10-Day London to Vienna and Washington Dulles Itinerary

Arrival in Vienna

Fly from London to Vienna International Airport in the afternoon, allowing about 2½ hours in the air plus immigration, baggage collection, and the transfer into town. For central Vienna, the S7 is usually the better-value option—trains run to Wien Mitte in roughly 25 minutes, with a city-and-airport ticket costing around €5–6—while the City Airport Train takes about 16 minutes but costs more. From Wien Mitte, continue by U-Bahn or taxi to your accommodation; avoid accepting unsolicited taxi offers inside the arrivals hall. After checking in, keep the first afternoon light and carry only what you need for a gentle walk.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Begin at Stephansplatz, where St. Stephen’s Cathedral makes an excellent first landmark and orientation point. Spend around 45 minutes looking inside if open—typically until early evening—and wander around the square before following the pedestrian route along Graben and Kohlmarkt. These grand boulevards are particularly pleasant as the day cools, with ornate façades, historic shopfronts, and plenty of places to pause. The walk is short and flat, but the paving can be uneven, so comfortable shoes are worthwhile.

Stop at Café Central for a classic Viennese coffee and cake break, budgeting €10–20 per person. It is one of the city’s most famous cafés, so an evening queue is possible; if there is a short line, it is worth waiting, but do not let it derail the night. For dinner, continue to Plachutta Wollzeile, a dependable choice for tafelspitz and other traditional Viennese dishes. Allow about 1½ hours and €30–50 per person; reservations are sensible, especially for a Friday evening. Both the café and restaurant are easily reached on foot from the central sights, leaving you close to your accommodation afterward rather than needing another long journey on arrival day.

Morning

Start around 8:45 at Hofburg Palace, before the central streets become busy. Allow roughly two hours for the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and Silver Collection; admission is usually around €19–20, with timed entry often available online. Enter from Michaelerplatz, and keep your ticket handy as the complex is spread through several rooms. Afterward, walk a few minutes through the palace grounds to the Austrian National Library State Hall on Josefsplatz. This magnificent Baroque library takes about 45 minutes and generally opens from 10:00, with admission around €10; check the 2027 schedule because occasional closures and exhibitions can alter access.

Lunch and Afternoon

From the library, stroll along Kohlmarkt to Demel, Vienna’s grand old confectioner. Take a table for coffee and cake—or something more substantial from the light lunch selection—and allow an hour; €10–25 per person is realistic. The glass-fronted kitchen and famously polished service are part of the experience, though queues can form around midday. Then walk via Graben and Kärntner Straße to the Albertina Museum, about 10 minutes away. Set aside two hours for its graphic-art holdings and modern-art exhibitions; standard admission is commonly around €19–20, and the museum is typically open until early evening, with later hours on selected days. The terrace outside is a good place to pause over views toward the Vienna State Opera.

Evening

Finish at Bitzinger Würstelstand Albertina, directly beside the museum on Albertinaplatz. This is an ideal low-key Vienna dinner: order a Käsekrainer, Bratwurst, or sausage with bread and mustard, usually €5–12 per person, and eat standing at the counter. It is generally open into the evening, but hours can vary, so treat it as a snack-sized supper rather than a formal meal. From here, Karlsplatz, Stephansplatz, and Wien Mitte are all easily reached on foot or by tram and U-Bahn; the compact historic center is best enjoyed with an unhurried walk after dark.

Morning

Begin around 9:00 at MuseumsQuartier Wien, when the courtyards are still pleasantly quiet. Give yourself about 30 minutes to wander through the former imperial stables, taking in the contrast between the historic façades and the bold modern museum buildings. The complex is free to enter, though individual museums charge admission; its cafés and courtyards are good places for a brief coffee if you have not eaten.

Continue to the Leopold Museum, also within MuseumsQuartier Wien, for roughly 90 minutes. This is the best stop today for Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, and the wider story of Viennese modernism. It generally opens at 10:00, with adult admission commonly around €17–19; check the museum’s 2027 schedule and reserve a timed ticket if a temporary exhibition is running. Afterward, walk a few minutes through the complex to Glacis Beisl for lunch. Its leafy garden and classic dishes—such as schnitzel, goulash, or seasonal Austrian specials—make it a relaxed pause rather than a rushed museum meal. Allow €20–35 per person, and expect the garden to be especially popular in fine weather.

Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, cross Maria-Theresien-Platz to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna. The walk takes about five minutes, and the museum is worth allowing 2½ hours for: do not miss the Bruegel paintings, the Kunstkammer, and the grand central staircase beneath the cupola. Standard admission is usually around €21–22, and opening hours are often 10:00–18:00, with some later evenings—verify the 2027 calendar before fixing your timing. Return to MuseumsQuartier Wien afterward for MUMOK, ideally arriving around 17:00 or 17:30; allow 90 minutes for its modern and contemporary collection. It is typically open until 19:00 on several weekdays, though closing times vary. Finish with a drink in Neubau rather than adding another formal sight—Café KORB or the small bars around Lerchenfelder Straße are convenient, atmospheric choices.

Morning

Take the U4 toward Hütteldorf after breakfast, aiming to arrive at Schönbrunn Palace around 9:00. Allow about 20–30 minutes from central Vienna and use the Schönbrunn station; the palace entrance is a short, well-signposted walk. Book a timed palace tour in advance—adult admission is typically around €25–30, depending on the route—and allow roughly 2½ hours for the imperial apartments and ceremonial rooms. The palace gets noticeably busier from late morning, so an early start makes the interiors much more enjoyable.

Afterward, walk straight into the Schönbrunn Palace Garden, where entry to the main grounds is generally free. Follow the broad central axis toward the Gloriette, pausing at the formal parterres and fountains; the uphill walk takes around 25 minutes each way, with excellent views back over Vienna. For lunch, settle at Café Residenz beside the palace kitchens, a convenient and atmospheric choice for Austrian dishes and strudel. Allow about €15–30 per person, and expect service to be leisurely.

Afternoon and Evening

Spend the afternoon at Vienna Zoo Schönbrunn, reached by a short walk from the palace grounds. It is the world’s oldest continuously operating zoo and is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace; allow about 2½ hours, with adult tickets usually around €27–30. Check the seasonal closing time before setting out, as it may be around 17:30–18:30 in late May. From the zoo, return toward Schönbrunn and take the U4 west, changing to a local bus or taxi for Otto Wagner Church at Steinhof. Visit in the late afternoon if the church is open—opening hours can be limited, often concentrated on certain weekdays or weekend periods—since the gold-and-blue interior is the main reason to come. If access is closed, enjoy the exterior and the surrounding hillside grounds instead; a taxi from the U-Bahn is the simplest final connection.

Morning

After breakfast, allow 30–40 minutes from Hietzing to Leopoldstadt: take the U4 toward Heiligenstadt, change at Schwedenplatz for the U1 toward Leopoldau, and get off near Praterstern. A single Wiener Linien ticket is about €2.40; buy it in the app or at the station before boarding. Begin at Augarten, Vienna’s oldest baroque garden, ideally around 9:00 while the paths are quiet. Give yourself 1½ hours to wander beneath the formal avenues, look up at the enormous Second World War flak towers, and enjoy the surprisingly rural feel of this part of the district. The park itself is free and generally open from early morning until evening, though exact gate hours vary seasonally.

Walk a few minutes to the Vienna Porcelain Museum at Augarten, housed in the historic porcelain manufactory. Allow about an hour for the collection and its beautifully detailed pieces; check the current opening days and reserve online if your date falls on a busy weekend, as museum hours can be limited. For lunch, continue to Café Ansari, a relaxed neighborhood restaurant known for Georgian-influenced food. Expect roughly €20–35 per person; arriving around 12:30 helps avoid the busiest period, and the menu is a good excuse to share several dishes rather than order individually.

Afternoon and Evening

Spend the afternoon at Karmelitermarkt, about a 10–15-minute walk from Café Ansari through the local streets of Leopoldstadt. The market is liveliest from late morning into the afternoon, with produce stands, delicatessens, bakeries, and small cafés; Saturday is usually the most atmospheric day, while weekday trading can be quieter. Leave around 1½ hours for browsing and an unhurried coffee. From there, walk or take a short tram ride toward Prater, arriving in the early evening when the amusement park begins to glow. The grounds are free to enter, while individual rides are paid separately; allow about two hours for a relaxed wander and, if you like, a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel. Sunset is a particularly good time for the panoramic views, but book a wheel time slot ahead if visiting on a busy evening.

