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Vienna City getaway
  • Alex und das Fernweh
July 2025

Vienna City getaway

A visit to Vienna is a step back into imperial times - where every street corner tells a story and the music of the past still plays in the air. Read more
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  • Trip start
    July 26, 2025
    Alex und das FernwehVienna City getawayTraveler

    Let the Vienna adventure begin!

    July 26 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    On Saturday morning, I headed to Düsseldorf airport pretty early to catch my flight to Vienna for a five-day city trip. I’m super excited about the architecture, art, and music there. I’ve got high hopes for Vienna because I always think of it as this amazing city full of history. When you think of Vienna, you think emperors, palaces, and classical music. Can’t wait to discover as much as I can!

    A funny little detail: classical music played both as passengers boarded and again when we disembarked. From the moment you stepped on board, you knew exactly where you were going.    Read more

  • Alex und das FernwehVienna City getawayTraveler

    A gloomy walk

    July 26 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    The weather didn’t quite cooperate as I had hoped. I imagined arriving in Vienna with bright sunshine and warm summer weather, quickly checking into my hotel, and then relaxing in one of the many parks or sitting in a café. But when I arrived, it was quite the opposite — cloudy, windy, and raining. Luckily, I had brought an umbrella. Still, the heavy rain waiting for me when I got off the subway was unexpected. It was only about a seven-minute walk to my hotel, but by the time I got there, I was soaked — wet feet and jeans. Fortunately, I was able to warm up a bit at the hotel and even got a free cappuccino. I didn’t let the weather ruin my plans, though. After warming up, I grabbed my things and headed straight into the city.

    I started by going to the Stadtpark to see the golden statue of Johann Strauss Jr. After that, I made my way to the Albertina because I really wanted to see the painted staircase. I love it when art moves beyond museum walls and becomes part of the city.

    After that, I continued my walk through the Volksgarten, where I discovered a truly lovely Viennese tradition: people can sponsor a rose b
    ush and dedicate it to someone they love. All across the park, there are rows of roses, each with a small plaque bearing a personal message. Whether it’s for a parent, a child, or a partner, I thought it was such a touching idea. The park is filled with benches where you can sit and take in the peaceful, almost romantic atmosphere.

    From there, I headed over to Heldenplatz, admired the impressive statues, and took in the view of the Hofburg from the outside. Then I walked through the Burggarten, slowly made my way back into the city center, and eventually returned to my hotel.

    I already saw quite a lot on my arrival day.

    We’ll see what tomorrow brings, and hopefully the weather will be on my side.    Read more

  • Alex und das FernwehVienna City getawayTraveler

    L'OPERA -Breakfast with a view

    July 27 in Austria ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Unfortunately, the weather didn’t get any better on my first full day in Vienna. It was still gloomy and a bit windy, with no sunshine in sight. But since it wasn’t too cold, I decided to make the best of it — and of course, my umbrella came along everywhere.

    I had planned to head to the Albertina early to check out the staircase before the tourists arrived. But hunger won, so I stopped for breakfast first. I found a nice café just across from the opera house.

    Even though the opera is under renovation and the view isn’t perfect, there’s something nice about sitting among these grand, historic buildings while enjoying a good breakfast to start the day.    Read more

  • Alex und das FernwehVienna City getawayTraveler

    Books and good vibes

    July 27 in Austria ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Later in the morning, I returned to the Albertina, hoping to see the staircase before the crowds arrived. And I have to say, it was absolutely worth getting up early and having breakfast a bit sooner. I was able to take much better photos than on the first day, with far fewer people around.

    Afterwards, I walked down into the Burggarten, which lies just behind the Albertina. It’s a peaceful and beautifully maintained park, surrounded by impressive historic buildings. The wide lawns and tidy paths made a strong impression — the parks in Vienna are incredibly well cared for. I really enjoyed spending time there.

    From there, I made my way through a few quiet streets to the Austrian National Library. Of course, you can’t touch the books, and many of them are probably ones you’d never read. But standing among these shelves filled with centuries-old volumes, under ceilings adorned with gold and frescoes, is truly something special.

    For me, as someone who loves books, it was definitely a visit to remember.    Read more

  • Alex und das FernwehVienna City getawayTraveler

    Hundertwasser and raindrops

    July 27 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    With this kind of unpredictable weather, it’s hard to stay completely dry. You can either hop on one of the many city buses for a tour or spend some time in a museum. Or, like I did, you can combine both and make the most of it.

    My first stop was at the Kunsthaus Wien to see the Hundertwasser exhibition. It’s such an inspiring place. I really loved how unconventional the building is—so many shapes, bright colors, and uneven floors that look like a folded carpet. I found that really amazing. I was also very inspired by his idea of combining nature and living spaces. That really resonated with me.

    Afterwards, I walked the five minutes to the Hundertwasser House and took a few photos of the building’s facade from the outside. Just then, I got caught in a sudden, really heavy rain shower.

    Since the weather kept changing—dry one minute, pouring the next—I decided to stay on the city bus tour a little longer. I got off at Maria-Theresien-Platz and strolled past the Hofburg. Then I stopped at Café Demel to grab some really tasty 'Kaiserschmarrn to go'. Honestly, it’s such a great tip.

