
Popular Picks
Browse popular sites among travelers.

Rathaus

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Schönbrunn Palace

Museum Quarter

Danube Tower

Vienna Woods
Favorite Moment
Check out Guidester’s favorite Vienna experience.
Michael Jackson at the Travel Shack in Vienna
Vienna is known round the world for being a capital of culture and beauty, but the city also has a uniquely fun side that you’ll find in bars, eateries, strange museums, unique retail stores, and the general disposition of the Viennese people. One of the things I always loved about Vienna, and Austria in general, is its people. Many people think Austria is simply an extension of Germany, but if you spend any real time here you’ll quickly come to learn that while the language may be similar, the quirks and cultural norms are quite different.
The way I would perhaps describe a typical Austrian is a more loose, laid back, and goofy version of what you might see in the ‘traditional German’. Austrians are not as serious as you might find your average German to be, but they still maintain a rigorous work ethic while maintaining a healthy dose of humor in their daily lives. That is not to say Germans don’t have a sense of humor, but I’ve just found as soon as you cross the border into Austria the mood changes and you can more easily joke around with strangers.



Read More
This is nowhere more apparent than the Travel Shack in Vienna. An international backpacking bar in Vienna’s city center, this place sees travelers from every corner of the globe mixing with the locals to share ideas and good times. My local Austrian friend is how discovered this local place, and I’m so glad that I did. As amazing as the city of Vienna may be, the experience was made complete by a night at the Travel Shack. It’s primary appeal is its laid back and tolerant atmosphere which attracts visitors from all over the world. On any given night there might be two or three dozen different nationalities represented here all drinking, having fun, and sharing each other’s culture. Another wonderful draw to the Track Shack is the myriad of randomness that you find as soon you walk in. Drinking games imported from all over the world, gadgets that you’ve never seen before, flags from every country hanging on the wall, and random décor that brings so much character to the place. One such unique drinking game is trying to hammer a nail into a stump with one arm tied behind your back…using the small back end of the hammer. Yes, people are actually playing with hammer and nails while drinking at a public bar. And quite honestly that’s just the tip of iceberg, but we can’t get into all the details here. You will have to experience for yourself! It was on my second visit to the Travel Shack that this particular story took place. I was with a couple of European buddies and my local Austrian friend Dominick that first brought me to the bar. There we were having a few drinks, meeting people from all over the world, and partaking in some of the unique games. We were there a couple hours at this point and it was maybe midnight when the overhead music started playing loudly. Everyone in the bar started to look around confused at each other expecting this to mean last call or something. It wasn’t. The bar tenders didn’t skip a beat and pretending as if nothing was happening just kept pouring drinks and serving customers. A few more minutes went by and we just shrugged our shoulders and thought nothing of it. Maybe they wanted to simply take a break from the roar of the crowd for a bit. And that’s when it happened. The entire wall to the left of the bar started to slowly ascend into the ceiling. My friends and I looked at each other with a strange expression as did literally everyone in the bar. What the heck was happening here? Out from the bottom came some kind of smoke as the wall ascended up into the ceiling. The wall reached the top and all that we could see was a thick layer of fog. And then it hit. Michael’s Jackson’s Thriller was slowly coming through the fog. At first no one did anything. We looked at each other and then slowly started moving toward the fog and music. Then more people followed until we found ourselves in a mysterious room covered with fog to the point you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face with Thriller playing overhead. Slowly the fog started to dissipate and the room came into focus. We were in a completely different section of the bar that was hidden from the street that was like a cross between a club, a bar, and someone’s garage. The entire moment from beginning to end was just hilarious. Seeing everyone’s reaction as the wall literally just starts to ascend into the ceiling out of nowhere was priceless. How often have you been in a bar when that happened? I’d have to say this was my first. And then watching everyone slowly start moving into the fog like a herd of zombies was like something out of a music video. And then to cap it off Thriller came on to complete the experience. And the bar staff played it completely cool as if nothing was happening. Many, many more things happened that night but I’ll keep you guessing as to what those could be.

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!