Morning

Take the Twin City Liner from Schwedenplatz on a morning sailing around 8:30–9:00; the trip to Bratislava takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, with the passenger port conveniently close to the historic center. Reserve seats ahead for June and arrive 20–30 minutes early, particularly if you want an outdoor seat. From the Bratislava landing, walk uphill to Bratislava Castle in roughly 20 minutes, or take a short taxi if you prefer to save your legs. Allow about 1½ hours for the castle grounds, interiors, and broad views over the Danube and, on a clear day, toward Austria. Check the official schedule before travelling, as opening times and admission—usually around €10–14—can vary.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk back down Castle Hill into Staré Mesto for lunch at Zlatá Ulička, allowing about an hour for Slovak comfort food such as bryndzové halušky or schnitzel; budget roughly €15–30 per person. Afterwards, spend an unhurried 1½ hours exploring the compact old town, following the lanes around Michael’s Gate and the small squares nearby. The area is easy to cover on foot, but the cobbles are uneven, so comfortable shoes are worthwhile. Continue southeast toward the Blue Church, a pleasant 15-minute walk through quieter streets on the edge of the center. Allow around 30 minutes to admire its blue Art Nouveau façade and interior; it is an active church, so check the service times and keep the visit quiet if Mass is taking place.

Evening

Return to the Bratislava passenger port with time to spare for your booked evening Twin City Liner sailing back to Schwedenplatz—allow at least 25–30 minutes from the Blue Church, depending on walking pace, and aim to be at the terminal 20 minutes before departure. The return journey again takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, bringing you back directly into central Vienna; keep your ticket and passport or EU identity card accessible, as border checks can occasionally occur. After arrival, Donaukanal is close by for a relaxed drink or supper if you still have energy, while the nearby Leopoldstadt streets offer an easy walk back to your accommodation.

Morning

Leave Bratislava around 7:00–7:30 for the rail journey via Vienna Hauptbahnhof and Krems an der Donau. Allow roughly 3–3½ hours in total, including the connection onward by VOR bus 715 or taxi to Dürnstein. Check the exact connections in the ÖBB app the night before, as the final bus is less frequent than the trains; a taxi from Krems is a useful fallback if you are carrying luggage. After dropping bags at your accommodation, head into Dürnstein Old Town for a relaxed late-morning wander. Spend about 1½ hours around the narrow Kremser Straße, the riverside lanes, and Dürnstein Abbey, whose blue-and-white tower is the village’s unmistakable landmark. The abbey church is generally open during daytime visiting hours, but schedules can vary for services; a small donation or modest admission may apply.

Lunch and Afternoon

For lunch, choose a traditional Wachau wine tavern—look for a Heuriger in Dürnstein or nearby Unterloiben—rather than eating beside the busiest riverside tourist stops. Expect about €25–45 per person for regional dishes such as cold-cut platters, spreads, seasonal vegetables, or apricot desserts, alongside a glass of Grüner Veltliner or local Riesling. Ask whether the tavern is serving its own wine and check the kitchen hours, as some establishments open only at lunchtime or in the evening. Afterwards, allow around 1½ hours for the climb to Dürnstein Castle Ruins, following the signed hillside path from the old town. It is steep and uneven in places, so wear proper shoes and carry water; the reward is a superb view over the Danube, vineyards, and village rooftops. The ruins themselves are free to enter and are associated with the imprisonment of Richard the Lionheart.

Early Evening

Come back down into Dürnstein and spend the final hour on an easy Danube riverside walk, heading away from the most crowded old-town streets for broader views of the water and terraced vineyards. Early evening is the nicest time here, when the valley light softens and the excursion crowds begin to leave. Pick up water and breakfast supplies before shops close, and confirm your next morning’s bus or taxi arrangement—service is limited outside the main daytime period. If you still have energy, stop for a final glass of Wachau wine at a quiet terrace, keeping the evening unhurried after the long arrival day.

