Rick Steves Pocket Vienna

by Rick Steves

Make the most of every day and every dollar with Rick Steves! This colorful, compact guidebook is perfect for spending a week or less in City walks and  Seven detailed self-guided walks including a central Vienna walk, tours of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace, and more Rick’s strategic advice on what’s worth your time and money What to eat and where to  Indulge in pork schnitzel and local riesling, relax with locals at a Viennese coffeehouse, and soak up the Baroque charm of an Old Town B&B Day-by-day itineraries to help you prioritize your time A detailed, detachable fold-out map, plus museum and city maps throughout Full-color, portable, and slim for exploring on-the-go Trip-planning practicalities like when to go, how to get around, basic German phrases, and more Lightweight, yet packed with info on Vienna’s history and culture, Rick Steves Pocket Vienna truly is a tour guide in your pocket.

Expanding your trip? Try Rick Steves Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2015

About the author

Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980.
Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large.
Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups.
Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.

Reviews

[Mallory Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read two Insight Travel guidebooks for other cities on the same trip as this Rick Steves pocket guide, and I liked the Insight guidebooks better. They all had the same basic information, but I much preferred how the Insight guides packaged theirs.

There were two things that kind of bothered me about the Rick Steves guide:

1) His "guided" tours of certain neighborhoods require you to follow them step-by-step. Instead of listing sights to see, he provides "instructions" aka "turn left and you'll see XYY, then turn right to see ABC." I found it very confusing to follow, and nobody really wants to have their guidebook out to follow each step.

2) The tone of the book is kind of condescending (or it seemed that way to me, at least). It's like everything is written in overlay laymen terms and it uses a lot of slang. "Franz Josef moved into his new digs." "You're face to face with the emp himself."

All in all, the book was fine and it provided the info I needed to have a great time in Vienna. The layout and tone just weren't for me.

[Carlos Mock · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of you who, like me travel on my own and don't like to "tour" a city, Rick Steve has a sensible useful guide for Vienna. It divides the city into sections and creates easy to follow "walks" that will enhance your experience. Although he likes to be on the cheaper side of what I like to do, you can take is recommendations and decide for yourself if you want to go that way or spend some more. I loved the fact that when you eat in a restaurant that he recommends if you show his guide to the owner you will either get a discount or a nice chat.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously, due to size, it is not as detailed as some of my other favorite Rick Steves guides. But you can carry it with you, unlike some of his other books. My husband took this with him on a recent trip to Austria and found it to be very helpful. Yes, not as comprehensive, but small and light enough to put in your backpack. Comparing this type of guide to other guides is like comparing apples to oranges.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this guidebook in Kindle format with us for a trip to Viena. We got a lot of good tips from him, although he provides so much information it's a bit overwhelming. Still, I was glad to have it with us, and we had a great trip.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super handy for tourists who aren't on guided tours; however, a bit skimpy for things outside of the tourist loop.

[Carly Brunke · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️Loved this because I want to go back to Vienna so badly!! I’m going to get another book that highlights the European Christmas markets.

[Justin J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Rick Steves as always! He always gives a great flattering perspective on a city that colors the way you view it. For Vienna, it's a city that knows how to live well. Love that!

[Natalie J.P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5

I have loved every pocket travel guide by Rick Steves that I have used, and the Rick Steves Pocket Vienna guide was no exception. His books are always so thoughtfully laid out, with not only the best things to do and practical tips for each major area, but also clear rankings so the can’t-miss experiences are highlighted.

My favorite part is always the walking tours. I have now done his suggested walking tours in four different cities, and I have loved every single one of them. They make exploring a new place feel easy, immersive, and incredibly well planned.

Before traveling anywhere new, I will absolutely check to see if Rick Steves has written a guide for that destination. I also love that he offers the app with audio guides to go along with the book. Being able to listen while walking through the city is such a smart and thoughtful add-on for readers and travelers.

Highly recommend for anyone planning a trip to Vienna or really any city he covers.