Vienna – A Trip Itinerary

To be honest, I have been avoiding this blog. Not because I don’t like Vienna, but because I love Vienna. It is often more difficult to express something you truly care about than to write a generic blog that just outlines basic information and the experience you had. For me, Vienna is not just a place, it is where my family is from and where one of my parents grew up. Being Viennese carved out huge portions of my life, and for me it will always be a special place, not just because the city is amazing, but because it feels like a second home to me.

Vienna is the capital of Austria and is in the eastern part of the country. The city is only a short train ride away from Bratislava and serves as a great hub to explore the rest of Europe as it is centrally located. Additionally, the city is located along the Danube River, providing beautiful river views, and perhaps even the sound of Strauss’ Blue Danube coming alive. Although we don’t often discuss it in schools and history classes much, the Austro-Hungarian empire was expansive, and a large portion of the things that make Austria distinctly Austrian were actually a direct result of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Vienna, Austria is known for its emphasis on the arts, making it a haven for those who enjoy music and artwork. Some of the greatest composers of all time emerged from Austria and performed at the numerous music halls and festivals the city of Vienna, and the country boasts. We comprised an itinerary for a couple days in Vienna. A great place to start is the Stephansplatz, a square in the center of Vienna.  The platz is surrounded by tourist shops and cafes, but also is a central point to get on the u-bahn.

Situated on the platz is the Stephansdom, a massive cathedral that has intricate detailed architecture in primarily a Gothic-style. The roof has ornate tile-work, that demonstrates the amount of time and effort put into the cathedral. Inside the Cathedral are expansive ceiling heights, incredible stonework, ornate carvings, impressive artwork and triptychs, and a beautiful stained glass window and altar situated at the front. The cathedral is also the seat of the Austrian archdiocese, making it historically and religiously significant.

Also, along the Stephansplatz is the Manner store. Manner is an Austrian wafer-style cookie that is easily recognizable with its pink label. Growing up Manner was always a special treat in Margaret’s house; however, in recent years it has become more easily accessible in the states. In Vienna there is a much larger variety of flavors though that visitors can try. Our personal favorite is the classic hazelnut wafer covered in chocolate!

Austria is organized by sectors that are conveniently accessible by the u-bahn. The innere stadt, or inner city, has a tram that runs all along the outside of the innere stadt providing a great starting for visitors to get around the city, but also explore the heart of the city.  The innere stadt has a plethora of ornate buildings, coffee shops, historic attractions to visit, and an array of opportunities to engage in the arts. One could spend hours, or even days just wandering about the architecture donning the innere stadt or exploring the historic buildings and monuments.

The innere stadt is also known for containing as a shopping haven for many, and the main pedestrian path leading off of the Stephansplatz is lined with designer goods. Along the way, there are also numerous cathedrals to explore and take in the artwork and architecture, which we have outlined here.

A couple blocks further from the Stephansplatz is the Sacher Hotel, known for the famous sacher torte.

If you begin to circle back towards the innere stadt you will be greeted by the Hofburg Palace, the former residence of the Habsburgs, and a current residence of the Austrian president. The grounds in front of the palace are quite impressive, and visitors can walk through the gate to be greeted by various museums and the national library. Turning back towards the Stephansplatz there are again numerous high-end stores, as well as local bakeries, or bäkeri and flower shops.

Near the Stephansplatz is an ornate fountain, known as the Vermählungsbrunnen, or wedding fountain in the old Hoher Markt.

The foundation is quite beautiful and helps orient visitors towards the Ankeruhr clock. The Ankeruhr clock, or anchor clock, sits on a pedestrian bridge that is nestled into a small street and is intricately detailed with figures that move around each hour.

If you have more than a day, a pleasant day trip is out to the Schönbrunn palace and zoo or a heurige. The heurige are wineries that are on the outskirts of Vienna, and provide a relaxed getaway. The wineries are unique due to the fact that they provide visitors an opportunity to try the new harvested wine.

If you don’t want to explore to far out of the city center, visitors can begin by visiting the Roman museum, taking a ride along the Ringstrasse, and visiing the Wiener Prater Park, an amusement park. The park is home to the Wiener Prater, or ferris wheel that is from 1897, as well as an assortment other amusement park rides. During our visit we enjoyed going on different rides and particularly the Blue Planet attraction, which features dinosaurs.

This possible itinerary is in no way an exhaustive list, but we thought we would highlight a few things to do on your first, of hopefully many, visits. We often spend a majority of our time visiting with family, but we also enjoy simply walking around Vienna, and exploring the architecture and delicious cafes. We definitely recommend a visit to Vienna, and will continue to return to one of our absolute favorite places.

Tip: For those who can’t visit Austria, keep a look-out for the Vienna Choir Boys, a group of choir boys who tour the world from Austria and have the most angelic voices.

Tip: You have to try the Almdudler! It is the national soda of Austria and is incredible!