Day 7 of my 2-week road trip
Tropical Islands – Sachsenhausen – Berlin – Dresden – Prague – Vienna – Devin Castle – Sandberg – Bratislava – Lake Balaton – Bokodi – Budapest
I visited Vienna as part of my 2-week road trip across Europe with my partner, Alex. We spent just one night at a hotel in the centre of Vienna, giving us an afternoon to see the highlights of the city. Here’s how to do Vienna in half a day. Don’t forget your walking trainers, as you will be clocking up some millage! We walked 7.2 miles in one afternoon. If you do have more days to spare, I recommend spending a bit more time in the city.
Hotel
We spent one night at the Hotel Mercure Wien Zentrum. The hotel is located in a fantastic location, right in the heart of Vienna. An average night will cost you around £100. Parking is nearby in an underground car park. Just a short 5 minute walk away from the hotel. The parking costs €25 for 24 hours, which is about £22. The car park we used was called Busparkplatz Franz-Josefs-Kai.
Food
Vienna is known for the Sachertorte, Apfelstrudel, Wiener Schnitzels and the delicious Kasekrainer.
As our time was short in Vienna, we tried to try as many of their local food we could possibly do. This meant enjoying their Sachertorte for breakfast. Yes, we had chocolate cake for breakfast!
Here are the places we ate at and the local food I highly recommend you try while you’re in Vienna:
Cafe Central
Cafe Central is a must especially if you are a cake lover like me! Cafe Central is the most famous cafe in Vienna. Over the years the cafe has counted many important visitors, including Arthur Schnitzler, Peter Altenberg, and Adolf Loos. If you watch the Jane McDonald cruise programs, she even paid a visit. The cafe provides one very unique experience. You can sit and enjoy Viennese cuisines, homemade Viennese cakes and pastries while listening to a live pianist. It was one of my highlights of Vienna. I enjoyed the famous Viennese Apfelstrudel while my partner enjoyed a Viennese chocolate mouse cake. We visited Cafe Central for supper, which was a good time to go as we did not have to queue. During the day it can get very busy and may have to queue to get a seat. They do offer cakes to take away however, I recommend sitting in enjoy the cafe to its full potential.
Directions to Cafe Central:
The nearest underground train station is the Herrengasse station. From there it is a short 2-minute walk. We decided to walk to the cafe from our hotel taking us just short of 15 minutes.
Hungry Guy
Hungry Guy is a quirky street food style restaurant located next to our hotel. We choose here for tea as it was pouring with rain, we were tired and it looked a bit different. The food prices were very reasonable too. The style foods they offer on their menu are not the traditional Viennese food. They offer food from Western Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. We both enjoyed a lovely burger and chips.
Location of Hungry Guy:
The nearest underground train station is the Schwedenplatz. From there it is a short 5-minute walk.
Wurstel Stand
We popped to the Wurstel Strand for a mid-morning snack before collecting the car. I wanted to try the Kasekrainer (Cheese Sausage) while I was in Vienna. We were about to leave Vienna so this was my last opportunity. We both were not that hungry after a big breakfast so we decided to share one. The Kasekrainer was delicious.
Location of Wurstel Stand:
Located next to the Busparkplat Fraz-Josefs-Kai, the car park our car was parked at. The nearest underground train station, Schwedenplatz is just metres away.
Zanoni & Zanoni
We visited Zanoni & Zanoni for breakfast as we had no free breakfast in our hotel in this city. Zanoni & Zanoni is Vienna’s best known Italian ice cream parlour. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to sample any of the ice creams. Instead, we enjoyed some freshly baked croissants and the traditional Sachertorte. Before you ask, yes we did have chocolate cake for breakfast. It was delicious.
Location of Zanoni & Zanoni:
It was a short 2-minute walk from our hotel. The closest underground train station is the Stephansplatz station. From the station, there is a short 2-minute walk. Catch the U1 or U3 train to Stephansplatz. If you prefer to catch the bus, you can catch the 1A, 2A, or 3A bus to Stephansplatz.
Transport
We found most of the sights within walking distance. However, for the sights a little further out of the centre there are trams, buses and underground trains that you can use. We brought a 24-hour travel card costing us €8 each. It is about £7. You must remember to validate your ticket before getting on the train, tram or bus. You can purchase your ticket in the train stations in Vienna or you purchase one online before you go.
For more information on transport, please visit their website: Vienna’s Transport.
Visiting the Sights of Vienna in half a day
As mentioned earlier on in this blog, we only had the afternoon to visit the sights in Vienna. Below are the sights we visited and the order we visited them in. We used a mixture of trams and underground trains to help to get us to the places outside the city centre.
