5 Days in Austria : The Best Guide for First Timers

My wife and I chose Vienna as our first year anniversary trip because people seldom visit or talk about this elegant city. We came into the city not knowing fully what to expect of it. We've traveled throughout the continental United States and visited Europe once before for our honeymoon, so the unique European culture was still something to behold. Viennese flair was unlike anything we had seen. The art museums were the best we had ever seen, the people were friendly, and we ate some of our best meals in this city. It is connected by simple subway systems which were some of the cleanest I've ever seen, and trams that ran consistently throughout the entirety of the city districts. We came at a time of year where there was few tourists, so we truly got to experience Viennese culture.

The Bare Essentials : VIENNA

Where to Stay

Vienna is broken up into 23 districts. Each district has its own unique qualities and characteristics. The city is set up like a bullseye. In the very center of the city is the 1st district (also called Innere Stadt). This is where most of the main attractions and city center are. The whole first district is surrounded by a circular street called the Ringstrasse. You can reach the city center within 30 minutes from everywhere in Vienna if you are near a subway station. We stayed in the 7th District! There was a tram stop right outside of our Air BNB and a few coffee shops as well. The tram stop was at Zieglergasse. Note: The closer you get to the city center the pricier it can be. It's best to use the public transportation to get around and it's easy to get tickets here.

Public Transportation

I highly recommend taking the subways, trams or buses to get around. They're easy to navigate and incredibly clean. The people of Vienna care about their city and uphold cleanliness standards. I saw a lady smoking a cigarette before she got on the tram and as it arrived she walked over to the trash can and put it out, it fell on the floor but she picked it up and put it in the trash can before she got on the tram; You just don't see stuff like that in America. Public transportation is constantly running and with the Vienna Pass you can ride as much as you want, however you want.

Communication

The main language in Vienna is German, most of the signs are in German but everywhere we went we were able to communicate with people in English. Restaurants will give you an English language menu as well.

Apps to Download

Wien Mobile

OBB

Bolt

Google Translate

There also may be apps for each museum you visit, but you can usually add museum tickets to your Apple wallet.

NIGHT 1 : A TASTE OF VIENNA

From the Airport

We flew from Houston to Vienna with one connection in London (LHR). We took an airport transfer from VIE. They were incredibly helpful and super friendly. The airport isn't too big so it was easy to navigate. Another option to get to the city is an express train which is cheaper, but we like to travel as easy as possible if we could help it. Many people do use the trains so it wouldn't be difficult, but since we flew in at night we didn't know what to expect. Once we checked into our Air BNB we freshened up and visited the city.

7th District Charm

We were very hungry coming off of our flight so we went to get dinner at Gastwirtschaft Schilling which was a local restaurant with authentic Viennese cuisine. We tried the quintessential Austrian dishes, Veal Schnitzel and Veal Goulash with Spätzle. The food was incredible. The goulash was a bit nerve wracking, but the first bite sent me into food bliss. We got to try a few beers as well with a cheese board of some unique cheeses. It was a great first impression and only a short walk away from our Air BNB.

To Preface, we visited Vienna at the end of March and it was still quite chilly, about 30-40 degrees chilly, so the streets were pretty quiet other than the occasional group of college kids out on the town.

We visited quite a few bars on our stay in Austria. My favorite by far was Moby Dick - Cocktailbar & Eatery. Their drink selection was unique and the ambiance was dark, upbeat yet chill.

DAY 1 : The City of Dreams

We awoke to snow flurries and brisk wind, but we rode the tram to our first stop, The Imperial Treasury. We bought the Treasures of the Habsburgs tickets which included the Kunsthistorisches Museum. It's best to find tickets with bundles like this for budgeting and to get the most out of your trip.

The walk from where the tram dropped us off was short, but the cold definitely put a pep in our step. We missed the entrance on first walk, but ended up near the Spanish Riding School which was great to see. We went to the treasury as soon as it opened, so we had it to ourselves mostly to begin. The Imperial Treasury houses the imperial crown and other artifacts of the Habsburgs Dynasty.

If you're into history, then I'm sure you have heard about Empress Elisabeth of Austria, nicknamed Sisi. The Sisi Museum was a portal into the old world, that gave us history, art, and perspective. The Sisi Pass granted us access to the Imperial Apartments along with the Sisi Museum. I recommend getting there early in the day because it did get quite crowded. She was quite a beloved and polarizing figure in Austrian history, so it was great to start our journey here. In the museum, you got to see how the Empress lived, the designs of the ballrooms and other areas of that time of life in Austria. You even see a few of her actual worn dresses. We spent a little over two hours here.

