{"id":22421,"date":"2020-02-06T05:36:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-06T04:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=22421"},"modified":"2026-01-27T17:04:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T16:04:52","slug":"what-can-you-do-for-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/what-can-you-do-for-free\/","title":{"rendered":"What can you do for free?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MUSA-Startgalerie-sign.jpg\" alt=\"MUSA Startgalerie sign\" class=\"wp-image-22436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MUSA-Startgalerie-sign.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MUSA-Startgalerie-sign-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>You don&#8217;t have to spend money to enjoy Austria&#8217;s capital. Here are my suggestions for free and inexpensive things to do and see in Vienna&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Get network travel and discounts with a <a href=\"https:\/\/viennawelcomecard.at\/en?ref=77695468&amp;campaign_key=Free\" rel=\"sponsored\">Vienna Welcome Card<\/a>*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/city-passes\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30352\">Sightseeing passes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/visitorinfo\/prices\/\">Prices<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/visitorinfo\/save-time-money\/\">How to save money on tickets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/visitorinfo\/wi-fi-hotspots\/\">Free Wi-Fi<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"free-activities-sights-and-experiences\">Free activities, sights, &amp; experiences<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/stephansdom2023.jpg\" alt=\"Full view of Stephansdom from the south\" class=\"wp-image-70318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/stephansdom2023.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/stephansdom2023-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The front part of Stephansdom cathedral is free to enter)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like any place full of tourist attractions, the city has plenty of ways to help you part with your money. But what can you do for free in Vienna?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your options for sights and activities requiring no money include all the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#art-and-architecture\">Museums and architecture<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#churches-and-the-cathedral\">Churches and the cathedral<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#parks-and-palaces\">Parks and palaces<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#woods-walks-and-rivers\">Woods, walks &amp; rivers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#composer-and-artist-trails\">Composer and artist trails<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#free-events-and-festivals\">Free events and festivals<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#some-cheap-options\">Not free, but inexpensive<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we begin, though, just a word about getting around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/\">central sights<\/a> are within walking distance of each other. However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/public\/\">public transport system<\/a> here is remarkably cheap, so you might consider buying, for example, a Vienna <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/vienna-welcome-card\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"77567\">Welcome Card<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/vienna-card\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3848\">City Card<\/a>. Both are network travel cards that include discounts on visitor-oriented services and attractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"art-and-architecture\">Architecture, art &amp; more<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/wienmuseumMUSA.jpg\" alt=\"Wien Museum MUSA\" class=\"wp-image-44160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/wienmuseumMUSA.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/wienmuseumMUSA-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The exhibition in the <em>Startgalerie<\/em> of the Wien Museum&#8217;s musa is free to enter)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walk just about anywhere in Vienna and you&#8217;re bound to bump into an interesting building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To simply soak up this historical cityscape, follow the detailed recommendations in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/what-can-you-do-in-a-day\/\">What can you do in a day?<\/a> article and\/or follow my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/walking-tour\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"50322\">self-guided walking route<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For specific architectural eras, look for the location tips for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/baroque\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30588\">Baroque<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/biedermeier\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29296\">Biedermeier<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/jugendstil\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"31716\">Jugendstil<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/historicism\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"28926\">Historicism<\/a> styles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what about the museums?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of Vienna&#8217;s major museums and exhibition venues require an entrance ticket, but a handful allow free entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wien Museum Karlsplatz<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/wienmuseumnew1.jpg\" alt=\"The Wien Museum in the snow\" class=\"wp-image-66171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/wienmuseumnew1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/wienmuseumnew1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Reopened in 2023)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/wien-museum-karlsplatz\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"66174\">main location of the Wien Museum<\/a> broke ground for Vienna by becoming the first major museum to allow free entry to almost all parts. This includes its 3-level permanent exhibition on Vienna&#8217;s chronological, social and cultural history, which also features some prestigious art (cough, Klimt, cough).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only the bigger special exhibitions require an entrance fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The MQ<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/mqw1.jpg\" alt=\"Outside the MuseumsQuartier\" class=\"wp-image-46361\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/mqw1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/mqw1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The MQ main entrance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/vienna-museums\/mq\/\">MuseumsQuartier<\/a> (MQ) houses various museums and institutions as a sort of melting pot of contemporary art and culture. Open courtyards, bars and caf\u00e9s invite you to wander through the complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You do need a ticket for most of the big institutions and exhibitions, but&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/mq-art-box\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34657\">MQ Art Box<\/a> is a permanent glass-sided container in the main open-access courtyard with an art installation inside that changes every two months or so<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Around nine of the passageways between buildings and courtyards form what the MQ calls micromuseums, which means the thoroughfares have one or more distinctive features. A typical example might be a creative ceiling fresco<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/mq-libelle\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"26801\">MQ Libelle<\/a> is an open space, art installation, and viewing platform on the roof of the Leopold Museum. Also free<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Small city museums<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A number of smaller museums, like those dedicated to individual districts, charge no entrance fee. Though many have limited opening days and times. