Attractions to explore and things to do in and around Vienna while at Eurovision 2026

Ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026, the Aussievision team has looked at what you can do in Vienna (and beyond) to make sure you make the most of your time in the beautiful country of Austria.

Vienna is Austria’s capital and largest city, located in the eastern part of the country along the Danube River.

The city sits close to the borders of Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic, which has long made Vienna an important crossroads in Central Europe.

Vienna has a major international rail hub with direct connections to cities across Austria and neighbouring countries. Its extensive public transport network of trams, underground lines and buses is consistently ranked among the best in the world, making it easy to get around and explore the city and beyond. Vienna is also a great city to explore on foot, with many attractions on offer.

For tourists, Vienna is a great city with loads to do, so let's have a look at some of the wonderful attractions and things you can check out whilst in Vienna for the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest!

Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera is a must-see in the heart of Vienna. Built in 1869, this Neo-Renaissance building is one of the world’s oldest and largest opera houses, with over 1,700 seats. Its grand façade, ornate interiors and beautiful stage make it an iconic spot for anyone who loves both music and architecture. Even after being damaged in World War II, it was beautifully restored and continues to be the centre of Vienna’s classical music scene.

There’s plenty to do here beyond taking photos of the exterior. You can watch world-class opera and ballet performances or join a guided tour to explore behind the scenes that includes rehearsal rooms, backstage areas and the stunning main auditorium. Whether you’re a die-hard music fan or just curious, the Vienna State Opera could be an unforgettable experience. As the Vienna State Opera will be very busy during Eurovision week, it is recommended you book seats early!

Belvedere Palace

The Belvedere Palace is one of Vienna’s most striking landmarks and, importantly, one of its leading art museums. It was finished in 1723 as a Baroque palace complex and consists of the Upper and Lower Belvedere which are set apart by beautifully landscaped formal gardens.

Inside, the Belvedere offers far more than just elegant rooms. The Upper Belvedere houses an impressive art collection, including Gustav Klimt’s iconic painting The Kiss, along with works by Schiele, Kokoschka, and other well-known Austrian artists.

The Lower Belvedere was opened to the public as a museum in 1781, making it one of the earliest public museums in the world. Inside, the "Grotesque Hall" is decorated with elaborate grotesque-style paintings inspired by ancient Roman art, featuring fantastical beings, masks, vines and mythological creatures.

Yummy Austrian desserts

Yep! You heard right- desserts! Austria is famous for many sweet delicacies, none more than the legendary Sachertorte and Apfelstrudel.

What better way to prepare for one of the shows than consume extraordinary amounts of sugar to keep you going through the night. Of course, there are many places to try these famous Austrian staples and some of the

cafes are very old with beautifully ornate interiors that are worth a visit in their own right.

The Sachertorte is basically Vienna's signature chocolate cake that has a layer of apricot jam, coated with chocolate and served with whipped cream. The birthplace of this famous cake is Hotel Sacher, and if you cannot get a table there, two other cafes you can try are Cafe Demel or Cafe Central (but its virtually available everywhere).

Most of us likely already know what an Apfelstrudel is - delicious layers of flaky pastry and spiced baked apple served with whipped cream or ice cream. It is said that two of the best places in Vienna to try Apfelstrudel just so happen to be mentioned already - Cafe Central and Cafe Demel. Bon appetite!

Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School in Vienna was founded in 1572 and is home to around 70 white Lipizzaner horses. You watch the horses do their morning exercises or attend full performances in the Winter Riding Hall, where the horsies do fancy things such as perform choreographed routines to classical music. It’s called “Spanish” because the Lipizzaner breed originally came from Spain. The school offers a unique experience that combines music, history and horsemanship, making it one of Vienna’s most iconic attractions which offers something a little different.

Grinzing and Nussdorf Heuriger wine taverns 

In just 25 minutes (a short tram or bus ride from central Vienna), the historic wine villages of Grinzing and Nussdorf sit amongst vineyards and are famous for their traditional Heuriger wine taverns.

In Grinzing you’ll find around 30–40 taverns and in neighbouring Nussdorf there are about 10–15. Some of these taverns are beautifully set under chestnut trees in amongst the vines, where you can try local wines like Grüner Veltliner and Gemischter Satz as well as order food.

The villages are walkable from one to the other (about 25–35 minutes on foot) or you can catch public transport between. Some taverns offer live folk music, garden seating and views back toward Vienna creating a relaxed afternoon away from the city.

Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace is Vienna’s most popular tourist attraction. Built between 1696 and 1712 in the Baroque style, it served as the summer residence of the Habsburgs and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Palace has 1,441 rooms with about 40 open to visitors, plus sprawling gardens covering around 160 hectares and is one of the largest and most impressive palace complexes in Europe. Inside, a standard palace tour takes in state rooms and imperial apartments. Outside, you can see the formal gardens and visit the Gloriette (like a temple) for panoramic views, visit the world’s oldest zoo, or check out the Imperial Carriage Museum.

A visit to Schönbrunn Palace can easily take up half a day as there is so much to see here and is easily reached from central Vienna in about 15 - 20 minutes using public transport.

More museums and art

Yes, there is alot of art and culture to experience in Vienna and the central district is packed with classic, modern and contemporary art as well as other types of museums. There is literally something here for everybody. Many of these museums are within a 15 - 20 minute walk of each other and you can comfortably spend a day hopping between them. The surrounding plazas, gardens and cafés in the MuseumsQuartier in particular, make for a relaxed spot to chill out, enjoy some food and people watch.

