Travelling through Vienna on a budget: 6 insider tips for savers

Author: 1000things

Would you like to enjoy Vienna to the full - from crispy schnitzel to the most important sights - and save money at the same time? We'll tell you how you can discover Vienna cheaply and without compromise.

Experience Vienna without blowing your bank account? No problem! The famous Viennese all-inclusive package of charm, culture and enjoyment is also available in a budget-friendly version. We'll show you how you can enjoy Vienna cheaply and yet to the full - from free cultural delights to inexpensive lunches.

Top tip for savers: with the Vienna Welcome Card, you get discounts on numerous sights and even travel for free on public transport. 

Take part in a free city tour

There is probably no one who will guide you through the city as conscientiously, efficiently and, above all, informatively as the Viennese locals. The best thing is that you don't have to dig deep into your pockets. Many tours are charged exclusively on a tip basis and are therefore more than affordable. Cool providers with free German-language tours of Vienna's most important sights include Prime Tours, Absolute Vienna Tours and Anna Loves Vienna.

Tip: With the Vienna Welcome Card, you can also take part in city tours organised by Vas Tours Vienna and City Riddler at a super low price. The latter shows you the city in a playful way as a tricky puzzle rally. 

 

Free admission to the museum

If you want to save money on sightseeing, this doesn't automatically mean that you can only see Vienna's impressive buildings from the outside. Some Viennese museums even open their doors completely free of charge. A clear highlight: the Wien Museum. Several centuries of Viennese city history await you here in just one place, presented in an exciting and interactive way. A little insider tip for culture fans: plan your trip to Vienna around the first Sunday of the month and treat yourself to free admission to some museums that otherwise charge a fee. And we probably don't even need to mention it: Pack your Vienna Welcome Card and secure great discounts for museums such as the Albertina, Leopold Museum, Sisi Museum and more

 

Use Vienna's public transport system

Not an insider tip by any means, but always worth a little homage: Vienna's public transport system. There is no more convenient and, above all, cheaper way to get from A to B in Vienna - apart from a long walk, of course. Whether you're travelling home to your hotel, from one sight to the next or out into the countryside: Vienna's public transport system operates almost 20 hours a day and will get you to your destination from around 5 a.m. to around midnight. Really cool: At weekends, the underground also runs around the clock. Want to save even more? With the Vienna Welcome Card, you not only save on a wide range of transport, but also travel for free on Wiener Linien public transport. We love it!

Enjoy nature in parks

The best way to discover Vienna is to simply let yourself drift. This way, you can immerse yourself authentically in everyday life in Vienna and don't even have to spend a cent. If the weather is in your favour, we can recommend a stroll through the city's many parks. Our favourites: the Stadtpark, the Burggarten and the Türkenschanzpark. Although the latter is a little out of town, it is a beautiful green oasis and well worth the journey. The Lainzer Tiergarten also falls into this category. Spoiler: For once, the name doesn't say it all. Instead of lions, zebras and the like, a wonderful recreational area including a magnificent Hermes Villa awaits you. 

 

Stop off at the sausage stand

You don't have to go to a traditional pub to treat your taste buds to a good portion of Vienna. Vienna's sausage stands are among the city's culinary centrepieces. Whether after going out, during your lunch break or even after a fine evening at the Vienna State Opera, a visit to a Viennese sausage stand is a must for locals and tourists alike. Even stars like Mick Jagger can't resist the unique flair. The iconic Bitzinger sausage stand between the State Opera and the Albertina was the Rolling Stones frontman's favourite. You can also get delicious delicacies not far from here at the sausage stand on Hoher Markt, the Viennese sausage stand in the 8th district or the more upmarket Alles Wurscht on Börseplatz. The selection here ranges from calamari fritti to beef tatar. 

 

Souvenir shopping at the flea market

Of course, we think everyone should take a piece of Vienna home with them after their visit. But you don't have to overload your wallet. You can find great souvenirs with real Viennese charm at the city's many flea markets. Always worth a visit: the flea market at the Naschmarkt. On Saturdays, you can browse through some of the best and most curious antiques in the city.

Tip: It's best to come hungry and treat yourself to fresh and cheap snacks at the market stalls - free samples included. Caught a rainy day? Then head to the META market. You'll find great bargains at the covered indoor flea market every Saturday and Sunday. 

 

Are you visiting Vienna on a budget and want to find out in advance what you're spending your money on? In this article, we'll tell you whether a visit to Schönbrunn Palace is actually worth it. And here we take a closer look at the bus tours through the city