Fewer cities offer more cultural experiences than the Austrian capital. Vienna’s royal palaces from the Habsburg Empire, musical institutions, and 100+ museums make it the perfect place for curious travelers of all ages to expand their minds.
Booking guided Vienna tours for groups with local experts is the best way for families and friends to uncover the city’s secrets. From food tours to day tours, here are fantastic experiences you should book for a stress-free Vienna trip!
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Best Vienna Tours for Groups
Free Walking Tours of Vienna
Vienna Highlights Tour
Taking a walking tour on your first day in a city is a great way to get your bearings. Booking a private walking tour is a great idea if your group prefers to explore at their own pace, but free walking tours have their benefits. If some members of your group are jetlagged and want to relax, they can!
Others can tag along to this highly-rated Free Vienna Walking Tour by Prime Tours. This 2-hour twice-daily (11:00 AM and 6:00 PM) free tour starts in Helmut Zilk-Platz and ends by St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Learn lots of interesting facts about the city from local guides and tip them based on the quality of their tour.
Here are just some of the spots in the historic center of Vienna you’ll see:
- Albertina Museum
- Vienna State Opera
- Hofburg Palace Gardens
- Vienna State Opera
- Mozart’s House
Booking ahead is essential during the most popular months. Tour operators, even on free tours, prefer small groups as it’s much easier to navigate the city.
Jewish Heritage Tour
If some travelers in your group have already visited Vienna, book a free city tour with a different perspective. Red and White Tours’ Jewish Traces and Hitler’s Vienna Walking Tour provides an insight into early 20th-century history.
Meet your local history expert at Hoher Markt for a guided tour twice daily (10:15 AM and 2:15 PM). Discover the rich history of Viennese Judaism from the Middle Ages to today. Discover more about prominent Jewish figures in the arts and sciences like Sigmund Freud and Karl Landsteiner. Of course, the tour will also touch on Vienna’s role in WWII and its aftermath.
Again, booking ahead is a good idea to guarantee every group member gets a spot. Tip your tour guide at the end of the tour. €10-20 per person is an estimate; a great guide will be worth the higher end.
Vienna City and Highlights Tours
Small-Group E-bike Tour
Vienna’s city center is fairly compact and walkable. However, some of the city’s best attractions are too far to explore on foot. Small-Group E-Bike Tours are the perfect way for your group to see as much of the city as possible in a short time frame.
Visit the Danube Canal and Prater Amusement Park (with the world’s oldest Ferris Wheel!) as well as the Old Town. This is a 3-4 hour electric bike tour, so only a moderate fitness level is needed. You’ll cycle around 21 miles/35 km on the tour. It’s unsuitable for children under 14, and appropriate clothing is essential.
Private Classical Music Tour
Mozart, Strauss, Beethoven… Austria has produced an incredible roster of composers! Many of them were born or lived in Vienna for a time. Many Austrian children learn how to dance the waltz at school. If your group would enjoy learning about Vienna’s relationship to music, book this Private Classical Music in Vienna Tour.
On this 3-hour walking tour, stop by the famous residences of Austrian composers and the Vienna State Opera. Visit the Theater Museum in the famous Palais Lobkowitz, where Beethoven conducted his works. Ask as many questions as you like since a musical expert will lead your group’s guided tour.
Christmas Markets Tour
Vienna’s Christmas markets are highly regarded as some of the best in Europe. And that’s saying something! However, there are no fewer than 20 markets annually, which might seem overwhelming. Several Vienna tours will help you navigate the festive fun, like this Small-Group Vienna Christmas Market Tour.
This 2 to 3-hour tour includes skip-the-line market entry and tastings of mulled wine and spiced cookies. Discover the four best locations for festive ornaments and artisanal gifts. It’s a fantastic time of year to visit Vienna for groups of all ages!
Many private tour companies also lead groups around the markets. Check out Context Travel’s Vienna Christmas Markets Tour for an exclusive experience.
Viennese Underworld Tour
Did you know that Vienna is full of subterranean basements and cellars? These places are centuries-old and aren’t open to the public. If your interest is piqued and your group loves dark tourist activities, join this Viennese Underworld Tour. It’s not suitable for children under 10, those with limited mobility, or people with claustrophobia for obvious reasons!
Visit an underground pharmaceutical laboratory, former air raid shelters, and refuges for outcasts. These forgotten places often played a role in Vienna’s dark past. This is a fun city tour for groups wanting alternative experiences. Wear clothes that can get dirty and bring a flashlight (your phone is fine).
