Unveiling the Charms of Austria’s Enchanting Capital

Vienna was my very first stop in Europe, and I’ll never be able to fully portray the sense of wonder I was filled with as I wandered through the city the first morning of my trip. I gave myself a few hours to explore without a destination in mind, and between the clean streets, the baroque architecture and my rich Viennese coffee, it was a magical start to the trip. 

Wandering the city

My Airbnb in Vienna was tiny, inexpensive, and clean. We had arrived very late at night, so I hardly saw any of the city or even the building we were staying in before climbing into bed and sleeping off a long day of travel. When I woke the next day, I felt a slight pang of apprehension to leave as I had never been anywhere in Europe before and didn’t know quite what to expect. The apprehension dissipated almost the very instant I stepped outside. I was met by a lovely, green courtyard with a flower box spilling deep pink blooms that I hadn’t been able to see when walking in the night before. Stepping out into the street was equally enchanting. The tall, light-colored buildings reflected the soft morning light in a way that made everything look like it was faintly glowing. I was mesmerized by the many buildings that were adorned with intricate facades, decorative moldings, and ornate wrought-iron details.

Many of Vienna’s streets feature cobblestone pavements, which add to the city’s old-world charm. These uneven yet picturesque surfaces took me back in time and practically begged me to slow my pace. The city is known for its pedestrian-friendly layout, making it easy to explore on foot. The city felt like a spacious, elegant maze of beautifully landscaped sidewalks, opulent townhomes, cozy cafes, and stately chapels. Even if you only have one day in this remarkable city, I highly recommend taking an hour or two to just wander on foot and appreciate the essence of Vienna.

Cafe culture

Vienna is renowned for its café culture, and I stopped at several street cafés lining the avenues and squares. At the first café I purchased coffee which lived up to the hype. It was rich and sweet, almost like a mocha, and topped with nearly as much whipped cream as there was coffee. It was delightful. At the second, I purchased a croissant and it was nice, but nothing life changing. A few hours later, I purchased a breakfast sandwich. It had salami and some kind of cheese but what really stole the show was the bread. It was a fresh sourdough baguette and I still think about it all the time. I wish I had paid better attention to the names of the cafés I stopped in, but I got the sense that it might be hard to go wrong in Vienna.

Schonbrunn Palace

After a few hours of roaming, we caught a train for a short ride to Schonbrunn Palace. The grandeur of the palace is evident even before you step inside, the sight of its striking yellow façade against a backdrop of lush greenery is nothing short of breathtaking. We explored the beautiful grounds and gardens while we waited for our allotted time to tour the palace. Climbing up to the Gloriette on the hill behind the palace offered a sweeping view of Vienna. We were absolutely struck by the enormity of the city. It felt almost impossible that we had wound our way through such an immense network of boulevards and alleys, and yet it had all felt so unhurried and quaint. 

The tour of Schonbrunn Palace was wonderful, and both my love of history and my jetlag hysterics led me to cry when I toured the room where the 5 year old Mozart once performed for the Habsburg queen. Each room of the palace exuded a unique ambiance, adorned with exquisite furniture, lavish tapestries, and elegant chandeliers. I had only ever seen such luxuriant Rococo and Baroque design in pictures, and taking it in with my own eyes felt surreal. 

Wienerschnitzel

Once the tour was finished, we were running low on time before we had to catch a train to Salzburg, so we stopped for a quick dinner. I couldn’t leave Vienna without trying wienerschnitzel, but frankly I was unimpressed. Drowning it in lemon juice helped, but not quite enough. It’s likely that we just didn’t go to the best spot, so I intend to try it again the next time I’m in Vienna with more time on my hands!

I was loath to leave Vienna, and couldn’t believe how much magic the city held for me in such a short time. I had packed this trip extra tight, trying to see as many places as possible during my month-long tour of Europe, but I didn’t anticipate how much I would yearn to stay in each city, Vienna being the first. 

Hindsight

I am well aware of my tendency to romanticize, but I can honestly say I don’t exaggerate when I describe Vienna as such a charming, elegant, and enchanting destination. It was such a gentle, generous place to begin my dream trip and I couldn’t be more grateful. Looking back, I wish I would have spent more time researching restaurants and eateries to have the full Viennese experience. I was absolutely delighted by all of the cafes for breakfast, but I think a little more research would have gone a long way for dinner. Between the cobblestones and pedestrian-friendly design of the city, it is imperative to wear good shoes and to be in good shape before you arrive. I had severely underestimated the toll of so much walking with a large backpack and had to find somewhere to store it early on in the day so that it didn’t wear me out. I also highly recommend becoming familiar with companies or locations that will store your luggage. There are often luggage storage stations in large train stations or hotels. Searching for a good option took up some of our short and precious time in Vienna, so I wish I had looked into that better in advance!

Until next time

I appreciate you following along on my one-day adventure in Austria’s captivating capital. From imperial palaces to charming streets and historic treasures, Vienna truly weaves a spell around every traveler lucky enough to cross its path. If you find yourself debating whether or not to make a stop in Vienna, don’t hesitate – get there! If you’ve visited Vienna, tell me your favorites in the comments, and let me know what I missed! Have any questions? Email me at kaylaroams@gmail.com. I’d love to chat!

Happy travels, tschüss!

XOXO,

Kayla