If you want the original at Café Sacher, arrive early on a weekday or book online in advance, since the outdoor queue is near-permanent. For a no-fuss alternative with the same cake, Aida is faster and considerably cheaper.
Discover Authentic Vienna: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
Mercure has been building hotels around their neighbourhoods since 1973, not dropping them in from nowhere. Recommended by the team at Mercure Wien Zentrum. That's why the Vienna recommendations on this page come from people who know the streets, not a database. Scroll for our picks, an interactive map, and answers to the questions we're asked most.
Our map pins local favourites such as the Hofburg, the Naschmarkt and Amalienbad, alongside our Mercure hotels.
Top 5 Things to Do in Vienna
Naschmarkt
Vienna's largest market runs the length of the Wienzeile between Karlsplatz and Kettenbrückengasse, stall after stall of olives, spices and Balkan cheese giving way to tiny eateries. Go hungry and graze rather than sit down for a full meal. Saturdays add a flea market at the far end, worth the extra walk for the junk-shop treasure hunt.
Brunnenmarkt
Less postcard-perfect than Naschmarkt and better for it: this is where Ottakring actually shops, with Turkish, Balkan and Vietnamese stalls sitting side by side and prices a few euros lower across the board. It runs Monday to Saturday, with Saturday morning the liveliest.
Aida
Founded in 1913, this pink-and-brown Viennese café chain sells Sachertorte for around €4.50 a slice, a fraction of what the hotel cafés charge for the same chocolate cake with apricot jam. There are branches all over the centre, so you don't need to plan a special trip.
MuseumsQuartier
One of the largest cultural quarters in the world, packed into a former imperial stable block, with the Leopold Museum and MUMOK a few steps apart. The Enzi benches in the main courtyard are where students and tourists alike sit out a summer evening with a drink from the on-site bars.
Öfferl bakery
A newer name in a city obsessed with old ones, Öfferl has built a following on proper sourdough and a laser focus on ingredients. Several branches dot the centre; pick up a loaf or a pastry on the way back to the hotel rather than settling for the breakfast buffet bread basket.
Explore Vienna's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Vienna
We've mapped local spots in Vienna, from imperial palaces to open sandwiches. Hungry yet?
Imperial & historic Vienna
Hofburg
The Habsburgs' imperial palace, begun in the 13th century. Inside: the Sisi Museum, the Baroque State Hall of the Austrian National Library and the Spanish Riding School with its Lipizzaner horses.
Innere Stadt · Palace and museums · Perfect for history
Central Cemetery (Zentralfriedhof)
One of the world's largest cemeteries, covering more than two square kilometres. Beethoven, Schubert, Strauss and Brahms rest here, and wildlife thrives – borrow the audio tour and wander.
Simmering · Cemetery · Ideal for a reflective walk
Funeral Museum (Bestattungsmuseum)
How does a city celebrate death? This museum at the Central Cemetery explores Vienna's answer, down to a 1784 folding coffin from the time of Joseph II.
Central Cemetery · Museum · Made for curious minds
Local life
Naschmarkt
Vienna's best-known market: around 120 stalls and restaurants, from Viennese to Israeli and Vietnamese. Neni, Umar and Eiserne Zeit are local favourites, DJs play at weekends – and bring cash.
Wieden · Market · Perfect for food lovers
Amalienbad
A 1920s indoor pool in the 10th district, all Art Deco and Art Nouveau tiles. Swim, sweat it out in the saunas and keep an eye out for late-night pool parties.
Favoriten · Historic pool · Great for a swim
Trzesniewski
A Viennese institution for little open sandwiches on rye – egg, truffle, ham. Order a 'Pfiff', a small Ottakringer beer, on the side, like the locals do.
Several branches · Sandwich bar · Ideal for a quick local snack
Haus des Meeres
An aquarium inside a former WWII flak tower in Esterházy Park. Finish on the rooftop for a view over the city.
Mariahilf · Aquarium · Great for families
Bermudadreieck
The 'Bermuda Triangle': a historic tangle of lanes by Schwedenplatz, packed with bars and clubs. Easy to get lost in, in the best way.
Innere Stadt · Nightlife · Perfect for a night out
Figlmüller
The home of the Wiener Schnitzel, serving it near St Stephen's Cathedral for over a century. Lively, loud and very Viennese.
Innere Stadt · Restaurant · Made for schnitzel lovers
Würstelstand
Late at night, Vienna heads to the Würstelstand. Grab a sausage at one of these stands and you're eating like a local.
Citywide · Street food · Ideal for a late bite
FAQ
Yes. The hotel's location in the historic centre puts St Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg and MuseumsQuartier within a short walk, so you won't need transport for a day of sightseeing in the first district.
Naschmarkt is more famous and easier to combine with sightseeing, but Brunnenmarkt in Ottakring is where Viennese residents actually shop, with lower prices and a stronger neighbourhood feel.
At the Sisi Museum in the Hofburg, the former imperial palace.
At Vienna's Central Cemetery (Zentralfriedhof), alongside Schubert, Strauss and Brahms.
Vienna's best-known market, with around 120 stalls and restaurants serving food from around the world.
Where to Sleep in Vienna
See Mercure hotels in Vienna, all within reach of these picks.