Vienna
Vienna the Imperial capital of Austria that sits on the Danube river is a city that offers a unique blend of traditions and stunning modern architecture. It is also famous for its cultural heritage and events alongside its coffee houses and wine taverns all mixed together to provide a special Viennese charm.
How to get there
By Air
Vienna International Airport is situated 11 miles south east of the city and has excellent links across Europe and beyond with many international carriers having routes here.
Getting from the airport to the city center is relatively easy with good transport links.
You can take the City Airport Train direct between the two or the public S7 train service which also has a airport stop.
There is also a frequent airport bus service and of course taxis services including Uber.
Rail
The main rail station in Vienna is Wien Hauptbahnhof and this modern hub has excellent connections across Europe with most of the continents major rail providers offering services to the Austrian capital.
River Cruise
With its position on the Danube the city is a major destination on many river cruises with many itineraries actually starting or finishing in the city. Most of the River cruise ships that visit the city dock near to Schwedenplatz ( Sweden Square ) which is situated in downtown Vienna. Passengers disembarking there can reach the Old Town and City center attractions in minutes by useing the U Bahn service on Lines 1 & 4.
Schwedenplatz river cruise port
Accommodation
This being the Capital city of Austria and a popular toursist destination the city has numerous accommodation options to cover all budgets styles and preferences. So you won't be short of choice it all depends on what you the visitor is looking for.
So location location location may very well be what decides where you choose to stay.
The city is in fact divided up into 23 Districts but being a visitor you don't need to consider all 23.
A short quide to what you may consider is the following;
District 1 Probably not surprisingly is closest to the main attractions and sights
District 2, 3 & 4 Less toursist and bit cheaper but within walking distance of main sights
District 6, 7 & 8 Nightlife and lots of bars
What to see and do
Schonbrunn Palace
Standing since the 1600's the Schonbrunn Palace is a 1441 room building that is now a major toursist attraction in Vienna. This important historical location has been home to the Hasburgs for many years and is the birth place of a number of Austrian Emperors.
You can now enjoy a tour of this superb baroque building and see for yourself its classic rooms and statues.
Schonbrunn Palace
St Stephens Cathedral
This impressive Cathedral has been the most important church in Vienna since its construction.
It sits on the Stephensplatz and dominates the Central Vienna skyline everything about this gothic building shouts opulence nothing more so that its standout tiled roof. Inside it has 18 alters and some small chapels and catacombs. It is well worth a visit.
St Stephens Cathedral
Logistics Manager inside St Stephens Cathedral
Cathedral at night
The Hofburg Palace This huge sprawling Palace Complex in the center of Vienna is a structure that pays tribute to and highlights the wealth and power of the Habsburg rulers and the Austrian Hungarian Empire as this was there winter palace for 100's of years.
These days it houses the Offices and a base for the Austrian President as well as a museum. You can take a tour and see for yourself the Imperial rooms a splendours within.
The Hofburg Palace
A selfie with Michaelerplaza entrance to the huge Hofburg Palace behind us
Rathaus
Vienna is a treasure trove of historical buildings and the Rathaus building which serves as the Town Hall is no exception even if in this cities history its relative newcomer having been built in the 1800's. It has 5 towers with the largest central one topped by the iconic Rathausman statue. This is another building you can tour if you so wish.
Rathaus
Naschmarkt
Market places are often the beating heart of a city or area and help to define the location the Naschmarkt is no different. It is held on Wienzeile Street and stretches for 1.5 km full of stalls selling anything from fresh fruit and veg, herbs, cheese and seafood. These are interspersed by small food stalls selling take away food. The atmosphere, smells and tantalising size of this market make it famous and I do recommend you take time to visit and experience it.
Naschmarkt
Yours truly in the Naschmarkt
Logistics Manager looking for a bargain at the market
The Spanish Riding School
Possible the most famous and finest institutes of classical horse dressage in the world and a long standing tradition in Austria. This school has been responsible for training horses in dressage for 100's of years It was built during the rule of the Hasburgs Empire and remains to this day. For anyone who enjoys horses and riding this is a must do but equally like myself who has never sat on a horse it really is something you must see as it is impressive and very skilled. You can tour the School and get tickets to the training sessions as well as full performances but note the full performance tickets are expensive and sell quickly.
The Spanish Riding School
Training session at the school we attended very impressive
Horses and riders putting on a show
Vienna State Opera House
If there is one thing as well as architecture that Vienna is famous for its classical music and in particular Opera, well the State Opera House combines both the classical architecture and the Opera to some quiet considerable effect. This is truely a spectacular setting for any performance and its one if you so wish you can experience for a reasonable price because the performances are nightly but more importantly a proportion of the tickets are sold at a fixed price on a first come bases. So you can go to the Opera !!
However if you just want to experience the building and a bit of its history there is also daytime guided tours of the building and its small museum and more importantly the theater including being shown backstage. This is what we did and hands up I knew nothing about Opera but it was in fact very interesting and enjoyable and there is no doubting the theater itself is worth seeing.
