I recommend spending at least a couple of days in Bratislava. But if you only have time for a day trip, you can see the top Bratislava highlights in a day.

The Best Day Trips from Vienna:

Salzburg

Top Activity Recommendations: do a walking tour of the Old Town, ride the Festungsbahn funicular up to Hohensalzburg Fortress, visit The Sound of Music filming sites with Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tours, see Mozart’s residence and birthplace, and tour the Stiegel brewery.

Hallstatt

Top Activity Recommendations: walk the entire length of Old Town, shop at the Central Square Marktplatz, stroll through the Hallstatt Ossuary, take a boat out on the lake, go up to the Hallstatt Skywalk “Welterbeblick,” and ride the Salzwelten Hallstatt.

Wachau Valley

Top Activity Recommendations: explore Krems and Dürnstein, ride an e-bike along the Danube River, taste wine at local vineyards, visit the Gottweig Abbey, and hike to the Burgruine Dürnstein.

Bratislava

Top Activity Recommendations: do a walking tour of the Old Town, see Maximilian’s Fountain, eat on St. Michael’s Street, visit St Martin’s Cathedral, taste wines at local vineyards, tour Bratislava Castle, visit Devin Castle, and go to the top of the Kamzík TV Tower.

Budapest

Top Activity Recommendations: see the Parliament Building, pamper yourself at the Gellért Baths, visit Heroes’ Square, explore Margaret Island, walk along the Danube Promenade, visit St. Stephen’s Basilica, and tour the Hungarian State Opera House.

Yes, the scenic train ride from Vienna to Prague is beautiful.

The Best Time To Visit Vienna:

June to August is the peak travel season, so be prepared for high prices and crowds. Book your accommodation and tours as early as possible to save money and ensure availability. Summer has warm daytime temperatures in the 80s, but rain is always possible, so bring rain gear.

December is also a peak travel month because of the holidays, Christmas markets, and festivities. So if you plan to visit this month, bundle up, and book early.

September and October are shoulder months. Temperatures will be pleasant during the day and cool in the mornings and evenings. Vienna is significantly less crowded during these months, so accommodation rates will drop, and you can get pictures at the famous spots without competing with crowds. These are also the harvest months for nearby vineyards in the Wachau Valley.

November and January – March is the off-season when you can have Vienna practically to yourself. Snow is expected from November – March, so bring your warmest layers and sturdiest boots. Many tour companies and restaurants will be closed or have limited hours, so you’ll need to research any activities you want to do in advance. You can also score great accommodation deals during these months.

April and May are shoulder months when wildflowers and the city’s gardens start attracting visitors again. Daytime temperatures will be in the 40s – 60s, and you’ll want layers for the cold mornings and evenings. Rain is common during these months, so always have a rain jacket.

Vienna is a very walkable city, and there’s an excellent metro system of trains and buses.

The Best Time To Visit Austria:

June to August is the peak travel season, so be prepared for high prices and crowds. Book your accommodation and tours as early as possible to save money and ensure availability. Summer has warm daytime temperatures in the 80s, but rain is always possible, so bring rain gear.

December is also a peak travel month because of the holidays, Christmas markets, and festivities. So if you plan to visit this month, bundle up, and book early.

September and October are shoulder months. Temperatures will be pleasant during the day and cool in the mornings and evenings. Vienna is significantly less crowded during these months, so accommodation rates will drop, and you can get pictures at the famous spots without competing with crowds. These are also the harvest months for nearby vineyards in the Wachau Valley.

November and January – March is the off-season when you can have Vienna practically to yourself. Snow is expected from November – March, so bring your warmest layers and sturdiest boots. Many tour companies and restaurants will be closed or have limited hours, so you’ll need to research any activities you want to do in advance. You can also score great accommodation deals during these months.

April and May are shoulder months when wildflowers and the city’s gardens start attracting visitors again. Daytime temperatures will be in the 40s – 60s, and you’ll want layers for the cold mornings and evenings. Rain is common during these months, so always have a rain jacket.

Generally, if you want to do more than two activities covered by the Vienna Pass, you should opt for the pass to save you money.