Vienna for guests: our favourite spots away from Schönbrunn

Our Vienna hidden gems are the places we send friends to when they visit us – not the usual three classics.

We live in Vienna, in the 21st district, with a view over the whole city – sunrise over the Danube Tower and the Kahlenberg in the morning, the skyline of Donau City in the evening. When friends come, they don’t get St Stephen’s–Schönbrunn–Prater, they get this.

Day 1: the Danube instead of the Ringstrasse

Danube Island by rental bike (WienMobil bike), the Old Danube for swimming or a pedal boat, in the evening the Danube Canal – the beach bars between Schwedenplatz and the Urania. In summer, this is Vienna as it really lives.

Day 2: the districts instead of the old town

Yppenplatz and the Brunnenmarkt in the 16th district (breakfast outdoors), the Gründerzeit streets in the 18th, a coffee house without tourists: Café Ritter in Ottakring or the Weidinger on the Lerchenfelder Gürtel. In the afternoon up the Kahlenberg on the 38A bus, with a view of everything.

Day 3: what you still have to see

Schönbrunn yes – but only the park, early, and from the back via the Gloriette. The Naschmarkt only on Saturday, with the flea market. And a Heuriger wine tavern in Stammersdorf or Strebersdorf in the 21st district, not in Grinzing.

Practical

• Public transport: digital 7-day ticket €25.20, digital single ride €3.00 (as of 01.01.2026)
• Accommodation: Airbnb in the 2nd, 3rd, 7th or 20th district – central and half the price of the 1st
• A tip of 5–10% is expected, cards are accepted everywhere

Vienna hidden gems in practice: public transport, Heuriger and views

The quickest way to reach most of our Vienna hidden gems is public transport. Since 01.01.2026 a single ride bought digitally (app or online) costs €3.00, the 24-hour ticket €9.70 and the digital 7-day ticket €25.20 – it is valid for seven days from the first day, no longer Monday to Monday. For the Kahlenberg, take the U4 to Heiligenstadt and then bus 38A all the way up.

A Heuriger, Vienna's traditional wine tavern, is not open all year. You can tell one is open (“ausg'steckt”) by the bunch of pine twigs hanging above the door; the dates are also listed on the websites of the wine villages. In Stammersdorf and Strebersdorf in the 21st district you sit among the vineyards, prices are fairer than in Grinzing and the guests are almost all locals.

Vienna hidden gems: frequently asked questions

Facts as of 25.10.2026 – prices and rules can change, so check the official sources named above before you travel.

Our photos

Vienna hidden gems: our verdict

Our verdict on these Vienna hidden gems: the city is at its most beautiful where the Viennese themselves spend their time – by the water, on the edge of town and at the Heuriger. It is also worth using public transport, because it gets you everywhere quickly. The classic highlights with time needed and prices are in Things to do in Vienna; the official city portal for visitors is wien.info.