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Once you step beyond Vienna’s museums and coffee houses, there’s far more waiting nearby than you might expect. From old wine towns and castle parks to alpine railways and lakefront villages, the places to visit near Vienna are surprisingly varied and easy to reach. You can spend one day wandering through Roman ruins and the next walking hillside trails or soaking in thermal baths. These spots let you see a different side of Austria and, in some cases, even cross into another country, without the hassle of long travel or complicated planning.
Top 10 Places To Visit Near Vienna
These places to visit near Vienna offer historic towns, mountain views, and lakeside calm—something different without straying too far.
1. Wachau Valley
Photo: Uoaei1 / Wikimedia Commons
If you want to escape the pace of the city without going far, Wachau Valley is one of the most rewarding places to visit near Vienna. Just an hour away, this stretch beside the Danube brings together rolling vineyards, medieval villages, and hilltop ruins in a way that feels effortless. What sets Wachau apart is how compact yet richly layered the region feels. You can explore the baroque grandeur of Melk Abbey, then head to Dürnstein, where the ruins of a castle that once imprisoned Richard the Lionheart overlook the river. Wine lovers can stop at family-run wineries for tastings, especially of Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The Wachau Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Distance From Vienna: 91.1 km
Timings: 9 AM – 4 PM (Melk Abbey guided tour)
Cost: €10 / ₹1000
Major Attractions: Melk Abbey, Dürnstein Castle, Danube River cruises, vineyards
2. Klosterneuburg
Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag / Wikimedia Commons
Just north of the city, Klosterneuburg is one of the most overlooked yet rewarding places to see near Vienna. The standout here is Klosterneuburg Abbey, a 12th-century monastery that blends Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture. Inside, you’ll find the stunning Verdun Altar, centuries-old wine cellars, and panoramic terraces that look out across the Danube plains. Beyond the abbey, the town has a relaxed charm. You can walk along forested trails in the nearby Wienerwald, spend a quiet afternoon at the town museum, or enjoy regional wine at a traditional heuriger tucked into the hillside.
Distance From Vienna: 10.4 km
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM (Klosterneuburg Abbey)
Cost: €9.50 / ₹956 (guided tours & wine cellar)
Major Attractions: Klosterneuburg Abbey, Verdun Altar, abbey wine cellars, Danube riverside path, Wienerwald forest trails
3. Krems An Der Donau
Photo: Isiwal / Wikimedia Commons
Krems is one of the oldest towns in Austria and among the most culturally layered tourist attractions near Vienna. Located where the Danube carves through vineyard-covered hills, Krems combines small-town quiet with a strong arts presence. The historic centre is lined with pastel townhouses, Renaissance courtyards, and a set of medieval gates that once guarded the city. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the Kunstmeile art district, where the Karikaturmuseum and the Landesgalerie Niederösterreich bring in both classic and experimental exhibitions. Krems is also known for its wine, and many local estates open their doors for tastings, especially around the Steiner neighbourhood.
Distance From Vienna: 78.3 km
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM (Karikaturmuseum)
Cost: €8 / ₹800 (entry fee)
Major Attractions: Kunstmeile art district, Göttweig Abbey, wine tasting cellars
4. Semmering
Photo: Wolfgang Glock / Wikimedia Commons
If you’re drawn to alpine views but don’t want a long trip, Semmering is one of the most scenic attractions near Vienna. The Semmering Railway, recognised by UNESCO for its pioneering engineering, offers dramatic curves, viaducts, and forested slopes. Find a quiet resort town that feels like a time capsule from Austria’s golden spa era. During winter, Semmering turns into a snow-covered hub for skiing and snowboarding, with family-friendly slopes at Zauberberg. In summer, the hills open up to walking trails that pass old villas, spruce woods, and panoramic lookout points.
Distance From Vienna: 96.3 km
Cost: €40 / ₹4000 (ski pass)
Major Attractions: Semmering Railway (UNESCO), panoramic trails, Zauberberg ski resort
5. Baden Bei Wien
Photo: Martin Krecht / Unsplash
Baden bei Wien stands out among the places to visit near Vienna for its mix of natural hot springs, elegant architecture, and quiet parks. This spa town has been drawing visitors since Roman times, but its most graceful layers were shaped during the Habsburg era. Kurpark stretches right through the centre, with wide gravel paths, neatly trimmed lawns, and a lookout point tucked behind the trees. You can walk straight into the Roman-style spa buildings or spend time at Römertherme, where sulphur water pools are set beneath glass domes. The town also has strong ties to Beethoven, who spent several summers here, and his former residence now functions as a museum.