If you only have a day to spare just like we did, here are all the important sights to see and the best order I recommend you to see them in:
Stephansplatz
Stephansplatz is a square located in the heart of Vienna. The square is home to many restaurants, cafes, and shops. A perfect place to grab a coffee and enjoy a slice of Viennese cake, while admiring the beautiful, surrounding buildings.
How to get to Stephansplatz:
We took a 5-minute walk from our hotel. The nearest underground train station is Stephansplatz station which is less than a 1-minute walk away. Catch the U1 or U3 train to Stephansplatz. If you prefer to catch the bus, you can catch the 1A, 2A, or 3A bus to Stephansplatz.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn. It took 65 years to get built and is one of the tallest churches in the world. It is located in Stephansplatz, the heart of Vienna. With its multi-coloured tile roof, it has become one of the city’s most recognisable symbols of Vienna.
If you are wanting to take a look inside, you can buy a ticket for €14.50, which is about £13. The doors are open from 6 am to 10 pm Monday to Saturday and 7 am to 10 pm on Sundays.
Directions to St. Stephen’s Cathedral:
We took a 5-minute walk from our hotel to Stephansplatz where the church was located. The nearest underground train station is Stephansplatz station which is less than a 1-minute walk away. Catch the U1 or U3 train to Stephansplatz. If you prefer to catch the bus, you can catch the 1A, 2A, or 3A bus to Stephansplatz.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church
The St Peter’s Catholic Church is a beautiful Baroque Roman Catholic parish church in the heart of Vienna. You can visit inside the church for free between 7 am and 8 pm on weekdays and between 9 am and 9 pm on weekends. As we only had the afternoon in Vienna, we did not have time to look around. Supposedly, it is meant to be very picturesque inside.
Directions to St. Peter’s Catholic Church:
We took a 3-minute walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The nearest underground train station is Stephansplatz station with is a 4-minute walk away. Catch the U1 or U3 train to Stephansplatz. If you prefer to catch the bus, you can catch the 1A, 2A, or 3A bus to Stephansplatz.
Pestsaule – Plague Column
The Pestsaule, located down one of Vienna’s most popular streets, is the column marking the Great Plague epidemic that happened back in 1679. It is a memorial to the worst plague in Viennese history. A plague that killed up to 75,000 people. The 69-foot tall statue was erected in 1693 in memory of all the people who lost their life.
Directions to Pestsaule:
We took less than a minute walk from St. Peter’s Church. The nearest underground train station is Stephansplatz station with is a 4-minute walk away. Catch the U1 or U3 train to Stephansplatz. If you prefer to catch the bus, you can catch the 1A, 2A, or 3A bus to Stephansplatz.
Michaelerplatz/Hofburg Palace
Michaelerplatz in a large square in the heart of Vienna. The Hofburg Palace is located in the centre of Michaelerplatz, making the square a very popular tourist attraction. The Hofburg Palace was built in the 13th century and has been extended since. The palace was the former principal imperial palace for the Habsburg dynasty rulers. Today, it serves the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria.
For anyone who is interested to look around inside, the palace offers daily guided tours. For more information, please visit their website: Hofburg. We did not do one as we were short of time.
Directions to Michealerplatz/Hofburg:
We took a 5-minute walk from the Pestsaule to Michealerplatz. The two nearest underground train stations are the Stephansplatz station with is a 6 minute walk away or the Herrengasse station which is a 3 minute walk away. Catch the U1 or U3 train to Stephansplatz or the U3 train to Herrengasse station.
Heldenplatz
Heldenplatz, also called Heroes Square, is a large public area in front of Hofburg Palace. Over the years a lot of important events have taken place here including Adolf Hitler’s ceremonial announcement of the Austrian Anschluss to Nazi Germany on 15th March 1938. The square is also used each year on the 25th and 26th October, the Austria’s National Holiday. The Austrian Armed forces hold their traditional performance show.
Directions to Heldenplatz:
We took less then a 2 minute walk to the square from Hofburg Palace. The two nearest underground train stations are the Herrengasse and Volkstheater station. You can catch the U3 train to Herrengasee station or the U3 or U2 train to Volkstheater station. Both stations are a 5 minute walk away. The nearest tram station is Dr. Karl Renner Ring. You can catch the 1, 2, 46, 49 or D tram to this station.
Rathaus
The Rathaus is a beautiful City Hall and the seat of the local government of Vienna. The Rathaus was built in the 19th century to replace the old town hall. It was the most expensive building to be built in Vienna. Located on one side on the Rathaus is the Rathausplatz, a beautiful garden area. Unfortunately, we did not have time to walk through the gardens.
Directions to the Rathaus:
We took a 6-minute walk from Heldenplatz. The nearest underground train station is the Rathaus station which is located outside the Town Hall. You catch the U2 line to this station. The nearest tram station is the Rathausplatz/Burgtheater tram stop. It will take you around 5 minutes to walk to Rathaus through the Rathausplatz. Catch the 1, 71, or D tram to this station.
