Austria · HISTORICAL TOURS
The 15 best historical tours you can book today, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Step into Vienna’s historic center for a one-hour journey through 2,000 years of city history. Moving through cellar rooms, you’ll encounter a portrait gallery, 5D cinema, imperial figures, VR music scenes, a wartime shelter, Chancellor Figl’s speech, and a virtual carriage flight.
“This was so much more than we expected/ an absolute must see if visiting Vienna and interested in its history.”
Walk from the Albertina Museum through Vienna’s WWII past with English-speaking guides such as Dieter, Stefan, Siggi, and Michael. Expect Hitler’s early years, the city’s Jewish community, wartime bombing, a surviving synagogue, the Holocaust memorial, and postwar Allied occupation, with headsets and rest stops.
“Dieter made the tour extremely interesting and engaging. He had great depth and breadth of knowledge, and is a great communicator and storyteller. He was also conscious of the weather, and made sure to find warm places to pause and tell us about things. He was considerate of local rules and shared these kindly. The headsets for bigger groups were a stroke of genius! I think they would also be very helpful even for small groups. This tour is worth the time and money :)”
Walk central Vienna for about 2.5 hours with a certified English-speaking guide and no more than 15 people. The route links Maria-Theresien-Platz, the Ringstrasse, Hofburg Palace, Rathaus, Graben, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guides such as Dace, Giselle, Gabriela, and Beatrice add history, humor, and practical food tips.
“Very informative tour of Vienna's political and cultural history. The tour is well paced and interesting. The well informed guide Dace is affable, gives information clearly and has a droll sense of humor. Overall an excellent introduction to historical and cultural riches of Vienna.”
In Vienna’s 400-year-old Michaelerkloster vaults, you move from Roman Vindobona to the Habsburg court, plague-era Vienna, Mozart and Strauss, WWII, and modern landmarks. Expect a one-hour German-led show with English audio translation, VR, animatronics, a 5D cinema, and a virtual fiaker ride.
“We really loved everything. Especially 5D cinema because we experienced what was life like at that century.”
Start at the Vienna State Opera for a guided coach ride past the Ringstrasse, Hofburg, Parliament, City Hall, and museums. Then tour Schönbrunn Palace with priority entry, followed by about 40 minutes to explore the gardens or buy coffee and strudel. English is offered daily, though some departures combine languages.
“You need to consider if skipping the line is worth it. It was convenient to have a transport to the Palace and back to town and hear a bit of history of the city. My friends found out much more by listening to the recorded guide than our group. Every guide has its flavour, mine was boring to me. Heard everything I didn’t care about and very little what I was interested in. There are other ways to book tickets and not queue.”
Spend about two hours at the Musikverein with the 30-member Vienna Mozart Orchestra. Expect Mozart symphonies, concertos, opera arias, duets, historical costumes, and a lively conductor. Your performance may be in the Golden Hall or Brahms Hall, and seat location matters.
“Very fun. The music was delightful. A lot of light hearted humor. Dress in layers. Cool outside, warm inside”
Follow an English-speaking guide from the Albertina Museum to Schwedenplatz, linking Hitler’s Vienna with the State Opera, Heldenplatz, Judenplatz, Morzinplatz, and the Stadttempel Synagogue. Guides such as Dieter, Wolfgang, Stephan, and Charles use stories, maps, and photos to explain Austria’s troubled past.
“My guide was super knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the trip. I learnt a lot from her, thank you!”
Walk Vienna’s historic center with Herbert, Wolfgang, or another English- or German-speaking guide. In two hours, connect Roman ruins, Hofburg Palace, Habsburg weddings, the National Library, Albertina, wartime memorials, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Expect stories, humor, historical images, and practical tips.
“This tour was very interesting and it was a small, friendly group. The guide made the tour informal and told us lots of additional information about Vienna whilst we were out with the group. The guide had a good sense of humour and was obviously very experienced and knowledgable.”
Enter through Schutzengel Apotheke for a one-hour German-language tour beneath Vienna. You will explore a private pharmacy cellar, former medicine rooms, old laboratory relics, and underground passages while tracing 160 years of pharmaceutical history. Small groups are limited to 10 people.
Join guide Sabine Rath for a 90-minute walk through Salzburg’s darker past, from medieval punishment to 17th-century witch trials. Expect documented history, dry humor, and old-town alleyways rather than a haunted-house scare. The tour is usually in German, with English or Spanish by request.
“Eine sehr spannende und kurzweilige Tour mit einer humorvollen und geschichtlich versierten Sabine. Hat großen Spaß gemacht! Danke! Grüße von den 3 Schönen aus Augsburg”
Spend an evening at Vienna’s House of Strauss, with museum access from 18:00, entry to the historic Strauss Hall at 19:30, and a Strauss-inspired concert from 20:30 to 21:30. Expect orchestra music, performance, and a featured opera singer in an elegant setting.
“Ticket says 7:00 but concert doesn’t start until 8:30. 1 1/2 hours to view museum is a little long. Concert was wonderfully performed with great orchestra and extraordinary solo opera singer adding several songs!”
Start at Mozarthaus and walk through Vienna’s old center with a local English-speaking guide, often Nicoletta, Nikoleta, or Giselle. Expect Mozart stories, Habsburg history, coffee-house culture, Spanish Riding School horses, practical museum tips, and a 30-minute café break.
“Nicolette was wonderful! Full of historical insight, interesting stories and good recommendations on where to spend our time in Vienna to maximize our experience.”
Follow Vienna’s path from imperial power through Nazi rule, wartime destruction, Soviet occupation, and the birth of the Second Republic. Your private English-speaking guide, including Walter, Brigitte, Alex, or Andrea when available, can adjust the route, use trams and public transport, and add local food tips.
“Brigitte. Was our guide for a tour of Hidden Gems in Vienna. She pivoted the tour to show us the wonderful hidden gems in Vienna. She was so knowledgeable and thoughtful in the tour. She answered our questions with great patience and humour. Her insights into the history, art and culture of Vienna were incredible. She shared anecdotal facts for so many of the interesting sites we visited. From the Jesuit church, to the Jewish memorial. From the Anker (anchor) insurance company building to the Anker clock . She also showed us amazing passageways which connected different areas of interest around Vienna. We learned and saw so much more of…”
Walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral through Vienna’s Jewish Quarter with a licensed guide. You’ll visit the Jewish Museum area, Vienna’s oldest synagogue, and the Holocaust memorial while hearing about figures such as Sigmund Freud and Gustav Mahler. Guides including Lisa Marie, Ann Marie, and Barbi are named in guest feedback.
“Please do yourself a favour and take this tour. The tour guide is excellent - not only is she very knowledgeable about the topic, but very passionate as well, and it makes it one of the best walking tours you can take. You do not need to be Jewish to take this tour, the tour guide does a great job of filling in any gaps/answering questions you may have, but it's so worth it learning about how Jewish history left it's mark on Vienna. I cannot recommend this tour enough!”
Join a private 2-hour-15-minute tour of Vienna’s Upper Belvedere with an art historian such as Julia. You’ll connect palace design, Austrian identity, medieval art, and Klimt’s The Kiss. Skip-the-line admission saves time, while the private format lets your guide shape the visit around your party.
“We greatly enjoyed the Art with Me tour at Belvedere. Julia put together an amazing tour that not only allowed us to see the important works of art at Belvedere but also helped us learn about the importance of the Belvedere and the history of Vienna. The tour was so interesting that it was my 16 year old son's favorite part of our Vienna trip. I can't say enough about the tour and would recommend it as the best way to experience Belvedere Palace and the art inside.”
Pick a palace, a lake or a concert hall.