After the Sisi Museum it was time to eat, so we visited an Italian Restaurant called Verde. It had some of the best food we ate on the entire trip. It was incredibly authentic and the service was excellent. It is a little pricey, but definitely worth it. I got a nice Chianti and my wife got her usual Huge Spritz. We passed by Hofburg Palace again before venturing into the city some more.

It was still incredibly cold, so we stopped in for some coffee and another delicacy Austria is known for, Apfelstrudel at Pane e Cafe. It's warm and gooey with just the right amount of tart apple. It was served with ice cream as well. Most restaurants will have some form of it.

Once we rested our legs and got warm, we went to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The museum is full of beautiful paintings, sculptures and ancient hieroglyphics. Through all the art museums I have ever visited, this one was the most beautiful I have ever laid my eyes on. The grandeur of the architecture and the vastness of the museum itself was something to behold.

We spent about three hours here, and could have stayed even longer.

From there we took the tram to an Easter market in Freyungplatz. The environment and atmosphere was straight out of a fairy tale. We shopped at the little markets, each with unique or handmade items. We ate some delicious chimney cakes and pretzels and were surrounded by locals enjoying the Easter season. They took card and euros here which was highly convenient.

On the way back from the Easter Market we walked past Mozart Monument and the beautiful gardens surrounding it.

As you can tell by now, we try to pack in as much as we can on our trips everyday. We try to leave as many stones turned as possible. You can definitely slow down the pace to explore at your convenience.

Night 2 : Classical Music

Vienna is known as the capital of classical music. We decided to visit St. Peter's Church for a Classical Concert we booked through Viator. It was an easy subway ride to Stephansplatz and a short walk from there. The acoustics of the church added to the atmosphere. There was no heating so it may be cold in the early spring, or in the summer could be warm. The music consisted of beautiful renditions of Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach and Beethoven. It was well worth it to us.

After the concert, we got dinner at Dom Schnitzel to split a big portion of Veal Schnitzel and Spätzle. There's plenty of restaurants around, but be aware some do close quite a bit earlier than you'd expect.

Day 2 : Day Trip to Gmunden

We love to try and visit mountains and nature on any trip we go on and this was no different. We took a tram to the train station, Wien Westbahnhof. We got tickets through OBB for round trip. The earlier you book the better for cheaper prices.

This is where things got a bit tricky. Since it is a mountain town, service was tough to get in certain portions, and if you've been to a mountain town then you know public transportation is at a minimum, especially on Sunday.

We tried to call a taxi, but no response or service from the train station, so we walked about 20 minutes to the main square. It was noticeably colder due to the increased elevation, but it was charming and a great experience just walking along the cobblestone paths.

We ended up at a quaint café called Konditorei Grellinger, where we drank a mélange, which is similar to a cappucino, but made with milder coffee and tried an amazing Austrian pastry called Schaumrolle. This is definitely a local place that was filled to the brim with locals, they spoke some English, so we communicated by pointing at menu items and Google translate. In these mountain towns I'd bring euro since they may not use digital wallets or card.

After we warmed up, we got some lunch at Madame Kim Restaurant and split some authentic Pad Thai.

Quite a few shops were closed due to it being Sunday, but there was a small Easter market along the water we visited. They also had a plethora of handmade items and gifts to bring home.

As you walk along the waterway you're accompanied by the colorful homes painting the streets of Gmunden on one side and the Austrian Alps to the other.

Once you get to the end of waterway you get to Schloss Ort which is a castle situated in the Traunsee lake. It was a great stop for pictures and we even saw a swan in the water.

Due to the rain and the cold weather, the cable car up the mountain, Grünbergseilbahn Gmunden, was not permitted to go up the mountain. This would be a great option for hiking in the summer and explore the peaks when it's warmer.

We decided to visit a day spa for some relaxation instead. We got a taxi at the recommendation of the spa who helped us out big time. His number is +43 699 10004955.

The spa included an infinity pool, finnish sauna, bio-sauna, steam bath, panorama terrace and a fitness room. It was exactly what we needed.

Night 3 - Calm Night

The train ride back to Vienna was about two hours and we might have been the only ones on the train car. Once back at the station, we used the subway to get to different areas of Vienna for dinner. We hit up another bar before calling it a night back in Vienna.

Day 3 - Day Trip to Bratislava

The best part about Europe is how close one country can be to another. Bratislava, Slovakia is only 45 minutes from Vienna. We left from Wien Hauptbahnhof for this trip. We took the tram from the Air BNB to get there.

Bratislava is a unique city with an identity consisting of an amalgam of different cultures. We absolutely loved it here. We took pictures in front of the Presidential Palace and the surrounding gardens to begin our day as it was only a 15 minute walk from the train station.

