The 15 Best Underground & Dark History Tours in Vienna

1.1.5-Hour Underground Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1h 40m · from $32Our pick

Meet at St. Michael’s Church for a 100-minute German-language tour beneath Vienna. You’ll see Roman remains at Michaelerplatz, a 17th-century cellar, old city walls, and remarkably preserved mummies in the church crypt. Guides such as Christopher and Bridgett have brought the history to life with humor and plenty of local detail.

“Tour was very interesting and the guide provided some English for us as well. Well worth it. The Crypts are worth the tour price just on their own.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Ghosts and Legends Guided Nighttime Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2 hours · from $20

Walk central Vienna at night with guide Astrid Stangl, hearing ghost tales, criminal cases, vampire lore, and the story linking Vienna to Dracula. The route passes Hofburg Palace, the Augustinian Church, Neuer Markt, Blutgasse, and ends at St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

“There was so much great information and our guide was so lovely! She created the entire presentation herself so it was cool. You could tell that she loved what she was doing, which makes a big difference. We had a great time and would definitely do another tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.“The Third Man” Film Location Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2 hours · from $30

Follow Harry Lime through central Vienna with a state-certified guide such as Brigitte Timmermann or Christopher. See key filming sites, compare screen images with today’s streets, and learn how the film grew from Graham Greene’s story into a post-war classic. The sewer is not included.

“it was truly most enjoyable and informative. I have seen the film many times and thought I knew but Kirstin gave us such an insight into the film, the actors and the history of Vienna. Highly recommended!;”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Spooky Ghost Tour in English

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1h 30m · from $28

Walk Vienna’s Old Town at night with a state-certified Austria Guide. Lisa, Trim, or Luis may lead you through Helmut Zilk Square, Blood Alley, the Hofburg area, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, mixing spooky legends, grisly history, and useful city tips.

“It was the most interesting and best performen guided tour I have ever participated in. Lisa did an exceptional job. My children and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Vienna Woods Tour with Underground Lake and Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4 hours · from $129

Travel by minivan from Vienna with guides such as Taras or Tom, see Lichtenstein Castle from outside, ride across the cool underground lake at Seegrotte Hinterbrühl, then taste three local wines with snacks at a traditional tavern in Gumpoldskirchen.

“We really enjoyed this trip!! The wine tasting in particular was incredible!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.2-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

7.German Guided Ghost Tour of Spooky Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2 hours · from $45

Walk Vienna’s shadowy lanes with a licensed German-speaking guide, possibly Stefan, for two hours of stories about Templars, vampires, curses, and demons. The tour meets by St. Stephen’s Cathedral, stays outdoors, and does not include entry to crypts, cellars, or buildings.

“alles super,der Stefan weiss wie man die Leute unterhält”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Underground WWII Bunker Ticket and Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1h 30m · from $35

Meet at Vienna’s Museum of Liberation, then follow a German-speaking guide into a non-public WWII air raid shelter. Expect wartime objects, candlelit atmosphere, stories of civilian life, and context on annexation and postwar rebuilding. Wear comfortable shoes and leave your camera behind.

“The bunker in it of itself was a terrific experience. The place was really something. Unfortunately, our guide, although really nice, wasn’t the best at explaining what we were seeing. He was all over the place with his explanations, he was looking for his words and often forgetting his storyline. He was often rambling with no logical order in his thoughts. Overall, great place, but à better guide would have made all the difference.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.The Great Plague Exploration Game

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $7Best value

Use your smartphone to follow a self-guided story through central Vienna, solving clues at St. Rupert’s Church, Griechenbeisl, Stephansplatz, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Albertina, and the Hofburg. The private game lasts about 90 minutes, but you can pause for coffee, museums, or extra sightseeing.

“Great way to see the city and see hidden gems I would have never known about! Me and my friend did it and it was a great afternoon activity”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Spooky Vienna Ghost Tour in English

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Follow a state-certified Austrian guide from Helmut-Zilk-Platz to St. Stephen’s Cathedral at 7:30 pm. Hear dark tales tied to the Vienna State Opera, medieval lanes, and the cathedral’s cursed north tower. Guides such as Lisa bring the stories alive with humor, music, and vivid detail.

“Our guide was amazing! Loved her spunk and irreverent sense of humour! She made creepy history come to life and made it super memorable! I would 100% recommend this tour in Vienna!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Third Man Museum Admission Ticket Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $20Top rated

Visit Vienna’s Third Man Museum for a close look at original film scripts, Anton Karas’s zither, cameras, posters, and 3,000-plus artifacts. Plan for 1 to 2 hours on Saturday afternoon. The $20 mobile ticket covers admission, with no food, drinks, or transportation included.

“Eine unglaublich umfangreiche und originelle Sammlung, mit viel Liebe zum Detail zusammengestellt. Sehr nette und zuvorkommenden Museumsleiter und -Mitarbeiter.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Private Spooky Vienna Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Join English-speaking guide Lisa for a 90-minute private walk through central Vienna. Hear eerie tales of the Habsburgs, St. Michael’s catacombs, the plague, Blood Alley, Augustin, medieval executions, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Your group of up to 15 sets the pace.

“Lisa was our tour guide and she was absolutely brilliant! Ghost stories are up to you to believe but she sure makes it interesting besides her knowledge about the history of Vienna is commendable! She is like a doctor with solutions to all your what, where, when and how!! Ritwik”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Vienna Underground Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 2 hours (approx.) · from $68

Meet at Mölker Steig and follow an English-speaking guide into Vienna’s lesser-seen underground. You’ll enter private, non-public cellars, hear stories about their past, and use a phone-based audioguide. The tour ends at Franziskanerplatz after about two hours.

“Bei der Buchung wurde uns telefonisch gesagt, dass die Gruppen 8 Personen groß sind. (Wir hatten wegen einer 9er Gruppe angefragt).”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Sex, Scandal & Taboo History Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 2 hours · from $45

Spend two hours in central Vienna with a German-speaking guide such as Josef, a historian known for wit and charm. Hear candid stories about royal brothels, prostitution, Napoleon’s missing penis, and unusual beliefs while walking between the city’s darker landmarks.

“Toller Guide! Interessent gestaltet und rübergebracht. Cooler Schmäh!”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Underground 2.5h Tour with St. Stephen’s Cathedral Catacombs

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $265

Join a private English-speaking guide for a 2.5-hour tour of Vienna’s historic center, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and its catacombs. You’ll hear stories of the Habsburgs, see crypts holding more than 11,000 remains, and have time for photos. Guides include Maria, Timea, Stephen, and Marlene.

“This experience was amazing. Our guide Maria provided endless knowledge about Vienna during our tours. I would recommend this tour and guide to anyone coming to Vienna.”

Check availability →Read our full review