Austria is the second country I visited in Central Europe. It’s amazing that it took only 5 hours of scenic bus ride from Budapest to Vienna. I also had a chance to see a little piece of Bratislava, Slovakia during a bus stop.
Vienna, the capital city of Austria did not disappoint from the moment I arrive. But despite of all the beautiful things Vienna has to offer, it’s the place where I decided to take a “break” and “rest”. I don’t know why I became so lazy in Vienna that I wasn’t able to visit all the places I listed in my itinerary like the Schönbrunn Palace or the Belvedere Palace.
I traded endless walking and switching trains to sitting for hours in a café, observing people along Danube River and sharing beautiful stories with couchsurfers.
But visiting the Imperial City would be a total waste without seeing the places where history took place. So I signed up for my first ever free walking tour at Good Vienna Tours. The group met outside Albertina Gallery, in front of Zeus fountain.
Albertinaplatz
The streets of Vienna took me back into its rich history as I strolled the sophisticated streets full of impressive palaces, museums and gardens popping from one street to another.
Hofburg Imperial Palace
The free tour ended after 2 hours so I was left with my shadow in the pavements of Vienna and saw few iconic spots on my list.
Graben Street
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Rathaus/ Vienna City Hall
Nashmarket
Random Streets in Vienna
I also strolled at Burggaten, a large park where you can see a monument of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the famous Austrian composer. Johann Strauss II, who composed The Blue Danube Waltz, also came from the City of Music.
Love classical music? Visit the renowned Vienna Opera House and attend a concert or watch a fancy ballet show. I was supposed to watch Swan Lake for only €2 but I changed my mind. LOL.
I know it’s THE Vienna Opera House and the ticket is super cheap but it’s not my thing. Mmm..maybe one day I will go watch some classy shows when I’m all glammed up- high heels, sexy dress and I have my lover’s arms wrapped around moi. Hihihi
PS: You can pay €2-€4 ONLY for a standing room. Regular tickets usually cost around €80 – €200+ . The catch – you must be at the opera house super early to queue since the standing room has limited space for 500+ people.
Aside from seeing UNESCO World Heritage sites and classy streets, I wouldn’t miss seeing some locations of my favourite movie Before Sunrise by Richard Linklater starring Ethan Hawke (Jesse) and Julie Delpy (Celine). I love that movie because it feels like I am watching my own life in different scenarios. Hihihi!
I went to Prater Park, the oldest amusement park in the world. It is where Jesse and Celine first kissed. I found myself smiling as I recall a similar scenario while watching the night lights of Vienna.
PS: I put some of my fave quotes in the movie (even if its not related to the photo. *Cheesy! LOL
Albertina Gallery
Aside from the elegant palaces, museums and parks in Vienna, one of the must visits are the coffee shops as it plays an integral part of the Viennese culture.
I went to Café Sperl where the Jesse and Celine expressed their feelings with one another by having a “phone call” with their friends.
I wanted to have a coffee where Jessie and Celine sat but the waiter said that the table was reserved already when all tables are unoccupied. Oh well, I left the place and went to Café Central instead.
Café Central was established in 1876; an icon in the Viennese coffee world. This is a place where Freud, Lenin, Stalin, Hitler and other personalities once sipped a coffee and discussed important matters.
Want to know more about traveling around Vienna? Check out Central Europe Travel Tips