    Because of the unpredictable weather, I thought I’d check out the exhibition at the Albertina. I started by exploring the rooms that belonged to the imperial family’s daughter and her husband. I found that really fascinating. I always enjoy reading the information panels that explain what the rooms were used for and how they’ve changed over the centuries. It’s really interesting to learn about how people lived back then. After that, I visited the Monet, Picasso & Co. exhibition. It was nice, although not every artist spoke to me. I really like Monet, so this visit to the Albertina was definitely worth it.

    They also shared some funny facts, like why the Habsburgs didn’t call the color magenta ‘magenta’ but just plain red, since people back then tended to hold grudges.    Read more

  • Alex und das FernwehVienna City getawayTraveler

    Palmhouse and Zoo

    July 28 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Woke up in a great mood this morning – the first rays of sunshine were streaming into the hotel room, and after all those grey days, it really lifted my spirits to finally see some sun again.

    After a nice breakfast, I headed out to Schönbrunn and decided to mix things up a bit by starting from the back entrance and working my way in. Walked past the rose garden, checked out the Desert House, spent some time at the zoo, and strolled through the Palm House – all of which were included in my Vienna Pass, so I thought, why not make the most of it?

    Grabbed a quick bite to eat afterward and was actually planning to head to the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery), but ended up going back into the city instead. Thought I’d save the cemetery for another day and just wandered around town for a bit. In the evening, I treated myself to a delicious, down-to-earth Austrian dinner – the perfect way to wrap up the day.    Read more

  • Alex und das FernwehVienna City getawayTraveler

    Historical facts and classical music

    July 29 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    So, I got up fairly early this morning – it was my last full day in Vienna, and I had a lot planned. First thing, I headed out to Schönbrunn Palace to do the apartment tour with an audio guide, which was also included in my Vienna Pass. I really enjoy things like that – where you not only get to see the rooms but also hear the stories behind them, what they were used for, and all those little historical details. I just really like that kind of stuff.

    If I ever go back, though, I think I’d book the grand tour – you get to see way more rooms. And maybe I’d also visit the Hofburg next time to check out the interiors there too.

    After that short excursion, I made my way directly to the palace gardens behind Schönbrunn. I walked through the maze – which, I’m happy to say, I successfully completed – and then continued up to the Glorietta, where I enjoyed a beautiful panoramic view of Vienna and the palace. In the sunshine, it was truly a wonderful sight.

    Afterwards, I took another look at the Crown Prince Garden and the Orangery. Then I headed to the Naschmarkt, where I enjoyed a delicious lunch. After this short break, I finally made my way to the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery).

    What a huge place! I never would have imagined a cemetery could be this vast. People were riding their bikes through it, and the gardeners all use motorized vehicles – otherwise, it would be impossible to get from one side to the other. But the most surprising thing? The cemetery even has its own bus line. It runs in a loop with several stops, making it easy for visitors to get around. Pretty amazing.

    It quickly became clear that Austrians – especially the Viennese – have a very different approach to death compared to what I’m used to in Germany. Some of the graves are truly grand and quite extravagant. I don’t think you’d see anything like that back home. Just look at the graves of Udo Jürgens or Falco – they look more like tributes or statues than traditional burial sites.

    All in all, I was genuinely surprised by how unique and impressive this cemetery is. And, true to Viennese tradition, there’s a beautiful section where many famous classical composers are buried. Brahms, Strauss, and Beethoven rest side by side, with a monument to Mozart standing prominently in the center.

    After the cemetery, I headed back into the city to the Prater, where I took a ride on the famous Ferris wheel. It’s pretty big and does sway quite a bit, but in the end, it’s just a Ferris wheel. After grabbing a quick bite, I went back to the hotel to freshen up before heading out to the final highlight of my day: a classical concert at St. Peter’s Church.

    The setting, the music, the atmosphere – everything came together perfectly. It was a wonderful way to end such a beautiful day.    Read more

  • Alex und das FernwehVienna City getawayTraveler

    The sun came out to say goodbye

    July 30 in Austria ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Of course, summer finally showed up in Vienna on the day I was leaving. Just how I’d pictured it — and wished for all days.

    After one last leisurely breakfast across from the Vienna State Opera, I headed to Belvedere Palace one more time and strolled through the park. Around midday, I treated myself to a little something at the café — a coffee, or rather, as the Viennese say, a Melange, and a very delicious nut cake. I took a few more photos and slowly made my way to the hotel to pick up my suitcase.

    Then, just before I was about to head to the airport — the shock: my flight was cancelled. At first, I wasn’t sure what to do, but luckily I was already rebooked on the next flight, so everything was fine and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. The only downside: my new flight was scheduled for the time I should have already landed in Germany. So the evening turned out to be quite a bit longer, and by the time I finally got home, it was almost 9:30 PM.

    One thing I know for sure — I’ll be back. Next time with a bit more time and my camera with me. I really missed having it on this trip. I kept thinking how many more beautiful shots I could’ve taken — of the stunning buildings, the peaceful parks, and all the little details that make Vienna so special.

    This definitely wasn’t my last time here.    Read more

    Trip end
    July 30, 2025
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