The 15 Best Guided Tours in Austria

1.Vienna Spanish Riding School Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6,765 reviews · 55 min · from $28Our pick

Spend 55 minutes with an English- or German-speaking guide inside Vienna’s Spanish Riding School. Visit the Baroque Winter Riding School, Summer Riding School, Stallburg stables, and tack room, while learning how Lipizzaner stallions are bred, trained, and cared for. Guides such as Natasha, Sisi, and Lorelei are known for lively, detailed talks.

“Lorelei, our guide was great- so enthusiastic! From photos I saw, I had thought we'd be far back from the stalls, but we were able to be up close and personal with the stallions - no photos or touching! But able to take photos of horses in their stalls from open air courtyard there. It was a wonderful experience- highly recommend!!”

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2.Guided Walking Tour of City Center Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4,989 reviews · 2 hours · from $25

Walk Vienna’s old center with a licensed English or German guide, passing the Hofburg, Spanish Riding School, famous coffee houses, Blutgasse, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guides such as Alex, Sandra, Wolfgang, and Stephan add humor, local stories, and useful historical context.

“Sandra was lovely. the tour was exactly what we wanted as an introduction to the city with some history. Two hours is a good amount of time for the tour. Excellent!!”

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3.Vienna Central Cemetery Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,307 reviews · 2 hours

Walk Vienna Central Cemetery for two hours with an English- or German-speaking guide. See honor graves, Udo Jürgens and Falco’s graves, soldiers’ memorials, religious sections, and Luegerkirche while learning how this vast 330,000-grave site reflects Vienna.

“Imposant zu sehen! Sehr interessant gestaltet von unserem Guide Johann, der sein grosses Wissen mit Humor Preis gab!”

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4.Bus & Schönbrunn Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,802 reviews · 3h 30m · from $81

Start near the Vienna State Opera for a guided bus tour of the Ringstraße, Hofburg, museums, Parliament, and City Hall. Then use priority entry at Schönbrunn Palace for a guided visit to the Habsburgs’ summer home. English tours run daily, with Spanish and German on set days.

“It was a good tour. Very brief narration due to due language of English and German.”

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5.Tickets for Mozarthaus Vienna with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,344 reviews · 1 day · from $18

Visit Mozarthaus Vienna, Mozart’s only preserved Vienna apartment, where he lived from 1784 to 1787 and composed The Marriage of Figaro. Explore three exhibition levels with an audio guide, then add Haus der Musik for hands-on music exhibits. Bring headphones if using your phone.

“I expect to see whole residence to be decorated but it was completely empty. At least I was expecting to see a musical instrument from Mozart's era.”

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6.Guided Walking Tour of City Highlights & Hidden Gems

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,180 reviews · 2 hours · from $27Top rated

Walk from Minoritenplatz to St. Stephen’s Cathedral with guides such as Michael, Petra, Max, and Celine. Expect imperial squares, the Hofburg, Spanish Riding School, Albertina, Opera, and a Last Supper mosaic, all from outside, with no museum entry.

“it was great, not just an ordinary tour but she really explained it well”

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7.Viennese Underworld Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,865 reviews · 1 - 2 hours · from $37

Go beneath central Vienna with a German-speaking guide such as Bella, using an optional English audio guide on your phone. Choose a 1, 1.5, or 2-hour route through private cellars linked to wartime relics, old medicine rooms, shelters, and refuge spaces.

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8.Classic Vienna: 3-Hour Guided Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,846 reviews · from $72

Ride from the Vienna State Opera around the Ringstraße, Hofburg, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hundertwasserhaus, the Donau Canal, Stadtpark, and Karlskirche. English, German, and Dutch guides lead a mostly flat route on bike paths and quieter roads.

“Great tour! Lisa Marie was very informative and fun to be around. We loved it!”

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9.Skip the Line Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,540 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $65

Meet at Schönbrunn’s Parade Court Fountains for a roughly two-hour guided visit covering the gardens and palace highlights. An English-speaking guide, headsets, and priority entry help you focus on Habsburg stories, grand rooms, and practical details.

