt (the other side of the canal from the city centre – Schwedenplatz) and the Brunnenmarkt (Josefstädter Straße station).
7. Visit the Austrian Film Museum
The Austrian Film Museum is a very modern museum. Each year, the museum chooses a film director. They then screen some of these works from September to June/July.
An opportunity for visitors to discover more about this personality. It’s well worth a visit and very clearly on our list of off-the-beaten-track activities in Vienna.
8. Have a bite to eat at the Musée du Chocolat
Among the many off-the-beaten-track activities in Vienna, we invite you to discover the Chocolate Museum.The Vienna Chocolate Museum offers free tastings and chocolate-making workshops in the Prater, every day from 10am to 6pm.
There is a second museum, the Schokomuseum. This is associated with the Confiserie Heindl chocolate factory. By choosing this one, you can discover some of the company’s manufacturing secrets and new products.
9. Wander through Vienna's Jewish Museum
Vienna is a city that, for centuries, has been home to a large Jewish population. Vienna’s Jewish Museum tells the story of this people, from the 11th century, right up to the present day.
You can also pay your respects at the Holocaust memorial on Judenplatz. This memorial is built on the site where the medieval synagogue once stood. One of the most moving activities off the beaten track in Vienna.
10. Discover the national library
It’s true that it’s debatable whether the Austrian National Library should be considered an off-the-beaten-track attraction. To be honest, it’s probably one of the best-known libraries in the world. We really appreciate its Baroque style, the many books or even the 30-metre-high central dome. In short, a breathtaking journey through Austrian history.
Vienna off the beaten track : what you need to know
There are countless things to see and do in Vienna. While some are more classic than others, there are some lesser-known parts of the city that deserve a closer look. Through this content specially dedicated to Vienna off the beaten track, we wanted to show you that by getting off the tourist track, you could well discover a whole new version of the Austrian capital. A version that is ultimately unexpected.