My sister and I went to Vienna straight from Bratislava (€5 on the bus – 1hr!) and spent two nights exploring the city. The extravagant coffee shops were a particular highlight, as was the sachertorte!
- Currency: Euro
- Local time: GMT +1
- Language: German
Stay: Austria Trend Hotel Rathauspark
The centrally located Austria Trend Hotel Rathauspark was the perfect base for us to explore Vienna from. It’s located a 20 minute walk from Stephansplatz (the large square in the very centre of Vienna thats home to the cathedral and many shops) and while a Metro would have gotten us there even quicker, we found many coffee shops, pretty parks and historical buildings on our walk.
Do: Spanish Riding School, coffee shops, museum quarter
A trip to the Spanish Riding School is a unique chance to watch the live practice of equitation. Morning exercise sessions are always popular, so arrive around 9am to beat the crowds. However if you want to see a full performance, tickets will need to be purchased well in advance.
The museum quarter (museumsquartier) is home to many of Vienna’s finest museums, and it is well worth setting aside an afternoon to explore the area. If you’re thinking of visiting multiple museums, the Vienna Card may be of interest to you, as it gives discount of many of the cities museum entry costs.
Make sure you leave some time in your schedule to stop off in one of Vienna’s many coffee houses. Renowned not just for their coffee, but as places to while away an afternoon, it is perfectly acceptable to spend a couple of hours in a coffee house in Vienna, sipping your drinks and reading a newspaper at your leisure. A favourite on the trip was Cafe Eiles, which not only did great coffee but also had a very reasonable breakfast menu.
Eat: Demel, Huth Gastwirtschaft
There are several things people want to tick off on a trip to Vienna, and trying Sachertorte usually makes the list. Stop by for a slice of this world famous chocolate cake at Demel, but be warned, combine it with one of their wickedly indulgent hot chocolates and you won’t be needing another chocolate fix for quite a while!
Another must-eat is a schnitzel, and whilst veal is the traditional choice, we opted for chicken and were not disappointed in the slightest! For classic Viennese cuisine, and an ever-changing monthly menu head to Huth Gastwirtschaft. Located centrally in the city, its easy to get to and has a relaxed and cozy feel.
As for street food, the ‘Wurstelstand’ kiosks (usually found outside U-Bahn stations) are a popular and cheap choice for lunch on the go. Pork and veal sausages usually top the list, but most kiosks offer a huge variety, all tucked into a fresh roll and served with the usual condiments.
