1. Explore a Viennese neighborhood

© WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

The neighborhoods in Vienna are called Grätzel. Every Grätzel has a very unique atmosphere and its own particular flair. Have you heard of the Piaristenviertel in the 8th district, for instance? The picturesque quarter centered around the eponymous Piarist Church with its beautiful streets, charming beer gardens, quaint stores and historic theaters invites visitors to explore.

2. Discover the works of Johann Strauss through play

© WienTourismus/Hermann Höger

All of Vienna has caught the Strauss fever. In 2025 the city is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Waltz King, Johann Strauss. To mark the occasion, we have developed a Strauss Waltz Challenge for our ivie app. Go on a digital scavenger hunt through Vienna with ivie, including a Johann Strauss quiz and an augmented reality challenge at the Strauss monument in the Stadtpark. You have certainly never seen the Waltz King like this before.

3. A boat trip on the Danube

© WienTourismus/Paul Bauer

A wonderful way to discover Vienna in summer is from the water. Hire a boat on the Old Danube, dip your feet in the cool water and enjoy a sightseeing tour with a difference. We’re sure you will never have seen Vienna from this perspective before. After the boat tour, we recommend stopping off at one of the idyllic beach restaurants along the Old Danube.

4. Chill out in a sidewalk café

© Gregor Lechner

Viennese locals use sidewalk cafés like their living rooms for much of the summer. Nobody stays indoors on hot summer days. Do as the Viennese do and take a seat in one of the many beautiful sidewalk cafés. The Volksgarten Pavilion is a green oasis in the heart of the city. Sit down and relax here under the shade of the trees and watch the ducks in the little stream. This is how we do summer in Vienna.

5. Wrap up the day with a cocktail

© Palais Coburg

Bring a summer’s day to a relaxed end with a sundowner in a bar. A number of rooftop bars in Vienna offer fantastic views of the city. At ground level this year, the new summer bar in the historic gardens of the Palais Coburg invites guests to enjoy sparkling signature drinks, a glass of champagne or a refined aperitif. The summer bar is open daily from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. in good weather. A summer’s day in Vienna doesn’t get any better than this.

A bonus tip:

Vienna’s ice cream parlors are also celebrating the 200th birthday of Johann Strauss II this year – with special ice cream creations. The Austrian ice cream makers have created their own flavors inspired by his works to pay special tribute to the Waltz King Strauss. They have taken inspiration from individual pieces of music or operettas by Johann Strauss and used them to create unique ice cream flavors. Examples include a champagne gelato called “Die Fledermaus”, the tiramisu ice cream creation “Eine Nacht in Venedig”, blue stracciatella ice cream with golden glitter (“An der schönen blauen Donau”) and the “Frühlingsstimmen”, an ice cream tasting of elderberry with Viennese honey.