Vienna History Tours: Our 9 Picks

1.World War II Historical Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,772 reviews · 2h 30m · from $31Our pick

Walk central Vienna with English-speaking guides such as Dieter, Stefan, or Siggi, tracing Hitler’s early years, Austria’s annexation, wartime bombing, Jewish Vienna, liberation, and the postwar Allied zones. You’ll see the only synagogue to survive the Nazi regime and Vienna’s Holocaust memorial. Expect about four kilometers of walking, regular stops, and headsets for clear audio.

“Our guide was great & his historical knowledge was excellent & very educational. Ear pieces were provided so you can hear your guide as you go. You do cover quite a distance, the tour lasts 2.5hrs so go prepared with comfy shoes & appropriate clothing. There are plenty stops at places of interest too. The tour does not return to the starting point but there's a metro stop close by. I'd recommend this tour to anyone with an interest in this period of history.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Vienna Historic Center Small Group Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,746 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $72Top rated

Walk central Vienna for about 2.5 hours with a certified English-speaking guide and no more than 15 people. See the Ringstrasse, Hofburg, Heldenplatz, Rathaus, Graben, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Guides such as Dace, Giselle, Gabriela, and Beatrice bring history to life with humor, images, and practical café and restaurant advice.

“Dace leads one of the most entertaining and engaging walking tours we’ve had the pleasure to experience. Vienna will amaze you. A visual feast at every turn awaits, and thanks to the insights and information shared during the tour, the historical significance of this incredible city comes to life. Dace added humor, personal anecdotes, and overlooked historic and current gems to our tour so that we felt we could easily spend a whole day with her! This is an essential tour not to be missed.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Time Travel-Magic Vienna History Tour Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,099 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $27

Step into the 400-year-old Michaelerkloster for a fast, theatrical tour of Vienna. A German-speaking host leads the experience, while headphones provide English and nine other translations. Expect 5D cinema, VR, animatronics, wax figures, music, an air-raid shelter, and a virtual fiaker ride.

“Nice hour long tour through history. Wax figures, robotics, mini documentaries, special effects. It was an hour long.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Skip-the-Line Schonbrunn Palace Guided Tour and Vienna Historical City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 940 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $82

Start at the Vienna State Opera for a coach tour past the Ringstrasse, Parliament, City Hall, Hofburg, and major museums. Then skip the queue at Schönbrunn Palace for a guided State Rooms visit, followed by about 40 minutes of free time. English is offered daily, though some departures combine languages.

“I enjoyed the garden as compare to the palace. The garden was very beautiful. The driver and guide were very friendly.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Vienna Mozart Concert in Historical Costumes at the Musikverein

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 888 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $83

Spend about two hours at Vienna’s Musikverein with the 30-member Vienna Mozart Orchestra, performing Mozart symphonies, concertos, opera arias, and duets in historical dress. Your concert may be in the Golden Hall or Brahms Hall, and your seating category matters greatly. Arrive 30 minutes early to exchange your voucher and bring photo ID.

“WOW what a wonderful experience. The building was stunning. The talented musicians were amazing & the singers were first class.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Historical Hitler Walking Tour of Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 887 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $32

Follow an English-speaking guide from the Albertina Museum to Schwedenplatz, tracing Hitler’s Vienna, the 1938 Anschluss, Nazi terror, and the city’s Jewish past. You’ll see the State Opera, Heldenplatz, Judenplatz, Morzinplatz, and the hidden Stadttempel Synagogue. Guides such as Dieter, Wolfgang, and Stephan are known for clear storytelling and visual aids.

“Sigee our tour guide was phenomenal. So knowledgeable and engaging. It was an unseasonably cold day and she made sure we saw everything and took breaks inside to warm up! Highly recommend this tour and tour guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Essential History Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 633 reviews · 2 hours · from $34

In two hours, a live English or German guide leads you from Roman Vienna and the Hofburg to the National Library, Albertina, Imperial Crypt, Opera, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Expect imperial stories, wedding customs, wartime scars, dry humor, and practical tips. Herbert and Wolfgang are especially noted guides, though guide assignment varies.

“It was an amazing way to start off our stay in Vienna. We booked the English tour and our guide Herbort was wonderful. He was very knowledgeable, funny, and made the experience well worth. We are going back for some of the recommendations that were made which was exactly what were looking for- someone to point the way in a city with a lot to offer.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Historical Pharmacy Cellar Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 541 reviews · 1 hour · from $37

Meet your German-speaking guide beside Schutzengel Apotheke and descend into a private pharmacy cellar beneath Vienna. In one hour, you’ll see an old laboratory, medicine cellar, relics, and hidden corridors tied to 160 years of pharmaceutical history. The small group is limited to 10, but expect many steps and no elevator.

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Ticket to the Museum of Natural History

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 426 reviews · 1 day · from $21Best value

Spend a full day exploring Vienna’s Natural History Museum, from prehistoric gold and meteorites to rare animals and famous human figures. The $21 ticket covers admission, and you can look for a separate guided rooftop visit with views across central Vienna. The museum is wheelchair accessible, with flexible cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check availability →Read our full review