In short: The best free viewpoint in Vienna is the Kahlenberg (484 m), 24 minutes by bus 38A from Heiligenstadt, with the whole city and the Danube below you. The highest view is the Danube Tower, whose open-air deck sits 150 m up (from €18 online). In the centre, the south tower of St Stephen's Cathedral (343 steps, €8) puts you right above the old town, and the Giant Ferris Wheel (€14.50) gives you the classic Prater view from 64.75 m.
We are Prime Tours, a locally owned Vienna tour company, and we have been walking visitors through our city since 2016. Here are the viewpoints we send them to, free and paid, with heights, prices and how to get there, checked for the 2026 season.
Vienna's viewpoints at a glance
| Viewpoint | Height | How to get there | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahlenberg terrace | 484 m hill | Bus 38A from Heiligenstadt (U4), 24 minutes | Free |
| Leopoldsberg church terrace | 425 m hill | Bus 38A from Heiligenstadt, 28 minutes | Free |
| Cobenzl | 492 m hill | Bus 38A from Heiligenstadt, 16 minutes | Free |
| Danube Tower deck | 150 m | U1 Alte Donau, then 15 to 20 minutes on foot | €18 online, €19.90 on site |
| St Stephen's south tower | about 67 m, 343 steps | U1 or U3 Stephansplatz | €8 (children €3) |
| St Stephen's north tower (lift) | tower 68.3 m | U1 or U3 Stephansplatz | €8 (children €3) |
| Giant Ferris Wheel | 64.75 m at the top | U1 or U2 Praterstern | €14.50 |
| Gloriette hill, Schönbrunn | terrace via 101 steps | U4 Schönbrunn, then through the park | Park free; terrace in the Exclusive Gardens ticket (€16) |
Kahlenberg: the view the Viennese love
The Kahlenberg is 484 m high and still inside the city limits, on the edge of the Vienna Woods. The panoramic terrace between Café Kahlenberg and the Skyline Restaurant looks over the skyline, the Danube and the countryside beyond. It is free, and many locals come up after dark for the lights.
Getting there is easy: bus 38A leaves from Heiligenstadt station (U4) and runs via Grinzing to the Kahlenberg stop in about 24 minutes. It runs several times an hour, more often on weekends and holidays. If you prefer to walk, the Vienna City Hiking Trail 1 climbs from the Nussdorf terminus of tram D through the vineyards, which takes one to two hours depending on your pace.
At the top stands the Stefaniewarte, a 22 m lookout tower built in 1887 and named after Crown Princess Stefanie, wife of Crown Prince Rudolf. It opens only from May to October on weekends and holidays. Until 1629 the hill was called Sauberg; around 1700 the name Kahlenberg moved over from its neighbour.
Guide's tip: go up by bus and walk down through the vineyards to Nussdorf or Grinzing, then end the day at a Heuriger. Our guide to Vienna's wine taverns explains how they work.
Leopoldsberg: the quieter twin
The Leopoldsberg (425 m) rises steeply above the Danube. The terrace beside the church is one of the city's best-kept secrets. On a clear day you see as far as Bratislava, about 55 km away, and you can pick out St Stephen's Cathedral, the DC Tower, the Giant Ferris Wheel and the Millennium Tower.
The foundation stone of the Leopoldskirche was laid in 1679, and in 1814 Prince Johann I of Liechtenstein, who rented the old castle, had a viewing terrace built on its northwest side. Some 38A buses continue past the Kahlenberg to the Leopoldsberg stop, 28 minutes from Heiligenstadt. A level path through the woods links the two hills.
Guide's tip: the Höhenstraße is about 15 km long, mostly cobbled, and the longest street in Vienna.
Cobenzl and the other Vienna Woods hills
The Cobenzl (492 m) sits a few stops before the Kahlenberg on the same 38A line, 16 minutes from Heiligenstadt. It has the Cobenzl wine estate and wide views over the vineyards, and a lovely walk leads down through the vines to Grinzing.
- Hermannskogel (542 m): the highest of Vienna's hills, with the Habsburgwarte lookout tower, opened in 1889. Reached on foot, with a steep last climb.
- Bisamberg (358 m): in the north of the city, with views over Vienna and no strenuous climb, close to the wine cellars of Stammersdorf.