Jack Baumann
Hi, my name is Jack Baumann, and I have a passion for helping independent travelers unlock the wonders of Europe. I founded Guidester - we build personal mobile guidebooks sourced from local experts - so travelers could cut through the noise and dive deeper into the wonders of Europe. I hope you enjoy my stories and tips!
Play Around
Explore Vienna with interactive maps.
Explore the inside of Schönbrunn Palace
Walk the Museum Quarter
Video Tours
Discover Vienna through virtual walks and tours.
Start Planning
Begin planning your next adventure to Vienna.
Local Tips
Discover Vienna’s imperial palaces, cultural art galleries, and fascinating museums with the Vienna PASS. With over 60 top attractions to visit for free you can create your own sightseeing adventure. This is a great way to get to know the city upon arrival.
Keep in mind that the pass is only valid for 1, 2, 3 or 6 consecutive days after activation at one of the attractions included in the Vienna PASS.
Best views of the city can be found in two locations – at the top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral or Kahlenberg hill in Vienna Woods.
The 4 main forms of transport are: U-Bahn (subway), Schnellbahn or S-Bahn (local train), Straßenbahn (tram), and the Bus.
Tip: All forms of public transport fall under the same organization (WienerLinien), so the tickets you buy are independent of your mode of travel.
Vienna works on an honesty system. There are no ticket barriers at stations and no formal ticket checks on trains, trams, and buses. You just hop on and off unchallenged.
This doesn't mean public transport is free though - you do still need to buy a ticket.
Do not confuse Austrians with Germans. Many people think Austria is simply an extension of Germany but if you spend any real time here you’ll quickly come to learn that while the language may be similar, the quirks and cultural norms are quite different.
It is common for people to pay their bills separately. So, when bringing you the bill, the waiters will ask everybody at the table how you would like to pay: Zusammen? (Together; pronounced susamen) or Getrennt? (Separately; pronounced getrenn). If you say Zusammen that usually means you want to pay the whole bill and are treating the rest of the group.
Tips usually amount to about 10% of the bill. Instead of leaving the tip on the table tell the waiter when paying how much you would like to add as a tip.
Where To Stay
If you want to be close to of the major sites the 1st district is ideal. It’s also a good place to stay if you have limited time in Vienna. This entire area of Innere Stadt (literally means “inner city”) is the original Old Town of Vienna and a declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The 7th district is a good option for those seeking to get to know the alternative side of Vienna. Here you’ll find lots of unique galleries, bars and cafés.
Guidester Favorites

Hofburg Imperial Palace
For centuries the Vienna Hofburg was the center of the Habsburg empire. Today, the palace houses three museums which afford historically authentic insights into the traditions and everyday life of the imperial court. Don’t miss out on the National Library, the Imperial Treasury, or the expansive Volksgarten (People’s Garden).

St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and a major symbol of the city. Construction commenced in the 12th century and today it is the city’s most important religious building. Make sure to catch the underground catacombs and don’t miss climbing either the north or south towers for excellent views. Both towers have different perspectives and worth seeing if time permits.
Local Eats

Viennese cuisine

Vienna is known for...

Know your coffee
Budapest By Interest
This is just a small taste of what Rome has to offer. For a full and complete personal guide see ‘Get your Guidester guide’ below.
- Art & History
- Foodie
- Outdoorsy

Borghese Gallery
This building is one of Rome’s renowned museums because of the vast number of Bernini statutes it houses; it is the biggest collection in the world. It is situated in the grounds of Villa Borghese and was first constructed in the 17th century by Cardinal Borghese.
Tip: Only those with a pre-paid admissions ticket will be let in. You can find the booking/ticket office in the basement.

Piazza del Popolo
Literally meaning ‘People’s Square’, this is one of the most famous squares in Rome. In addition to an Egyptian obelisk of Ramses II, Piazza del Popolo is famed for its twin churches: Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto.
Tip: Another must see is the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, famous for its Renaissance art by some of the greatest artists ever to work in Rome: Pinturicchio, Raphael, Carracci, Caravaggio, and Bernini.

Baths of Caracalla
These ancient baths were opened in the 3rd century as a bathing complex that spread over 11 hectares. They were named after Emperor Caracalla and at one point could hold 1,600 guests bathing inside. The building used to be highly decorated with decorative mosaics and rich bricks, many of which are displayed within.

Day Trip to Tivoli
These ancient baths were opened in the 3rd century as a bathing complex that spread over 11 hectares. They were named after Emperor Caracalla and at one point could hold 1,600 guests bathing inside. The building used to be highly decorated with decorative mosaics and rich bricks, many of which are displayed within.

Horseback Ride Ancient Rome
If you love horses, nature and history, a walk on horseback along the spectacular Appian Way and surrounding Park will be an experience you will never forget.
With expert guides and horsemen, Sandro Bernardini and Andrea, you will see archaeological treasures, some of which would be difficult to reach except on horseback. 1hr, 2hr, 3hr riding tours.

Ziplining
Situated 730m above sea level in the small medieval town of Rocca Massima, the world’s fastest and longest zip line course is only an hour’s drive from central Rome. Travelling from sweeps from the Lazio coast in the Alban hills to the mountains of Abruzzo, the route passes through vast olive groves and karst areas gliding up the slopes of Monte S. Angelo Cradle of Falco Pellegrino.