Some more museums to visit:

• Leopold Museum (MuseumsQuartier) - Austrian modernism, featuring Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt.

• mumok - Museum of Modern Art (MuseumsQuartier) - bold contemporary and provocative works, including pieces by Andy Warhol and Picasso.

• Albertina & Albertina Modern - modern and contemporary exhibitions with extensive prints and drawings from Monet, Picasso and Dürer.

• Vienna Secession Building - Art Nouveau; home of Klimt’s Beethoven Frieze and rotating contemporary shows.

• Natural History Museum (Naturhistorisches Museum) - science and natural history collections, from fossils to minerals and just about every animal under the sun (including a Dodo!), housed in a historic building with spectacular architecture.

• Kunsthalle Wien (MuseumsQuartier) - contemporary exhibitions and experimental art projects.

• MUSA (MuseumsQuartier) - smaller contemporary space with rotating local exhibitions.

• ZOOM Kindermuseum (MuseumsQuartier) - a museum for children up to 14 years that includes a permanent exhibition, a multimedia lab and a program of science education.

• Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna - classical and Renaissance art; featuring works by Bruegel, Titian, Velázquez and Vermeer.

  
  

Salzburg and other side trips

As an Aussie, if you are going to travel all that way to Austria, you have to make the most of it right? Here are some day trips you might like to consider.

Salzburg

Likely on most travellers' to do list already, a trip to Salzburg can also be done in a day, however it is around five hours return on a high-speed train making it a long one. 

Salzburg is a must for the music lover as it is the birthplace of Mozart and is famously linked to The Sound of Music, as many scenes were shot in and around the city, including its manicured gardens and hills. You can follow the popular Sound of Music tour to see locations such as Mirabell Gardens, Nonnberg Abbey, and the scenic countryside that inspired the story.

Wachau Valley (Melk and Dürnstein)

The Wachau Valley is a scenic stretch of the Danube River known for vineyards, historic villages and dramatic river views. Melk is home to the impressive Melk Abbey, a large baroque monastery overlooking the river, while Dürnstein is famous for its blue church tower and castle ruins.

You can get there via train from Vienna to Melk or Krems, then catch a boat or use local train between the towns. The return travel time is around three hours in total (but this does not include time exploring or on river cruises).

Hallstatt

Hallstatt is one of Austria’s most photographed villages, famous for its lakeside setting, cute houses and surrounding mountains. The village is small but very beautiful, with walking paths, viewpoints and boat trips on the lake.

A return trip to Hallstatt is around seven to eight hours in total, you can catch a train from Vienna to Hallstatt station, then you will need to board a short ferry across the lake to the village.

Baden bei Wien

Baden bei Wien is a relaxed spa town just outside Vienna, known for its thermal baths, parks and historic centre. It also has connections to Beethoven, who spent time there composing music. You can get there by local train or tram from Vienna with a return travel time of between one to two hours total.

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava is one of the easiest and quickest international day trips from Vienna, making it a very popular choice. The compact Old Town is full of medieval streets, cafés and small museums, and Bratislava Castle sits above the Danube with excellent views across the city.

The return travel time for a fast train is around two hours; by bus it can be up to three hours bus; and you can also travel by boat on the Danube (definitely the most scenic option) which takes 75 - 90 minutes one way.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest offers a striking contrast to Vienna, with grand architecture, thermal baths, delicious food and dramatic Danube views. With Buda on one side and Pest on the other, highlights include the Hungarian Parliament Building, Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle on the hill overlooking the river. Budapest is a very popular tourist destination so allow as much time as you can to try to fit everything in!

You can get to Budapest by direct train from Vienna with travel time around five hours return.

Eurovision stuff

Eurovision Village

The Eurovision Village in Vienna will be located at Rathausplatz (City Hall Square). Fans will be able to watch live screenings of the shows on big screens, enjoying the music, food and entertainment. It is free to enter and will host special events, artist appearances and fan activities throughout Eurovision week (from Sunday 10 - Sunday 17 May).

The Eurovision Village is also a great place to pick up merchandise. Info about who will be performing will be released closer to the week.

Euroclub

The Euroclub is the official Eurovision nightclub and in 2026 will be hosted at Rathaus (Vienna City Hall). Euroclub is the place to be after the shows and will include live performances from past and present Eurovision stars, DJ sets as well as a chance to mingle with the artists and other fans. Entry requires a ticket or weekly pass, and is THE spot for fans to celebrate into the wee hours of early morning (often resulting in some sore heads the next day!)

Euroclub entry is ticketed so keep an eye out for an announcement (often available through OGAE) - tickets go very fast!

Eurovision Shows

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 shows will be held at Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna’s largest indoor stadium. This is the same venue where Vienna hosted Eurovision 2015.

• Semi-final 1: Tuesday - 12 May 2026

• Semi-final 2: Thursday - 16 May 2026

• Grand Final: Saturday - 18 May 2026

Public Transport

For all your public transport needs including how to get to the shows, there is an app you can download (WienMobil) which is available in both German and English, or you can use the website.

And to those travelling to Eurovision 2026, have a great time and maybe we'll see you there!

For continued updates on all the Eurovision Song Contest news follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. All links at: https://linktr.ee/aussievisionnet