7 Destinations for Day Trips from Vienna

By Alice Ross | EUROPE

Nov 23
day trips from vienna

The capital of Austria, Vienna, which is also the biggest city in the country, deserves to be in any traveler’s itinerary. Vienna is the country’s political and cultural center and has a clear mark of its imperial history. Also a designated UNESCO world heritage site, this city is one of Europe’s most historic cities, so seeing heritage places and monuments would be easy. Aside from being a hotspot for those who are interested in cultural trips, Vienna is a perfect starting point for your Eurotrip. Here are our suggested day trips from Vienna you should consider if you want to make the most of your trip

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Day Tips Destinations from Vienna

1. Bratislava

Distance 78.8 km

Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava is a captivating city with a very interesting history. And due to the close proximity of Bratislava from Vienna, taking a day trip between two cities would be a great idea.

Bratislava

The Old Town of Bratislava is full of attractive pastel colored constructions, remarkable statues, cobbled roads, as well as sidewalk restaurants. While this city might not be as sophisticated as Vienna, it will surely entice you with its unique charm.

Located on top of a hill which overlooks the Danube, you will be impressed with the beauty of Bratislava Castle. It is wall worthy to have a walk from the town’s historical center to enjoy the views sights over Bratislava. Due to its location close to the Danube River, Bratislava has become a famous stop for river cruises. On top of this, you can find catamaran services that take passengers from Bratislava and Vienna and vice versa.

2. Danube Valley

Distance 91.3 km

Known as the most beautiful stretch of Austria’s Danube River, the area covers by Krems to Melk is considered as the Wachau Valley or Danube Valley and is a preferred day trip destination from Vienna.

Danube Valley

While the towns of Durnstein and Krems are beautiful riverside areas to visit, most tourists are more interested to visit the town of Melk for its spectacular abbey perched located in the Danube.

You may want to spend at least a couple of hours to go to Stift Abbey and the gardens, and then explore the town to have some snack and drink at any many restaurants and cafes in the area. You will have wonderful sights of the Abbey from below as well.

3. Burgenland

Distance: 157.5 km

Known as Austria’s wine paradise, Burgenland is another place to be if you’re looking for day trips from Vienna. Burgenland is located in the southeastern part of Vienna and still not very popular with many tourists.

Burgenland

If you like the idea of riding a bicycle, then there’s a nice bike path next to the lake for you. A lot of local wineries take advantage of the mild climate on the lake to nurture some of Europe’s premium wines.

There are companies that offer a winery tour located in the. Esterhazy Palace located in Eisenstadt, Burgenland’s capital, is a remarkable countryside retreat that you can visit during your trip. Rust village is charming and a utopia for storks looking to nest their eggs. 

4. Budapest

Distance: 243.0 km

Budapest is another of popular day trip destinations from Vienna. Well-known for the largest Parliament building and wonderful Turkish baths, Budapest is a combination of its Germanic, Habsburg, Jewish, and Balkan tradition.

Budapest

Most people who visit Budapest for a day trip go straight to its popular attractions such as Chain Bridge, Castle Hill, Opera House, and Fisherman’s Square.

If you’d rather to simply submerge yourself in the city’s rich culture during your short stay, you could easily spend your time soaking yourself in a thermal bath or drinking coffee at any of numerous Viennese cafes.

5. Salzburg

Distance: 295.2 km

Another beautiful city in Europe to go if your starting point is Vienna is the city of Salzburg. Vienna and Salzburg have that unspoken competition of which Austrian city is better. It’s easy to see why once you get there.

Salzburg

This small town is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is perfect for strolling, shopping, eating, and sightseeing. Salzburg is accessible via train or a car, but you could also join one of many organized tours. Taking the trip will make you feel like you’re not wasting anything because of the beautiful landscapes on the way.

For a city of this size, there is a lot of things see, which includes the medieval fortress of Hohensalzburg, the gorgeous Mirabell, as well as the birthplace of Mozart.

6. Prague

Distance: 332.6 km

Prague

While Prague is not the closest destination to go if you’re looking for a day trip from Vienna, it’s still worth a place in your itinerary. With that being said, you will have to be very organized in order for you to make the best out of your time. Keep in mind that getting on the wrong part of the town may cost you a lot of your time.

Furthermore, see to it that you choose a better route going to Prague. Prague is a popular tourist destination, no wonder why many people go there. With limited time to spend in Prague, you will want to experience the best of it. 

7. Ljubljana

Distance: 383.6 km

Ljubljana is probably the furthest you can go when planning a day trip from Vienna. But while it may take a few hours for you to reach it, it’s worth adding to your itinerary. This Slovenian city has a population of no more than 300,000 and is small enough to be explored in just day.

Ljubljana

Some of the must-see destinations include Triple Bridge, Ljubljana Castle, as well as the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation but you may want to explore the Old Town as well.

The bar and café scene in Ljubljana is pretty huge and there are many inviting destinations where you can just sit and enjoy while making the most of your trip.

Vienna Travel Tips

For everyone visiting Vienna following this tip would make their trip easier. Read this Vienna travel tips and follow them to make your experience more fun and memorable.

vienna
  • If you are a budget traveler and want to save on accommodation, then you may want to plan your travel in the month of July to September. During this time of the year, there are special campuses known as Studentenheim which are opened. Here you are able to get accommodations that are not only affordable but also comfortable.
  • If you are looking for the best exchange rate, then you must go to the bank. However, you have to keep in mind that on Thursdays, most banks close an hour earlier than their usual time.
  • It is normal for customers to leave a tip in restaurants. It’s common to leave 5% to 10% of the total bill as a tip. It’s not necessary to leave tips in cafes. But you can always leave a tip for hotel staff and taxi drivers.
  • Most of the shops and shopping areas operate until 6 PM. On the other hand, shops that are located close to railway stations operate until 11:00 PM.
  • Taxis are pretty affordable in Vienna. However, it wouldn’t be easy to find them. The best way to do it is to ask your hotel to call a taxi service for you.
  • Vienna has a well-developed public transport system is. Buses and trams start operating very early in the morning until midnight. When the midnight comes, there are special night buses you can catch on the city’s main street. 
  • You can easily rent a car Vienna as long as you have an international driver’s license. It’s also necessary for you to be at least 21 years old, and for other brands of cars, it is 23 years old.
vienna

Hopefully, this article has been a helpful guide if you are looking for day trips to Vienna. As you can see, Vienna could be a perfect home base for tourists looking for a launch point to explore some of the best of Europe. Easily accessible by train or car, having a day trip to these beautiful landmarks are truly worth it.

If you liked this article, make sure to share it with your friends on social media. On the other hand, if you have other questions regarding this topic, don’t hesitate to ask us by leaving comments below!

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Alice Ross, a long-term traveler who left the corporate world to travel the world. I chose to live life on my own phase and live day by day while immersing myself in new experiences, new knowledge, and new people in a different walk of life I met along the way.

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