Vienna Travel Guide: A City of Culture and Beauty
If you think of Vienna and immediately conjure up images of magnificient buildings and a history steeped in classical music, you’d be correct. This Austrian city is all of this and so much more. Consider this your introductory Vienna travel guide to the city of culture and beauty.
About Vienna
Vienna, a city of about 2 million people, lies on the banks of the Danube River. It is well known for its musical and cultural appeal. Many historical classical composers made Vienna their home, and that influence can be found in many areas of the city. It is remarkably easy to get around in Vienna, with the public transportation conveniences of a modern city, despite its numerous historical buildings and palaces.
What To Do
We didn’t have a lot of time in Vienna, but began with a city tour to get our bearings. The many opulent buildings had our heads turning. In Vienna there were so many statues and gold and elaborate decorations. I also really appreciated the way the large old trees were left standing down the sides of the streets in the middle of the city.
Later we had some time to explore the area on foot. We went by the imposing Imperial Palace where many in our group went for a tour inside. Close to that we passed the stables of the Spanish Riding School where the famous Lipizzaner stallions were being trained. These horses have been selectively bred for centuries and are known for their dressage ability.
From there we walked over to St. Stephen’s Church. Europe is full of spectacular churches but this one truly was worth a visit. Entry to the main part of the church is free, and we elected not to visit the catacombs or climb the towers, for which there is a small fee.
Down a side street from St. Stephen’s Church is a home where Mozart lived from 1784 to 1787. Known as Mozarthaus, or the Figaro House, it was fairly easy to find on Schulerstrasse. Admission can be purchased onsite, but a better deal is to attend a concert there and take a self guided tour before or after.
Vienna is known for its coffeehouses so we did try to find one for a coffee and a bite to eat. However we didn’t make a choice I could recommend. I have since learned that The Coffee Stephansplatz and Cafe Daniel Moser are good options in that area.
Off again on foot after our mediocre stop we walked through the City Park (Stadtpark). We came across a lovely gilded statue there of Johann Strauss and then happened by a beer garden where we lingered for a while.
Our evening adventure was one of the highlights of our trip. We attended a classical music concert in a small, historic concert hall. An eight piece orchestra with two singers performed just for our group of about 50 people. It was a fantastic concert made all the more special with its intimate nature.
Next Time in Vienna
This was again a brief stop that only gave us a taste of what Vienna was all about. I would like to visit again to see more of the city. Like many cities, Vienna is divided into districts. On this visit we spent most of our time in the 1st District, or Innere Stadt. While this was a very convenient location, it wouldn’t be very conducive to budget accommodation. The 4th District (Wieden) or the 3rd District (Landstrasse) might be better options. Public transportation in Vienna is very good so it is easy to get around the city.
The classical music concert we attended was so special and I would definitely go to another if I was back in the city. There are many different ones to choose from in different locations and showcasing a variety of composers. It also could be fun to take part in a Viennese Waltz class although I’m not sure where we would show off our new skills afterwards! And one of the tours that I hear often mentioned as being a favourite is the tour of the Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens.
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