Vienna, Austria [updated July, 22]

This post was first written in March, 2015, and has been updated on July 2022 after the second visit to Vienna!

Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria, and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria’s primary city, with a population of about 1.794 million, and its cultural, economic, and political center. Wikipedia

Dialing from Kuwait City to Vienna: 00 43 1 X

Flight: Flight -> VIE (Vienna Airport)

– Jazeera Airways 

– Kuwait Airways

– Qatar

– Turkish

– Emirates

Where to stay:

– We stayed at apartments at Am Belvedere (in 2015)

– Stayed in Hotel Sacher in 2022 which I loved. Located in a central location. 

– Melia Vienna

– SO/ Vienna

– Palais Coburg Residenz

– Park Hyatt Vienna

– Small Luxury Hotel Das Tyrol
– Hotel Altstadt Vienna

– Hotel Am Stephansplatz
– Boutique Hotel Stadthalle
– Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom

Walk around, visit & hang out:

Walk around the 1. district (city center), it’s very nice, lovely buildings, all in walking distance. Easter time is usually also tourist time, so make sure to explore the smaller  alleys (tourists are concentrated on Stephansplatz, Kaernterstrasse/Oper, Graben and Kohlmarkt – the rest is fine)

2. Schoenbrunn Palace – the Emperors Castle a little further away from the center (Metro line U4 to “Schoenbrunn”)

3. Hofburg – Emperor’s Castle in the city center

4. Belevedere – Prince Eugen’s castle (close to the city center) – there are often art exhibitions and I think the permanent exhibition has quite a bit of Klimt – www.beleverede.at

5. Naschmarkt (near Karlsplatz/Oper) – food market with some small restaurants, it’s worth strolling through and just relax with a coffee or a cold drink. It’s usually the best, but also the most crowded during on Saturday and Sunday. While going there make sure to pass by the “Wiener Sezession” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Secession).

6. Check out Kunsthistorisches Museum Travelers’ Choice™ 2014 Winner Attractions by TripAdvisor.

7. State Opera House (Vienna’s internationally renowned opera offers nearly 300 performances each year.)

8. Leopold Museum in the Museumsquartier (http://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en)

9. Stadtpark

 

Restaurants & Cafes

• Yummy ice cream – Tuchlauben Eiscafé – Tuchlauben 15, 1010 Wien
• Palmenhaus – http://www.palmenhaus.at/ – old greenhouse in a park between the Opera and the Hofburg – either good for coffee in the afternoon or a cocktail o in the evening – they have food as well but i never tried their restaurant.
• Tuya (Dinner) 

• The Viennese Cafes:
  • Cafe Diglas – Wollzeile 10, 1010 Wien – old school
    Cafe Prueckel – Stubenring 24, 1010 Wien – 50s interior
    Cafe Griensteidl – Michaelerplatz 3, 1010 Wien – old school, writers, painters, famous doctors and philosophers in the early 20s century chilled there before they left Austria in the 30s because of Hitler.
    Cafe Schwarzenberg – Kaernterring 17/Schwarzenbergplatz, 1010 Wien
    Cafe Landtmann – Dr. Karl Lueger Ring 4 (right next to the Burgtheater, more old people, but the terrace & the patisseries are nice!)
    Kleines Cafe – Franziskanerplatz 3, 1010 Wien – this is so small and cute, but on a very cute and calm little square very close to Stephansplatz
    Cafe Stein – Waehringerstrasse 6, 1090 Wien – students and younger folks
    Cafe Florianihof – Florianigasse 45, 1080 Wien (a little further away)

• Plachutta (Wollzeile 38 – www.plachutta.at) might be worth calling and booking. They are very famous for a dish called “Tafelspitz”, very typical, veryyyyy good. And the Schnitzel as well of course.

 

Shopping:

Julius Meinl am Graben (Graben 19, 1. district)  THE old school most amazing deli-food store in the country. Definitely worth a visit and to get some of the Viennese delicacies!

Clothes – you’ll find most of the intl brands on Kaernterstrasse, (high street), Graben, Kohlmarkt (high end), more high street fashion on Mariahilferstrasse.

 Day trips from Vienna to other destinations/areas/countries: