If you're staying more than three days, the weekly pass is almost always the better deal, the City Card really only shines if you're planning to hit a bunch of museums since the discounts add up. I'd skip the app and just buy the weekly ticket at a Wiener Linien ticket machine at any U-Bahn station, it's quicker than fiddling with registration and you don't need a bank card with a foreign fee. For getting around, the U-Bahn is the backbone but don't sleep on the trams, the 1 and 2 lines do a nice loop past the Ringstrasse sights and you'll see more than underground. Just remember to validate your ticket in the little blue box on the platform before you board, the inspectors are fast and they don't care if you're a tourist.

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The weekly pass is the way to go, especially since it covers Saturday and Sunday if you're there over a weekend, and the City Card's museum discounts rarely beat the standard combo tickets you can get at the door. I'd actually recommend the WienMobil app over the Wiener Linien one, it handles bikes and scooters too if you want to hop between districts on a whim. For a first-timer, the 2 tram is my favorite, it does the full Ringstrasse loop and you can jump off at Schwedenplatz for a decent schnitzel at Gastwirtschaft Steman before hopping back on. One thing nobody mentions, the night buses run all night on weekends, so don't stress about missing the last U-Bahn, just use the same ticket and check the N-line map at the station.

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honestly, skip the City Card unless you're dead set on museum hopping, the weekly pass is just simpler and covers everything including the airport train if you get the right one. my go-to is actually the S-Bahn for getting across town fast, it feels less crowded than the U-Bahn and you get above-ground views between stations, plus the 7 tram to the Naschmarkt on a Saturday morning is peak Vienna chaos, the farmers market stalls are worth the squeeze.

don't bother with the app if you're only here a week, the ticket machines at Stephansplatz have an English option and take cash, which is handy since some smaller shops don't. one thing that caught me out first time, the validation boxes are on the platform not at the entrance, and the inspectors at Westbahnhof are notorious, i've seen them ticket three people in five minutes there.

if you're out late, the 2 tram stops near the Ring at around 1am on Fridays, and there's a decent kebab place right by the Schwedenplatz stop that's open till 3, not the fanciest but hits the spot after a few beers. also, the 5 tram runs through the 5th district, it's a bit gritty but you'll see real Vienna, not just the postcard bits.

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honestly this is a really solid plan, you've done your homework. one thing i'd tweak for day 1 is that the kunsthistorisches museum is amazing but it's massive, you could easily spend 3 hours in there and not see everything. if you're short on time, just hit the picture gallery and skip the egyptian collection, it's cool but not essential for a first visit

for day 3, the belvedere gardens are a nice walk but the lower belvedere is actually a separate ticket unless you get the combo, just double check that. also salm brau is a solid choice but it's always packed, if you don't want to wait try the gasthaus zum schiefen balkon at rathausstraße 17, same style food but less touristy and the schnitzel is just as good

one thing nobody's mentioned is the time it takes to get between places. from the naschmarkt to the kunsthistorisches is like a 10 minute walk which is fine, but from the museumsquartier to stephansdom is a solid 15 minute walk. your day 1 evening plan with ulrich is great but it's a bit out of the way from the rathauspark, it's like a 20 minute walk back. maybe grab dessert at the cafe at the volkstheater instead, it's right next to the museumsquartier and the strudel is

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Good post, really captures the rhythm of the city. One thing I'd add for day 1: if you're at the Kunsthistorisches on a Thursday evening when it's open until 9pm, the crowds thin out a lot after 6pm and you get the galleries almost to yourself. The Bruegel room especially feels different when it's quiet.

For the Heuriger on day 2, I'd suggest taking the 38A bus from Grinzing up to Kahlenberg instead of heading straight back to town. The view over Vienna at sunset is worth the extra 15 minutes, and there's a little bus stop right at the top. Just check the last bus time so you don't get stuck up there.

On the coffee front, if you're near the Belvedere on day 3, skip the tourist spots and go to Kaffeefabrik at Favoritenstraße 4. It's a 5 minute walk from the palace, the owner roasts his own beans, and a flat white is 3.50. Much better than anything in the first district.

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great post, covers the pacing really well. one thing i'd flag is that the stephansdom south tower climb is doable but it's tight spiral stairs with no landings, so if you're claustrophobic or have bad knees just skip it and do the north tower elevator instead, it's like 6 euros and you see the pummerin bell up close

for day 3, the belvedere gardens are lovely but the real hidden spot is the palace kitchen garden behind the lower belvedere, it's free and has these huge old fruit trees and herbs they still use for events. also the salm brau wait can be 30 minutes at peak, i usually just walk two blocks to zum weißen rauchfangkehrer at weissgerberlände 26, same style food but the schweinsbraten is better and they have a quiet courtyard

one local thing nobody mentions is that the u4 platform at schönbrunn is actually split, the front half of the train gets you closer to the main entrance but the back half drops you near the zoo entrance which is a longer walk. stand near the front of the platform if you're going straight to the palace

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