After Edinburgh, Vienna is probably the second most beautiful city I’ve ever been to. It’s a very clean city with rich history and lots of amazing things to see, so here are some recommendations for what you should do to pass the time in this incredible city.

Art History Museum

If you’re an art history buff, then the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien is a great place to start. They have collections from all over the world, from ancient Egypt to Medieval Ages Germany, and if you aren’t careful you’ll end up spending a whole day here. It’s a vast collection, and it’s right across the street from the Natural History Museum, so you can hit two birds with one stone if you manage your time (which is tough because both museums are awesome!).

Belvedere Palace

I only had a limited time here, but the artworks that I was able to observe were the coolest in Vienna. Even the temporary exhibition when I was there, the works of Franz Anton Maulbertsch, was breathtaking.

The main attraction here is the famous painting The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, and I’d say it truly is worth all of the hype to see it in person. However, everything else in the palace is worth observing all the same, so make sure you set aside a couple hours to see everything there.

Hofburg Palace & Austrian National Library

This palace is really just great to look at. The size and scale of the structure is incredible with a sprawling lawn that many like to lay down and relax on. The interior of the building is just as breathtaking.

I will say, I do NOT recommend going inside in the summer. While the library is jaw-dropping and borderline ancient, you will sweat harder than you’ve ever sweat before. Since the scrolls that they have on the shelves are hundreds of years old, the slightest change in temperature or climate could cause the ink on them to separate from the paper/parchment (or so I was told by a worker there). So, when I was there in late August, it was a literal oven. I will add that I’m not one of those people that is super interested in the history of places like this, so if you are one of those history buffs then I would recommend you pay this place a visit. The wooden interior and the preservation of history inside is really fascinating to observe.

Schonbrunn Palace

This is easily the coolest palace I’ve ever been to. The grounds are sprawling, and I recommend making the walk to the Gloriette on the south side of the grounds. The Gloriette itself is beautiful to look at, and if you pay the €5 or whatever it is, you can climb to the top and get a great view of the palace grounds as well as the city beyond.

I honestly can’t think of much more to say about this palace, because words truly don’t do it justice. Couldn’t recommend more.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

An incredible cathedral planted right in the center of downtown Vienna, this towering church could sneak up on you if you aren’t aware of its location beforehand. This is what happened in my case, and I turned the corner and before me was standing this behemoth of a cathedral with the stunning roof and awe-inspiring architecture.

The interior is just as incredible as the outside, so I recommend taking a gander through the inside as well.

Vienna natural History Museum

The Naturhistorisches Museum Wien has an astoundingly vast collection of minerals, dinosaur fossils and other aspects of natural science. It has one of the largest mineral collections in the world, and it’s overall a super cool museum to walk through even if you aren’t into these types of museums.

Watch out for the bugs and creepy crawlies section though, that room took me by surprise.

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According to multiple travelers I’ve talked to, Vienna is the second most beautiful city in Europe after Prague. Although I’ve never been to Prague, and I will stubbornly love Edinburgh endlessly, Vienna is a truly remarkable city.

Enjoy the winding streets and the great views!