Your Guide to a Historic and Scenic Vienna Honeymoon

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If you enjoy music and art, want to see beautiful architecture and love relaxing with food and wine, an Austria honeymoon in Vienna could be perfect for you. As the birthplace of musicians like Mozart and Beethoven, Vienna is known as the "City of Music," making it one of the best honeymoon destinations for couples who love stumbling upon live music. Vienna is also known for its Baroque architecture and opulent palaces that once housed the grand Habsburg Monarchy.

There are direct flights to Austria from New York, Washington, DC, and Chicago, making it an easy flight for those on the East Coast and in the Midwest. If you're using your honeymoon to tour Europe, you'll find that most European cities offer direct flights and train rides to Austria, so you can easily make it a stop on your trip. Whether you're visiting for 10 days or one, you'll love spending time in this romantic city.

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When it comes to planning your honeymoon in Austria, use this as your guide. From the best months to planning your itinerary, use our expert tips to plan your romantic getaway.

Austria Honeymoon Tips in this Article:

• Best Time to Honeymoon in Austria
• Austria Honeymoon Planning Tips
• Best Vienna, Austria Honeymoon Hotels and Resorts
• Austria Honeymoon Itinerary Ideas
• What to Pack for a Vienna, Austria Honeymoon

Photo: Alexander Spatari | Getty

Best Time to Honeymoon in Austria

Vienna gets very cold and snowy in the winter, but stays sunny and moderately warm in the summer. The best time to visit Austria is in the late spring, summer or early fall, unless you don't mind chilly weather.

Best weather: April to October.
Festival highlights: The Vienna Film Festival in October, offering a variety of international films and premieres. The Wiener Festwochen, from mid-May to mid-June, is a celebration of theater, music and opera. Christmas markets, from late November to December, are magical, offering traditional crafts, foods and festive music.

Austria Honeymoon Planning Tips

A couples vacation in Vienna, Austria combines old-world history with modern luxury, as the city's beautiful and well-maintained architecture lends itself to many upscale hotels and romantic tourist attractions. Because Vienna ranks as the European Union's sixth-largest city, there are plenty of interesting and beautiful attractions, but it does not have the large tourist crowds that you may find in Rome, Paris or London.

You'll also find the Viennese people to be warm, approachable and welcoming. Vienna's excellent public transportation will make it easy for you and your spouse to explore the city and surrounding area without a car or expensive rideshares, and you'll likely find yourselves taking day trips to the ski resorts and vineyards that surround the city.

While Vienna's public transport is some of the best in the world, keep in mind that the city is rather spread out. You may find yourselves having to walk long distances while sightseeing. As a large and historic city, Vienna can get pricey, so doing research and budgeting while planning your honeymoon may be necessary.

Entry requirements: A US passport that is valid for at least 3 months. Starting in 2025, US citizens will need to have an ETIAS for Austria. It's valid for 3 years and can be obtained online.
Language: German.
Location: Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria, located in the northeastern part of the country along the Danube River.
Currency: Euro (EUR).
Flight time to Destination: Flights from New York City to Vienna typically range from 8 to 9 hours.
Getting around: Vienna boasts an efficient and comprehensive public transportation system, including metros (U-Bahn), trams and buses. The city is also bike-friendly and walkable, particularly in the Innere Stadt (city center), where many sights are close to each other.

Pro tip: To ensure a seamless Viennese honeymoon, invite a travel specialist to your vendor team. Find expert travel agents on The Knot Marketplace for Austria honeymoon expertise and reviews.

Best Vienna, Austria Honeymoon Hotels and Resorts

From luxurious hotels with honeymoon suites in historic buildings to charming boutique hotels, there are plenty of top-notch places to stay on a Vienna, Austria honeymoon. Consider staying in the city center or near major attractions like Schönbrunn Palace or the Belvedere Palace.

Photo: Muellek | Shutterstock

Hotel Bristol

Seeking an authentic Vienna experience? Hotel Bristol's luxurious and historically decorated rooms will make you feel like you're staying in an imperial palace. Plus, you'll have stunning views of the Vienna State Opera House just across the street.

4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews

The Ritz-Carlton Vienna

The Ritz-Carlton's iconic and historic presence extends into Austria. This five-star hotel boasts a spa, an indoor pool, four restaurants and bars, and luxurious, modern rooms.

4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Le Méridien Vienna

Couples seeking a contemporary or artistic hotel will love Le Méridien Vienna. The rooms feature bold colors and designs, and local bands often play live music at this boutique hotel's restaurant and bar.