We enjoyed some delicious coffee and breakfast at Panenská kaviareň. After that we made our way to Bratislava Castle. Be warned, the walking route is hilly, but manageable. The route gets steeper as you get closer to the castle, but once you get there you see why.

The castle is a giant medieval structure overlooking the city. The gardens were incredibly nice to look at, but you can tell in the spring when the flowers are blooming it's an even better experience.

As you walk down from the castle keep your eye out for any "UFO" sightings.

We love to visit churches in Europe due to the rich history and architecture that is synonymous with the continent. We walked down to St. Martin's Cathedral to take a look, and it was highly worth it.

We walked through the main square and posed with some funny statues and shopped around a bit.

Before heading back to Vienna we made a stop at the Blue Church as well and got some coffee and matcha at Groslok - Espresso Bar.

If you buy the all inclusive pass, you can ride all public transport in Bratislava for the day as well! We took the tram back to the train station and headed back to Vienna with plenty of time for shopping. We spent about five hours in Bratislava, so it was still about 3 PM by the time we got to Vienna.

There's many different streets full of shopping throughout Vienna. We took the subway to Neubaugasse and walked along the streets exploring different stores to visit.

We also made it to St. Charles' Church, which was one of the biggest churches we had seen. In that area, we experienced some restaurants accepting euros only, so be aware of that.

Night 4 : Bar Hopping in Vienna

After St. Charles' we decided to go back to Verde for dinner. After Verde, we went to get some cheese and wine from a French restaurant near the area called Zum Schwarzen Kameel. The cheese was excellent and the wine was fantastic as well. The place was lively and energetic too.

From there we decided to visit a hole in the wall with great priced beer called Kolar Beisl - Kleeblattgasse. This was a great place to have a pint and enjoy the night at a calmer pace. It was busy, but not overwhelming and we just missed the cut off for what smelled like some great pizza.

Our last stop of the night was Högl - Die Bar which was another quaint setting to enjoy some drinks and listen to some music. That area where the bar is had tons of different restaurants and bars we had yet to experience.

Throughout the night we either walked, took trams or subways throughout the city. The best part about Vienna was how clean the public transportation was, how clean the city was and also how safe we felt late at night.

Day 4 : The Hapsburg Era of Vienna

Our final day consisted of visiting some of the most popular attractions in Vienna, The Belvedere Palace and Schönbrunn Palace. We paid for tickets to see Upper Belvedere and Lower Belvedere to get the full experience. The Schönbrunn Palace ticket was included with the Sisi Pass.

We got some breakfast at Das Vivet. We recommend getting there early or getting a reservation because we can see why it can get busy.

The Belvedere was incredible. This is where Gustav Klimt's The Kiss is housed and Jacques-Louis David's Napoleon Crossing the Alps is also here. It did get quite crowded in these sections and it was steadily busy even at the earliest times.

The Palace also had gardens we walked through to get to Lower Belvedere. We would have stayed outside longer, but the wind gusts were large and the rain was at a steady drizzle. Lower Belvedere had numerous pieces of wonderful art as well and was less crowded than Upper.

After the Palace we got lunch at Wirtshaus Herlitschka for some delicious and authentic Austrian food. Be aware, the service left a lot to be desired, but the food was absolutely incredible. We had desserts consisting of the famous Kaiserschmarrn and Milchrahmstrudel.

After lunch it was time for the grand finale, Schönbrunn Palace. The palace is situated on the opposite side of the city, so this was our longest train ride.

They had a ginormous Easter Market with everything you could have wanted and more in the courtyard of the palace. Entry was included with the Sisi Pass as well.

Schönbrunn Palace, located in Vienna, Austria, is a former 1,441-room Baroque summer residence of the Habsburg monarchs and one of Europe’s most significant architectural and cultural monuments. It features magnificent interiors, vast gardens, the world's oldest zoo, and the Gloriette monument. It served as the main summer residence of the Habsburgs, including Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph, and Empress Sisi.

The Gardens were magnificent as well and stretched for a couple of miles lined with statues and gravel. Between the Palace, Easter Market and the Gardens we spent about five hours here.

We took the subway back to our side of Vienna and decided to stroll into St. Stephen's Cathedral. It was as grand and magnificent on the inside as it is on the outside. We did a little shopping and got some dinner before calling it a night.

Conclusion

Austria is a stunning country with a rich history, exquisite architecture, and delightful cuisine. There are still many attractions in Vienna that we didn't explore, and Western Austria remains completely unvisited by us, so we are eager to return. Pack your bags, follow your instincts, and embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Remember, the world is ready for you to explore it on your own terms!