“The tour was worth the money to avoid the crowds and skip the queue. The palace was packed when we went through and it was challenging at times to see with the amount of people in the building at once. The queue outside went half way around the building and I’m glad we didn’t have to be a part of that. Our guide Siri was amazing. She is very knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions. It was worth the $$ again just to have her as our guide. This review would have been 5 stars if it wasn’t for the sheer amount of people allowed in the palace at…”

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10.Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,460 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Walk from Albertinaplatz to the Hofburg with a live English, Spanish, or German guide. Hear Sisi’s story, visit the Augustinian Church, Lipizzaner stables, imperial courtyards, Sisi Museum, and apartments. Guides such as Siri, Dieter, Anna, and Michael are praised for clear, lively storytelling.

“This tour was wonderful and I would happily recommend it. Anna, our guide, was so friendly and pleasant, so knowledgeable on the topic and gave a thorough and professional tour, taking into account individual abilities. This was so much better than using an audio guide as you could ask questions and Anna gave lots of hints and tips on other things to do / places to go in the locality. I will definitely book another of tours given by this organisation in the future.”

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11.Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,420 reviews · from $55

Meet a Lokafyer at your accommodation and shape a 2 to 6-hour private walk around your interests. Guides such as Aida, Ernst, Felix, and Marietta offer history, food, Christmas market, and public transport advice in English, French, or German.

“Like so many European cities, Vienna is the product of years of political and cultural upheaval and accomplishments. Our guide Walter was an enthusiastic storyteller and clearly a fan of Vienna, which we were by the end of our tour as well. We heard stories about the complicated royal relationships and what made each one unique and what they contributed to the city that is Vienna today. We were also enchanted by stories about home life, and the every day culture of this city which we were delighted to hear including dancing a Viennese waltz at midnight on New Year's Eve.Read more”

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12.Guided Tour to Bratislava with Speed Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,404 reviews · 11h 30m · from $111

Spend a full day crossing from Vienna into Slovakia, with a guided walk past Michael’s Gate, Primate’s Palace, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. You’ll have about six hours to explore alone before returning by high-speed catamaran. An oldtimer ride to Bratislava Castle is available as an upgrade.

“maybe not too much free time as there weren't any shops open”

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13.Hallstatt Guided Day Trip from Vienna With Boat Ride Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,301 reviews · 13 hours (approx.) · from $139

Travel from Vienna to Hallstatt by air-conditioned coach, stopping at Ort Castle and scenic Salzkammergut viewpoints. Your guide, often Sofia, Dasha, Lily, or Sabrina, leads the day in English. Skywalk access is included except during renovation, when a lake boat ride is offered instead.

“My experience on the Hallstatt day trip was amazing! Our guide was Dasha, and she was so informative, humorous, and helpful. She facilitated an amazing experience. Hallstatt itself was incredibly gorgeous and the boat ride around the lake to see the sights was perfect. I highly recommend going in the fall when the leaves start to change. It was breathtaking!”

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14.Schönbrunn Palace & Garden Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,240 reviews · 2 hours · from $57

Meet at 2:15 PM across from Schönbrunn Palace for a two-hour guided visit with palace admission and garden access included. See Maria Theresa’s apartments, the Great and Small Galleries, Carousel Room, and Hall of Ceremonies. Tours run in English and German, with groups advertised at up to eight people.

“Michael was an exceptional tour guide during our visit to Schroben Palace in Vienna on Friday, the thirtieth. His deep knowledge of the palace's history and his engaging storytelling brought the experience to life. He effortlessly combined historical facts with fascinating anecdotes, making the tour one of the most memorable parts of our trip. Michael's passion for the history of Vienna and his warm, friendly demeanor made our visit to Schroben Palace truly unforgettable. We highly recommend him to anyone looking for a captivating and informative tour.”

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15.Ghosts and Legends Guided Nighttime Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,088 reviews · 2 hours · from $20

Walk Vienna’s historic center at night with Astrid Stangl or another English- or German-speaking guide. Hear ghost tales, witch and vampire lore, Habsburg intrigue, and real criminal stories while passing Hofburg Palace, the Augustinian Church, Neuer Markt, Blutgasse, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

“I was delighted by our guide! She told many interesting stories, and answered all our questions. I was very impressed!”

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