Vienna has been on my travel bucket list for years, though always ranked beneath the stereotypical choices: Venice, Paris, etc. A somewhat neglected city from a touristā€™s perspective, Vienna is a miraculously pleasant surprise. I can safely say this was the best reading week trip Iā€™ve ever been on.
While February is a toss-up with the cold temperatures, and your average St. Andrew’s traveler may elect for a warmer holiday – Spain or what have you – the warmth of the Viennese coffeehouses, the sun cascading over its many palaces, and the bustling streets and museums render Vienna the most unfailing option. Being there in February was certainly no hindrance to the experience.
One exceptional feature of the trip was the Viennese food. For the average St. Andrews student, perhaps you may fear some changes to your coffee routine – missing a daily Pret or Starbucks. But worry not, for the coffee culture in Vienna is one of great esteem. It is home to a myriad of coffeehouses, decadent in interior design and full of lavish coffee creations, cakes, and tortes. Like the English tradition of afternoon tea, Vienna offers afternoon cake and coffee (which I must say I prefer).
The coffee selection is vast. I was even able to try a traditional Viennese iced coffee; much unlike an iced latte, the Wiener Eiskaffe consists of vanilla ice cream served with cold coffee and a whip cream garnishā€¦ more milkshake-esque in nature, but a must-try. With Viennese coffee, one is always served a small glass of water. This is not merely for drinking, but for the practice of palate cleansing: a way to ensure you are properly tasting and enjoying your coffee.
Some coffeehouses Iā€™d recommend include: Demels, Cafe Diglas, and Cafe Gerstner.
The food was equally unmatched. As a vegetarian, I feared I would struggle to find good options. My boyfriend enjoyed their traditional meat dishes: Schnitzel, sausages with potatoes, etc. He rated them quite highly, and they looked lovely as well.
I, however, did not struggle on the food front. Each restaurant and coffeehouse offered exceptional veggie options. Arguably our favorite meal on the trip, however, was not traditional Viennese food. Vienna is home to a number of Italian immigrants, engendering some phenomenal ice cream and pizza establishments. The best dinner, and the best pizza Iā€™ve ever had, was Randaleā€™s. Situated outside the cityā€™s inner ring, Randaleā€™s is a fun, intimate establishment, with lovely staff and even lovelier food. It is safe to say we are quite well.
I stayed in the cityā€™s inner ring, surrounded by the old beautiful white architecture. Within this ring sit the opera house, the Hofburg, the Albertina, and more. My boyfriend and I explored the Albertina museum, enjoying the works of Monet, Picasso, and Alex Katz, as well as the many state rooms preserved in the museum. Similarly, we toured the Sisi museum – wandering through its state rooms as we learned about the assassinated empress Elisabeth (whose memorial is situated in the Peopleā€™s Garden). Most beautiful was the Austrian National Library, with beautiful ceiling murals, twisting staircases, antiquated globes, and beautiful dark wood.
Venturing further out lies the Belvedere, the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, now converted into a stunning museum. Here, one can see the many works of Klimt, most notably The Kiss. The Belvedere is divided into two buildings, the lower and the upper, between which sits a beautiful garden and fountains. It is certainly a must-see.
In terms of entertainment, we came at a bit of an in-between time. Weā€™d just missed the Viennese ball season, and were too early to see some of the shows playing in the theatre or opera. However, we got to see a high-energy jazz show at the Porgy and Bess Jazz and Music Club. The atmosphere was phenomenal: a perfect mix of sophisticated and fun.
In short, I cannot recommend Vienna enough. It is impeccable for those interested in art, history, food, and beauty.Ā