Overview
Vienna is a largely residential city of 17,000 people (2018) in Virginia, not far from Washington, D.C.. It has a downtown with many small businesses, and a portion of the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park hiking and biking trail cuts through the center of the town.
3 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Vienna
Wolf Trap
A performing arts center on national park land. Performances run year round.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Garden with flowers, multiple ponds, Korean bell garden, wildlife (birds, koi, turtles), and hiking trails. In the winter, there is a "Walk of Lights" holiday lights show.
Tysons Corner Center
Shopping mall with around 300 stores, a 16-screen movie theater, and multiple food courts. Interesting stores include Tesla and Apple.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 90°F; winter lows dip to about 30°F. Very hot (Jul) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Washington, D.C.)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- IAD Washington Dulles International Airport, Dulles — 11 mi away (major hub). Directions
- DCA Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington — 13 mi away (major hub). Directions
The car is king in Vienna. It's the most practical way to get around in most of Northern Virginia, due to a very basic mass transit system, and sprawl. Sprawl and lacking mass transit of course lead to traffic; the D.C. metro area has the second worst in the United States by some measures. But feel free to drive to and through Vienna, just not M-F 8AM to 10AM or 4:30 to 7PM.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Wolf Trap, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
- Lunch Sunflower
- Afternoon Tysons Corner Center
- Evening Vienna Inn
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
The car is king in Vienna. It's the most practical way to get around in most of Northern Virginia, due to a very basic mass transit system, and sprawl. Sprawl and lacking mass transit of course lead to traffic; the D.C. metro area has the second worst in the United States by some measures. But feel free to drive to and through Vienna, just not M-F 8AM to 10AM or 4:30 to 7PM.
Vienna does have a Washington Metro stop, at the end of the Orange line; however, it is almost two miles from the center of town. Buses run the length of the town up and down Maple Avenue, the defacto main street.
"Downtown" Vienna is small enough to get around on a bike or on foot, but it's a car that will get you in and out of the town.
Do
Buy
Shop Fairfax Square
Designer shopping including Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes of Paris, and Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Salon & Spa.
Eat
Eat Sunflower
Asian-inspired vegetarian restaurant. 2531 Chain Bridge Rd.
- Vienna Inn The age old bar and restaurant that is the heart of Vienna, known for their chili dogs you will get as much of a cultural experience as a culinary one here.
- China Wok Peking Duck. Also has authentic and Americanized Chinese food. 8395 Leesburg Pike
- Bazin's on Church
- Maple Ave Restaurant
Drink
Drink Vienna Inn
Hole in the wall bar, around since 1960. Very popular with locals, cheap and terrific food, especially their chili dogs. The oldest bar in town its family owned and operated. A basic local bar, still welcoming to outsiders, cheap domestic drafts and hearty reasonably priced meals are its claim to fame. For a night on the town, head to D.C., but if you find yourself in Vienna with couple of friends just looking to relax, this is the place.
Sleep
Stay Sheraton Hotel - Tysons Corner
Stay safe
- The Vienna Police: the town has a very large police force for both its physical size and population. When you enter the town limits on most roads the speed limits drop by 10 mph. Keep an eye out for red light cameras at intersections with traffic signals.
Go next
- Washington, D.C is 10 miles away.
Nearby
Tysons
City / town · 8 listings · 2 mi away
Fairfax
City / town · 28 listings · 4 mi away
Falls Church
City / town · 22 listings · 5 mi away
McLean
City / town · 5 listings · 5 mi away
Annandale
City / town · 6 listings · 5 mi away
Reston
City / town · 30 listings · 6 mi away
Great Falls
City / town · 8 listings · 7 mi away
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
Park · 6 listings · 7 mi away
My experience
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