Top 13 History Tours in Vienna

1.Time Travel and Magic Vienna History Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1 hour · from $27Our pick

Travel through 2,000 years of Vienna in the cellars of St. Michael’s monastery. Expect portrait galleries, 5D film effects, VR music history, a World War II bomb shelter scene, Chancellor Figl’s postwar speech, and a virtual carriage ride.

“This activity was super! Lots of historical facts, which gave us an idea of the history of the city and country before our holiday begun, as this was our 1 st planned activity. The rooms are well thought and fun and the virtual reality makes really fun for all ages!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.World War II Historical Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2h 30m · from $31

Walk from the Albertina Museum through Vienna’s WWII story with an English-speaking guide such as Dieter, Stefan, Siggy, or Michael. Expect Hitler’s early years, the annexation, wartime bombing, Jewish Vienna, the surviving synagogue, Holocaust memorial, and postwar Allied occupation over 2.5 hours.

“Excellent tour with dieter. Very informative, balanced and interesting from start to finish. Best tour of my stay”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Vienna Historic Center Small Group Walking Tour

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

See Vienna’s major sights on a 2.5-hour English walking tour capped at 15 people. Guides such as Dace, Giselle, Gabriela, and Beatrice share palace stories, café tips, and local context. The route is mostly outdoors, with no museum entry, and ends at St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

“The guide was lovely and definitely interested in making sure the guests were all cared for. The tour itself, while incredibly informative, was more pointing out historical places and providing context however not actually experiencing anything along the way. I recommend this for someone who has some knowledge of the city already and wants a deeper dive in the history as it's not as interactive/experiential and more of a teaching style tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Time Travel-Magic Vienna History Tour Ticket

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

In the vaults of Vienna’s 400-year-old Michaelerkloster, you’ll move from Roman Vindobona to the Habsburg era, plague years, classical music and World War II. Expect 5D cinema, VR, animatronics, a virtual fiaker ride and audio commentary in 10 languages, including English.

“Great experience and captivating for the whole family. Informative about the history of Vienna without being overwhelming.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Begin at the Vienna State Opera for a guided coach loop past the Ringstrasse, Parliament, Hofburg, City Hall, and museums. Then enter Schönbrunn Palace with a guide, followed by about 40 minutes of free time. English is offered daily, but some departures are bilingual.

“It was informative and interesting. Our guide was succinct and well-prepared and his commentary fit the group he had.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Vienna Mozart Concert in Historical Costumes at the Musikverein

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

Spend about two hours at the Musikverein with 30 musicians from leading Viennese orchestras. The program blends Mozart symphonies, concertos, opera arias, and duets, with performers in period dress. Your ticket places you in either the Golden Hall or Brahms Hall, depending on availability and category.

“Really fun...great music we enjoyed every moment. Get their early for taking photos and to skip the crowd”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Historical Hitler Walking Tour of Vienna

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

Walk from the Albertina to Schwedenplatz, following Hitler’s early Vienna connections, the 1938 Anschluss, wartime destruction, and the persecution of Austrian Jews. Guides such as Dieter, Wolfgang, Stephan, and Charles use stories, maps, and images to add context. Expect serious history, easy walking, and several outdoor stops.

“Extremely informative and in depth. This is not a WWII walking tour; it is as described, a walking tour related to Hitler . The guide was very knowledgeable and while long, 2.5 hrs kept it interesting and moving”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.History Highlight Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · from $33

Walk central Vienna with guides such as Herbert or Wolfgang, tracing Roman origins, Habsburg power, imperial weddings, wartime damage, and local legends. The small-group tour runs for two hours in English or German, costs $33, and ends near St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Entrance fees are extra.

“Enjoyed this tour very much. It started on time and Herbert was very friendly, knowledgeable and engaging. Best way to learn the history of Vienna.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Historical Pharmacy Cellar Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1 hour · from $37

Spend one hour beneath Vienna in a private pharmacy cellar near Taubstummengasse. A German-speaking guide leads you through old medicine storage rooms and a unique laboratory, explaining 160 years of pharmaceutical history. Expect many stairs, a small group, and no elevator.

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Vienna Classical Concert – Strauss in Historic 1837 Hall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $78

Spend an evening at Vienna’s House of Strauss with museum admission, a concert in the historic Strauss Hall, a full orchestra, and an opera soloist. Plan around the later 8:30 p.m. performance, since the museum visit comes first and published start times have caused confusion.

“The low score is all on Viator. The information about the concert provided by Viator was limited and incomplete... The concert time on Web site and the ticket was 7:00 when it started at 8:30... I wasted my time and parking cost. This is my 3rd event and never had such limited event information”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.2-Hour Historical Crimes Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2 hours · from $45

Follow a German-speaking guide through Vienna’s first district for two hours of grim tales and noble crimes. See Palais Bathory, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Himmelpfortgasse, and more than ten sites. Meet by the war memorial on Helmut Zilk Square, marked by a yellow umbrella.

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Vienna State Opera House Mozart Concert in Historical Costumes

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2 hours (approx.) · from $83

Spend about two hours with 30 musicians from leading Viennese orchestras, opera singers, and a soloist performing Mozart’s overtures, arias, duets, concertos, and symphonies in period costume. Choose standard seating or a VIP evening with dinner at Restaurant Bristol, a fiaker ride, and backstage access.

“The concert was our favorite experience in Vienna! We loved the performance and the setting. Highly encourage to attend even if you select further out seats, the experience will be memorable!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Highlights of Vienna in a Historical & Cultural 3h Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 hours (approx.) · from $66

Walk Vienna’s historic center with an English-speaking guide, from Mozarthaus and St. Stephen’s Cathedral to the Hofburg, Spanish Riding School, and State Opera. Expect stories about Mozart, Habsburg rulers, coffee culture, cake, and city life, plus a 30-minute Viennese café break.

“Nicole was terrific - incredibly knowledgeable. This tour is an outstanding way to experience and learn about Vienna’s rich history - very enjoyable and time very well spent. Great value!”

Check availability →Read our full review