The Best Day Trips to Take From Vienna
Vienna is a great home base for tourists and visitors to use as a launch point for exploring rural Austria as well as neighboring countries. Easily accessible by car or train, day trips to these lovely landmarks are well worth venturing out of the cosmopolitan city for.
1. Laxenburg Castle
Market
A charming little and historic market town is located just a 40-minute drive away from the city centre. The extensive grounds of the 18th century Laxenburg Castle contain both manicured gardens and wild wooded areas that are perfect for exploring on a day trip. Boats can be hired to take out on the lake on a summer day, and there are a number of cafés and restaurants dotted around the park. Beyond the castle, there is a number of interesting landmarks to discover in the town including the parish church and the ‘Emperor’s train station.’
Schlosspark Laxenburg, Schloßpl. 1, 2361 Laxenburg, Austria
2. Seegrotte
Seegrotte, located a stone throw away from the city in Lower Austria, is a Europe’s largest subterranean lake. It was accidentally created when a ‘blasting operation’ went wrong in 1912 that caused flooding in the area. Guided tours of the underground channels are now operated year round. They take visitors through the mysterious channels by boat daily.
Seegrotte, Grutschgasse 2a, 2371 Hinterbrühl, Austria
3. Vineyards
Look to the outskirts of the city and notice that the lush hills are covered with vineyards. Viennese wine is among the finest in Europe, and Vienna has a vineyard culture no other capital city can rival with a legacy dating all the way to 1132 AD. Heuriger (translating to mean ‘this year’s wine’) are cosy wine taverns run by local grape growers and offers guests the chance to sample some locally produced wines alongside traditional Austrian cuisine. The Autumn Wine Hiking Day is a perfect way to sample Austria’s wine culture and a great day out.
Vineyard Wien, Sautergasse 34-38, Vienna, Austria
At the outskirts of Vienna | © Popp & Hackner/Courtesy of WienTourismus
5. Kreuzenstein Castle
Perched on top of a wooded hill, this fairy tale castle has its roots in medieval times. Guided tours are available from April through November and the surrounding areas are also perfect for long walks and hikes.
Kreuzenstein Castle, Leobendorf, Austria
Bratislava
The capital of Slovakia is just one hour drive away from Vienna and small enough to explore in a day. A few must-see sites include the dainty old district that houses the beautiful neo-Renaissance style Slovak National Theater and Primatial Palace. For the best Slovakian food and drink, head to St. Michael’s Street and find plenty of great cafés and restaurants.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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