Morning

Leave Dürnstein around 7:30–8:00, taking VOR bus 715 or a taxi to Krems an der Donau, then the ÖBB train to Wien Hauptbahnhof. Allow roughly 1½–2 hours door to door, and check the exact connection the evening before; buses in the Wachau can be less frequent than trains. After dropping your luggage at the hotel, take the tram or a short taxi ride to Belvedere Palace in Landstraße. Reserve a timed ticket for the Upper Belvedere—adult admission is generally around €18–20—and allow about two hours for Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss, the state rooms, and the formal baroque gardens. The palace is usually open from around 9:00, and an early-late-morning slot keeps you ahead of the busiest groups.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk about 15 minutes through Landstraße to Salm Bräu, a traditional brewery on Rennweg, for lunch. Order a house beer with something substantial such as schnitzel, roast pork, or goulash; budget roughly €20–35 per person, and expect the meal to take about an hour. From there, it is an easy 10-minute walk to Hundertwasser House on Kegelgasse. You cannot tour the private residential building itself, but its colorful façade, uneven windows, and planted balconies are best appreciated from the pavement; allow 45 minutes to look around and browse the nearby Hundertwasser Village. Continue on foot for another five minutes to Kunst Haus Wien, where the permanent Hundertwasser collection and ecological-design exhibits provide the fuller context. Plan around 1½ hours, with typical museum admission in the €12–15 range; check the current closing time, as it is often open into the early evening. If you still have energy afterward, linger over coffee in the surrounding Weißgerberviertel rather than adding another major sight.

Morning

Make your first stop around 9:00 at the Vienna State Opera on Opernring. The guided tour takes about an hour and usually includes the grand staircase, foyers, historic salons, and auditorium; schedules vary with rehearsals and performances, so reserve a morning slot online if possible. Tours generally cost about €12–15. From the opera house, walk roughly 10 minutes through the pedestrianized center to Mozarthaus Vienna on Domgasse, Mozart’s best-preserved Viennese residence. Allow 1½ hours for the apartment and exhibition; it normally opens at 10:00 and admission is about €12–15. The audio guide is worthwhile, especially for putting his short but intensely productive Vienna years into context.

Lunch and Afternoon

Walk a few minutes to Figlmüller Bäckerstraße for lunch, arriving around 12:30 before the busiest seating period. The signature schnitzel is famously wider than the plate and costs roughly €25–40 per person once you add a side and drink; reservations are sensible, and Figlmüller Wollzeile is a nearby alternative if Bäckerstraße is full. Afterwards, take a quiet half-hour inside the Jesuit Church on Dr.-Ignaz-Seipel-Platz—its apparently marble interior is largely painted illusion, so look up at the trompe-l’œil dome. It is generally free to enter, though services may restrict visiting. Continue west on foot toward Rathausplatz, passing through the monumental civic quarter; allow about an hour to admire the exterior of the Austrian Parliament and the square around Vienna City Hall. Check for concerts, festivals, or seasonal events before you go, as the square often has temporary seating or stages.

Evening

For an easy final panorama, board the Ringstrasse tram—tram 1 or D is useful for a substantial stretch of the boulevard, while a short hop on 2 works well around the northern side. A normal Wiener Linien single ticket is about €2.40, and the ride takes roughly an hour depending on traffic; sit by the window and watch the illuminated civic buildings, museums, and grand apartment façades slide past. Buy a ticket before boarding or use the Wiener Linien app, and avoid peak commuter time if you want a seat. At the end, simply get off near whichever central stop is convenient for dinner or your accommodation rather than trying to complete a full loop.

Morning

Start at Naschmarkt around 8:30–9:00 for an easy final breakfast and a last wander through Vienna’s best-known food market. The stalls along Wienzeile generally begin trading in the morning, though individual opening times vary; cafés and breakfast counters are your safest bet early on. Allow about an hour to browse spices, cheeses, bread, produce, and small prepared dishes, with roughly €10–20 per person for breakfast and a few edible souvenirs. It is quieter before late morning, and Monday is a better day for a relaxed visit than the busy Saturday market.

Departure

Return to the hotel, collect your luggage, and aim to leave central Vienna about three hours before the flight from Vienna International Airport—earlier if you need to check bags or are travelling during a particularly busy period. The City Airport Train (CAT) from Wien Mitte is quick and convenient, while the S7 is cheaper and also serves the airport; allow around 25–35 minutes for the rail journey, plus time to reach the station. An airport bus or taxi is more practical with heavy luggage, usually taking 25–45 minutes depending on traffic. At the airport, check the terminal and airline information before leaving the hotel, and keep some time for security and passport control before the flight onward to Washington Dulles.