The 8 Best Day Trips from Vienna: Tested + Ranked

The Best Day Trips from Vienna 2026: 8 Tested Itineraries

Best day trips from Vienna: Bratislava (Slovakia capital, 1 hr) + Salzburg + Melk Abbey + Wachau Valley + Hallstatt + Budapest + Schönbrunn — castles + capitals + Danube valley.

Quick Summary

Best day trips from Vienna: Bratislava (Slovakia capital, 1 hr) + Salzburg + Melk Abbey + Wachau Valley + Hallstatt + Budapest + Schönbrunn — castles + capitals + Danube valley.

Top 8 Day Trips from Vienna

1Bratislava (Slovakia)

Distance: 1 hrDuration: Full day

EU capital just 60km away + UFO Bridge + Old Town + Bratislava Castle + cheaper beer than Vienna.

How to get there: Train from Vienna Hauptbahnhof, 1 hr, €17 RT. Or Twin City Liner boat.

2Salzburg + Sound of Music

Distance: 2 hr 30Duration: Full day

Mozart’s birthplace + Hohensalzburg fortress + Mirabell Gardens + Sound of Music tours.

How to get there: OBB Railjet from Vienna Hauptbahnhof, 2 hr 30, €40-70.

3Melk Abbey + Wachau Valley

Distance: 1 hr 30Duration: Full day

Baroque Benedictine abbey + UNESCO Wachau wine valley + Dürnstein + Danube cruise.

How to get there: Train to Melk + cycle/cruise to Krems. Or guided tour €80-120.

4Hallstatt (UNESCO)

Distance: 3 hrDuration: Full day

Most-photographed lake village in Austria + salt mines + ossuary + Alpine reflection.

How to get there: Train via Attnang-Puchheim, 3.5 hrs, €40-80. Or guided tour.

5Budapest (Hungary capital)

Distance: 2 hr 30Duration: Full day

Spa city + Parliament + Chain Bridge + ruin pubs. Easy international day trip.

How to get there: OBB Railjet, 2.5 hr, €40-60.

6Schönbrunn Palace

Distance: 20 minDuration: Half day

Habsburg summer palace + gardens + maze + Gloriette + zoo (oldest in world).

How to get there: U-Bahn U4 from Karlsplatz, 20 min, €2.40.

7Eisenstadt + Esterházy Palace

Distance: 1 hrDuration: Half day

Burgenland capital + Haydn’s home + Esterházy princely estate + Burgenland wines.

How to get there: Train from Wien Hauptbahnhof, 1 hr, €15.

8Mayerling + Heiligenkreuz

Distance: 45 minDuration: Half day

Hunting lodge where Crown Prince Rudolf + his lover died (royal scandal) + Cistercian abbey.

How to get there: Self-drive recommended, 30 km south of Vienna.

Planning more of Vienna? See our 3-day Vienna itinerary, Austria travel guide, the destinations index, or our Ultimate Bucket List.

Vienna Day Trips FAQ

What is the best day trip from Vienna?

Bratislava (Slovakia) for a 1-hr international day trip OR Wachau Valley + Melk Abbey for Danube riverboat scenery + UNESCO heritage.

Can you visit Salzburg as a day trip from Vienna?

Yes via Railjet (2.5 hrs each way). Long day but possible. Better as overnight to see Mozart sites + Salzkammergut lakes.

Is Hallstatt worth the long trip?

Yes — among Europe’s most photogenic villages. 3.5 hrs each way is tough as day trip. Consider Hallstatt + Salzburg overnight loop.

How to get to Bratislava cheap?

Twin City Liner catamaran on Danube — €40 RT, 75 min, scenic. Train cheaper (€17 RT) but less memorable.