Vienna, Austria

If there is one thing I learned about Vienna, is that it's a city full of small luxuries. A smooth morning cappuccino at a local coffee shop, a delicious afternoon slice of cake, intricate details on all of the buildings, and an evening stroll through the park - these are all the little things that allow you to truly experience Vienna. Yes, it's beautiful on the surface, but there is so much more to it than what meets the eye. Visiting my brother for a week, I got a small taste of Vienna, and I am excited to continue exploring the city in the future. 

Vienna Staatsoper

Opernring 2, 1010 Wien, Austria

If you didn't already know from my social media, the reason I visited Vienna was to visit my brother, who lives in Vienna and works as a dancer for the Vienna State Opera. So obviously, I'm going to be very biased in saying that you should go watch a ballet performance in Vienna! You get to dress up in your favorite gown, enjoy wine and treats during intermission, watch incredible dancers, and enjoy the beautiful architecture and design of the Opera house. I promise it's an experience you don't want to miss! If you don't have time to see a performance, the Opera house is still open to the public at certain hours of the day so you can at least see the inside!

Swim in the Danube

If you're visiting Vienna in the summer like I did, one thing you might want to do is get in a swim! The Danube is the river that goes through Vienna, and it's extremely clean and swimmable. There is a little island called Gänsehäftel, which is essentially one large park with small beaches that go into the river. There are of course other places to jump in the water, but we found this place to be the easiest and most accessible. You can spend the day here and eat dinner at the Strandcafe, which is a restaurant listed below under "Dining". 

Museums

My dad and I went to the Albertina Museum one afternoon, which is right next to the Opera House where my brother works, but I can't say that it was my favorite. There are two branches of this museum - Albertina and Albertina Modern - but I still felt like Albertina had a lot more modern art than I was expecting, and I'm a much more impressionistic type of gal. Although I only visited one museum, I asked my artist mom's recommendations and she suggested either the Leopold Museum or the Kunsthistorische (Art History) Museum. Another option is the Belvedere Museum which is in a beautiful palace, and I think it's worth the visit even just to see the property. These are just a few of the many museums that Vienna offers, and I would recommend finding the place that has the style of art you want to see!

Burggarten

Josefsplatz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria

One of my favorite places ended up being this beautiful park in the middle of the city. It was the perfect place to sit take a break, people watch, or stroll through. The park was full of people playing frisbee, chatting with friends, some working out, and others reading. There is just something about watching humans exist and enjoy small pleasures that make me so happy. 

Shopping

You know me, I'm not going on vacation/visiting a new city without checking out the shopping and seeing what stores they have. Obviously, they have the basics - H&M, Zara, Mango, etc. - but they also had an & Other Stories, which is a higher-end extension of H&M that they really only have in Europe (besides the one in SoHo and two in LA). Another European favorite of mine is Massimo Dutti, which if I had to describe it is like a higher-end Zara, without being too expensive. These retailers are located in the Innere Stadt right by St. Stephan's Cathedral in the middle of the city. However, I've also heard that Vienna has some amazing second-hand stores, so this is something you can look for as well!

TIP: To get around the city with public transportation, I would download the Wienmobil app. You can purchase tickets at the subway station or on the tram, but I think it's easier to just buy them electronically to avoid confusion. 

Coffee/Cake

Demel

Kohlmarkt 14, 1010 Wien, Austria

Demel is one of the most famous bakeshops in Vienna! They have amazing cakes, chocolates coffee, tea, and many other sweet treats. I'd recommend going in the afternoon and sitting upstairs in their beautiful room that overlooks the Viennese streets - it's a whole experience. 

Balthasar

Praterstraße 38, 1020 Wien, Austria

If you're a coffee snob (like me) this place is for you! It can be so hard to find good coffee in touristy cities, but this one is great. Lucky for me, this place is 5 minutes away from my brother's apartment, so I got my morning cappuccino here daily. 

Cafe Mozart

Albertinapl. 2, 1010 Wien, Austria

This is a great cafe right next to the Albertina Museum and Opera House. They have everything from lunch and dinner to cakes and coffee, or you can stop in for a glass of wine or cocktail. It looks like a bit of a tourist trap from the outside, but I promise it's good!

Cafe Central

Herrengasse 14, 1010 Wien, Austria

Cafe Central is another well-known cafe - apparently, Sigmund Freud and many other poets and philosophers would spend their days here chatting over coffee and cigars. The cafe has the most beautiful interior and a pianist was serenading us while we enjoyed cake for my mom's birthday. The cake was incredible (I feel like a broken record here, but seriously you can't get enough sweets in Vienna), but their menu also offers classic Viennese dishes. This cafe is really popular so I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time if you want to skip the line!

Brunch

Goldener Papagei

Praterstraße 17, 1020 Wien, Austria

If you want something other than a croissant for breakfast, this is the spot for you! They have lots of interesting breakfast dishes, including shakshuka which was fantastic. I will say if you're a picky eater, you might not love it - it's definitely for the more adventurous eater!

Dinner

Plachutta

Wollzeile 38, 1010 Wien, Austria

Plachutta is a great place to try schnitzel, tafelspitz, or other authentic Viennese dishes. This restaurant is on the nicer/pricier side but their food is high quality and the atmosphere is beautiful! I would recommend making reservations ahead of time because it's very popular. 

Pizza Mari'

Leopoldsgasse 23A, 1020 Wien, Austria

Let's be honest, sometimes when you're traveling you just want some comfort food like a good, fresh pizza. This spot has great Neapolitan-style pizzas that will curve your hunger cravings for an affordable price!

Strandcafe

Florian-Berndl-Gasse 20, 1220 Wien, Austria

This restaurant sits right along the Old Danube and it has the same vibe as a Brauhas (brewery) or pub. They serve fresh fish, ribs, steak, and other local dishes. It's a great casual spot to enjoy lunch after a swim in the river or dinner watching the sunset. 

Apadana Restaurant

Hamburgerstraße 1, 1050 Wien, Austria

If you've read my recommendations from other cities, then you know I always try to eat at a Persian restaurant whenever I'm in big/international cities. I have to say that this is up there with some of the best Persian food I've had in my life. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu in a Persian restaurant, but I recommend trying their koubideh (which is a ground beef skewer) with dill rice, and kashke bademjan of course.

Kulturcafe Tachles

Karmeliterpl. 1, 1020 Wien, Austria

Whenever my mom would go to visit my brother in Vienna, I would hear about this Polish Restaurant that served pierogis that she was obsessed with. You can pick from a list of all different kinds of stuffing inside the little dumpling, and toppings such as sour cream, bacon, or green onion. Well...I finally got to try it out and I can say that I understand the hype. This is a great spot for some Eastern European cuisine and I would also suggest making reservations ahead of time!

As you know, I always want my outfits to reflect the vibe of the city. Imagine Vienna as a more casual version of Paris. It's chic and beautiful, but it doesn't have to be overdone - think very demure. It has that classy feel, with a touch of funk and art. 

Visiting Vienna in the middle of summer was hooottttt. Like other European cities, there aren't many restaurants with AC and there is a lot of patio seating, so you want to wear clothes that are breathable and will keep you cool (well, as cool as you can be in 90-degree weather). The first couple of days I was there were not so bad, so that's why you'll see me in trousers or jeans, but at the end of the week I was wearing my lightest, shortest, sundress. Vienna has all four seasons, so plan accordingly based on the time of year you're visiting!