Vienna, Austria
Vienna is the capital of Austria, and it’s one of those cities that looks like it’s straight out of a period film. Palaces, baroque churches, huge avenues, and coffeehouses that haven’t changed in a hundred years. Walking through the centre feels theatrical, in the best way.
The pace is slow. The coffee is serious. The architecture never stops. This isn’t a beach city or a party city — it’s a city for walking, sitting down, and looking around.
Time of Year I Visited
I went in November and it was cold — pack proper layers if you’re going that time of year.
Did I Feel Safe?
I felt safe, but that’s because I moved around during the day. In the centre there were always a lot of people, so I never felt anything off walking around alone. I didn’t test walking at night outside the centre, so I can’t really speak to that — but during the day, in the area I was in, zero sense of insecurity.
Where I Stayed
Hotel Wandl (1st District): Right in the centre, walking distance to everything. The room is small — don’t expect space — but the location is hard to beat for the price I paid. I arrived at night, around 8:45pm, and check-in was completely smooth, no issues.
Airport to the centre: Taxi, CAT train (16 minutes direct), or the S-Bahn S7 (25 minutes, cheaper) are your main options. Use the official taxi stand outside arrivals if you go that route, not people approaching you inside the terminal.
What’s Worth Doing
St. Peter’s Church: I went to a Beethoven, Mozart, and Vivaldi concert here, close to the hotel. Bought the ticket through Civitatis. Beautiful experience — the church’s acoustics add a lot.
The Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek): Worth it just for the State Hall, the baroque main room. I thought it was small but absolutely beautiful.
Schönbrunn Palace: I took the subway (U4 line) — easy, no need for a taxi. Once there, I’d booked a guided tour through Civitatis for the palace itself. You still have to get yourself there on your own, the tour starts once you arrive.
What I Ate
Café Sacher: A great place to go solo — nobody looks at you twice for eating or having coffee by yourself. But the famous Sachertorte — I tried it because you have to — and honestly, dry, and I didn’t get the hype. You go because you’re there, not because the cake is going to blow you away.
Vienna Sausage (Schottenring 1, 1010 Wien): The best hot dog I’ve ever eaten, anywhere. Staff were super friendly and nice, homemade bread, sausage with cheese inside, and somehow not heavy at all. I could’ve eaten ten of them.
Getting Around
I walked as much as I could — the centre is very walkable. For longer distances I used the subway (U-Bahn). You need to validate your ticket at the blue machines before boarding, unless you buy through the WienMobil app, which comes pre-validated. A single ticket is around €3.20, and a 24-hour pass around €10.20.
How Long Did I Stay?
I stayed 2 full days and thought it was enough — but that’s me, I walk fast and pack a lot into the same day.
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