Vienna, Austria is a city of opulence, history, and beauty. There are plenty of classic things to do in Vienna from visiting royal houses to admiring historic art and much more. However, beyond the classical attractions and adventures to be had, there is a wide range of unusual things to do in Vienna that will surprise and excite you.
From first glance Vienna looks like your average European capital; think ornate architecture, historic buildings, and old churches. Admiring and enjoying these main attractions of Vienna is nice, but you really get to know a place once you dig a little deeper.
With this list of 20 unusual things to do in Vienna you will discover a whole new side to Vienna and delve deeper into the unique and interesting parts of the city.
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20 Unusual Things to do in Vienna
View the Mesmerizing Hundertwasser Buildings
The Hundertwasser Buildings in Vienna are some of the most interesting and fascinating pieces of architecture in Austria. The buildings were created by Austrian artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser who worked against straight lines and instead celebrated organic and natural curves. The buildings offer an explosion of bright colors, different shapes, unmatched windows, and lines of all sorts.
Although the Hundertwasser Buildings are unusual they do still attract quite a few visitors each year. In fact, this is one of the most visited places in Vienna, which may be due to the fact that visiting and explore is free. Be sure to arrive early in the morning if you want to view the buildings with fewer people around.
Location: Kegelgasse 36-38, 1030 Wien, Austria
Wotruba Church (Kirche Zur Heiligsten Dreifaltigkeit)
Wotruba Church is a church in Vienna that looks unlike any other church you’ve seen before. The building is a piece of art in its modern, asymmetrical design and an amazing piece of architectural work. It was built in 1976 by Fritz Wotruba on the site of former Nazi barracks. The Jenga styled outside is worth the visit to admire, while the inside looks like an everyday church.
Location: Ottillingerpl. 1, 1230 Wien, Austria.
Admire State Hall of the Austrian National Library
The Austrian National Library is one of the most famous and beautiful libraries in the world. The books are housed in 20-meter-high and 80-meter-long shelves offering an endless view of literature. More so, in the center of the library, there is a huge dome and the roof is painted with deliciated frescoes.
The stunning baroque style of the interior of the library only adds to its magic. This is something that should be on everyone’s Vienna itinerary to see and experience the beauty first hand. Plus, it only costs 8 euros to enter.
Location: Josefsplatz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria
View the Narrenturm
The Narrenturm (also known as Fools Tower) is an old psychiatric hospital that closed in 1869. In 1971 it reopened as an anatomical museum and has one of the world’s largest pathological collections. The museum has over 50,000 objects on display from skeletons, to furniture, to preserved species. Just be warned, some of the things displayed are quite shocking for visitors.
Location: Uni Campus, Spitalgasse 2, 1090 Wien, Austria
Enjoy the Oldest Amusement Park in the World
A place of adventure, excitement, and fun is Prater, the world’s oldest amusement park. Here you will find a giant Ferris wheel, a haunted house, 117-meter-high swings, a roller coaster, candy shops, and more. It is the perfect place to escape to for enjoying a fun day strolling the park grounds, relaxing on the vast green space, or having some fun on the rides. Virtually no tourists know about Prater so you can enjoy a day without crowds. Plus, it is free to enter, and you only pay per ride.
Location: 1020 Vienna, Austria
Go underground as a part of the Third Man Sewer Tour
The Third Man Sewer Tour is an exceptionally unusual thing to do in Vienna. The tour involves bringing you down into the Vienna sewers for a tour and showing a screening of the Third Man film – which was shot in these sewers – on the sewer wall. The sewers don’t smell that bad and although the tour focuses on the Third Man film you don’t need to be a fan to enjoy the adventure.
Search for the Unique Traffic Lights
Vienna is a city known for its openness, inclusivity, and diversity. In 2015, the city changed some of the crosswalk symbols to make a statement for gender equality and sexuality. Today you will find the crosswalk symbols at over 50 locations to be a combination of mixed and same-sex couples. They are very cute and unique and something to look out for all around the city.
Visit Falschermuseum Museum of Art Fakes (Fälschermuseum)
The Museum of Art Fakes is a museum dedicated to famous art forgers and their artwork imitations. This small museum sits across from the Hundertwasserhaus and holds a gallery of imitated works of art that appear to be from Rembrandt, Klimt, and others. The museum highlights a few notable forgers and celebrates the craft of forgery. The 5.50 euro entrance fee is worth it to learn and educate yourself about the history of art forgery.
Location: Löwengasse 28, 1030 Wien, Austria
Feel Worldly at the Globe Museum
Vienna’s Globe Museum is the world’s only museum dedicated solely to globes. The museum is home to a wide range of globes such as; human-sized globes, foldable globes, and the oldest globe in the world dating back to 1539. More so, the museum has a tellurion collection which is perfect for astrology lovers.
Location: Palais Mollard, Herrengasse 9, 1010 Wien, Austria
Get Educated at the Sigmund Freud Museum
The Sigmund Freud Museum is the perfect place to learn about the world-famous psychological and neurologist Sigmund Freud. The museum is located in his previous home and office which adds an interesting and even more personal touch. At this museum, you will find exhibits and artifacts in relation to Dr. Sigmund Freud.