Main Attraction Tours in Vienna
Private Schönbrunn Palace Tour
Vienna has several incredible royal palaces built during the Habsburg Empire (1282-1918). They’re all very, very popular places to visit! Schönbrunn Palace was a summer residence of the royal family, and it’s an easy metro or Uber/Bolt ride from the city center. To make the most out of your trip, book this Private Schönbrunn Palace Tour for your group.
You can avoid the ticket desks and side-step the audio guide on this tour. It gives your group skip-the-line entrance and an expert guide. Over this 2-hour walking tour, learn all about the palace, the gardens, and the regal history of the Austrian Capital at your own pace.
Private Belvedere Palace Tour
Groups that like to visit museums as well as historic palaces might prefer to see Belvedere Palace. This Baroque UNESCO-certified palace has an extensive art collection by Viennese modernists and French impressionists. LivTours‘ Private Tour of the Belvedere Museum is perfect for art-loving groups!
This 2-hour experience includes timed entrance tickets and an art historian guide. See works by Rodin, Van Gogh, Monet, and Klimt. The most famous piece in the museum, by far, is ‘The Kiss’ by Gustav Klimt. Stroll around the extensive gardens and expand your mind.
Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum Tour
Hofburg Imperial Palace rounds out the top three royal palaces in Vienna. It’s the most central and is next door to the Spanish Riding School. If you have limited time, your group might find this palace the most convenient to visit. With this Small-Group or Private Hofburg and Sisi Museum Guided Tour, you’re not missing out!
Visit the incredibly lavish Baroque interiors of the royal apartments. Check out the Augustinian Church, where many royal couples got married. Enjoy skip-the-line tickets and a guide that will let your group relive 600 years of history in a 2-hour walking tour. Entrance to the Empress Sisi Museum (perhaps the most famous Habsburg!) is also included.
Top Travel Tip: Visiting lots of Vienna’s amazing museums during your trip? Check out the Vienna Pass to see if you can save money on entrance fees.
Spanish Riding School Guided Tour
The Spanish Riding School is a classical dressage riding hall with roots in the 16th century. Riders train thoroughbred Lipizzaner horses to the highest standards in a centuries-old building. This institution earned ‘intangible cultural heritage’ status in 2015 and is incredibly unique to Vienna. Take a Morning Spanish Riding School Tour to find out more!
Groups of animal lovers will enjoy this 1-hour behind-the-scenes tour of the riding hall and stables. It’s a spectacular, 18th-century Baroque building. Note that no photos or videos are allowed it’s not suitable for children under three. Alternatively, book this Spanish Riding School Performance to see the magnificent creatures in action.
Tour the United Nations Building
The United Nations has four main offices: New York, Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi. So, you can visit one of the UN locations on your group trip to Vienna! Learn about the UN’s mission to promote peace and its goals for sustainable development. Depending on your group size, you can book a 1-hour UN in Vienna Public Tour or organize a private group tour.
Public tours run three times daily in English and nine additional languages (some by request). Pay attention to the scheduled starting time of the tour, because latecomers won’t be admitted for security reasons.
As you’d imagine, everyone is subjected to a security check before entering the Vienna International Center. Bring only small bags and a valid official identification document. Passports or a national ID card are fine, but a digital version of the ID won’t be accepted. Check the UN visitors’ website for the most up-to-date guidance.
Vienna Food Tours and Classes
Dessert and Coffee House Tour
Vienna’s coffee houses are an important part of its history. Join this special tour of Vienna’s Desserts, Pastries, and Cakes to find out more. This 3-hour and 30-minute tour covers 3 to 4 typical and revered coffee houses in the city. Your group can choose to travel by metro or in a luxury van.
Sample at least two homemade desserts with a hot or cold drink. One might be the classic apple strudel and the local Sacher torte! In winter, warm up with a rich hot chocolate or cool down in summer with homemade ice cream. You’ll have a great time on this tour no matter the season!
Typical Austrian Food Tour
Taste the best food Austria has to offer on this comprehensive Typical Austrian Food Tour. On this 4-hour small-group tour, you’ll visit no less than eight eateries, including a Viennese coffee shop. Sample local cheeses, sausages, wines, chocolates, pastries, and much more! Arrive starving.