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/kultur-freizeit\/gratis-museum.html\">the list<\/a> provided by the city government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other art options<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/ringturmart.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/ringturmart.jpg\" alt=\"Ringturm summer art installation\" class=\"wp-image-49155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/ringturmart.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/ringturmart-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Ringturm usually has a special art fa\u00e7ade in summer)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside the MuseumsQuartier, try&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/musa\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22139\">Wien Museum&#8217;s musa<\/a> features contemporary Viennese art with free entry to both the main exhibition hall and the smaller <em>Startgalerie <\/em>exhibition room<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/theseus-temple\/\">Theseus temple<\/a> owes its existence to the need for somewhere to show off a remarkable piece of art (Canova&#8217;s <em>Theseus Group<\/em> sculpture). Vienna&#8217;s Kunsthistorisches Museum group now uses the temple in warmer months for an art installation by some renowned contemporary artist<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/ringturm-ring-tower\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1337\">Ringturm<\/a> insurance office building offers a few secret delights. One is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/architecture-exhibition-ringturm\/\">Architektur im Ringturm<\/a> exhibition, which usually tackles some architectural theme from Central and Eastern Europe. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you enjoy street art, then take a walk along the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/donaukanal\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34106\">Donaukanal<\/a>. This channel of the Danube river runs across the edge of Vienna&#8217;s old town. The embankment walls either side of the water burst with urban art. Some of it wonderful, some of it, ahem, less so<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The K\u00d6R <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koer.or.at\/\">Public Art Vienna<\/a> programme deserves a special shout out. K\u00d6R funds freely-accessible temporary and permanent public art installations (over 200 at the time of writing), which you find dotted throughout Vienna. The subway station near the university I sometimes teach at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.koer.or.at\/projekte\/gesichtsueberwachungsschnecken\/\">has one<\/a>, for example<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/calle-libre\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"17569\">Calle Libre festival<\/a> invites artists to create giant street murals and each year sees another handful added to the collection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"pac1094278,pro974613\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_free\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"churches-and-the-cathedral\">Cathedral &amp; churches<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/minoritenkirche2025.jpg\" alt=\"Full view of the Minoritenkirche\" class=\"wp-image-82513\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/minoritenkirche2025.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/minoritenkirche2025-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Minoritenkirche, which you might recognise from <em>The Third Man<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna&#8217;s landmark sight in the very centre is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/stefansdom\/\">Stephansdom<\/a> cathedral. You do need a ticket to look around most of the inside and to access the towers and other interesting bits of the building. But you can actually view some of this gothic giant without paying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The area immediately after you enter the main entrance and up part of the north side costs nothing to wander into and around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The central area of town also has a number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/churches\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"28720\">lovely churches<\/a> you can view for free. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/peterskirche\/\">Peterskirche<\/a> with its extraordinary baroque ornamentation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/minoritenkirche\/\">Minoritenkirche<\/a> with its proud bell tower<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/augustinerkirche\/\">Augustinerkirche<\/a> with its striking Canova memorial<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/annakirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27656\">Annakirche<\/a>, which rivals the Peterskirche for interior baroque glory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/michaelerkirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27662\">Michaelerkirche<\/a>, which includes parts dating back to the 1200s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"parks-and-palaces\">Parks &amp; palaces<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/museumviewvolksgarten.jpg\" alt=\"Museum view from the Volksgarten\" class=\"wp-image-41931\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/museumviewvolksgarten.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/museumviewvolksgarten-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Rose Garden in the Volksgarten park)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna is famously full of public city parks requiring no entrance fee. And some of them look rather delightful. Here some suggestions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Most people go to Sch\u00f6nbrunn to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/tour\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"161\">tour inside<\/a> the 18th-century palace that housed various emperors and empresses (including Franz Joseph and the famous Sisi). But the huge <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/gardens-park\/\">landscaped gardens and wider park<\/a> are free to visit, with the exception of a couple of small locations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The park has such (free) delights as a Roman ruins (albeit fake), an obelisk, a rose garden, and a botanic garden. View the wonderful exterior architecture of the palace (obviously) but also see the giant Palm House, the Gloriette, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/palace-of-schonbrunn\/\">much more<\/a> from outside at least.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Belvedere consists of two 18th-century palaces at either end of a rising terrace with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/baroque-gardens\/\">landscaped baroque gardens<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You need tickets to go <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/vienna-museums\/belvedere\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"3308\">inside the palaces<\/a>, which feature excellent art exhibitions and provide a home for Klimt&#8217;s <em>The Kiss<\/em>. But the main gardens are free, as is the adjoining <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/botanical-garden\/\">botanical garden<\/a> run by the university of Vienna.