Luxury Vienna – a weekend itinerary part 1
Vienna is one of those European cities that’s small enough to see and do most things in a short space of time. That said, experiencing luxury Vienna is doable in a long weekend and is also a flashpacker traveler must.
Luxury Vienna: What to see, eat and do
Eat here: Sluka Cafe
A Viennese staple that’s been around for 125 years, Sluka Cafe offers a tantalizing array of Austrian cakes and sweets. The cafe also serves savoury Viennese dishes like wurstel and goulash. In addition to the Sluka branch on Kärntner Street, there’s a second cafe on Rathausplatz.
See this: Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is, you guessed it, an opera house that dates back to the mid-19th century. If you’re a fan of literature, singing, and 3-hour plus performances, this will probably be a treat for you. Personally, I was more excited by the exterior and opulent interior of the building. Most noteworthy are the Renaissance style arches and also the striking circular ceiling.
The theatrical feel continues on the arches above the veranda. If you look closely enough, you’ll spot the 5 bronze statues representing heroism, tragedy, fantasy, comedy, and love.
Opernring 2, 1010 Vienna
See this: Secession Building, Vienna
The Secession Building is an exhibition hall that was built in 1897. Inside are several different exhibitions exploring various themes and also artistic expression.
There’s not much more I can say about the Secession Building than this: if you like experimental art and installations, you’ll be in your element. If not, it’s best to move on to the next place.
Friedrichstraße 12, 1010 Wien, Austria
Do this: Burggarten
There’s nothing like visiting a beautiful park in spring, and luckily for me, Vienna is full of them. Burggarten was designed to be the private royal garden for the Habsburg family, but today is enjoyed by all.
Look out for the Mozart memorial as well as the stunning steel and glass construction that is the Palm House. Inside is a coffee house, serving everything from pastries during the day and cocktails at night.
Burggarten 1, 1010 Wien
“Most noteworthy are the Renaissance style arches and also the striking circular ceiling.”
FOLLOWING THE RIVERA
See this: Hofburg
There’s absolutely no escaping the former imperial palace Hofburg in the centre of Vienna, and why would you want to?
Built in the13th century, the palace has been the seat of power of the Habsburg dynasty rulers.
Today, it’s the official residence and office of the President of Austria.
Ticket prices to the palace includes admission to the Imperial Silver Collection, the Sisi Museum and also the Imperial Apartments. I particularly enjoyed exploring the Sisi Museum and the Imperial Apartments.
The former offers an insight into the life of Empress Elisabeth through her personal objects and poetry, while the latter is a real step back in time.
The tour of the Imperial Apartments takes you through the 19 rooms where Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth stayed. Check the website for up-to-date times and prices.
Hofburg, Michaelerkuppel, A-1010 Wien
Do this: Heldenplatz
Walking from Hofburg, it’s more than likely you’ll pass by Heldenplatz. It’s a public square garden that sits in front of the Palace.
Many important events took place at Heldenplatz, most famously Adolf Hitler’s announcement of the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany.
History aside, today it’s a nice space to explore and wander, plus there are also many photogenic angles to shoot.
See this: Natural History Museum and Kunsthistorisches Museum
From Hofburg, it’s a short walk to the next 2 places. It’s easy to spot the Natural History Museum and Kunsthistorisches Museum. They’re 2 identical grand buildings that directly face each other.
Their purpose was to provide a home for the Habsburgs’ grand art collection that was also accessible to the public. Both buildings boast a 60-metre dome and also an interior consisting of marble, stucco ornaments and gold-leaf.
The Natural History Museum is home to many unique objects, most notably, the relatively old (!) 29,500-year-old Venus of Willendorf. It’s also the place to go if you want to see the world’s largest and oldest collection of meteorites.
Kunsthistorisches Museum, also known as the Museum of Art History, is home to the Habsburgs’ primary collections. Notable portraits in the museum include Rembrandt’s self-portrait and Raphael’s Madonna of the Meadow.
Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Burgring 7
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Wien
“Both buildings boast a 60-metre dome and an interior consisting of marble, stucco ornaments and gold-leaf.”
FOLLOWING THE RIVERA
Kunsthistorisches Museum, also known as the Museum of Art History, is home to the Habsburgs’ primary collections. Notable portraits in the museum include Rembrandt’s self-portrait and also Raphael’s Madonna of the Meadow.
Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Burgring 7
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Wien
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Excellent article and it ties back to pretty much everything I did when I visited Vienna! The palaces were also really lovely too. I’ll have to visit again!
Thank you! It’s a lovely city and one I’d like to see again too.
This architecture is stunning! And I really love that first picture with the reflection. So beautiful!
Thank you! It’s a beautiful palace.
I visited Vienna so long ago and I still remember the magnificence of the Hofburg Palace. The other museums and history make me regret our decision to skip Vienna (even though we drove through parts of Austria) a few years ago when we went around the world. This will be a great guide for when we do get back.
It’s a wonderful place, and a city that everyone should see once in their lives! You must come back and see it for yourself 😉
What a lovely 2 and a bit days in Vienna, I’m going to need to book a trip there soon. For me the cafe culture such as Sluka Cafe is a key attraction of the city, I know I want to visit all the famous and best places! I would also appreciate the historic architecture and attraction such as Hofburg and the Natural History and Kunsthistorisches Museums.
The cafe culture is amazing and really delicious too! I loved my time in Vienna, and know you will too.