Vienna walking route: Belvedere to Schönbrunn Palace

Explore Vienna's imperial heritage along this 105.4 km route featuring the city's most iconic palaces and cultural landmarks. Visit Belvedere Palace with its Austrian art collection, Schönbrunn Palace with its 1,441 rooms, and the historic Hofburg Palace that served as the Habsburg winter residence for over 600 years.

Distance
105.4 km
Mode
route
Start
Belvedere Palace
End
Burg Kreuzenstein
Stops
17
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Belvedere Palace — Baroque palace featuring Austria's finest art collection and elegant gardens, once residence of Habsburg nobility in central Vienna.
  2. Schonbrunn Palace
  3. Parter Amusement Park — Historic amusement park featuring the iconic Ferris wheel and classic rides offering panoramic city views and nostalgic entertainment since 1897.
  4. Hofburg Palace — Historic Gothic-Renaissance imperial winter residence of the Habsburg dynasty for over 600 years, featuring imperial apartments and museums.
  5. St Stephens Cathedral — Gothic masterpiece with distinctive tiled roof and soaring spire dominating Vienna's skyline, serving as the city's spiritual and architectural heart.
  6. Horse Carriage — Traditional fiaker rides through historic streets provide leisurely exploration of Vienna's elegant squares, palaces, and Old Town charm.
  7. Schoenbrunn Zoo — World's oldest continuously operating zoo housing over 500 animal species in naturalistic habitats within Schönbrunn Palace grounds.
  8. Maria Theresia Quartier — Cultural district housing major museums displaying art, natural history, and ethnography within grand buildings surrounding a central plaza.
  9. Kunsthistorisches Museum — Vienna's premier art history museum displaying famous paintings and historical artworks in the Maria Theresa cultural district.
  10. Natural History Museum — Major museum in the Maria Theresa Quarter presenting natural science exhibits and geological collections with €18 admission.
  11. Vienna Subway — Efficient five-line rapid transit system connecting major attractions, residences, and stations throughout the metropolitan area.
  12. Central Station — Modern transport hub serving international and domestic trains with contemporary architecture replacing the historic 1960s railway facility.
  13. Opera House
  14. Ride Bike — Extensive cycling network along riverside paths and city streets enables eco-friendly exploration of Vienna's neighborhoods and scenic surroundings.
  15. Big Bus Tour — Open-top bus circuit with hop-on-hop-off service covering major landmarks, museums, and attractions with multilingual commentary throughout the city.
  16. Danube River — Europe's second-longest river flowing through Vienna offers scenic boat cruises, riverside parks, and recreational pathways connecting Austria's communities.
  17. Burg Kreuzenstein — Medieval castle on Vienna's outskirts surrounded by forest, offering scenic views and historic architecture near the city.

Useful for your trip

Timing
Plan your trip for 2-3 days to see the main attractions. You can do 24-48 hours for a first visit, but 72 hours allows better use of the city pass.
Transport
Get a Vienna subway pass for around €17 for a week, or start with a single ticket to test efficiency. Subway is one of the best ways to get around.
Transport
Vienna is very bike-friendly. Use the Nextbike or Monodrad app—the first hour can be free if you sign up, with additional bonuses offered.
Food
Try Wiener schnitzel (breaded veal or chicken), Vienna sausages (Frankfurter worst), apple strudel, and chocolate cake with apricot jam—all local specialties.
Tip
Get the Vienna Pass (around €150 for 3 days) for access to multiple museums, palaces, and attractions including the Albertina.
Transport
Book train tickets online before arriving at Central Station to avoid long lines. The station is very crowded and gets busy.
Food
Horse and carriage rides in the old town cost €60 for 20 minutes or €105 for 40 minutes. Romantic option for couples.
Tip
Tipping is common: 5-10% in restaurants; some also tip in cafes and taxis. Expect Western Europe prices—Vienna is not cheap.
Where to stay
Stay near Stephansplatz if possible—it's the heart of the city with easy walking access to most attractions and close to Ubahn station.
Tip
Vienna currency is the Euro, part of Schengen area so no immigration needed. Easy connections to Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, and Salzburg.
Timing
Visit Belvedere Palace in the evening around sunset. Stephansplatz gets very crowded in the evening—best for nightlife atmosphere.
Tip
Language is Austrian German dialect. Coffee culture is serious business here; dessert and pastry culture is also very important.

Video on this route

Best Things To Do in Vienna Austria 2026 4K

More routes nearby

Map