Why should you plan a trip to Vienna? Nowhere else can you feel the flair of art, intellect and the time of the empresses and emperors as much as in this European capital. The home of incredible composers such as Mozart and Beethoven enchant with its historic old town, beautiful sights such as several castles and the elegance of the residents. I remember watching the movie The Third Man with Orsen Welles and becoming enthralled with Vienna. When Kati and I went to Vienna the first time, we spent a half day in the Natural History Museum looking at rocks and fossils. In the evening we went to the theater and listened to Mozart. It was magical and we instantly fell in love with Vienna.
The Austrian capital is always worth a trip- whether for sightseeing, a piece of Sacher cake and a melange, or an eighth of wine at a Heurigen, there is a lot to explore during a holiday in Vienna. Romance and the alternative scene, shopping, culture and art: all this is Vienna. The Austrian capital inspires with its almost small-town charm and is simultaneously a crucial metropolis. How does that go together? You should find out for yourself. Pack the most beautiful clothes, book the right short trip and set off on a city trip to Vienna. Here you can find all the highlights from Prater to Hofburg.
Shopping in Vienna
There are two major shopping areas in Vienna. In the inner city, on the central Kärntner Strasse and in the surrounding streets, you will find the flagship stores of prominent designers, but also exclusive boutiques and international fashion chains. If you are looking for cheap fashion, you will find it on Mariahilfer Straße in the 7th district. Numerous branches of well-known chains have settled here. Just around the corner, things get more individual in the 7th district: Neubaugasse is famous for its special selection of clothing and accessories of all kinds and is considered the top address for unusual vintage fashion, knitwear, children’s clothing, as well as hat and shoe shops with exclusive creations.
Viennese Classic & Theatre
Hardly any other European city has as much culture to offer as Vienna. The famous Viennese Classicism has left its traces all over the city, and the classical arts are celebrated citywide. There is, for example, the famous Vienna Opera Ball, which attracts top-class guests from across the world. Every evening of the week, there are classical concerts, operas, operettas, theatre and musicals in Vienna. Altogether there are more than 15,000 events per year in Vienna. The Viennese concert cafés, church concerts or the classical concerts in Schönbrunn Palace are also highly recommended. Mozart’s heart would have opened up!
New Year’s Eve in Vienna
Nothing says class like New Year’s Eve in Vienna! Anyone who doesn’t feel like crowded city centers and overcrowded New Year’s Eve parties in stuffy clubs is in good hands in Vienna. New Year’s Eve becomes a highly cultural event here: Numerous New Year’s Eve balls and classic New Year’s Eve galas in the most beautiful locations in the city invite you to extravagant celebrations. Waltz dancing lessons are even offered on the New Year’s Trail in the city center. Of course, you will also find the typical Viennese delicacies here, which sweeten the start of the new year. Incidentally, the largest and most beautiful fireworks display takes place at Vienna’s Prater.
Viennese Coziness
Vienna welcomes you with a very special atmosphere that cannot be compared to any other city. In Vienna, the clocks just tick a bit slower, hectic or stress is rarely encountered here. Even if Vienna is the capital of Austria and has almost 2 million inhabitants – you hardly notice anything here. It is the small-town feeling that makes the streets of Vienna so charming and immediately warms you up. One constantly feels as if one were strolling through classic streets of the 18th century.
The many parks, extensive palace complexes and green spaces around the Danube make Vienna a small oasis of relaxation. Here you can just let yourself drift, enjoy the sun and try all kinds of Viennese delicacies – in peace!
Sachertorte, Schnitzel & Coffee
During your city trip to Vienna, you should try the Sachertorte in a real coffee house and pay a visit to a Viennese pub. The traditional restaurants offer typical Viennese specialties in a cozy, casual ambience. You can enjoy schnitzel, goulash and pastries here, with an Ottakringer beer. These are the most famous pubs in Vienna:
- Steman, Otto-Bauer-Gasse, 6. Bezirk
- Gasthaus Wild, Radetzkyplatz, 3rd district
- Ubl at the Naschmarkt, 4th district
- Petz im Gußhaus, Gußhausstrasse, 4th district
If you are in Vienna in winter, definitely visit the Christmas markets.
Sights & Highlights in Vienna
From art and culture to culinary delights, many things are typical to Vienna – and that the Viennese also love. In addition to the sights that we have already mentioned, it includes these highlights that you should not miss during your vacation in Vienna:
- A ride on the Ferris wheel at the Wurstelprater.
- Enjoy the view from the tower of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
- Visit Schönbrunn Palace and the palace gardens.
- Sachertorte at Café Sacher (yes, everyone comes in, but you should plan a little waiting time).
- Visit Hofburg.
- Stroll through the Naschmarkt and try delicacies from all over the world.
- Relax in the butterfly house in the Burggarten when the weather is bad.
- Stroll through the Vienna Prater (not to be confused with the Wurstlprater).
When is the best time to travel to Vienna for a city trip?
Vienna has just as much charm in winter as it does in midsummer. In snowy Vienna, ice rinks invite you to go ice skating, and you can meet up for a glass of mulled wine in the Museum Quarter. When nature awakens in spring, Schönbrunn Palace Park shows itself in all its splendor. In summer, life takes place on the streets. But then crowds of tourists from all over the world visit the city. Many shops are closed for weeks in July and August, restaurants are on vacation, and overall, there are fewer Viennese here. In autumn, it is less turbulent, and the weather often plays along, so you can discover the city in peace and enjoy the last rays of sunshine in the Prater meadows.
Our Final Word
We find Vienna not just a gateway to other European cities like Prague and Berlin, but worth three to five days on its own. Vienna is wonderful and the cafes are incredible. You can spend a whole afternoon just in a cafe watching people pass. Whether it is history, museums, the theater, or food you cannot go wrong in Vienna. We will see you there.
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