Things I did in Vienna in 3 Days!

An Introduction

I recently took a three-week trip to Europe with my sister and thought I’d write a few posts about what we did there.

For context, I got accepted to a European university this year and wanted to see for myself what the place was like before enrolling, since I’d never even been to the continent before.

So here’s the first of my Europe travel blogs!

Vienna in 3 days!

The first stop on our Europe trip was Vienna, the capital of Austria. I didn’t know much about the country, save a few famous names like Mozart, Sigmund Freud, and the artist Gustav Klimt.

Fortunately, I have a friend who lives there. They gave me advice on things like food costs, transport, and general tips, so I had a good idea of what to expect as a first-timer!

My sister and I spent a total of three days in Vienna. Here’s what we did, and what I’d recommend you check out if you ever visit.

1. Belvedere Palace

The closest attraction to our hotel (we stayed near the central station since we had a train to catch to the Czech Republic in a couple of days) was the Belvedere Palace. It took a bit of walking, but we needed to get our steps in either way.

The palace is divided into the Upper and Lower Belvedere, with the Upper Belvedere being most famous for showcasing works by renowned artist Gustav Klimt, including his iconic piece The Kiss.

The Lower Belvedere featured a beautiful, fancy garden full of colorful flowers. We easily spent a few hours strolling through the museum and garden.

2. St. Charles’s Church

St. Charles’s Church, also known as Karlskirche, is a beautiful Baroque-style church with a light green dome! We didn’t know about it until we accidentally stumbled upon it during one of our walks. Since it was the first church we’d seen in Europe, we couldn’t resist going inside. And I’m so glad we did, because the interior was absolutely stunning. No wonder it’s one of Vienna’s must-see attractions. Just take a look at the photos my sister and I took:

3. Austrian National Library

The Austrian National Library, or Österreichische Nationalbibliothek in German, is the most beautiful library I’ve come across in my nineteen years of existence. The books, the gold, the marble, the ceiling paintings—everything was stunning. I honestly felt like I had walked into a live production of Beauty and the Beast! It was my first time in a Baroque library, and what an experience it was. It was a bit crowded, but I still enjoyed every moment there. In the very center, there’s a statue of Emperor Charles VI.

4. Volksgarten Park

People really don’t talk about this place enough! We passed by it on our way to Vienna City Hall (which, by the way, was much bigger than Sydney’s Town Hall; it was so massive we couldn’t even get a full photo of it). The park was filled to the brim with roses of every color!

It’s a free public park with lots of benches to sit and enjoy the blooms. There’s also a fountain that hosts little ducks and serves as a watering spot for birds. I’m a big fan of ducks, so I loved taking photos and doing some birdwatching while I was there.

5. Sigmund Freud Museum

When I think of Austria, the first famous person that comes to mind is Sigmund Freud. I’m no aspiring psychologist, but I learned a lot about his theories in school, and he played a significant role in my education. So, of course, I had to visit the Sigmund Freud Museum, which is located in his former home in Vienna!

I was surprised when I entered because the museum was much larger than I expected, with multiple floors. It was packed with content, mostly reading material, detailing Freud’s life. One highlight was a room displaying long home videos that captured the Freud family’s daily life, narrated by Sigmund Freud’s daughter, Anna.

It made me feel more connected to him, seeing for the first time that he was a real, tangible person. It was impactful to see the rooms where Freud developed his ideas, met with patients, and went about his daily life. I definitely recommend it, whether you’re a Sigmund Freud enthusiast or not, there’s a lot to learn there.

6. St. Stephen’s Cathedral

The Gothic masterpiece in the heart of Vienna. This church caught my eye from miles away, so I had to see it up close. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any great shots of the exterior; it was just too big to fit in my frame. But here are some photos I took inside:

There’s also a catacomb beneath the church, but since I’m a bit superstitious, I decided to skip it. I’m not a fan of ghosts and spirits, but if you are this may be the place for you!

Extra: Convenient Food Stops

These are places my sister and I stopped by for food during our trip. Thought we’d share!

Café Mozart

We went to this pretty cafe near the Albertina Museum for a little breakfast before heading out to sightsee. Didn’t want anything too heavy since we’d be walking a lot, so we ordered the plain yogurt with granola and the oat porridge. Boring, I know, but it was actually delicious.

We had lemon soda and raspberry soda for drinks. I thought my lemon soda tasted better than my sister’s raspberry one, but she didn’t agree.

Supermarket

Visiting the supermarket is always fun, especially in a new country! My sister and I were trying to stick to a budget, so the supermarket ended up saving us both time and money. Don’t be afraid to check them out, because the food there was delicious.

Anker

We found this bakery cafe at Vienna Central Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) before our train ride out of the country and into the Czech Republic. It was nice and cozy, a perfect spot to wait for our scheduled departure. I got an iced latte and a tomato-mozzarella panini for breakfast. Not pricey. Convenient too!

The End

Thank you all for reading this far! It’s been so fun getting into blogging again, and hopefully I can release my posts on the other European cities as soon as I finish. Coming up next is my blog on Brno, Czech Republic 🙂

Don’t hesitate to email or send me a form if you have any questions!

by The Nene Magazine