If you’re traveling with kids or in a large group, you might prefer to book a private tour. LivTours’ Private Local Vienna Food Tour is a fantastic option. This 3-hour walking tour includes stops in historic restaurants, a coffee shop, and a street food hall with your own expert guide. Devour delicacies like the Wiener Schnitzel, bratwurst, and local chocolate.
Naschmarkt Food Tasting Tour
The biggest and most famous market in Vienna is Naschmarkt. This sprawling bazaar includes produce sellers, goods stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars. It’s the perfect place to discover local and international specialties. This Naschmarkt Gourmet Tour will help your group navigate this bustling, vibrant locale.
Visit the hidden gems and best spots in the market from an expert local guide. They will help you select the best local produce to take home in your suitcase! Enjoy tastings of falafel, oysters, and more on this relaxed, casual 2.5-hour tour.
Schnitzel and Strudel Cooking Class
Fun, foodie Vienna tours are great ways to sample local treats. But what if you want to cook them at home?! Book this Wiener Schnitzel and Strudel Cooking Class and learn to make two iconic Viennese dishes. Plus, it’s a super fun 3-hour group activity for the whole family; kids included!
Choose to cook a veal, chicken, or vegan/vegetarian schnitzel from scratch. Don’t forget the sides; learning to make parsley potatoes or potato salad is also on the menu. Bake apple strudel in a cozy home kitchen. Everyone gets a free drink while they cook and expert tuition from a Viennese chef. And, of course, you can dine on your creations afterward!
Day Tours From Vienna
Danube Valleys Tour
The storied Blue Danube is a major European River running through northern Vienna. If you have enough time, book a tour through the scenic routes of the Danube Valley. This Small-Group Danube Valleys Tour is a fantastic option. Considering this is an 8.5-hour tour, it’s short enough for pre-teen kids.
Visit the historic city of Krems an der Donau and the quaint riverside town of Dürnstein. Depending on the season, visit the UNESCO-certified 11th-century Melk Abbey and sail on the Danube itself. Learn about the history of the Danube and its effects on Austria while exploring these beautiful places.
Bratislava Day Tour
One of the perks of traveling in Europe is that it’s super easy to visit another country for the day! Slovakia’s capital Bratislava, is only a one-hour drive from Vienna. Small group tours like this Bratislava City Highlights Day Tour will ensure you make the most of this 8-hour trip.
Here are just some of the places you’ll visit in Bratislava:
- Bratislava Castle (fantastic views!)
- The Blue Church
- St. Martin’s Cathedral
- UFO Observation Deck
All the independent travelers in your group will be pleased that this tour includes 90 minutes of free time in Bratislava’s Old Town. Head to Pressburg Bajgel for a quick local lunch and say hello to Čumil, a well-loved bronze statue.
Hallstatt and Salzkammergut Tour
Salzkammergut is famous for its beautiful lakes and charming Alpine towns. Hallstatt happens to be one of the most beautiful and charming of these towns! This landscape is UNESCO-listed. One of the best small-group bus tours to see this beautiful place is this Hallstatt Day Tour from Vienna.
It’s 13 hours (Hallstatt is over a three-hour drive from Vienna), so it’s not best suited for groups with younger kids. However, it’s worth the drive. Take a guided walk through Hallstatt, a boat ride on Lake Hallstätter in summer, and visit St. Michael’s Chapel’s ossuary in winter. It’s a long day, but your group can request a hotel pick-up at the start of the tour.
Budapest Day Tour
Turn your group trip into an unforgettable adventure by visiting yet another European country! This Small-Group Budapest Day Tour is a great way to see the Hungarian capital if you’re short on time. Again, it’s a 12-hour day, so perhaps choose one of the other options if you have younger kids.
Considering Budapest offers so much to see and do, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how much this tour packs in! Here are some of the top attractions you’ll visit:
- Citadella
- Castle Hill
- Fisherman’s Bastion
- Heroes Square
- St. Stephen’s Basilica
- Vaci Street (for souvenir shopping!)
- Central Market
Enjoy three hours of free time in Budapest. That’s plenty of time to see the Hungarian Parliament, Dohány Street Synagogue, and any of the city’s other major sites.
Book Vienna Tours Everyone Will Love
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning traveler, these Vienna tours for groups offer something for everyone. Visiting the beautiful Hallstatt or learning to bake strudel just isn’t the same without loved ones to experience it with you. Booking tours will ensure that you’re not just on vacation with the best people, but that you’re having the best experiences too!