Vienna State Opera House
Inside the State Opera House
Impressive ornate ceilings of the Opera House
Backstage workings
The theater itself
Stage from the stalls area
Logistics Manager in the Vienna State Opera House
Prater Amusement Park
This is a Viennese institution what was once the Wiener Prater Park and the hunting grounds of the cities rulers was developed into a public park with small food stalls and amusements since then it has grown to become a now impressive and iconic Amusement Park with all the attractions you now expect from a modern park. It is free to enter you pay for the individual rides, and is also home to a number of bars and restaurants so there is plenty to help you pass a enjoyable few hours.
Prater Amusement Park
Cafe Central
The Cafe Central Vienna is another Vienna institution and a must do for any visitor. This establishment was first opened in 1876 and has seen many famous customers since including Leo Trotsky, Vladimir Lenin and Sigmund Fraud it was fully restored in 1986 to its original glory and reflects Austria's Imperial grandeur. The Cafe sits behind The Hofburg and is the ideal spot to treat yourself to some Apfelsrudul and ritch hot chocolate. We could not resist and lets just say your missing something special if you don't indulge yourself with a visit here.
Cafe Central
Sigmund Fraud at Cafe Central
Logistics Manager enjoying the Apfelsrudul
Inside Cafe Central
Schonbrunn Gardens
These impressive garden are part of the Schonbrunn Palace complex but they can be and are worth a mention and visit on there own.
The grounds and gardens extend for over a Kilometer and you could easily spend hours wandering around there various displays and sections. But to name just a few of there attractions you could vist the maze, Neptune's Fountain or the Paterre if none of these intrest you then you have numerous flower beds and not forgetting a false Roman ruins complete with statues. Finally why not visit the Gloriette which stands opposite the Palace and features a pool and a classical colonnade building. Its here you can enjoy a drink in a cafe and simple admire the views.
Schonbrunn Gardens
The Albertina
Vienna has its very own Museum District where you can amass yourself in culture and history but possibly one of its more famous museums is The Albertina which houses over a million art pieces and paintings from almost every school of art and from most of the recognised masters of modern art so if you want to pick one museum this may just be the one. On top of this the building itself was another home of the Habsburg's and each of its grand rooms have been restored so again it has much to offer. Guided tours of the building and exhibits are available.
The Albertina
The Albertina at night
Christmas in Vienna
Decided to give this its own entry because it deserves it. Now Christmas Markets are popular across many European cities and Vienna is no different but it really pulls out the stops on the run up to Christmas with large markets and events throughout the city. It really is a great time to visit and enjoy all the city has to offer think White Christmas on steroids that just about covers it.
Christmas at the Rathaus
A Vienna Christmas
Christmas Market at the Hofburg
Yours truly in Vienna at Christmas
Enjoying a mulled wine at one of the Christmas market stalls
Eating and Drinking
Well first off I think we have to cover a must do and a Austrian tradition that is the sausage !!
You will find sausage stands all over the city they are the fast food of choice and these stands are called Wieners or weenies and they offer more than it says on the can.
Some of these Wieners are toursit spots on there own from the Bitzingers Wurstelstand situated between the Opera House and The Albertina to the Alt Wiener Wurstelstand these stalls serve up a treat that you really should try.
Wiener Stand
COFFEE I have already covered the Cafe Central but Vienna also has a well established tradition in Coffee Houses and again there are many of these to be found around the city so if you are a fan of Coffee you won't be disappointed there are plenty of choice and these are not large franchise brands they are unique establishment's.
BEER after coffee this not surprisingly is another Vienna favourite, so don't worry if you like your beer you will like Vienna, there are plenty of bars to sample the local brew which just happens to be Ottakringer. Oh and Ottakringer hold a annual beer festival to showcase there product each summer with the 2021start date pencilled in for 1 July. The festival normally runs for around 8 weeks so if you visit then your in for a treat.
WINE Surprisingly to some, Austria and particular Vienna with its position on the Danube and hill formations around it supports a significant wine making tradition.
The city in fact owns its own Winery called Cobenzl which you can visit for a tour and sits overlooking the city. However staying within the city you can enjoy the product at a number of excellent wine bars.
Cobenzl Winery
Overall the city center has a wide and varied range of bars restaurants and cafes to choose from and outside of that the area around Spittelberg also has a good collections of bars and eateries in a nice historic neighbourhood so you will never be short of choice for hospitality on a visit to Vienna.
To end with how about a recommendation for a unique unusual and interesting eating spot in Vienna ..... its situated within the Prater Amusement Park and is called Rollercoaster Restaurant. This fun and unique experiance here Robots mix your drinks including cocktails that are ordered via a tablet computer at your tabel, before being delivered to you. Then again using the tablets you order you food from the menu which is made fresh in the kitchen placed in a secure roller deliver box and then arrives at your tabel via a roller coaster around the bar in perfect condition. Now this is real fast food !!
OK its never going to win a Michelin Star but it is a fun experience.
Check it out here Rollercoaster Restaurant
Rollercoaster Restaurant
Logistics Manager using the tablet to order
Tablet for ordering
Enjoying a robot prepared cocktail
Conclusion
We enjoyed a great pre Christmas visit to Vienna and it is a city with much to offer visitor's. This is a classic European capital city with a long history and it is one well worth seeing.
I hope you have enjoyed my suggestions and recommendations if you have please feel free to share the blog on Social Media or like and follow my page on Facebook at Travel the world and Smile Happy travelling with Davie
