Vienna Imperial Ring Walking Tour: A Self-Guided Loop Through the Old City
A self-guided Vienna walking tour looping the imperial old city, from the State Opera and St. Stephen's Cathedral to the grand Hofburg palace and the Ringstrasse.
- 8 stops and 11 minutes of stories, told as you reach each place
- The intro and stop 1 are free in the app: try before you buy
- Download before you go; the audio plays without signal (the street map needs a connection)
- Walking with friends? Pick 1 to 10 seats; everyone hears each stop on their own phone, at the same moment
30 seconds of the real narration
Plays in the free Walk With Me app on iPhone and Android.
What you'll see
About this tour
Vienna's imperial core is small and flat, and on foot you feel how tightly it fits together, with emperors, shopkeepers and composers all living within a few minutes' walk of one another. In one loop you go from the State Opera up Kärntner Strasse to the tiled roof of St. Stephen's, along the Graben past the Plague Column, down Kohlmarkt to the Hofburg's domed gate, through the palace courtyards to Heldenplatz and across the Ring to the City Hall. The changes come step by step, from grand boulevard to narrow lane to open square, and there is always a cafe or a courtyard asking you to stop. If you would like company, open the Walk With Me live map to see who else is out walking Vienna.
The route
3.2 km in walking order from Vienna State Opera to Rathausplatz. Stop 1 is free in the app.
- 1Vienna State OperaThe State Opera on the Ringstrasse, Vienna's classic meeting point, and the summer screen that sometimes shows performances free outside.€11 to go in, optional
- 2Kärntner StrasseThe broad shopping street from the Opera toward the cathedral, its old upper floors, and why the spire keeps growing as you walk.
- 3St. Stephen's CathedralThe Gothic cathedral at the city's heart, its roof of glazed tiles in zigzags and an eagle, and the nickname locals give the tower.
- 4GrabenA wide pedestrian street that began as a moat outside the Roman walls, with a swirling baroque column raised when a plague lifted.
- 5KohlmarktA short street of luxury shops that frames the palace dome ahead, one of the most photographed sightlines in Vienna.
- 6Hofburg PalaceThe Habsburgs' winter palace, a city of courtyards and wings that is still the president's seat, crossed by way of In der Burg.€15 to go in, optional
- 7HeldenplatzThe vast Square of Heroes, two generals on rearing horses, and the weight of the moments this open ground has witnessed.
- 8RathausplatzThe neo-Gothic City Hall with its small iron knight on top, and a square that changes its use with the seasons.
What costs extra
2 stops have a ticket to go inside. The story plays outside, so going in is your choice.
| Stop | Inside | Ticket from |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vienna State Opera | Optional | €11 |
| 6. Hofburg Palace | Optional | €15 |
Questions
How long does it really take?
44 min of walking plus 11 minutes of stories, so plan for about 55 min with stops.
Can I go inside the Hofburg?
Yes, with a ticket: the palace holds museums, the old imperial apartments, a chapel and a riding school. The walk itself crosses the courtyards, and the story plays outside.
What is on at Rathausplatz?
It depends on the season. A summer film festival, a Christmas market and a winter ice rink take turns on the square in front of City Hall.
Is the walk flat?
Yes. The whole loop is on smooth, flat paving, so any comfortable shoes will do.
Toilets and water on the way
10 public toilets (2 free) and 27 drinking fountains within 150 m of the route.
| Stop | Nearest toilet | Nearest water |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vienna State Opera | 190 m | 131 m |
| 2. Kärntner Strasse | 254 m | 100 m |
| 3. St. Stephen's Cathedral | 156 m, free | 61 m |
| 4. Graben | 60 m | 63 m |
| 5. Kohlmarkt | 93 m | 106 m |
| 6. Hofburg Palace | 221 m | 118 m |
| 7. Heldenplatz | 212 m | 110 m |
| 8. Rathausplatz | 76 m | 79 m |
The full map is in our Vienna guide. Data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Cheaper in a bundle
Photos: Diogo Digital Art / Pexels; Gotta Be Worth It / Pexels.