Vienna is a city full of music, art, history, and fun. Austria's beautiful capital city is an amazing and scenic destination, especially in the summer. If you're looking to do Vienna on a budget, we've got you covered! We've put together a list of the best free things to do while you're in this magical spot. If you follow along, you'll be sure to see a multitude of art pieces, explore nature, catch a film, and so much more.
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1) Danube Island
Danube Island is a 21 kilometre long island stock full of nature and activities. If you’re looking for a nice place to jog, or rather a relaxing beach day, you can do it all at Danube Island. Pack a picnic and camp out at the beach, take a swim or a jog, and enjoy the beauty that is Danube. If you’re visiting in June, be sure to visit the Danube Island festival, which is free to all visitors.
2) St. Stephens Cathedral
Standing since the 12th century, this 107.2 meter gothic structure is breathtaking and is a must see while visiting Vienna. With its four towers, this serves as a beautiful landmark for the city. In addition to standing tall and beautiful, St. Stephens holds several treasures of its past as well as serves as a final resting place for several noblemen. It also happens to hold the second largest swinging church bell in Europe. If you’d like to tour the inside one of the towers, you can purchase a guided tour, otherwise you can still take in its outer beauty for free!
3) MUSA Museum
If you love art, you’ve come to the right place by choosing Vienna. The MUSA museum is one of the largest museums for contemporary art. Open to visit 10am-6pm, it is free to visit and explore the works from more than 4000 artists. There is a huge range of art spanning from paintings to sculptures to films. It’s truly an immersive experience and allows you even more insight into the world of Vienna.
4) Street Art Passage
The art in Vienna does not end with MUSA! There is a whole separate genre of art that manifests itself all over the city. One of the best things to do in Vienna is wander around and take in the beautiful street art. For the past few decades, street art has been legal in Vienna, allowing the city to have many pops of colour and expression you may not find anywhere else. Some of the most notable areas for street art in Vienna include near the Danube Canal, as well as the well known Vienna Street Art Passage. Each is well known for its quirky art lining the streets, allowing you to experience an eclectic journey of art as you walk.
5) Schonbrunn Gardens
The garden at Schonbrunn Palace is a beautiful free attraction that has been available since 1979. The gates to this kilometre long garden open each morning to visitors at 6:30am. From the gardens you can take in the beauty of the palace and appreciate the history, as many past emperors once inhabited it. It is a wonderfully free way to experience Austria’s most visited site. Don't miss out on your chance to hangout by the palace and take in the beauty!
6) Kaleidoskop Film Festival
Who doesn't love watching a movie with friends? Especially when it's free! If you're visiting Vienna during July, you’ll find there are 17 nights of free admission open air cinema at Kaleidoskop. The focus of the festival for 2022 is diversity in urban spaces and features films from all over the world. Bring friends and join in on the captivating films and stimulating discussion.
7) Walking Tour
A walking tour is a great way to get some fresh air and see the breathtaking sights Vienna has to offer. From St. Charles Church to Belvedere Palace to Vienna State Opera, there are so many wonderful sights to see. Take your own route or sign up for one of the many walking tours available and learn more about the rich history of Vienna. English tours take off at 10am and 2pm each day. Additionally, there are several hiking trails as well if you’d like to experience more of Vienna’s beautiful landscape and nature.