My Experience(s) Visiting Vienna as a Solo Traveler

Many of my early trips as an adult involved me traveling on my own, but in recent years, I’ve tended to travel a lot more with others. The main reason why was that at some point, I wanted to start sharing these memories and experiences with others who mean a lot to me. At the same time, though, I do still enjoy sprinkling some solo trips in my calendar. 

After finding decent-priced flights for a summer trip to Vienna, I booked them and went on my next solitary adventure. This was actually my second visit to the Austrian capital as a solo traveler, though I’ve been on more occasions with others as well. Since it’s a popular place to visit both as a weekend getaway and part of a bigger Eurotrip, I had the idea to write about my experiences as a solo traveler there. 

I wanted different things from my two solo trips to Vienna, which is why I think I’m a good person to talk about this. In this guide, I will share my experiences and give you some tips if you plan to visit the city yourself. 

I Visited Vienna as a Solo Traveler for Two Very Different Reasons…

My first solitary trip to Vienna was back in 2018. At the time, I was 23 years old. At that time, I stayed in hostels for two main reasons: The first being just to save money, but the second was because I wanted to meet other people when I was traveling. That particular trip was part of a bigger adventure through Europe, in which I also went to Budapest and Bratislava. 

Eight years later, I went on my second solo visit there. Between those two trips, some other trips to Austria were sandwiched in between—mostly with other people. On my second solo trip to Vienna, I actually wanted more of a peaceful trip and time to myself. Meeting people was not my top priority, even though I am always open to interesting conversations. 

Since my two trips were different, how I planned them—and what I did—were very different. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to visit the city, to be honest; it really depends on what you’re interested in. I’ll talk more about this later. 

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Vienna Is a Great Place to Visit as an Introvert

I’d say that I’m probably 70% introvert, 30% extrovert. I enjoy being around people I’m close to, and I also like to meet new people and have interesting conversations. At the same time, though, I need a lot of time on my own. My social battery also gets drained faster than the average person. 

I don’t think you should avoid any place just because you’re an introvert or extrovert, but some places are better-suited to different personalities. And in my opinion, Vienna is a great city to visit if you’re an introvert. 

Although the main tourist areas can get quite crowded (and so can the Metro at peak times), Austria’s capital is a great place to be if you want some space to yourself. People in Vienna generally respect personal space, and small talk isn’t really a thing. Though many of the main roads were loud, I found the city quite peaceful overall.

This is particularly true if you head outside the city center. For example, I went to St. Stephen’s Cathedral one morning during my second trip. The crowds got insufferable at one point, and when I got on the Metro, someone was watching Reels without headphones. Thankfully, it was an easy train ride to the Alte Donau. Here, I could walk along the waterfront with few other people around. 

If you want to be left alone, you certainly will be in Vienna. Similarly, you’ll find plenty of cool places in and around the city where you can find some peace and quiet. You’ll find plenty of nice parks, too. 

If You Want More of a Social Trip, Here’s What I Would Recommend

While I enjoy time to myself, I do like to meet other people. This was particularly true when I stayed in hostels. While I already knew that Vienna probably wouldn’t be as social as other cities I’ve visited in Europe (such as Sevilla and Porto), I was still open to meeting other travelers. 

The number one way I’d meet people as a solo traveler in Vienna when I wanted to was via pub crawls. This is precisely what I did on my first trip to the city. To be honest, I don’t think Vienna’s nightlife is amazing—but if you solely want to meet people, it’s a good option. Otherwise, you can join tours that cater to your interests. 

I also stayed at Wombat’s Naschmarkt, which was a pretty nice hostel. The free walking tour was good, and I can also recommend the social events. The common room is always a good place to start, too. You’ll probably meet other solo travelers, and many of them will be interested in exploring the city with you. 

Most of the people you meet in Vienna will likely be other travelers. Making friends with locals takes a long time in general, and people tend to keep to their established friendship groups. It’s similar in Scandinavia, where I live, so this wasn’t a major culture shift. It might be for you, though, depending on where you’re from. 

What Was It Like Eating Alone in Vienna?

To be honest, it wasn’t an issue at all on either of my trips. You will not be frowned upon for eating alone, and I saw a handful of other people doing the same. The same goes for visiting some of the city’s many great cafés. 

I booked a table reservation one night during my second trip, for which I had no issues. On one other occasion, I couldn’t book a table in advance as the minimum number of guests to do so was two. However, when I showed up, they seated me without issues. 

From personal experience, restaurants in Vienna are more than happy to serve solo travelers. You won’t have the red carpet rolled out for you, but I don’t think that you’ll have issues finding somewhere to eat. Nobody batted an eyelid at me eating on my own, either, so I never felt uncomfortable. 

If You Want an Easy Place to Navigate on Your Own, Vienna Is a Solid Option

Vienna Is One of the Easiest Cities to Get Around in Europe

Planning the logistics for a solo trip can already be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much prior experience. And to be honest, I’d rather travel on my own in places that are easy to navigate. Vienna absolutely fits into that category, if you ask me. 

