No secret that Vienna is one of my favourite cities, and also one of the most beautiful ones in Europe - the rich history, architecture, restaurants, impressive hotels, palaces, gardens, parks.. Vienna has it all. And it is beautiful in every season. Last time I was there in autumn, this time in the middle of summer. And it was just magnificent. Let me introduce you to some new places to visit, to take some beautiful photos, and also some old, but good ones. And the best part - we discovered the most amazing hotel in the very heart of everything, but you will feel like you are in a quiet space far from everybody else. And lastly - I talk about how it is to travel during weird times like this. Enjoy! :)
Cafe Central - it is not only a great place to have a drink or eat late breakfast, but it is also an amazing building worth looking at and worth taking photos of. Last time we didn't go there, but this time we were staying almost next doors, so strolls by this beautiful place was a must almost every morning and every evening. And if you are lucky enough to catch a moment when horses pass by, you’ll get to see the most iconic ‘Vienna view’ of all time.
2. Volksgarten - I discovered this place only minutes before catching the plane to Vienna. It is a stunning rose garden which was in full bloom by the time we got there. Imagine it during sunset hours - pure magic! And you also get a glimpse of the beautiful Ratshaus from the garden. An Instagram-worthy shot if you ask me :)
3. Stephensplatz - the good old Stephensplatz with its Cathedral - a place that gathers a lot of tourists. I think this is one of the most popular places in Vienna, really. Even during times like these, where a lot of people choose not to travel, it was still pretty crowded. Not as many people as during ‘normal’ times, but still.. My beloved Onyx Bar in Do&Co Hotel was still closed, but you can sit and have a drink outside with a view of St. Stephens Cathedral. A bit pricey, but very cute and the location is everything. I also suggest going to the Lamee Rooftop bar, because it has an amazing view over Vienna, and it is super close to the platz, but you have to make a reservation in advance, and we missed it this time.
4. Vienna State Opera - seeing this iconic building is a must! This is my favourite place in Vienna and my favourite thing to do - just to wander around and look at it - that building is just something wow. And even more gorgeous during night hours. And this place, I guess, is not as touristy, because when we got there at Friday evening, there was almost no one there. Surreal feeling. It is usually pretty crowded, but not this time. And I kinda loved it. :) You can get the best view of the opera from Albertina Museum. The famous Albertina stairs are also very nice - they colour them in the colours of the current exhibition. This time it was Monet and Picaso. And of course we had to go back to the Bitzinger kiosk to have some ‘wurst’ and wine. This place is one of the most popular ones for wursts and drinks, because everything is very tasty and you get to eat and drink in a matter of a few moments, and the prices are also very affordable. We love to sit on the stairs with our wine glasses and just enjoy the beautiful view. Must be my favourite tradition when coming to Vienna.
5. Hofburg - although I have seen photos from this place, I never took one for myself. I don't know why - maybe because last time there were so many people, some guys offering guided tours, and we were just running by and I didn't notice this place’s beauty, but this time we stayed like 2 minutes away from it and we came here every morning and every evening - it was on the way to the Opera from our hotel, and also to Stephensplatz. So we woke up and went to take some photos. During the day there are many horses there, and the feeling is so ‘Vienna’. This place is truly stunning. Especially when you get it all to yourself. :)
6. Karlskirche - a huge Baroque church that will leave you speechless. Just outstanding. Its beauty is mesmerizing. It is called one of Vienna’s greatest buildings, and I can see why. In front of it there is a little pond which makes an amazing reflection. And I guarantee that you will just want to sit and enjoy the view there for a while.
7. Palmenhaus - this is a very nice place for breakfast and for afternoon drinks. Last time we went inside and had breakfast there, but this time we decided to just sit on the terrace and have some drinks. Later we went to the park nearby, and just enjoyed the nice weather. This is also a very pretty backdrop for photos.
8. Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof - this is the place to stay in Vienna. For sure. I really admire Steigenberger hotels - I love the one that is located in Dubai, and I was so confident that this will be just as amazing, if not better, because Vienna itself is a city with grace and elegance. And I was not wrong - this hotel exceeded all of our expectations. From the minute we arrived, we felt like home. The staff is hotels biggest treasure for sure - they will become your friends, know your orders, be polite and generous, and they will do everything they can and more to make your stay unforgettable. I think I have never felt more comfortable at a hotel. The room (we had Deluxe Double room) was just perfect. It was spacious, it had big windows that you can fully open with a view over Vienna (you could see St. Stephens Cathedral from our window) and it gives such a light feeling to the room. The interior is also very, very nice. And they have the comfiest pillows ever - I swear we are thinking of asking the staff where can we buy pillows like that) Steigenberger Herrenhof has amazing terrace suites with stunning view as well. I really loved the breakfast they serve - you can have champagne for breakfast! And the food selection is just perfect. Pancakes, beacon, eggs, all kinds of cheese, fresh fruit, juices, water, coffee, grilled vegetables, salmon.. And so much more. The hotel bar is also such a nice touch - I loved the interior so much, and the drinks were super. They also have a small terrace where you can sit and watch the horses go by. And the Steigenberger building itself is a gem. AND the location - oh where do I start.. To say it is great would be an understatement, because it is PERFECT. You are in the centre of everything - Cafe Central on the same street, Opera, Stephensplatz just minutes away, Hofburg even closer, you can get to the Ratshaus and Volksgarten in a few minutes - everything is SO close, but the street is very quiet, almost no cars, just some people walking and some taxis dropping of their clients. I thought that staying by the Opera or on the main street which leads you to Stephensplatz was the ultimate goal, but I was so wrong - those places are pretty noisy and busy. THIS is the place. If you are ever looking for a place to stay in Vienna, please do not only considerate this option, but choose it - you won't regret it :)
And to end this post - a lot of people keep asking me how is it to travel while the virus is still out there? It was a bit weird. Mostly because we haven't been outside our country since January. And there are different rules now so you can stay and feel safe. It is different for sure, but it doesn't mean that it is less nice. It doesn't mean that you cannot enjoy different countries, different cultures, places, that you cannot relax and that you have to think about safety and virus all the time. You have to be careful, of course, no doubt, but you can still enjoy your vacation. Just be responsible. Vienna is a pretty safe place, people pay attention to the rules, social distance, they wear masks in public transportation. I see no problem if you are smart and responsible :) And I felt really safe in the plane and in the airports - you have to wear mask from the minute you step inside the airport, until the minute you leave your destination airport. We wore masks in taxi also, we took them off only when we arrived in our hotel.