Location: Vienna
Day 1 - 3 Aug 2021
Vienna
Content: On my first day in Vienna I explored the 1st district, namely the historical city centre. I recommend starting at the Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) and walk around from there.
The Hofburg
Content: The Hofburg palace used to be the main residence of the Habsburg rulers. Part of the former imperial apartments can be visited today, together with the Sisi Museum (dedicated to empress Sisi) and the Imperial Silver Collection.
Location: Wien
Day 1 - 3 Aug 2021
Austrian National Library
Content: The Austrian National Library, located just next to the Hofburg palace, is a magnificent baroque hall filled with antique books from floor to ceiling.
Schmetterlinghaus
Content: The Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly House) is an Art Nouveau glasshouse located in a lovely park, hosting hundreds of tropical butterflies flying around.
BRASSERIE PALMENHAUS Wien
Content: Adjacent to the Butterfly House is the Palmenhaus, a restaurant located in a glass palm house. I stopped here to enjoy a Viennese coffee among palm trees.
Wombat's The City Hostel Vienna Naschmarkt
Content: I stayed at Wombat’s City Hostel near Naschmarkt, the most famous market in Vienna. The location was great as it was within walking distance to the city centre and close to a very hip area full of nice cafes and cute shops.
Location: Wien
Day 2 - 4 Aug 2021
Schönbrunn Palace
Content: On the second day I visited the Schönbrunn palace, which can be reached with the U4 metro line. I recommend spending at least half a day here, to visit both the palace and the surrounding gardens.
Location: Vienna
Day 2 - 4 Aug 2021
Karlskirche
Content: On the way back to the centre I stopped at Karlskirche, an imposing Baroque church surrounded by a small park. In front of the church is a fountain where locals like to hang out with a drink.
Location: Wien
Day 2 - 4 Aug 2021
Café Schwarzenberg
Content: No trip to Vienna would be complete without a stop at one of its historic coffee houses. The Cafe Schwarzenberg is one of Vienna’s grandest, with a wide selection of coffee specialties.
Swing Kitchen
Content: For dinner I had a vegan burger at Swing Kitchen, a chain of vegan burger restaurants. There are a few scattered around the city. I went to the one in Operngasse, which was close to my hostel.
Location: Vienna
Day 3 - 5 Aug 2021
Upper Belvedere (Oberes Belvedere)
Content: Another day, another grand palace. The Belvedere Palace hosts an art museum with an impressive collection of paintings by Gustav Klimt, including “The Kiss”.
Location: Wien
Day 3 - 5 Aug 2021
Hundertwasser House
Content: From the Belvedere palace I walked to the Hundertwasser Village, a colourful apartment block designed by Viennese artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.
Kunst Haus Wien. Museum Hundertwasser
Content: Around the corner of the Hundertwasser Village is the KunstHausWien, an art museum also designed by Hundertwasser which hosts a collection of his works.
Location: Wien
Day 4 - 6 Aug 2021
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
Content: The most impressive museum in Vienna is probably the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Art History Museum), hosting art from the Renaissance period as well as Roman, Greek and Egyptian antiquities. Don’t miss the Kunstkammer, a gallery displaying the Habsburgs’ personal collection of art and curiosities from around the world.
Rathaus
Content: From the Kunsthistorisches Museum I walked along the “Ringstrasse”, a circular boulevard bordering the city centre. Many of Vienna’s majestic buildings are located here, including the State Opera, the Burg Theatre, the Parliament, and the neogothic Rathaus (town hall). The Rathaus can be visited inside with a free tour.
Location: Vienna
Day 4 - 6 Aug 2021
Volksgarten
Content: One of Vienna’s most beautiful parks is the Volksgarten, located next to the town hall. It’s a very pleasant place to have a walk or rest on one of its benches.
Location: Leobendorf
Day 5 - 7 Aug 2021
Kreuzenstein Castle
Content: On day 5 I took a day trip to the medieval castle of Kreuzenstein, which can be visited with a guided tour. To reach the castle, I took a train from Vienna to the village of Leobendorf. From the train station in Leobendorf is a pleasant 40 minutes walk to the castle, including a small hike.
Location: Wien
Day 5 - 7 Aug 2021
L'ORIENT Restaurant & Mini-Shop
Content: On the way back to Vienna I got off at the Pratersten station and had dinner at L’ORIENT, a delicious Moroccan restaurant.
Location: Wien
Day 6 - 8 Aug 2021
Kaisergruft
Content: On this day I visited a couple of macabre places. First the Imperial Crypt (Kaisergruft in German), where many members of the Habsburg dynasty are entombed in opulent sarcophagi. Don’t miss the tomb of empress Maria Theresa, which fills a whole room.
Vienna Crime Museum
Content: Next I went to the Crime Museum, which has an exhibition of historical crimes committed in Vienna from the Middle Ages to the present day, complete with weapons and skulls.
Pizza Mari
Content: For lunch I had a delicious pizza at Pizza Mari, an Italian restaurant in the 2nd district, close to the Crime Museum.
Viennese Giant Ferris Wheel
Content: Finally I went to Prater, Vienna’s amusement park with the iconic giant Ferris Wheel. The park hosts many attractions, including a planetarium and a Madame Tussauds wax museum.
Wombat's The City Hostel Vienna Naschmarkt
Content: This was the last night at the hostel before the end of the trip. Vienna is an ideal city for solo female travellers, as it’s very safe and it has plenty of attractions. One week is the bare minimum to explore all it has to offer :)