4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Grand Hotel Wien

Seeking a hotel rooted in history? The Grand Hotel Wien opened in 1870 as the first Viennese luxury hotel and was a popular choice for aristocrats and royalty. Today, couples can choose from many different historical rooms and dining options, which range from artistic Japanese cuisine to a classic Austrian lunch outside.

4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Hotel Kaiserhof Wien

The Hotel Kaiserhof Wien, located just minutes away from the city's center, features superb customer service and free breakfast. You and your spouse will appreciate filling up on a buffet breakfast to help save money on delicious Viennese meals later.

5.0 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Hotel Imperial

The Hotel Imperial was originally built as the home of Duke Philipp of Württemberg, but became a hotel for the 1873 World Fair. To date, it remains one of the most well-known hotels in the world. (Don't forget to try the Imperial Torte, the hotel's specialty chocolate and marzipan cake.)

4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews

Pro tip: For honeymoon accommodations that may provide you with more affordability or privacy, consider staying at a romantic Airbnb or VRBO.

Austria Honeymoon Itinerary Ideas

Vienna is filled with romantic activities for honeymooners. Couples can enjoy a performance at the renowned Vienna State Opera, take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the cobblestone streets or dine at intimate cafés by the Danube. Visiting the Schönbrunn Palace and its beautiful gardens is a must, as is taking a sunset cruise along the Danube River.

Photo: MRGB | Shutterstock

Explore the Imperial Palaces

The Hofburg Imperial Palace is the former home of the Habsburg Monarchy. The palace now includes the Sisi Museum, which features personal items of Empress Elisabeth, Austria's longest-serving empress. You'll also see Imperial Apartments (the main residence area) and the Silver Collection (a collection of cultural artifacts). You can explore this grand palace and museum on your own, follow a guided tour or book a private tour. You can also visit the Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburg family's summer home in Vienna.

Visit the World's Oldest Zoo

Established by the Habsburgs in 1752, Tiergarten Schoenbrunn is the world's oldest zoo. The zoo features over 700 species, from pandas and elephants to everything in between. People come from all over the world to visit this zoo, which was voted Europe's best zoo in 2008, 2010 and 2012.

See the City From the Donauturm

The Donauturm, also called the Danube Tower, overlooks Vienna and the Danube River, and offers a 360-degree view of the area. You can even turn your visit into a romantic afternoon, as the tower includes both a quaint coffee shop and a delicious restaurant.

Eat Wiener Schnitzel at Local Taverns

A staple Viennese dish, wiener schnitzel is a thin, breaded, pan-fried meat cutlet (though vegetarian recipes exist). You can explore various Viennese restaurants and taste the many different interpretations of this classic dish, or you can learn to make your own.

Ride the Wiener Riesenrad

Located in Prater amusement park, the Wiener Riesenrad is Vienna's giant Ferris wheel. You can ride this Ferris wheel for amazing views of Vienna.

Visit the Belvedere Palace

The Belvedere is a historic complex that includes two Baroque palaces that have now been converted into an art museum. You can see some of the world's most famous art, including pieces from Van Gogh and Monet, in what is largely considered Europe's most stunning Baroque building.

See Beethoven's House

Beethoven was born in Germany, but he moved to Vienna at 21 and lived there for the rest of his life. The Beethoven Museum takes you through the apartment that Beethoven lived in, and you'll learn about his life, music and personality.

Pro tip: Add Vienna honeymoon experiences to your gift registry so that loved ones can give you one of these memorable couples activities. Make sure to post a few photos to your wedding website—this way all of your guests can see what you're up to.

What to Pack for a Vienna, Austria Honeymoon

Photo: Cge2010 | Shutterstock

When you visit Vienna, you'll want to pack a few casual outfits for exploring the city, and dressier outfits for enjoying dinners out. Many restaurants have rules against shorts and flip-flops, so you might want to exclude those from your packing checklist. You'll find that many Viennese people dress "smart casual" day-to-day, meaning blouses, shirts and fitted pants rather than T-shirts or sweatpants.

Bring comfortable walking shoes in your honeymoon luggage, as the city is a bit spread out. Even if you're traveling in the summer, you'll want to pack a sweater or jacket, as evenings can become cool. While Vienna is a landlocked city, you may want to bring a swimsuit if your hotel has a pool.

Brittany Barber contributed to this article.