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/burggarten1.jpg\" alt=\"The Burggarten from the Hofburg\" class=\"wp-image-45688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/burggarten1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/burggarten1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Burggarten park in the old town)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The small <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/burggarten\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2746\">Burggarten park<\/a> sits behind the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/neue-burg\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1493\">Neue Burg<\/a> wing of the Hofburg place in Vienna&#8217;s centre and borders the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/albertina\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2995\">Albertina art museum<\/a>. The Burggarten itself is just a nice bit of green space but has one particular point in its favour: the famous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/mozart-monument-burggarten\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5870\">Mozart monument<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Talking Mozart&#8230;if you want to see where they buried him, then head out to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/st-marx-cemetery\/\">former cemetery<\/a> at St.Marx. The location has a remarkable atmosphere with nature slowly conquering the gravestones<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Staying on the composer theme, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/stadtpark\/\">Stadtpark<\/a> (also very central) has its own famous monument: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/strauss-monument\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3271\">golden Strauss statue<\/a> that&#8217;s become one of the city&#8217;s most popular photo opportunities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/straussmonument.jpg\" alt=\"The Strauss monument\" class=\"wp-image-44864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/straussmonument.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/straussmonument-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The golden Strauss statue)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other composers have monuments here, including Schubert and Leh\u00e1r. The park itself is rather fine, too, with the modest River Wien running through it (not to be confused with the Danube)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A short walk up from the Burggarten, just off Heldenplatz square, is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/volksgarten\/\">Volksgarten park<\/a>. This one becomes a true delight in late spring and early summer, thanks to the spectacular rose garden. Fans of Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) should enjoy the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/elisabeth-memorial\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"16938\">large memorial<\/a> to her<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The huge Prater has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/prater-park-hiking-trail-9\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"35713\">park area<\/a> with waterways, meadows, woodland walks, cycle paths and other recreational facilities. Notable for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/wurstelprater-amusement-park\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"35559\">amusement complex<\/a> at one end (home to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/riesenrad\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"271\">giant ferris wheel<\/a>, for example) and the long Hauptallee boulevard that runs right down the centre (a favourite with cyclists and runners)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"woods-walks-and-rivers\">Woods, walks &amp; rivers<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/walkwaysouthernshore.jpg\" alt=\"Footpath and cycle path\" class=\"wp-image-45584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/walkwaysouthernshore.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/walkwaysouthernshore-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Out along the banks of the Donaukanal)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parks aren&#8217;t the only green places to stretch your legs in Vienna. We have a lot of woods and waterways, for example, including a rather large river you might have heard of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If that tickles your interest, browse Vienna&#8217;s information on official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/en\/leisure\/hiking-paths\">hiking paths<\/a> around the city, particularly those in the western woods and hills. Other free options include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Riverside walks: walking and cycle routes run along Vienna&#8217;s waterways, most notably:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The length of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/mapsgeography\/the-danube\/\">the Danube<\/a> and down <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/donauinsel\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"62574\">the island<\/a> that splits the river where it passes through Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/donaukanal\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34106\">Donaukanal<\/a> Danube channel meanders close to the city centre with dedicated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/donaukanal-walking-cycling-river-trips\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34304\">bicycle paths and footpaths<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/alte-donau-old-danube\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"50700\">Alte Donau<\/a> is a lake, but a rather big one with plenty of lakeside footpaths<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Lainzer Tiergarten is a large <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/umwelt\/wald\/erholung\/lainzertiergarten\/\">managed wilderness<\/a> on the edge of the city, notable for its wildlife (I&#8217;ve encountered wild boar there, which is a story for another day) but also for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/hermesvilla\/\">Hermesvilla<\/a>, a large summer retreat built for Empress Elisabeth in the 1880s<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The city runs a surprisingly lovely set of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/hirschstetten\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34465\">large gardens<\/a> at Hirchstetten that include various bonus features, such as a mini-zoo, palmhouse, themed horticultural areas, a maze, and more. Still a well-kept secret, possibly because the location is a little off the traditional tourist track<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"exp206741,exp238032\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_ConcTour\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"composer-and-artist-trails\">Composer &amp; artist trails<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/beethovensgrave.jpg\" alt=\"Beethoven's grave\" class=\"wp-image-43289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/beethovensgrave.