Vienna – Heaven for the arts lovers!

Let me begin this post by noting that our short stay did not do justice to all that this lovely city has to offer. There’s so much to do and experience that you need at least a week to fully take in the various cultural offerings. We had to exclude some things we really wanted to do due to lack of time, but then that’s incentive to visit again!

We stayed in Schwendenplatz, which is a great location for first time visitors. There are great restaurants and bars in this area, and many attractions like the Staatsoper are within walking distance. The public transport options are quite good, and the main train station at Schwedenplatz connects to pretty much any line that services Vienna. Google Maps comes in quite handy in figuring out the various routes. The trains are not usually very crowded unless it is rush hour on the more popular routes. We very happily used trains as our main form of transport in Vienna, as many of the cobbled streets in the main city center are more suited to pedestrian traffic than a bunch of gas guzzling cars. Vienna, and Austria in general, is quite safe and the people are friendly. Music is in the air, and beautiful art and architecture is always just a few steps away. Don’t count on any fabulous views of the Danube while you’re in the city center.

Some of the places we visited –

1. Schonbrunn Palace – Architecture buffs are going to enjoy exploring the Baroque facade and the beautiful grounds. The interior was not all that impressive, at least the parts that we were shown during our tour. If not for the Palace itself, visit for a stroll and maybe a picnic in the immaculate gardens.You can plan your visit by getting information from their website.
2. Museumquartier – There is something for every kind of art lover at the Museumquartier. It is THE cultural hub of Vienna and is great place to hang out in general after museum hopping. You can buy a combined ticket that allows entry to the various museums (Leopold, MUMOK, Kunsthalle, etc). We did not visit Zoom, but I believe the combined ticket only offers a discount on the entry. You must visit Zoom if you have young children. Summer is a great time to visit due to the various outdoor activities organized at the Museumquartier.
3. Stephen’s Cathedral – St. Stephen’s is the biggest Catholic church in Vienna and one of its most important landmarks. It was a five minute walk from where we stayed, so this was our first stop as we set out to explore Vienna. The colorful tiled roof is an easy identifying feature of the church. The exterior and interior are both marvelous, and the even though it was quite crowded, the feeling of calmness that you get inside a church is unparalleled. For a fee, you can climb up the spires and get a panoramic view of Vienna. I would suggest skipping it as you’d mainly be staring at the roofs of other nearby buildings.
4. Belvedere Complex – There are two Baroque palaces in this complex with the bigger one referred to as Upper Belvedere. The interiors, especially the painted ceilings are quite a sight. There is a huge pool in the front of Upper Belvedere and the grounds and gardens are quite perfect for a little nap 
5. Hofburg Palace– Another beautiful palace which was the winter residence of the imperial rulers. Schonbrunn Palace was the summer residence and I wonder what made one qualify as the summer residence v/s the winter residence when they are in the same city  .Today this palace is the official residence of the President of Austria. Considering that, the security was not excessive. The Volksgartenpark is right across the Palace.
6. Vienna Staatsoper– The Vienna State Opera House is world renowned not just for its opulent interiors, but for the wealth of talent that has performed at this stage. Watching a performance here is a definite wish list item for my wife, but unfortunately all performances were sold out during our visit. Another reason to return!

The most fun part of our Vienna visit was sampling all the delicious Viennese desserts. Viennoiserie is a category of French pastry but in my mind, I’ve always associated it with Vienna. I wasn’t far off because viennoiserie did originate from the Austrian empire! Every food guide for Vienna screams about the Sacher Torte, but it was a huge letdown for us. I found it too dry for our liking. But give me cup after cup of the Viennese Melange coffee, and I won’t complain. The Verlangerter was another favorite. The coffee in Vienna is something I still crave and is yet reason to be back. Another thing that I remember fondly is the fragrance of roasted chestnuts sold by street vendors. It is a winter treat, and I enjoyed them immensely throughout our stay.

Here are some tips –

• Do utilize the public transport options in Vienna – they are efficient and fast, and will make you feel good about taking the environment friendly option.
• If you’re visiting for the first time, try and stay in the city center. You can actually walk to most place and have the best choice of bars and restaurants.
• If you want to watch a performance at the Staatsoper, please book at least a couple months in advance.
• For the best views of the Danube, you have to leave the city. The river is at best a murky green as it is flowing through Vienna.