Vienna Off the Beaten Path: 7 Amazing Locations You Must Add to Your Itinerary

Vienna is one of the most beautiful capitals of central Europe. Being the 6th largest city by population in the European Union, as well as a beloved destination by travellers, no matter the season, Vienna can be a crowded touristic destination. In summer, Vienna is an extremely romantic city to visit, whilst in winter it becomes a winter wonderland, organising some of the most fairytale Christmas markets in Europe.

Vienna is easy explored by foot. Once you arrive in the city, it’s great to take one of the free walking tours in which you will learn about the history of the city, as well as familiarize yourself with the surroundings. After, you can explore the city at your own pace and find those hidden gems that make Vienna such a special destination. In this article, we will talk about seven amazing locations which will take you on the off the beaten path and show you a different side of the Austrian capital.

Find Peace at Vienna’s Zentralfriedhof

An alley in the cemetery leading to the main church, which has a round cupola with a green roof. The alley is flanked by tall trees. It is autumn and the leaves are yellow and orange.

Vienna is one of the best cities in the world when it comes to the quality of life. An interesting thing is that Vienna is home to one of the most fascinating cemeteries in the world as well. Zentralfriedhof is not only just very big, but it is caters for different faiths, not just Christianity.

Locals like to stroll around the Central Cemetery, as Zentralfriedhof is also known as, as if it was a park. The beautiful headstones and the carefully landscaped green areas make the Central Cemetery a very peaceful place to visit.

great composers are buried here, including Franz Schubert, J. Strauss, Johannes Brahms, and Ludwig van Beethoven – which are all on the composers alley. But do not look for Mozart: he is buried in the cemetery of St. Mark – an ancient burial ground used from 1784 to 1874.

Visit the Imperial Crypt

The entrance to the Capuchin church. There are three red and white flags above the large black door.

The Habsburg Family was once one of the most powerful in Europe. The ruled Austria between 1282 until 1918, controlled Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic) from 1526 until 1918, and the Spanish Empire between 1504-1506 and 1516 – 1700.

The Imperial Crypt, located in the centre of Vienna, is the resting place of over 100 members of the Habsburg family. It can be visited in an organised tour, for a fee of 8 euros.

Check out the Jubiläumswarte Observation Tower

A photo of the tower taken from below. You can see the structure going up, between the trees. The sky is blue.

If you are travelling to Vienna on a budget and don’t want to spent 15 euros to climb St Stephen Cathedral’s tower, there is another great place from where you can see the panorama of the city free of charge. The Jubiläumswarte, in the 16th district of the city, is an observation tower 31 meters above the grown, offering fantastic panoramic views over Vienna and the Viennese forest.  

You can get to the observation tower by bus 52B. You can also take route lines 46A and 46B to the Feuerwache am Steinhof or Savoyenstraße stop and walk twenty minutes from there.

Have Fun on the Danube Canal

A photo of the Danube Canal by night. All the buildings around it have their lights on, which reflect in the water

In summer, the banks of the Danube Canal transform into the place to be in Vienna. Many pop-up bars, cafes, restaurants, beaches with sand, sun loungers and umbrellas invite the residents of the city to enjoy the sunshine and have fun by the water. There is always upbeat music playing, as well as many parties organised in the evenings.

Relax at Setagaya Park

An alley in the park leading to a low, wooden bridge. There is green vegetation all around the alley.

Setagaya Park is a Japanese garden in one of the most picturesque districts of Vienna. It was designed in 1992 by the Japanese landscape gardener Ken Nakajima, to imitate a tranquil park in Japan. The landscape is beautiful with several ponds, sculptures, Sakura trees and Japanese maple trees.

There is a small Japanese tea house built in a Yukimi style, where you can sit and drink a cup of fragrant drink, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. The garden is open from April to October.

Have a Coffee at Terrace Amerlingbeisl

Terrace Amerlingbeisl is a lovely café and restaurant in a beautiful location, with a courtyard covered by wine leaves. This is a perfect spot for coffee, a light lunch, or a glass of wine with friends. This is a great restaurant for vegans as well, with an extensive menu catering to them.

Have Dinner at the Garden at Hotel am Brillantengrund

If you have already tasted all that delicious Austrian food and want to try something different, check out the Garden at the Hotel am Brillantengrund. Here you will find a great restaurant serving Filipino vegan food. Whilst this place is still quite unknown to tourists, locals love it.

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Vienna Off the Beaten Path: 7 Amazing Locations You Must Add to Your Itinerary

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13 thoughts on “Vienna Off the Beaten Path: 7 Amazing Locations You Must Add to Your Itinerary

  1. Ossama Alnuwaiser says:

    Wow, Vienna is a beautiful Austrian city with plenty of things to do there. I am sure the view above the Jubiläumswarte Observation Tower is spectacular, and Danube Canal sounds like a place to enjoy the sunshine and mangle among the locals.

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