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/beethovensgrave-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Beethoven&#8217;s grave in the public Zentralfriedhof cemetery)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you happen to be an admirer of Vienna&#8217;s famous musicians, artists and\/or architects, then many biographical landmarks can be admired from the outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I mentioned Mozart&#8217;s grave earlier. And you&#8217;ll find those of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/zentralfriedhoffamousgraves\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"305\">Beethoven, Johann Strauss II, Schubert, and many others<\/a> at the giant and lovingly cared for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/zentralfriedhof\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"301\">Zentralfriedhof cemetery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Zentralfriedhof is practically a park in its own right with wildlife that includes deer and European hamsters. It makes for a lovely walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For detailed maps and lists of relevant biographical addresses for all the above names, plus Klimt, Schiele, Mahler, Empress Elisabeth, Hundertwasser, Haydn, Brahms, Liszt, Bruckner, Leh\u00e1r, and Otto Wagner, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/famous-people\/\">see here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"free-events-and-festivals\">Free events &amp; festivals<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/karlsplatzxmasmarket.jpg\" alt=\"Karlsplatz Christmas market at night\" class=\"wp-image-44421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/karlsplatzxmasmarket.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/karlsplatzxmasmarket-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Karlsplatz Christmas market)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I have a whole page dealing with annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/activities\/events-in-vienna\/\">events and festivals<\/a> in Vienna; many of these are completely free. And the monthly suggestions for activities linked to from that page often include experiences that won&#8217;t burden your bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some particular highlights to watch out for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vienna has dozens of open-air seasonal markets that pop up at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/christmas-markets\/\">Christmas<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/easter-markets\/\">Easter<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/new-year-markets\/\">New Year<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can enjoy them without buying anything. Just soak up the atmosphere, breathe in the scents, revel in the lights and historical surrounds, and browse the stands with all their crafts, gourmet foods and other items not normally sold in your average department store.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/naschmarktfruit.jpg\" alt=\"Tropical fruit at a market\" class=\"wp-image-46515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/naschmarktfruit.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/naschmarktfruit-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The year-round <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/shopping\/markets\/naschmarkt\/\">Naschmarkt food market<\/a> offers its own sensory experience)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Europe&#8217;s biggest free open-air music festival takes place in Vienna (usually in June): the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/donauinselfest\/\">Donauinselfest<\/a> draws in something like 2.5 million visitors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two notable open-air film festivals in summer are free.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/rathaus-film-festival\/\">Rathaus Film Festival<\/a> takes place on the square in front of city hall and features recorded performances from different genres of music<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/theaters\/frameout-open-air-cinema\/\">Frameout<\/a> open air film festival at the MQ offers a mixture of films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Free concerts also dot the Vienna event calendar. For example&#8230;\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/summer-night-concert\/\">Summer Night Concert<\/a> by the Wiener Philharmoniker in the gardens of Sch\u00f6nbrunn<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/festival-of-joy\/\">Fest der Freude concert<\/a> (always May 8) by the Wiener Symphoniker on Heldenplatz square<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/popfest\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"17214\">Popfest<\/a> (late July) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/gurtel-nightwalk\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"17627\">G\u00fcrtel Nightwalk<\/a> (late August) events, which offer free concerts where the music is more 2025 than 1825<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"some-cheap-options\">Not free, but inexpensive<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/cafejelineksigns.jpg\" alt=\"Cafe Jelinek signs\" class=\"wp-image-43773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/cafejelineksigns.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/cafejelineksigns-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(One of Vienna&#8217;s many lovely coffee houses)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is an article about what to do for free in Vienna, but three opportunities allow you to enjoy some special <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/viennese-experiences\/\">Viennese experiences<\/a> without spending much money at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, for what it&#8217;s worth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vienna has a lot of concerts designed to give visitors a taste of light classical music while sitting in an atmospheric historical venue. You can pay a lot, but if you browse <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Free\" rel=\"sponsored\">various options<\/a>* then some concerts cost as little as \u20ac15 (like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/stephansdom-organ-concerts\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"71451\">organ recitals<\/a> in the cathedral, last time I checked)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/coffee-houses\/\">traditional caf\u00e9s<\/a> form part of the cultural fabric of the city. And you should be able to sit in them for a long time with your first order of coffee (with cake optional but recommended). Usually, nobody will hassle you to move on. It&#8217;s all part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/coffee-house-experience\/\">coffee house tradition<\/a>, though you may find exceptions of course (I&#8217;m hearing rumours of some places introducing timeslot bookings)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/opera\/cheap-tickets\/\">Standing space tickets<\/a> to the State Opera House are priced as low as \u20ac13 on the day (even less if you book in advance, though that&#8217;s a little more complicated)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>After all that you should have given your finances a bit of a break. Leaving plenty over for some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/traditional-food-drink\/\">traditional Viennese food<\/a>. Enjoy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You don&#8217;t have to spend money to enjoy Austria&#8217;s capital. Here are my suggestions for free and inexpensive things to do and see in Vienna&#8230; Free activities, sights, &amp; experiences (The front part of Stephansdom cathedral is free to enter) Like any place full of tourist attractions, the city has plenty of ways to help [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22436,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-22421","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22421"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22421\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88340,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22421\/revisions\/88340"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}