Vienna in a day

Today’s adventure began with a morning train ride that carried me across the Morava River and over the border from Slovakia to Austria. Not long after, I rolled into Vienna and set out for a full day of exploring the Austrian capital on foot. 🇦🇹

My first stop was the striking St. Charles’s Church; its grand dome and elegant exterior made for a spectacular introduction to the city. 🤩 From there, I followed the flow of people heading towards the Innere Stadt - Vienna’s historic 1st District. Soon I was standing at the foot of the city’s crown jewel, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which looked absolutely magnificent despite the grey skies.

After that, I drifted through the streets with no real plan, just soaking up whatever Vienna decided to show me. For a few hours I happily wandered without knowing what I was looking at or where I was going. Eventually, during lunch, I hopped onto some WiFi, figured out my bearings, and charted a more intentional path.

I headed for the Hofburg Palace and continued on to the Archduke Albrecht Monument. Not long after, an especially grand building caught my eye - Vienna’s City Hall. Out the front, a lively Christmas market was buzzing with festive energy. 🎄 I couldn’t resist indulging in an enormous donut pretzel, which was as excessive and wonderful as it sounds.

Still keeping an eye on the time, I made my way back towards the station. On the way I passed the Austrian Parliament Building, and then crossed through Maria-Theresien-Platz, where I got fantastic views of the twin giants: the Museum of Natural History and the Kunsthistorisches Museum. And, because apparently I hadn’t walked quite enough, I slipped in a final detour to Belvedere Palace for one last hit of Viennese grandeur.

It was a great introduction to Austria - one that absolutely convinced me I’ll need to return someday.

I caught the train back to Bratislava in the late afternoon and gave my feet a well-earned break at my hotel. Dinner was some delicious Korean Fried Chicken from a trendy restaurant nearby, and after the combination of that and my oversized pretzel, I’m completely stuffed. (Yes… I’m still building the confidence to try some traditional Slovak food. 😅)

As for a nighttime stroll through the Old Town… my legs voted strongly against it. After walking what felt like every square metre of Vienna, I’m calling it a night. Another great day on the road. 🍻Læs mere