Free activities in Vienna

On this page, you will find a selection of free activities that you can enjoy during your stay for the RC21 Conference in July 2026 – whether you are already in Vienna on the weekend before the conference starts, have time in between the conference programme, or are staying in Vienna after the conference.

Table of contents (Click to jump directly to the respective section.)

Open-air cinema and film festivals
Art and museums
Theatre, music and dance
Science and discourse
Free walking tours
Free selfguided biking tours

Open-air cinema and film festivals

FRAME[O]UT OPEN AIR CINEMA AT MUSEUMSQUARTIER

Frame[o]ut shows innovative contemporary cinema that is dedicated to a certain motto every year. The theme for 2025 was ‘Disobedience’. It ranges from Austrian and international feature films and documentaries to short films and art films, The event takes place in the Museumsquartier from the beginning of July to the end of August on Friday and Saturday evenings.

FILM FESTIVAL AT RATHAUSPLATZ

At dusk, the town hall square has been filled with the sounds of concerts for more than 30 years during the summer months: the open-air film festival serves up concert recordings of classical music, from opera and ballet to musicals, as well as pop, rock and jazz, to around 2,800 seats in front of the big screen. The musical programme is complemented by a wide range of culinary offerings.

DOTDOTDOT SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Every summer, the Volkskundemuseum hosts the dotdotdot short film festival. In the cosy garden of the baroque Schönborn Palace, the short film programmes offer a variety of perspectives on a specific theme each evening, accompanied by film discussions and workshops, with a special focus on accessibility.

Art and museums

WIEN MUSEUM

The Wien Museum and its collection belong to the people of Vienna. That is why the city offers all visitors to the Wien Museum on Karlsplatz free admission to the permanent exhibition: the narrative of the city’s history begins in the natural environment before settlement and continues to the present day. The offer is complemented by consumption-free zones, a community gallery, workshops and educational programmes for all age groups as well as inclusive programmes.

QUEER MUSEUM VIENNA

The Queer Museum Vienna is a non-profit and self-organised collective that aims to establish a space for Queer culture and art making a strong statement for diversity, inclusion and self-determination. The museum is open from Thursday to Sunday, 2pm–6pm.

VIENNA DISTRICT MUSEUMS

The volunteer-run Vienna District Museums are unique in the world – no other metropolis has a museum for each of its districts. As living places of city history, they tell the story of the past and present of Vienna’s 23 districts and are regular venues for events. Once a year, the Vienna District Museums Day takes place.

KÖR ART IN PUBLIC SPACES

Art in public spaces can be found throughout Vienna in squares, along streets, in parks and underground stations. In the midst of everyday life, people encounter all kinds of contemporary art. Sculptures, paintings, installations, performances, memorials and monuments bring people together in the city’s public spaces, With its projects, KÖR Kunst im öffentlichen Raum Wien (Art in Public Space Vienna) encourages people to approach the city from new perspectives and engage with it.

Theatre, music and dance

VIENNA CULTURAL SUMMER

The open-air stages of the Kultursommer, spread across the entire city, provide Viennese residents and visitors with six weeks of cultural offerings during the summer, with free admission – from music and dance to cabaret. Performances are also held in retirement homes, and children’s festivals offer a colourful programme for the whole family. The Vienna Cultural Summer takes place from July 2nd to August 18th, 2026. Entry to all of the events is free.

PUBLIC MOVES – IMPULSTANZ

At Public Moves, there will be daily open-air dancing during the ImPulsTanz Festival: more than 100 internationally renowned choreographers and dancers will share their knowledge of everything from yoga to Bollywood dance and hip-hop in free workshops at several locations in Vienna. All ages and levels are welcome.

Science and discourse

COMPLEXITY SCIENCE HUB VIENNA

The Complexity Science Hub (CSH) understands the world as an interconnected, co-evolving system. To better understand its dynamics and interrelationships, the CSH analyses large amounts of data on the economy, migration, health, the climate crisis, urban development and much more. The aim is to gain useful knowledge from big data, create models and make predictions about the future. Regular events bring the research activities closer to an interested audience.

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR CULTURAL STUDIES

The International Research Centre for Cultural Studies (ifk) sees itself as a place for the free exchange of ideas across various academic disciplines such as philosophy, art, history and sociology. Through its events and exhibitions, among other things, the ifk invites visitors to consider different perspectives on socio-cultural phenomena in order to gain a dynamic and more complete picture of our world.

THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN SCIENCES (IMW)

The Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) is dedicated to social science and humanities research into the multidimensional challenges facing today’s societies. It regularly organises public and freely accessible lectures, debates and conferences, and publishes academic books and articles.

Free walking tours

Vienna Highlight

The Vienna Highlights Tour takes you through the streets of the first district of Vienna, showcasing its beautiful historical architecture. Highlights include: St. Stephan’s Cathedral, the Hofburg Palace, Vienna Opera House, Heldenplatz and Helmut-Zilk Square. Your guide will provide historical and cultural context for the buildings, offering insight into the history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Street art tour

“The passionate street art team from Vienna, consisting of artists, activists, and experts, wants to share the topic of street art with all interested people and create enlightenment. Some works of art are more politically or socially critical, others more personal or simply artistic. Is all this vandalism and illegal? Where is it allowed to paint and where not? These and other questions will be answered by the Prime Tours team on this Street Art Tour through Vienna.
Every Saturday of the month we offer this free Street Art Tour (instead of 24€ per person). Participants* can look forward to an exciting & enlightening Street Art walk along with the longest open-air gallery in Europe, the Danube Canal. Please reserve your place online, group size is limited.
The aim is not only to support the street art scene, but also to create a platform where locals, travelers, and art lovers can meet to exchange ideas about the city and its art.” (source: FreeTour)

Evening walk

“If you are looking for Prime Walking Tours in Vienna – we offer more than sightseeing, and we want to share this, be different, and connect great guides with smart travelers.
There’s nothing like strolling around through the streets of Vienna during the evening hours: beautiful sunsets in the spring time, chillier hours in the hot summer months, bright illuminations during the colder season… and at the end of the tour you can easily go for dinner or a drink in one of the numerous restaurants and bars in the city centre and just enjoy life! We’d be pleased to recommend you the best spots in town!” (source: FreeTour)

Jewish Traces and Hitler's Vienna

“This tour explores the Jewish heritage in Vienna, as well as Adolf Hitler’s presence in the city. You’ll discover the contributions of the Jewish bourgeoisie and trace the evolution of Viennese Judaism from the Middle Ages to today. We’ll explain how Vienna became a global hub of science and art around 1900, highlighting figures like Sigmund Freud and Karl Landsteiner. On a darker note, the tour will examine Hitler’s rise to power and Austria’s role in it, alongside Germany’s. We’ll also discuss how the Nazis ignited the Second World War and what transpired during the years of occupation.” (source: FreeTour)

Vienna city hikes

The city of Vienna offers 14 hiking trails across the city with various levels of difficulty and length. All of these trails can be reached by public transport and are clearly marked with wooden signs indicating the trail number.
Details and a map for each trail can be found online.

The view from the hills — © Photo: 1000tihngs/ Lisa Högl

© Photo: 1000things/ Viktoria Klimpfinger

Experience Heurige: Wine & Hike

Experience the unique charm of Vienna by enjoying a glass of wine in the very fields where it was grown, accompanied by a traditional Austrian snack, all while taking in breathtaking panoramic views. The so called Heurige are a long-standing tradition and have been declared UNESCO cultural heritage site. The term ‘Heuriger’ refers to ‘this year’s wine’ which is served in small taverns in the hills.

Those who enjoy exercise can take the Stadtwanderweg 1 up the hill, while those who would prefer an easier route can take the bus all the way to the top.

Free selfguided bike tours

Historic Vienna

This tour takes you along the Ringstraße, past its famous old, ornate buildings. The city centre is a bustling area full of life and culture. You can stop at any time to take a closer look at thd buildings or sit down in the Volkspark and enjoy a coffee!

Our route recommendation:

Green Vienna

Feeling like escaping the bustle of the city for a while?
Then a trip to Vienna’s the green spaces might be just what you need! On this route, you can experience the city’s nature and vibrant social scene by exploring the Prater and Danube Island.
The Danube Island is the perfect place to relax in the sun on warm days, and enjoy a refreshing swim in the Danube. The Prater’s large areas of forests and meadows provide ample space for outdoor activities, including the City hiking trail 9.
To end your trip, why not visit the UN International Centre in Vienna?

Red Vienna

On this route, you can discover the Karl-Marx-Hof. Build in 1930, it is still the world’s longest community housing complex. Explore the history and social-political movements behind its construction by visiting the local museum, the Waschsalon. To experience a more modern approach to community housing in Vienna, continue to the Nordbahnviertel district. End your tour in the Augarten, one of Vienna’s oldest parks. As you stroll through the gardens, you can discover old military buildings and art.