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Valentine’s Day: Six of the best spots for a romantic date in Vienna

Are you in need of inspiration for a romantic date in Vienna? The city has countless beautiful spots, but some of the best are here.

Published: 14 February 2024 14:27 CET

Valentine’s Day: Six of the best spots for a romantic date in Vienna

Austria’s historic capital city, Vienna, is famous for being one of Europe’s most picturesque and romantic getaways. But with limited time and an overwhelming choice of splendid sights and cosy cafes, it can be hard to know what to choose. To help, we’ve put together a list of seven fantastic things to do as inspiration for a date over Valentine’s Week.

Schönbrunn Palace

Why not take your significant other for a dreamy day out at Schönbrunn Palace? Built over the course of the 18th century, Schönbrunn became the primary summer residence of the Habsburg monarchy, offering an insight into the lavish life of Austria’s former royal family. With breathtaking gardens, glorious ballroom interiors and its famous Neoclassical facade, a date at Scönbrunn has something for everyone. Couples who love history can immerse themselves in a guided tour, while Instagrammers will find the garden a perfect place for romantic snaps. Tickets can be booked online to avoid queues or bought on the door.

Belvedere Museum

What could be more romantic than The Kiss? Gustav Klimt’s legendary gold-leaf portrait is exhibited in pride-of-place at the Belvedere Gallery, along with a spectacular range of other classical and modern art. The iconic painting in its dreamy, palatial setting undoubtedly makes the Belvedere Museum’s art collection a must-see for couples visiting Vienna. Furthermore, the gorgeous gardens, baroque architecture and sweeping skyline views from the top of the gallery do justice to the fascinating artworks. With a cafe and nearby walks to enjoy afterwards, the Belvedere is sure to impress.

Cafe Schwarzenberg

If you fancy a coffee date or delicious drinks, look no further than Cafe Schwarzenberg, the oldest cafe in Vienna’s famous Ringstrasse. Open since 1861, Schwarzenberg began life as one of Austria’s earliest and most glamorous coffee houses. Its traditional interior of intimate tables, mirrors and chandeliers is rivalled only by its fabulous menu. This is a great place to treat your date with Viennese delicacies and speciality coffee, including a range of unique and coffee-based cocktails.

Vienna State Opera

What could be more classically Vienna than a night at the opera? The iconic Staasoper building has been featured in many classic films and sits right at the centre of the Ringstrasse. With a diverse programme of spectacular ballets and operas running throughout the week, tickets to a performance can guarantee a good evening. And fear not – if they’re sold out online, it’s not unusual to find extra tickets are offered at the box office on the day itself. Drop by in the morning and enquire!

Spanish Riding School

Vienna’s Spanish Riding School is one of the world’s top four equestrian training academies. Built by the Austrian Emperor Charles VI in the 1730s, the prestigious institute has been dedicated to the breeding and training of Lizzipaner horses ever since. Horse training and dressage performances are open to the public during the week and take place in the academy’s spectacular Winter Riding Hall. Whether you love horse riding or are simply looking for a unique experience, watching Vienna’s white stallions’ talent and beauty will thrill you like no other.

Karlskirche

Our final recommendation is a concert in Karlskirche. Built in the 18th century to mark the end of a plague and a new era of healing, this is one of the city’s most breathtaking Roman Catholic churches. With a lavishly painted altar, world-renowned frescoes on the ceiling and a beautiful domed roof illuminated at night, Karlskirche is a fantastic venue. It’s a very popular location for concerts, so look out for any string quartet or orchestra performances before paying a visit – the acoustics are fabulous, and tickets can usually be bought on the day.

Did we miss your favourite spot? Let us know in the comments below.

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COMPARE: The best commuter towns if you work in Vienna

Public transport works well in Austria, and over the past few years, especially after the Covid pandemic, most companies have become more flexible when it comes to allowing their employees to work from other places than the office.

This means that living outside Vienna has become more possible than earlier. If you work in the capital, there are many nearby towns and cities within reach.

Baden bei Wien

Baden bei Wien, a cute spa town in Lower Austria, is listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

You can reach Baden from Vienna in about 30 minutes by train. If you drive, it will take you around 40 minutes.

As a place to live, Baden bei Wien offers a great mix of beautiful nature and culture. The town is located in the forested areas known as Vienna Woods where you can enjoy different hiking and biking trails just outside of town. There are also many forests to explore and wineries to visit.

Baden has a rich cultural heritage, and one of its highlights is The Kurpark, a beautiful park in centre of the town, with gardens, fountains, and historic buildings. It is also where the famous spa, Römertherme, is located.

Throughout the year, the town offers various festivals and events such as the Badener Sommernacht and the Beethoven Festival.

Unfortunately, property prices in Baden bei Wien are not cheap and the town has some of the most expensive real estate in Lower Austria. It is still cheaper to rent something in Baden than in Vienna though, as rent prices in the capital are 8.7 percent higher, according to Numbeo.

Kurpark in Baden bei Wien. Photo by Roman Vasilovski on Unsplash

Korneuburg

Korneuburg is a historic town in Lower Austria, located on the banks of the Danube River.

