Vienna: A City Guide
During my interrailing experience this summer I had the fantastic opportunity to spend a night in Vienna. I feel two days there was not enough but being one of the most expensive cities of the trip, we felt we could only afford a small amount of time. This will be the first of a few city guides I will provide you with, which hopefully will be useful, especially as most recent places I have been were on a student budget.
Where to eat and drink:
Sadly, having very little funds for the up-market vibe of Vienna, we mostly fed ourselves but from what we experienced, here are a few suggestions:
· Happy Noodles: a sausage and noodle/ curry kiosk, these noodles were actually delicious, spicy, very filling, and the cheapest thing we could find whilst wanting to avoid McDonalds!
· Zanoni & Zanoni: a Viennese ice cream chain, this is a popular parlour and deserves its great reputation, hosting a variety of cakes and flavours for relatively reasonable prices.
· Amazing falafel plate at Top Kino.
· For the experience and the beautiful décor, you must visit a traditional “coffee and cake” café. We chose Café Sperl as we were in the area and, to be honest, the cake was not as amazing as expected but the hot chocolate was divine and you cannot help but be transported back in time by the interior’s opulence.
What to see:
· The Hofburg Palaces and a peek into the National Library, as well as their gardens.
· The Albertina. Worth a see especially if the Monet and Picasso exhibitions have reopened which take up two floors and sadly were closed, limiting what we actually had the chance to see. You get to see art as well as a glimpse into the interiors of one of Vienna’s Palaces which makes it worth spending a little!
· The old City Centre.
· The river in the evening.
· St Stephen’s Cathedral and St Peter’s Church – incredible!
Not to be missed:
· Schönbrunn Palace! Despite this not being in central Vienna, it is a must-see and can be appreciated without forking out a large sum of money. We went on a beautiful day and opted against paying for the interior areas, wanting to be outside (and to save some money). We paid just for the Privy Garden and the Maze/ Labyrinth (which are perhaps more entertaining for children) but you could pay absolutely nothing and still enjoy the grandeur and beauty of the grounds, which include water features, sculptures and a variety of magnificent flowers.
· The Museum Quarter at night for a great atmosphere. If and when I return I will be sure to actually visit the museums during the day!
Where I stayed:
· Labyrinth Hostel. Whilst it was in no way our worst hostel experience, it was very cramped and had very little cooking facilities which is not ideal for travellers on a budget. Very reasonable price for Vienna however and the owner was friendly enough!
If you find yourself wanting more information on Vienna or any other European city, I would definitely recommend the book ‘Europe on a Shoestring’.
I will have another City Guide coming your way in a few weeks. Happy daydreaming!
Photo credits: Alice McAnulty