Old Town & Ringstrasse Guided Segway Tour Vienna

Training and the Segway ride

The tour starts with a training session of 20 to 30 minutes, in which the guide teaches you to accelerate, steer and brake on the Segway. It is easy to learn, even for beginners, and the group is small enough for individual help. A helmet and tutorial are included, and you will be ready to ride comfortably before the group sets off.

A Segway lets you cover much more ground than walking without the effort of cycling, so it suits travellers who want to see many sights in three hours. If you are looking for a Vienna Segway tour, note that the Segway requires a minimum age of 12, a minimum height of 150 centimetres and a body weight between 45 and 120 kilograms.

The Hofburg and the Habsburgs

The ride leads to the Hofburg, the vast palace complex that was the winter residence and seat of power of the Habsburg dynasty for more than six centuries. Its courtyards, façades and statues show how the empire grew from the Middle Ages to 1918. Today the Hofburg contains museums, the Spanish Riding School and offices of the Austrian president.

Your guide tells the stories of emperors such as Maria Theresa and Franz Joseph and explains how the Habsburgs shaped Vienna. Riding past the Hofburg is a good way to appreciate its size, and the photo stops let you capture the buildings without the pressure of crowds. The tour is bilingual, given in English and German.

Ringstrasse, Parliament and City Hall

The route follows part of the Ringstrasse, the boulevard laid out from 1857 on the site of the old city walls. Along the Opernring you pass the State Opera, and further on the Parliament building, built in Greek Revival style, and the neo-Gothic City Hall. These monuments were built during the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph and show the confidence of the age.

Segways are well suited to the wide, smooth Ring, and the guide shares details about the buildings' architects and purposes. If you ask what the best way to see the Ringstrasse is, riding along it in a small group is hard to beat. The tour runs in all weather, and rain ponchos are provided when needed.

The Old Town and St Stephen's Cathedral

From the Ring, the tour turns into the historic centre, passing narrow lanes and squares near St Stephen's Cathedral, the Gothic symbol of Vienna with its tiled roof and tall south tower. Some parts of the Old Town are pedestrian zones, and the guide chooses routes where Segways are allowed.

The winter afternoon option departs later in the day, so you may see the city in soft light and, in the darkest months, in the dusk. Wear warm clothes, including gloves and a hat, as riding is colder than walking. The tour starts and ends at Bösendorferstraße 5, near the Opera, and you should bring your passport or ID card.