Danube Tower: the highest view in Vienna
At 252 m, the Danube Tower is the tallest structure in Austria. It was built in 1964 in the Donaupark. An express lift takes you to the open-air observation deck at 150 m in about 35 seconds, and a glazed indoor terrace keeps the view in any weather. On clear days the visibility reaches up to 80 km, as far as the Schneeberg and Bratislava.
Above the deck are the Turm Café at 160 m and the revolving Turm Restaurant at 170 m, and there is a slide that starts at 165 m (€5 per ride online, with an admission ticket). An adult ticket costs €18 online and €19.90 at the desk, children aged 6 to 14 pay €10.80 online. Take the U1 to Alte Donau and walk 15 to 20 minutes through the park, or the U6 to Neue Donau and walk about 15 minutes. Bus 20A stops at the tower seasonally.
Guide's tip: guests with a table booked at the Turm Restaurant or for brunch get 50% off the admission ticket.
St Stephen's Cathedral: the view from the middle
For the old town from above, climb the 343 steps of the south tower, the Steffl, to the Türmerstube, the old watchmen's room at almost 67 m. It is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00 (last climb 18:15) and costs €8 for adults and €3 for children aged 6 to 14.
If stairs are not for you, take the lift up the north tower, which is 68.3 m high and was never finished. At the top you stand on an open platform next to the Pummerin, Austria's largest bell. It is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00 (last ride up 18:30) at the same price. The all-inclusive ticket (€29) covers both towers, the catacombs, an audio guide and the Dom Museum.
Our free walking tour of the historical city centre starts nearby and tells you the stories behind the cathedral.
Giant Ferris Wheel and the Prater
The Riesenrad in the Prater was built in 1897 for the 50th anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph's reign. Its highest point is 64.75 m above the ground, and a ride takes about 12 to 15 minutes at a slow 2.7 km/h. After a fire in 1944 it reopened in 1947 with 15 instead of 30 cabins, and each cabin holds up to 15 people. A standard ticket costs €14.50, and the wheel runs all year. Take the U1 or U2 to Praterstern.
The wheel is also a film star: read the real story behind The Third Man to see why.
Schönbrunn, rooftops and a winter note
The Gloriette crowns the hill behind Schönbrunn Palace. The palace park is free and opens at 6:30 every day (in November and December until 17:30), so the walk up and the view from the front of the Gloriette cost nothing. The rooftop terrace (25 steps to the ticket office, then 76 to the top) is part of the Exclusive Gardens ticket at €16, which runs only until 2 November 2026. Want a guide? Book our private Schönbrunn Palace tour.
In the city, Das LOFT on the 18th floor of the SO/ Vienna hotel (Praterstraße 1), designed by Jean Nouvel, is our favourite rooftop for a drink with a view over the old town. The bar opens Monday to Thursday 16:00 to 01:00, Friday and Saturday 16:00 to 02:00 and Sunday 18:00 to 01:00. The free MQ Libelle on the roof of the Leopold Museum is closed for the winter; its season runs from mid-April to the end of October.
Guide's tip: we like the city lights best from above just after sunset. Pair a viewpoint with our free walking tour of Vienna at night, or let us plan a custom day with a private walking tour. For more ideas, see our guide to things to do in Vienna.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free viewpoint in Vienna?
The Kahlenberg terrace at 484 m, reached by bus 38A from Heiligenstadt in about 24 minutes. The Leopoldsberg church terrace next door is quieter and just as good. In town, the Gloriette hill in the free Schönbrunn park.
Which is higher, the Danube Tower or St Stephen's Cathedral?
The Danube Tower. Its observation deck is at 150 m and the tower is 252 m tall, the tallest structure in Austria. The Türmerstube in the cathedral's south tower is at almost 67 m, but you are right above the old town.
How many steps are there up St Stephen's south tower?
343 steps lead up to the Türmerstube. There is no lift in the south tower. If you cannot climb, the north tower has a lift up to the Pummerin bell.
Is the Giant Ferris Wheel worth it for the view?
Yes, if you want the classic Prater view and some history. A ride of 12 to 15 minutes takes you up to 64.75 m for €14.50. For a wider panorama, the Danube Tower or the Kahlenberg see much further.
Photo: Alireza Javaheri, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
