A Perfect Day: Vienna in One Day
If you want to know what a perfect day in Vienna is like, it’s best to ask someone who knows their way around. Somebody like Julien Behringer, who was born in Vienna. The Lufthansa flight attendant shows us where he feels most at home in Austria’s capital
9 AM: Get the Right Coffee
When I come to my hometown of Vienna, there’s no question that the perfect day starts at a coffeehouse. After all, the city is famous for these places of peace and enjoyment, and the coffeehouse culture of Vienna is a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. My favorite is Café Prückel on the Ring, the street that surrounds the historic center of Vienna. It has a long tradition, and the Viennese have always enjoyed coming here to read the papers and drink great coffee.

10 AM: Get a Snack
After the first coffees of the day, it’s time for a snack. The Öfferl organic bakery has a branch just around the corner from Prückel in Wollzeile. The selection is tempting, but I usually opt for a croissant – which is not, as many people think, the Viennese version of the French pastry, but rather its predecessor. You could say that the croissant was invented in Vienna.
10:30 AM: Enjoy the Sun in the Stadtpark
I take the croissant and another coffee to go and retire to the Stadtpark to enjoy the sun, which is of course shining on my perfect Vienna day. After my snack, I take a short walk through the park and am delighted to see how relaxed everyone is. A group is doing yoga here, two older men are playing chess over there, and boys and girls are showing off their skills in the skate park.
11:30 AM: Resist the Schnitzels
On we go! My route takes me past the Meissl & Schadn restaurant, where I take a look into the open kitchen: Schnitzels are already being worked on. But since I’ve just eaten, I resist the urge to go into the restaurant and watch the hustle and bustle in front of the Karlskirche and the Technical University. Of course I have another coffee. The fuel for my morning is provided by a coffee bike. A cargo bike, a barista, a portafilter machine – the perfect coffee.
12:30 PM: Bread Rolls to Fall in Love with
After such a caffeinated start to the day, I feel ready for the hustle and bustle of downtown Vienna. I drift toward Stephansplatz with its world-famous cathedral, perhaps stopping at one or two of the many shops around the corner. If I get hungry again, I’m inevitably drawn to Trzesniewski – they’re as famous for their sandwiches as St. Stephen’s Cathedral is for its striking Gothic facade. I love it!
13:30 PM: Tropical Flair in Vienna
In Vienna, you walk a lot, so keep your eyes open to take in all the magnificent buildings. I stroll past the Opera House and the Albertina Museum across the street. This museum almost always has great art exhibitions, but today the beautiful weather draws me to the Palm House right next door in the Burggarten. I enjoy a bit of the tropics in the middle of Vienna, with butterflies fluttering on the terrace.

For more information about our tips, please click on the points on the map above.
Our recommendations
Bio-Bäckerei Öfferl, Wollzeile 31
Meissl & Schadn Restaurant, Schubertring 10-12
Trzesniewski, Dorotheergasse 1
Albertina Museum, Albertinapl. 1
Palmenhaus, Schmetterlinghaus Hofburg Burggarten
Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7
Museum of Art History Vienna, Maria-Theresien-Platz
Zum Schwarzen Kameel, Bognergasse 5
Plachutta’s Gasthaus zur Oper, Walfischgasse 5
Kleinod Bar, Top 48-50, Singerstraße 7
3 PM: Art or Nature?
The twin museums – the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum – facing each other on Maria-Theresien-Platz are also worth a visit. Both are spectacular from the outside and very interesting from the inside. Which one you visit simply depends on your mood that day. You can spend hours in both and still not see everything.
5 PM: A Classic for an Aperitif
After a stroll down Josefstädter Strasse with its many small shops, I am drawn to Zum Schwarzen Kameel for refreshments. Although it is also advertised in most travel guides, it has retained its original charm because it is still mainly frequented by Viennese. It would be tempting to just sit here after the aperitif and have dinner – the cuisine is highly praised – but today I have another destination in mind.



7 PM: Schnitzel Tastes Good Without Breading
I’m headed to Plachutta zur Oper, one of my favorite restaurants, and the lesser-known offshoot of the world-famous Gasthaus Plachutta. It’s a little quieter, but the Viennese specialties, from schnitzel to boiled beef, are no less delicious. My tip for those who don’t fancy the breaded Wiener schnitzel: try the minced butter schnitzel, which really brings out the flavor.
9 PM: Classic Cocktail or Caribbean-Style Fun
After dinner, I’m drawn to a bar. Depending on my mood, I head to Kleinod, a classically elegant cocktail bar, or the roof terrace of the Hoxton Hotel. When the weather is nice, the pool is open late into the night, and there is a Caribbean atmosphere. And when the night gets longer and you get hungry, there’s only one place to go: Bitzinger sausage stand next to the Albertina. The Käsekrainer tastes fantastic here at two in the morning!
About
Julien Behringer has a degree in Tourism & Hospitality Management and has been working as a flight attendant for Lufthansa since 2023. He was born and raised in Vienna, but now lives mainly in Frankfurt. Although he likes Frankfurt, his heart remains in Austria’s capital.
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