Vienna - Austria

St Stephan's Cathedral

If you like art, architecture, music and the Sacher torte (not necessarily in that order), you  must visit Vienna. This magnificent city on the Danube is not just stylish but also very vibrant.  Referred to as the City of Music (Mozart, Brahms, Mahler & Beethoven lived and composed their music here ) and sometimes, as the City of Dreams (Sigmund Freud was a resident), Vienna charms you if you are a first-time visitor and welcomes you warmly if you are a frequent visitor. It's streets have soul, it's buildings have character and its many cafes exude a sense of familiarity that make you feel at home, even though you're miles away from it!

Karlskirche

With so much to do and so much to explore here,  I would recommend a minimum stay of 4 nights. The metro system in Vienna is efficient, punctual and well-priced, so you don't need to rent a car. If you drive down, you don't need to take your car out of the parking lot.
With the public transport  this good, you don't  even have to find a place in the centre if you don't want to.
 If you intend to keep traveling throughout the day, you can go for a day card or even a three-day card. This card allows you unlimited access to the public transport. The locals are really friendly and will step in and help you if you have a question.

Karlsplatz Station

The first thing you must do when you are planning a trip here is go to the Vienna State Opera website and look at their schedule.  Reserve your tickets online. Do not go there and then try finding tickets. Many people have been fooled by suave salesmen selling tickets to other places. Tickets go fairly quickly so if you are thinking of heading to Vienna in summer, look now.  Be it the lobbies, or the marble staircase or for that matter, the auditorium, you will feel like royalty for a  night. The grandeur of this Opera House is unparalleled and the acoustic system is one of the best in the world.  Carry a formal dress so you don't feel out of place.

Another place that is a personal favourite is the Albertina Museum.

 Not only do I like its architecture but also how well they have curated their collection. In the basement is their contemporary art section and I enjoyed strolling and taking in all the pieces they have.  It can get very crowded in summer but they are efficient and you generally don't need to wait more than twenty minutes to get tickets.

The Upper Belvedere

Now, on to the next museum and also one of the most impressive ones in the world - The Belvedere Museum in the Belvedere Palace. The Belvedere Palace was built in the eighteenth century by the eminent baroque architect, Johann Lucas von Hildenbrandt. It used to be the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy who himself was an avid collector and patron. Today, this palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Belvedere Museum has two sections. The upper and lower Belvedere which are separated by huge landscaped gardens. Also included in this complex are the orangery and palace stables. Do not even try to do everything on the same day. It's just not going to be enjoyable mentally and physically. Luckily, they issue out separate tickets for the various sections so it's not strenuous and you can go on separate days to cover the upper and the lower Belvedere.
The upper Belvedere is huge and has works by the renowned Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt. You can see his famous, "Kiss" and also, "Judith" here. Also, housed here are some stunning collections covering French impressionism and Viennese Biedermeier art.
The upper Belvedere is huge and can take the better half of a day so plan your day accordingly. The lower Belvedere is smaller and has lots of sculptures, art and also several temporary exhibits (more contemporary) and can take around 3 hours. I would recommend trying to combine the gardens and lower Belvedere on one day and keep an entire day for the upper Belvedere.

The next palace that is a must-visit is the impressive Schoenbrunn Palace.

This palace used to be the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. It's huge and impressive with extensive grounds.  Do not forget to visit the Gloriette when you are here.







Yet another place that you can visit is the Secession Building.

It's dome of gilded laurels is just stunning! The building is now used as an exhibition space to display contemporary art.

To admire some unusual architecture, stop by at the Kunst Haus Wien. Designed by Austrian artist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this museum houses the works of this prolific artist and also hosts temporary exhibitions.



























If all that sightseeing makes you hungry, head over to the well-known Cafe Sacher, owned by the renowned Hotel Sacher.  This is in close proximity to the Albertina Museum.
The Sacher Torte was originally created at the Sacher Cafe and even today, that is the most popular item sold there.

Apple Strudel

 If you want to carry it with you, there is a shop next to the cafe that has different sized cakes that you can pick from. You can also have them shipped to you if you live in Europe .

Chocolate Mousse

Don't enter this cafe to try just their Sacher torte. Try their apple strudel with whipped cream. That's by far the best apple strudel I have ever eaten in all my years of travel. The apples are spiced ever so lightly and they are just about sweet. The cover is light, crisp & thin and melts on your tongue as you hold it there for a few seconds. Perfection on a plate! The cafe itself is quite extravagant and you feel like you are attending a very grand tea party. There is always a queue to get in but don't let that stop you. You can reserve online if you want to go.

If waiting in queues for cakes and tortes isn't quite your thing and you want to head somewhere more casual, there are plenty of beautiful cafes you can patronize. There is this little gem called Oberlaa in the inner city that serves quite a large collection of cakes, biscuits and coffees. Again, it's crowded but not as much as the Sacher. And if you go in the afternoons, you can choose where you want to sit. Opposite this Konditorei, is a lunch place called Henry's that serves good, well-priced, delicious buffet meals. Everything is fresh and there is a lot of variety for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

After all that eating, walk around the inner city to admire all the beautiful architecture this city has.  The Innerestadt has several upscale shops

 and also, The Stephanskirche (St Stephan's Cathedral). Located on Stephansplatz, this cathedral is simply breathtaking. Its multi-coloured tile roof is impressive and you can easily stand there staring at it for hours, without realizing it. Another stunning and imposing building is the Austrian National Library ( Kaiserlische Hofbibliothek). It houses more than 11 million items within it and its interior is as stunning as its exterior.
For a bit of greenery, walk over to the Volksgarten (people's garden). Serene yet pretty with its rose gardens, manicured lawns and fountains, you immediately feel rejuvenated after a long day. It is said that Strauss used to perform here regularly. Even today, you will find young music students and musicians performing here.

Music School in the old city

I can keep writing about Vienna and make this into a two or maybe even a four article series but I would rather you go and experience this city when you can. Like I said, anything less than 4 nights is too less, so plan your schedule accordingly. For any questions/ comments, feel free to post them in the comments section below.
Danke Schoen!