First and foremost, getting around the city is incredibly easy. Most of the main attractions, such as Hofburg Palace and the City Hall, are within easy walking distance. For those further away from the Ringstraße (e.g. Schönbrunn Palace), the Metro is excellent. Vienna’s Metro system is easily in the top five for places I’ve visited; it’s efficient, reliable, and affordable. 

The train to and from the airport was also very straightforward. The same goes for the tram whenever I’ve needed to use it. 

I Also Thought That Vienna Was Safe

Another advantage is that Vienna is very safe. I live in Copenhagen, so my standards for safety are very high as it is. However, I would say that I felt just as safe in Austria’s capital—even though it’s a pretty big city. I’ve never felt unsafe in Vienna when on my own. 

Now, I should state the obvious that I’m a 180cm man who also happens to be quite big. I also very much have perfected the Resting Bitch Face from growing up in London. Your mileage may vary, though I have heard from women I know that they also found Vienna to be safe. 

I did guard my valuables while in the city center, but I didn’t feel at a huge risk of pickpocketing. Well, compared to the individual who tried nicking my phone in Florence a few years back, anyway. 🤷🏾‍♂️

While I don’t like to talk about skin color too much, it is something that I naturally consider when I travel. I’m mixed-race, but I am also a Westerner (I grew up in the UK and I’m half-Italian, half-American), so I know that my mileage may again vary here. But for what it’s worth, I didn’t receive any bad treatment in Vienna. 

For what it’s worth, I actually found the city to be quite diverse. Stats back this up, too; over 40% of Vienna’s population was born abroad. While I did have an issue in Salzburg in 2017 where someone made a… let’s say… not-so-nice comment toward me, I haven’t had any problems in Vienna (and hopefully it stays that way). People are blunt in general, and this isn’t something that you should take personally.

Again, I can’t guarantee that everyone will have the same experience, but nobody bothered me while I was there, at least. And for what it’s worth, as a side note, I’d still give Salzburg another chance; one idiot doesn’t represent an entire place, and I enjoyed visiting otherwise. With that one exception of my other experiences in Austria in general have been good.

… You Can Pick Your Own Adventure, Too

Although Vienna is famous for its palaces and museums, the city has much more to offer. I also don’t think that you should do anything you don’t want to. For example, while I found some museums (like Kunst Haus Wien / Museum Hundertwasser) to be worth my time, I didn’t enjoy others (such as Lower Belvedere). 

When I travel, I’m generally interested in a bit of culture and also to eat some nice food. However, I also enjoy being outside in general (bonus points if it’s in nature). Moreover, I am quite happy to see some touristy sights if they interest me. Vienna served all of these on both of my solo trips. 

Austria’s capital is pretty big, and outside the center, you’ll find plenty of other interesting things to do. I’d say to basically go by feel and determine what you actually think would be worth your time. But regardless of your interests, I think that you will have fun when you visit. 

Your Accommodation Costs Will Vary Significantly, Depending on When You Visit

In general, I don’t think that Vienna is particularly expensive. Food prices were average for Western Europe; I generally paid €20-30 for a meal and close to €40 if I also included a starter, dessert, and a drink. 

Attraction entry tickets are pricey, but most other things are reasonably priced. As a side note, you should consider getting the Vienna Pass if you’re planning to visit multiple attractions. I don’t recommend getting the Vienna City Card, on the other hand, as for me, I didn’t feel like it was worth the money.

Accommodation prices can vary wildly depending on when you visit, and as you’re visiting on your own, it’ll naturally cost more than if you went with others anyway. I did find a good deal at Superbude Wien Prater when I went there on a solo trip in July, but when considering a trip to the Christmas markets, everything was incredibly expensive. By that, I mean that my girlfriend and I actually went to Japan for two weeks instead and paid roughly the same amount as we would have for three nights in Vienna. 

The shoulder season is a good time to visit and also isn’t so expensive. Moreover, it’s generally not too hot or too cold. I was lucky on the week I went in July, but not long before, the city had just had a 40ºC (104ºF) day—its hottest on record. If you do want to visit at a peak time, expect to pay more and budget accordingly. 

I Enjoyed Visiting Vienna as a Solo Traveler, Personally

Vienna is one of my favorite cities to visit in general, and I think it’s a pretty good place to go as a solo traveler. You’ll find activities regardless of your interests, and people don’t have an issue serving you on your own if you go to restaurants. Moreover, the city is safe and easy to get around. 

While it offers something different compared to more social places, I still think it’s a nice place to spend a few days as a solo visitor. I also believe this is the case regardless of whether you’re visiting for a weekend, going there as part of a Eurotrip, or heading elsewhere in Austria afterward. 

Now that you’ve read this guide, I hope you have a better understanding of what to expect as a solo traveler in Vienna. If you’re ready to plan your trip further, I recommend next reading my piece about my top things to do in Austria’s capital city.