I like this view: an airplane standing in front of you, it’s departure time!
It’s September 2018 and I’m going to Austria!
It’s my second visit to Austria 🙂 I landed in Vienna and I’m going by metro (U-Bahn) to the city! It’s really fast and easy way!
and comfortable as well 🙂
No car renting this time:) There are a lot of options how you can explore Vienna:)
Of cause for me it is hard to image Vienna without the horse-drawn carriages!
Bus excursions are also quite popular in Vienna:)
This time, let’s try the city tour on foot! It’s easy to get around the city and just walking it’s wide avenues is a great way to see some top sights! Everybody in a group has a headset so it’s really nice that you can walk around, take photos and still hear what the guide is telling to your group!
It was 3 hours tour! but I’ll show you the most interesting places for me :)Let’s start with Hofburg!
The Hofburg is an old imperial palace in the heart of Vienna, it was originally built as a protective fortress. For me it’s a mind blowing place, cause of architectural styles, including Gothic, Baroque, Neo-Classicist, Renaissance and Rococo!
The Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum are among the palace’s highlights.
You can find a horse-drawn carriage stands in front of Hofburg, on a Michaelerplatz 🙂 in Vienna such cabs are called Fiaker. The ride is one of Vienna’s highlights! Rides operate from mid-March to November, approximate cost 50-80 euros per carriage. Look at this white ones!!!
The Hofburg today serves as the iconic seat of power, workplace, and the residence of the President of Austria.
What do you know about white horses? Do you know the world – famous Lipizzaners?
There are incredible riding performances in Hofburg! The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the only institution in the world where the classic equestrian skills has been preserved and is still practiced in its original form.
If you have no possibility to see the performance but you are passing riding school stables, you have chance to see Lipizzaner stallions!!! By the way Lipizzaner stallions are not born with the famous white coat, they turn that color after 6-9 years and very few of them keep a dark coat:)
If you just wanna to relax, to sit on a grass or leisurely stroll around – the best place would be Volksgarten. It’s very popular park to relax and escape from city bustle, once it was a favorite gathering place for the aristocracy 🙂
The focal point of the Volksgarten is the Theseus Temple. It is a Greek-style temple that was built as a replica of the Temple of Hephaestus (Theseion) in the ancient Agora of Athens!
Volksgarten is very elegant park. It’s designed in a formal French style with geometric flowerbeds and rose gardens. Various types of colorful roses!
Rest a bit and next stop is National Theater (Burgtheater). It’s one of the largest theater in Europe. Can you imagine? Approximately 500 people working in the theater and they collaborate 20 special premieres every year. It has a reputation of the must visit place:)
One more attractive and historical building on our way is Vienna’s City Hall. It’s in a Neo-Gothic style. The statue on top of the building, the Rathausmann statue – one of the city’s symbols.
Nowadays, this place is Vienna’s municipal administration and more than 2000 people work here. There is an ice skating rink every winter in front of the city hall 🙂
This is one of the famous and so pulsating street in Viena is Graben street! It’s place for all shopaholics to attend 🙂 From large chain stores to small fashion boutiques, the whole pedestrian street is full by famous brands and popular eateries.
You can find a great sculpture in the middle of Graben street. A memorial to the worst plague epidemic (1679 year) in Viennese history.
Finally we’ve reached Vienna’s most iconic landmark! This stunning St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom), it’s the true centerpiece of Vienna. It’s national icon and a top tourist attraction!
Probably one of the most important Gothic structures in Austria. Colorful roof tiles were done in such way to create the Royal and Imperial double-headed eagle and the coat of arms of the city of Vienna.
It’s one of the most precious and a must-visit cathedral in Vienna.
There are 18 altars, several smaller chapels, some tombs and catacombs. inside. Plus you can climb up the tower for spectacular views across Vienna:)
It was a great walking tour across Vienna! Off cause it’s not enough to explore everything the city has to offer, but you can still get a good taste of the city during such tour. Now it’s time to rest 🙂
One more plan for today 🙂 Wanna to visit Vienna’s most original public housing complex. Let’s take a tram to get there!
You can look at the house colorful facade only from outside. It’s unique work of architecture by Austrian architect, contemporary artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser (built in 20th century). Yeahh, you can find mimicking elements of Gaudí’s style.
Here is a village named as Hundertwasser village, you can find many stores, café-restaurant and bars in the same style.
It’s time to buy some famous, truly local chocolate – Mozartkugel and rest a bit 🙂
Ohh, ok, if you are not sweet lover, can give you an advice where to eat perfect dinner – “Ribs of Vienna” 😉 Do you remember, I’m not a food blogger 🙂 but look at these finger -licking ribs! Ohh, it was so delicious!
Tomorrow will be new day and new emotions:)
See you tomorrow 🙂
Don’t sit at home. Travel! Travel with me! 🙂 Meaww!
Next day …Vienna. Day 2.
go and travel with me 