Austrian Parliament Building
The Austrian Parliament is the place in Vienna where the 2 houses conduct their sessions. The Greek architect building was built from 1874 to 1884. During World War II, part of the building was destroyed from the bombing, as a lot of historical buildings were in Vienna. Late 19th century, the building was restored to how we see it today. Unfortunately, while there, the front was all boarded up as they were doing some maintenance work.
Directions to the Austrian Parliament Building:
We took a 5-minute walk from the Rathaus to the Austrian Parliament Building. The nearest underground train station is the Volkstheater station. From this station, it will take you 4 minutes to walk to the building. Catch the U2 or U3 train line. The nearest tram station is the Stadiongasse/Parlament station. The station is located outside the Parliament Building but will take you around 3 minutes to walk to the entrance. Catch the 1, 71, or D tramline to this station.
Maria-Theresien-Platz
Maria-Theresien-Platz is a beautiful, large public square, surrounded by two museums.
Directions to Maria-Theresien-Platz:
We took a 5-minute walk from the Austrian Parliament Building. The nearest underground train station is the Volkstheater station. From this station, it will take you 3 minutes to walk to the building. Catch the U2 train line. The nearest tram station is the Volkstheater station. It will take your around 3 minutes to walk the Platz. Catch tramline 49 to this station.
Museumplatz
Museumplatz is a place to relax. It is known to be one of the world’s largest districts for contemporary art and culture. There is a museum to suit everyone. There are museums of art, music, dance, fashion, children’s culture, street art, game culture and many more. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to visit any of the museums. However, my sister has visited the music museum and she said it was really good.
Directions to the Museumplatz:
We took a 5-minute walk from Maria-Theresien-Platz. The nearest underground train station is the Musumsquartier station. Catch the U2 train line to this station. The nearest tram stop is the Volkstheater station. It will take your around 3 minutes to walk to the Museumplatz. Catch tramline 49 to this station.
Votivkirche
The Votivkirche is a neo-Gothic church built-in 1879. We only got to see a brief glimpse of it on the tram from the Museumplatz to Hundertwasser. It looked very impressive from a distance.
Directions to Votivkirche:
The nearest underground train station is the Schottentor station. Catch the U2 train line then take a 6 minute to the church. The nearest tram stops are Schottentor station and the Landesgerichsstrasse station. Catch tram line 1 to both stations or tramline 43 or 44 to Landesgerichsstrasse.
Hundertwasser
A man called Friedensreich Hundertwasser, started out in the early 1950s when he found his love for art and architect. Over the years he experimented with art, trees, and plants, creating these very interesting modern art designed buildings in Vienna. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Austria, working in the field of environmental protection. He is not just known for these decorative buildings but also known for designing different flags including the most famous one, the koru flag, several postage stamps which you can get access to in the Austrian Post Office, coins and posters.
Hundertwasserhaus:
Kunst Haus Wien, Hundertwasser Museum:
We arrived at his museum late in the day therefore, we did not have time to look around it. It is something that I would like to do if I revisit Vienna in the future.
Directions to Hundertwasserhaus and museum:
We caught the tram from the Museumplatz taking us about 30 minutes to get there. The nearest tram stop is the Lowengasses Tram Stop. Catch tramline 1 to this station.
Prater
Prater in Vienna’s largest amusement park and home to the famous 65-metre high Ferris Wheel. Prater was a hunting ground in the 16th century. In the 17th century, the grounds became open to the public. By the 18th century, it opened as an amusement park, the place we all know it as today. If you would like to know more about the history of Prater on your visit, there is a museum inside the park area.
Directions to Prater:
We caught the underground train from Wien Mitte Underground Station, near Hundertwasserhaus to Wien Praterstern Underground Station, near Prater. You can walk it in 17 minutes if you did not want to get public transport. The nearest underground train station is the Messe-Prater Station. Catch the U2 train line to this station. From the station, there is a 10-minute walk. The nearest tram station is the Prater Hauptallee Tram Station. Catch tramline 1 to this station. There is a 7-minute walk from here to Prater.
Anchor Clock
In the evening, we decided to take a stroll over to Cafe Central from our hotel and noticed this very beautiful clock situated above the pavement. Anchor Clock, a very beautiful clock, was built from 1911 to 1917. It’s situated on a bridge between the two parts of the Anker Insurance Company’s buildings.
Direction to Anchor Clock:
Anchor Clock was a short 1-minute walk away from our hotel, located in one of Vienna’s oldest areas. The nearest underground train station is the Schwedenplatz Station. Catch U1 or U4 train line to this station. From here it will take you just over 5 minutes to walk. The nearest bus station is the Hoher Markt Station. Catch bus 1A or 3A to the clock. It is less than a minute walk away.
