Vienna: How to see the imperial city and save money
Free Vienna

Vienna: How to see the imperial city and save money

In 2018, Vienna was recognized as the most comfortable city to live in. This comfort comes at a price: Vienna is ahead of Moscow in the list of the most expensive cities. Traveling to Vienna is not a chip trip, but you can save money. And even see Vienna for free — it’s possible if you know the passwords and appearances. Save.
Free Vienna sights on the map

Excursions from Original Vienna Tours

To get to know Vienna, simply sign up for a tour from Original Vienna Tours — a two-hour walking tour of the city, during which you will see the main sights of the capital and learn about its history from its founding to the present day. The tour is conducted in English.

  • Time of the event: every day from 11:00.
  • The tour itself is free, but you need to pre-book a ticket on the website. Tips for the guide are welcome.

Prater Park

Prater is one of the oldest places in Vienna, mentioned by Johann von Goethe and once an imperial hunting ground. Of course, much has changed since then, and the Prater has become an amusement park for all residents and visitors to the capital, where they can enjoy nature, sports and general cultural relaxation. In the northern part of the Prater is an amusement park with a Ferris wheel dating back to the late 19th century.

  • Hours of operation: 12:00 — 20:00, all year round.
  • Admission is free, rides are paid.
  • Website
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It’s just Halloween in Prater Park

Money Museum at the National Bank of Austria

In the basement of the Austrian National Bank is the Money Museum, which houses coins and banknotes from all over the world, from the most ancient to the modern. One of the most impressive exhibits is a huge 100,000 euro coin weighing 31 kilograms.

  • Working hours: Tues. — Wed. 9:30 — 15:30; read. 9:30 — 17:30; pt. 9:30 — 13:30.
  • Admission is free.
  • Website

MUSA Gallery

MUSA Gallery is a relatively small contemporary art museum in the center of the city.

  • Working hours: Tues. — th., 10:00 — 18:00.
  • Admission is free.
  • Website

St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom)

Many Catholic cathedrals have long ceased to be places of purely religious importance, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, the national symbol of the Austrian capital, is one of them. Nowadays, music concerts are often organized here, and tours of the cathedral and catacombs are organized.

  • Opening hours: Mon — Sat: 06:00 — 22:00; Sun: 07:00 — 22:00.
  • Admission is free, tours are paid.
  • Website
Stephansdom, interior of the cathedral
Stephansdom, interior of the cathedral

Music Film Festival

Every year, a summer film festival takes place in the square in front of Vienna’s City Hall. Good music and world cuisine are provided, and at night movies are broadcast on a huge screen.

  • Time: July — August, round the clock. Please check the website for exact dates. Kitchen: 11:00 — 00:00.
  • Admission is free.
  • Website

The ice rink on Town Hall Square

In winter, the same square in front of the Town Hall is used as an ice rink for everyone. Entrance to the rink is free only on the day it opens.

  • Hours of operation: cold season; every day, 10:00 — 22:00.
  • Admission is free on the opening day, on other days 7,5 € per adult, 5,5 € per child.
  • Website
The rink is huge and takes up almost the entire park on the square
The rink is huge and takes up almost the entire park on the square

Free museums in Vienna

Every first Sunday of the month is an open day in Vienna’s museums.

  • The time of the event is the first Sunday of the month.
  • Not all museums in the city take part in the campaign, so check the website of the right museum before visiting.

And there is a particularly generous offer for under-19s: they are admitted free of charge to many museums on any day of the year. Almost all museums offer discounts for students under 26. Before buying a ticket, be sure to check if you are entitled to a discount.

Belvedere and Schönbrunn Gardens (Schönbrunn)

Vienna’s famous palace complexes, Belvedere and Schönbrunn, shine not only for their architecture but also for their gardens. Entrance to the gardens is free, and in Belvedere, young people under 19 are even allowed into the palace.

  • Opening hours: the garden is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
  • Admission is free.
  • Websites: Belvedere and Schoenbrunn
Schoenbrunn Park
Schoenbrunn Park
Belvedere Garden
Belvedere Garden

Vienna City Hall tours

Various events are constantly taking place in the Town Hall Square and the Town Hall itself is well worth a visit. It is free to stroll around the courtyard and explore the foyer. In the foyer there are stands with leaflets and maps of the city in different languages, all free of charge. But the most interesting thing about the Town Hall is the opportunity to get to know it from the inside. For this purpose, there are guided tours in German three times a week. For those who don’t understand a word of German, there are audio guides in other European languages.

  • The time of the event is Mon, Wed, Fri, 1:00 p.m. sharp.
  • Entry is free, no need to register in advance.
  • Website
Vienna City Hall
Vienna City Hall

Free parking lots in Vienna

There is no free parking in the center of Vienna. You can only park with a prepaid ticket. However, you can get a free ticket at your hotel for stopping for up to 15 minutes — for example, to unload your belongings.

Free wi-fi in Vienna

Vienna has a Wi-Fi network open to all residents and visitors. The best internet coverage is in the city’s main squares, West Station, Danube Island and the most crowded places in the city. Map of wifi hotspots in Vienna.

Free drinking water

In Austria, clean drinking water flows from the tap. In cafes, water is served free of charge (with coffee by default, and with other food you can ask for it). Also, drinking fountains are very common in the city — here’s a map. So stock up on an empty bottle and don’t waste money on water at the supermarket.

Free bicycles in Vienna

It’s easier and faster to get to know the city by bicycle. Citybike bike rental in Vienna is even available for tourists: you can register for just €1 (you can do it directly at the terminal in the bike parking lot), then rent a bike and ride it for free for the first hour.

If you wait fifteen minutes after the first hour of rental, the next hour is free again.

  • Opening hours: round the clock.
  • Rates: the first hour is free, the second hour €1, the third hour €2, the fourth hour and onwards €4 each.
  • Website