Distance From Vienna: 37.5 km
Timings: 10 AM – 10 PM (Römertherme)
Cost: €25 – 35 / ₹2500 – 3500 (Roman Spa entry fee)
Major Attractions: Thermal springs, Casino Baden, Rosarium, Beethoven House
6. Laxenburg Castle Park
Photo: Hendric Stattmann / Wikimedia Commons
Laxenburg offers a mix of history and open-air calm, making it one of the most relaxing places to visit near Vienna. At the heart of the park is Franzensburg Castle, built on a small island and designed to look like a medieval stronghold, even though it dates from the 19th century. You can cross by footbridge or take a small wooden boat across the moat to explore its decorative halls and collections. The surrounding parkland is just as striking with long avenues of trees, quiet lakes, and shaded walking paths stretching in every direction. It was once a retreat for the imperial family, and many of the landscaped features still reflect that era.
Distance From Vienna: 23.6 km
Timings: 7 AM – 8 PM
Cost: €3.50 / ₹352 (entry fee) & €9 / ₹900 (guided tour)
Major Attractions: Franzensburg Castle, lake boat rides, landscaped park
7. Eisenstadt
Photo: Thomas Ledl / Wikimedia Commons
Eisenstadt pairs noble history with a relaxed pace that feels far removed from the capital. The town is closely linked to composer Joseph Haydn, whose legacy shapes many of its main attractions. At the centre stands Esterházy Palace, once the seat of one of Austria’s most powerful noble families. Inside the palace, the grand rooms still hold traces of court life, vaulted halls, painted ceilings, and cellars once used to host aristocratic banquets. Just beyond, the gardens stretch into quiet corners framed by sculptures and linden trees. Not far from the centre, Bergkirche stands with its domed chapel where Haydn now rests, surrounded by tributes to his life’s work.
Distance From Vienna: 58.6 km
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Cost: €7 – 15 / ₹700 – 1500 (entry fee)
Major Attractions: Esterházy Palace, Haydn House, Bergkirche
8. Mayerling & Heiligenkreuz Abbey
Photo: Hiroki Ogawa / Wikimedia Commons
Set deep in the Vienna Woods, Mayerling and Heiligenkreuz sit quietly within a landscape of forests and history. Mayerling draws you into the story of Crown Prince Rudolf, whose sudden death at the former hunting lodge led to one of the monarchy’s most unsettling scandals. The site has since been turned into a memorial chapel, where exhibits explore the events and their aftermath. Just a short drive away, Heiligenkreuz Abbey continues to function as a Cistercian monastery, with daily prayers still sung in Latin chant. The cloisters, library, and chapter house are open to guided visits, showing how the abbey has lived through nearly nine centuries of Austrian history.
Distance From Vienna: 33.2 km
Timings: 9 AM – 11:30 AM & 2 PM – 5:15 PM (Heiligenkreuz Abbey)
Cost: €8 – 10 / ₹800 – 1000
Major Attractions: Mayerling hunting lodge memorial, 12th-century Heiligenkreuz Abbey
9. Carnuntum Roman City
Photo: Vladimir Drzik / Wikimedia Commons
Carnuntum offers one of the most immersive historical settings among the places to visit near Vienna. Rather than only viewing ruins behind ropes, here you walk through full-scale reconstructions of Roman buildings based on archaeological detail. Walls are plastered and painted using ancient techniques, kitchens are stocked with replica tools, and underfloor heating still works in the bathhouse. This was once a major Roman military and trade centre, and parts of the original amphitheatre and city wall are still visible just beyond the reconstructed zone. There’s a separate museum nearby that houses artefacts unearthed from the site, everything from coins and jewellery to household items.
Distance From Vienna: 43.1 km
Cost: €13 / ₹1300
Major Attractions: Reconstructed Roman houses, amphitheatre, museum
10. Neusiedler See
Photo: Doronenko / Wikimedia Commons
Neusiedler See is a wide, shallow lake that blends reed beds, open sky, and soft winds into a landscape that feels almost Mediterranean. It’s one of the most naturally distinct places to visit near Vienna, especially if you want space to unwind near water. The lake’s edge is dotted with small towns like Podersdorf and Rust, where wooden piers stretch into the water and boats line up beside paddleboards and kayaks. You can cycle the flat trails that circle the lake, take a ferry across to nearby villages, or spend time birdwatching in Seewinkel National Park, where salt lakes and meadows draw rare migratory birds.
Distance From Vienna: 73.2 km
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM (boat tour)
Cost: €5 – 8 / ₹500 – 800 (beach) & €15 / ₹1500 (boat)
Major Attractions: Lake activities, Seewinkel National Park, vineyards
The areas around Vienna offer more than quick day trips—they bring real variety. From hillside abbeys to Roman towns and lakeside wine villages, each destination has its character. You can walk forest trails, explore grand halls, or relax by a quiet lake, all without going far. These places to visit near Vienna reveal a deeper side of Austria. Ready to see more beyond the city? Plan your escape with TripXL.
Cover Photo: Roman Vasylovskyi / Unsplash