Location: Palais Mollard, Herrengasse 9, 1010 Wien, Austria
Join Hitler’s Vienna walking tour
Hitler’s walking tour offers an insight into Vienna’s darker times and a part of history that should not be forgotten. The tour is around 2 and a half hours and teaches you about Hitler and his upbringing and the impact he caused on Vienna and the Jewish community. You will see the only synagogue that survived WW2, war memorials, and more. Embarking on this unusual yet powerful tour is perfect for history lovers and those wanting to delve deeper into Vienna’s’ past.
Explore Haus des Meeres – Aqua Terra Zoo
The Haus des Meeres is an aquarium and zoo located right in the city of Vienna. This is the perfect place to spend a few hours enjoying the aquarium exhibits to the rainforest exhibits and beyond. To many people’s surprise, Haus des Meeres has around 10 floors of exhibits and is full of adventure. Plus, there is a rooftop café that offers stunning views of the city.
Location: Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1, 1060 Wien, Austria
Enjoy Das Schmetterlinghaus (The Butterfly House)
The Butterfly House offers a welcome escape to a jungle, tropical paradise full of stunning butterflies. There are hundreds of tropical butterflies that are free to fly around the large glass enclosure for your pleasure. You will see a ton of colorful and interesting types of butterflies all around, and some might land on you! This is a great place to escape to for a little while if you are visiting Vienna on a cold day.
Location: Hofburg, 1010 Wien, Austria
Adventure to Torture Museum
The Torture museums is another dark tourism attraction in Vienna. It is the biggest torture museum in middle Europe with over 50 original exhibits. This museum is built inside an old German bunker and is a chilling and cold place to visit. However, it tells an interesting story of torture in the past and makes you appreciate the present.
Indulge in a Giant Schnitzel
Wiener schnitzel is one of the most popular dishes from Vienna. At almost every restaurant and on every street, you can find it for sale. However, a visit to the famous Figlmüller is in order to try a giant piece of schnitzel. This restaurant is home to the schnitzel and serves over 200,000 a year.
The Chocolate Museum
The Chocolate Museum is an unusual thing to do in Vienna that is perfect for sweets lovers. At this museum, you get a crash course on the history of chocolate and how it is made, plus you get to decorate three of your own chocolate bars with toppings provided. This is a great place to go if you are traveling with children or are craving some chocolate.
Location: Im Wiener Prater, Riesenradplatz 5, 1020 Wien, Austria
Hunt for the Best Sachertorte
Sachertorte is a Viennese classic dessert that consists of a decadent chocolate cake with apricot jam in the middle. The home of Sachertorte is Café Sacher, which offers delicious cake from an original 1832 recipe. However, the line here can get pretty long so you are welcome to go on your own search for the best in the city.
Go on a Food Tour
The best way to learn about a city and immerse yourself in the culture is with food. And there is no better way to get the most out of food than by going on a food tour. There are various food tours in Vienna that will show you the best options from the city and give you a grand history on them.
View the Sunset from Das Loft
Das Loft is a beautiful rooftop bar in the middle of Vienna. The panoramic views of Vienna from the top are beyond gorgeous and it is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Due to the beauty of Das Loft, it can get extremely busy so be sure to make a reservation before visiting.
Location: Praterstraße 1, 1020 Wien, Austria
Learn How to Waltz
On November 11th at 11:11 AM the city kicks off the beginning of carnival season with a city-wide waltz on Graben Boulevard. If you want to join in feel free, there are dance teachers there to show you how to Waltz. Or you can watch from the sidelines as the Viennese do as they do!
Where to stay in Vienna
If you are planning to visit some of the more unusual parts of Vienna, choosing an area to stay in is much easier. A lot of the things on this list are not located directly in the city center which means you don’t have to break the bank trying to get as close to the action. Below is a map depiciting the best places to stay in and around the city center of Vienna.
Booking.comWhen to visit Vienna
Vienna is a great place to visit year-round. The summer is great to visit for warmer weather and being able to explore all the sites and attractions without getting too cold. While the winter offers a more romantic feel, and around Christmas Vienna has amazing Christmas markets! No matter when you visit there is something unique and special about the city during the time.
Vienna is full of unusual things to do! If you are venturing to this stunning capital city and want to see a different and more unique side to the city be sure to do some of these unusual things to do in Vienna.
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We almost made it to Vienna a few years ago when we visited Budapest. I can’t wait to visit. Just love finding off the beaten path locations. I know I’d just love to visit the Globe Museum. So unique! And my kids will love the roller coasters! We always try to ensure that the teens understand the history of the places we visit. While the Hitler tour may be dark, it’s important for the next generation to see and understand what took place.
The Hundertwasser Buildings look really interesting, such a creative idea! Vienna looks like a great place to walk, even if it’s to follow the footsteps of Hitler… At the end of the day, relax and recharge with a sachertorte, perfect!
We only had a bit of a taste test when we visited Austria. Great to read that there are so many reasons to return. The Austrian National Library looks like a fascinating spot to explore. And we have always wanted to do an underground tour. We actually had a family member who knew Sigmund Freud so it might be interesting to see that museum. But chocolate and Sacher torte tasting might keep us engaged for many days too.
O wow, so many interesting things to see and do in Vienna. I would definitely go on the Third Man Sewer tour and Hitler’s tour. I also love the unconventional architecture of not using straight lines. And those streets lights are so darn cute!
I love history, so I usually seek out museums or interesting architecture in a city that’s new to me. But Vienna has the oldest amusement park in the world? Yes!!! That’s where I’m going. Thanks for the suggestion!!