Ways to Avoid Tourist Crowds in Vienna

If you desire to visit Vienna while avoiding the crowds, you have come to the right place! Below are some tips for you to see local attractions without all of the tourists.

 

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

Before you set out to push a pin on tourist magnet areas such as Schönbrunn Palace, make it a point to get there early.  Schönbrunn Palace has started to balance the growing influx of tourists by opening an hour earlier. You can expect to get in as early as 8:00 am year round, which is before busses and metros unload the majority of the day’s visitors. During the summer, the park opens at 6:30 am though, so you can get there extra early before everyone else.

You can also visit galleries if you are timely with your scheduling, such as the Belvedere Palace, which hosts the Austrian National Gallery as well as the largest Gustav Klimt collection in the world. It opens an hour earlier than most local museums, opening its doors at 9:00 am. Start out by visiting the National Gallery and Upper Belvedere then head to the manicured baroque gardens toward the Lower Belvedere, which does not open until 10:00 am.

 

Get a Vienna Pass

If you are a first-time visitor to Vienna, you won’t want to miss out on the top attractions. Grab a Vienna Pass, which will give you easy access to the majority of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. With the Vienna Pass, you will gain entrance into the:

• Giant Ferris Wheel
• Schonbrunn Palace
• Spanish Riding School

With the pass, you can avoid the crowds. Your pass will be valid for an option of 1, 2, 3 or 6 days.

 

 

Tour at Sunset

Evening walks among soft light and cool breezes are a fantastic way to enjoy Vienna. Keep your eyes peeled for some of the countless illuminated statues and sculptures across Vienna, including the baroque angels in Burggarten and the fighting males of Michaeler Fountain – each of which develops an eerie life at dusk. Arriving in the city in the afternoon also offers you a unique perspective of the city.

 

 

 

 

 

Visit Vienna Neighborhoods

Another great way to avoid the crowds is by visiting local neighborhoods, such a Margarethen and Wieden, where you can experience vintage stores and local shops. Be sure to check out the Café, Vollpension, where you can indulge in authentic food made at grandma’s house. Be sure to hit up local neighborhood cult bars, including Motto. Don’t miss the Third Man Museum, a quirky location dedicated to the international film, The Third Man, which was set in Post WWII Vienna. Also, be sure to check out Innenstadt if you are a history buff.