How to visit Vienna for free!
You are planning a trip to Vienna and want to make the most of it without breaking the bank? Look no further! In this article I will show you how to experience the city's charm without draining your wallet.
Tip 1: Refill your bottle with tap water
Save you money on water and don't buy bottled water. Most of Vienna's tap water is actually spring water from the Alps. Just refill your bottle with fresh water, either from the tap or at the drinking fountains that you can find all over the city.
Pro tip: Use the Wien App to search for the fountains. Unfortunately this app is available in German only :( But if you want to use it, just search for “Wasser” which is the German word for water.
Tip 2: Free food
Keep an eye out for food sharing shelves and fridges where people give away extra food to prevent it from going to waste. You can take the food for free, but of course, please be fair and take just as much as you need. On this website you can find a map with food sharing activities in Vienna.
And another tip is the restaurant deewan, which serves Pakistani food with a pay-as-you-wish concept. You won't be charged a fixed amount for your meal - so technically it is for free - but you are expected to give as much as you think your meal was worth.
Adress: Der Wiener Deewan; Liechtensteinstraße 10, 1090 Wien
Tipp 3: How to get around for free
Using the bus, tram and Subway in Vienna is relatively cheap, but its not free. So if you want to save money, I recommend to walk, especially in the city center, where the distances are relatively short. And while doing so, you can also enjoy the beautiful buildings in the city center as well as the beautiful and totally free parks like the Burggarten, Stadtpark and Volksgarten.
If you don’t fell like to the walk through the city by yourself, you can also book a free guided tour. As the name claims, these tours are for free, but you are expected to tip the guide, if you were happy with the tour.
Tip 4: Sightseeing for free
It might surprise you, but some of Vienna’s most beautiful sights do have free options! And let's start with Schönbrunn Castle. If you want to enter the castle, you have to pay, but you can visit the park of Schönbrunn castle totally for free. And let’s be honest, on a beautiful day, you can spend hours, enjoying the view, the colorful flower beds and the magnificent fountains. Adress: Schloss Schönbrunn; Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien
Besides Schönbrunn, there are even more sights, that you can visit for free, if you know these hacks:
And let’s begin with Vienna's landmark, St. Stephen's Cathedral. As a visitor, you can explore only a small part for free, unless you attend a mass. Since St. Stephen's Cathedral is an active church with regular services, you can join one – which is and experience on its own and of course free. However, please be aware that the Catholic Mass is a time for prayer and attentive listening to the sermon. For that reason, touring the cathedral is not permitted during Mass. Adress: Stephansdom; Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Wien
Next, is the Austrian Parliament, where your can see the Visitor Center or book a guided tour in English. Both is free, but you need to register. Details on how to register and the online registration can be found directly on the website of the Austrian parliament. Guided tours are also available in English and can be booked via the website of the Austrian Parliament. Adress: Parlament; Dr. Karl Renner-Ring 3, 1017 Wien
Another sight that you can visit is for free is the gorgeous building of the major’s office. There are free tours, but you need to reserve a spot, which has to be done in person at 08:00 a.m. on the day of your visit. More information can be found on the website of the majors office. This site is unfortunately only available in German :( Adress: Rathaus Wien; Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Wien
Tip 5: Free WiFi
Stay connected with friends and family back home using Vienna's free WiFi hotspots. You can easily identify the hotspots, since they are marked with a “free wifi sign” or by using the official city of Vienna app.
Also, a lot of cafés and restaurants offer free WiFi. Just ask the waiter for the passwort!
Tip 6: Visit museums for free
many museums in Vienna offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. This includes places like the Beethoven Museum, the apartment of Johann Strauss, the Museum of Military History, and the stunning Hermesvilla. Also, there are a lot of smaller museums, that you can visit for free all year round. You can find the full list of all free entries on the website of the city of Vienna.
Tip 7: Enjoy free concerts and events
Especially during the summer, there are a lot of free music events in Vienna. For pop and modern music, explore Donauinselfest – the world's largest music festival with free entry. Of If you prefer classical music, consider the film festival at Rathausplatz or the Summer Night Concert at Schönbrunn Castle Park.