Vienna Walking Tour: Hidden Gems & Imperial Highlights
A licensed guide reveals the courtyards, churches and squares that built an empire.
A 2-hour guided walking tour of Vienna's Old Town covers imperial palaces, Gothic cathedrals, and hidden gems with a 5-star licensed guide speaking your chosen language. You'll stand outside the Hofburg, walk through Heroes' Square, see the Spanish Riding School, and step inside St. Peter's Church and St. Stephen's Cathedral, hearing stories of emperors, empresses and centuries of Viennese history along the way.
Options for this experience
4 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Vienna's historic and cultural landmarks
- Meet at Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz
- View Vienna State Opera exterior
- Admire Albertina facade
- Visit Augustinerkirche church
- See Austrian National Library
- Pause outside Sisi Museum
- Tour Hofburg Palace courtyards
- Walk Heldenplatz square
- View Imperial Treasury entrance
- Explore Spanish Riding School exterior
- Discover Michaelerplatz square
- See St Michael’s Church
- Stroll Kohlmarkt shopping street
- Wander Vienna Historic City Center
- Pause by Column of the Pest
- Enter St Peter’s Church interior
- Conclude at St Stephen’s Cathedral
- Albertina Museum 5m
- Sisi Museum 5m
- Heroes’ Square 5m
- Spanish Riding School 5m
- St. Michael’s Church 5m
- Historic Center of Vienna 10m
- St. Stephen's Cathedral 10m
What’s included
- Walking tour of Vienna's Old Town with a 5-star licensed guide providing live commentary in your chosen language.
- free entry to St. Peter's Church and restricted-access areas of St. Stephen's Cathedral.
- local insights and recommendations from your guide.
Times
- Monday and Thursday 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
- Tuesday and Friday 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 17:40
- Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 11:00 11:15 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00
Before you book
Operated by Rosotravel - Vienna Tours
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
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The experience
The tour starts at Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz and moves through Vienna's Historic Center as a UNESCO World Heritage site, stopping at roughly a dozen landmarks in two hours. Your guide speaks one of eleven languages and points out what lies behind each façade: the Austrian National Library's Baroque grandeur, the Sisi Museum's connection to Empress Elisabeth, the Column of the Pest that marks Vienna's survival of the 1679 plague. You'll walk Kohlmarkt, once reserved for court purveyors, and cross Michaelerplatz, where Roman ruins sit beneath Baroque buildings. The pace is steady but not rushed. The guide chooses where to linger and where to move on.
Two stops include entry: St. Peter's Church, a Baroque interior with gilded altars and frescoes, and St. Stephen's Cathedral, where you can see the Gothic spires and stonework from outside and step into the restricted-access areas for free (full-access tickets cost 29 euros, cash only, and can be bought on the spot). You'll stand before the Hofburg's courtyards and façades but won't enter. The same applies to the Vienna State Opera and the Spanish Riding School, where the guide explains the tradition of Lipizzaner stallions and centuries of horsemanship without a ticket purchase. The tour ends at St. Stephen's Cathedral, leaving time to explore further if you choose.
Arrive ten minutes early. Late arrivals forfeit the booking. Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothes: tours run rain or shine. The route is wheelchair accessible, and strollers are welcome. No luggage, pets or large bags can be stored, so travel light. Check your email and phone the day before for any updates from the operator.
Is this one for you?Choose the group tour if you want to meet other travelers and hear stories from a guide who knows Vienna's history. Pick the private tour if you prefer a custom pace and flexible timing for your group alone.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
In English, French, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Croatian and Chinese, with 8 departure times. In Spanish and Italian, with 10 departure times.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 18): free.
What's inside St. Stephen's Cathedral that I can see for free on this tour?
St. Stephen's Cathedral's restricted-access areas are included free with the tour, letting you step inside and see parts of the interior without paying. If you want full access to the entire cathedral, including the tower and crypt, general admission tickets are available on-site for 29 euros in cash only.
Does the tour go inside the Hofburg Palace?
The tour stops at the Hofburg's courtyards and façades, where your guide shares stories of emperors and empresses and you can take photos. Entry to the palace itself is not included and requires a separate ticket purchased independently.
Will I see the Lipizzaner stallions at the Spanish Riding School?
The Spanish Riding School is a viewing stop where your guide explains the tradition of white Lipizzaner horses and the centuries of equestrian training, but you won't enter the venue or watch a performance. Tickets to see the horses perform are not part of this tour.
How many people are usually on this tour?
Group tours have a maximum of 24 participants. You can also book a private tour if you prefer a smaller group or a custom experience.
Can I visit St. Peter's Church if there's a mass happening?
St. Peter's Church entry depends on the mass schedule, so access may be limited on certain days or times. Your guide will work around the schedule when possible.
Vienna Walking Tour: Hidden Gems & Imperial Highlights
2h · EN · ES · FR · DE · IT · PT +6
from € 23.15 per person
≈ US$ 26 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.