Because it only takes about 30 minutes to reach the town from Vienna, it is a popular place to live if you work in the capital.

Korneuburg offers quiet living near beautiful nature and water. It is a popular alternative to the more stressful and crowded Vienna.

The town has many parks, and in the surrounding area, you will find great nature spots like the hill Bisamberg, where you can enjoy marked hiking and cycling trails.

Korneuburg is known for its rich history, and some of the town’s highlights are Korneuburg Castle, which was built in the 12th century, and the cute and small old town with its narrow streets and historic buildings.

In Korneuburg, The Local found one bedroom apartments to rent for less than €700 per month.

Mödling

Mödling, located around 14 kilometres south of Vienna in Lower Austria, is known for its closeness to nature and rich cultural heritage.

It only takes 15 minutes of train travel to reach Mödling from Vienna. If you travel by car, it will take you 30 minutes.

Mödling is known for its surrounding nature and offers many hiking, jogging, and mountain biking trails. It is also famous for having one of the region’s best via ferratas (klettersteig) for beginner climbers, Mödlinger Klettersteig.

The town also has a rich cultural heritage. For example, Beethoven dedicated the music Mödlinger Tänze (Mödling Dances) to the town, and there is also a Beethoven museum where you can go and learn more about the famous composer.

Furthermore, Mödling is famous for The Mödling Wine Festival, which is held annually in the historic town centre. Here you can go to try local wines, culinary dishes, and listen to traditional music.

The Local found property prices per square meter for Mödling to cost around €3,986.

City centre of Mödling. Photo by Roman Vasilovski on Unsplash

Neusiedl am See

If you want to live near a big lake, settling down in Neusiedl am See in Burgenland might be a great idea.

This town is surrounded by Austria’s most famous wine regions, and it only takes you 40 minutes to travel there from Vienna by train, and a similar time by car.

The town is a popular summer and spring day trip destination for people living in Vienna who want to escape the city to spend some time at the lake. The town centre offers a mixture of modern and traditional cafes, restaurants and bars.

The lake is a great place for enjoying sports such as kite surfing, cycling, hiking, and swimming. Many people also visit the area for birdwatching since it is home to a diversity of birds.

Property is generally considered to be quite affordable in Burgenland, but Neusiedl am See is one of most expensive district in the province.

If you want to buy a house, the average price per square meter is €3.623.Prices for apartments are expected to be similar.

A boat of a sailing school sails in front of the marina in Neusiedl am See. (Photo by Alex HALADA / AFP)

Klosterneuburg

Klosterneuburg, located in the Vienna Woods in Lower Austria, is home to a population of 27,500.

If you are coming from Vienna, you can reach Klosterneuburg in about 40 minutes by train, while driving takes around 30 minutes via the B14 and the B227.

The town is known for its historic Klosterneuburg Monastery that was built in the 12th century and is described by Wienerwald Tourismus as “one of the most beautiful and charming forest communities in the Vienna Woods”.

Klosterneuburg has a historical city centre where you can meet up with your friends, eat at one of the restaurants, do your groceries or maybe visit some of the museums to check out an exhibition.

Since the town is located in the Vienna Woods, nature is easy accessible and you can reach many hiking trails just by walking from the city centre.

According to Numbeo, rent prices in Klosterneuburg are 50.4 percent lower than in Vienna. To rent a one bedroom apartment you have to pay around €715 in Klosterneuburg, according to Numbeo.

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Wiener Neustadt

Wiener Neustadt is a city located in Lower Austria, and a more affordable and quieter alternative to living in the capital.

The city is one of the largest rail transport hubs in Austria and is well connected to the capital, which you can reach in about 30 minutes by train. Driving takes around 50 minutes if you go via the S Autobahn/E59.

This city is also a great alternative to Vienna if you love nature since it is surrounded by it. Wiener Neustadt offers bicycle lanes and trails, including the EuroVelo 9 – a long-distance cycle path connecting the Czech Republic, Austria, and Slovenia.

Schneeberg is also located nearby, which is the highest mountain in the area and a great place to go if you want to enjoy hiking, ski touring, and some great views.

The price for buying an apartment in the centre of Wiener Neustadt is around €3,500 per square meter. Rent prices are in general 37 percent lower than in Vienna, according to Numbeo.

Woman biking through a park in Wiener Neustadt. Photo by Michael Pointner on Unsplash

St. Pölten

St. Pölten is the capital of Lower Austria and it is known for having both an entrepreneurial and an art scene.

From Vienna, you can take a direct train and reach St. Pölten in about 20 to 30 minutes, whereas driving takes you one hour. Using the train is very convenient since the train station is centrally located in the old town of St.Pölten.

The city has a cute historical town, with small streets and historical buildings like the church, The Diocese of Sankt Pölten. And if you feel like enjoying some cultural performances, you can visit the famous Festspielhaus.

St. Pölten offers affordable living in a city near nature. The mountain Schneeberg is very nearby and it does not take you long to get there if you want to enjoy hiking, climbing or skiing.

The Local found one bedroom apartments to rent in the city for less than €600 per month.