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Recently ranked first among cities worldwide by Mercer Consulting for
its quality of life, Vienna is also a unique cultural destination. Whether
you have a penchant for quirky museums, renowned coffee houses,
legendary composers or grand imperial palaces, one thing is definite: Vienna
bridges the past and the present with graceful elegance and harmony.
DAY ONE
A fter a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport, I arrive at the 25hours
Hotel Wien, a spectacular DESIGN HOTELTM in the popular 7th
district (25hours-hotels.com/wien). Right now there is only one thing
on my mind –sachertorte, the celebrated Viennese dessert. I head straight to
Café Demel, a traditional pastry shop famous for preparing sweets for the
Imperial Court (demel.at). My weariness melts away as I enjoy a cup of hot
chocolate and a slice of cake, giving me the necessary energy for my visit to
the Schoenbrunn Palace ,the former summer residence of the Empress Sisi
(schoenbrunn.at). After a dinner at Amerling Beisl, a restaurant nestled in the
7th district (+4315261660), I return to my hotel and call it a night.
DAY TWOoday I am exploring Vienna’s Innere Stadt, the city’s historic centre.
First, I ride the streetcar around Ringstrasse. The boulevard is now
Tlined with some of Vienna’s most impressive buildings, including
Hofburg Palace, the main winter residence of the Habsburg dynasty. I take
a break for lunch at nearby Café Tirolerhof (Führichgasse 8). Following a
performance at the Spanish Riding School, where the famed Lipizzaner
stallions have been strutting their stuff for over 430 years (srs.at/en), I visit
Stephansdom, Vienna’s glorious Gothic cathedral which boasts the best views
of the city from the top of its 343 steps (stephanskirche.at) before heading to
the Jesuit Church with its famous frescoes. For dinner, I choose Zu Den Zwei
Lieserln, where I wait, alongside the locals, for what many claim is the best
schnitzel in the world (2lieserln.at).
DAY THREE
Early starts call for hearty breakfasts, so I drop by Café Hawelka. Run
by the same family since 1939, this cafe’s intellectual atmosphere is the
ideal prelude to visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, which boasts some
of Europe’s finest paintings (khm.at). I then head to Stadtpark, home to the
gold-plated bronze statue of legendary composer Johann Strauss. Hunger
soon strikes, so I opt for Steirereck, a restaurant located in the park that serves
gourmet Austrian cuisine (steirereck.at). Next stop, the Prater. I head straight
to the funfair and embark on a nostalgic journey, enjoying rides on the iconic
Riesenrad, a giant Ferris wheel built in 1897 that boasts spectacular city views.
After a snack at Schweizerhaus, a quaint restaurant that has been serving ice-
cold beer and stelze (crispy pork on the bone) for over 100 years, I rush back
to my hotel to get ready for another essential – the Vienna State Opera.
DAY FOUR
This morning finds me hurrying to catch the early train to Krems,
my starting point for exploring the Wachau, a 35-km stretch of
the Danube Valley. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is bursting
with natural, cultural and historical wonders, best explored on a cruise that
combines cycling and a picnic (ddsg-blue-danube.at). When the cruise ship
takes me back to Krems, I board the train to Vienna ready for another exciting
evening. After dinner at traditional wine tavern Schubel Auer in Nussdorf
(schuebel-auer.at), my last night finds me enjoying several whisky sours at the
celebrated American Bar, designed by Adolf Loos in 1908.
38
Recently ranked first among cities worldwide by Mercer Consulting for
its quality of life, Vienna is also a unique cultural destination. Whether
you have a penchant for quirky museums, renowned coffee houses,
legendary composers or grand imperial palaces, one thing is definite: Vienna
bridges the past and the present with graceful elegance and harmony.
DAY ONE
A fter a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport, I arrive at the 25hours
Hotel Wien, a spectacular DESIGN HOTELTM in the popular 7th
district (25hours-hotels.com/wien). Right now there is only one thing
on my mind –sachertorte, the celebrated Viennese dessert. I head straight to
Café Demel, a traditional pastry shop famous for preparing sweets for the
Imperial Court (demel.at). My weariness melts away as I enjoy a cup of hot
chocolate and a slice of cake, giving me the necessary energy for my visit to
the Schoenbrunn Palace ,the former summer residence of the Empress Sisi
(schoenbrunn.at). After a dinner at Amerling Beisl, a restaurant nestled in the
7th district (+4315261660), I return to my hotel and call it a night.
DAY TWOoday I am exploring Vienna’s Innere Stadt, the city’s historic centre.
First, I ride the streetcar around Ringstrasse. The boulevard is now
Tlined with some of Vienna’s most impressive buildings, including
Hofburg Palace, the main winter residence of the Habsburg dynasty. I take
a break for lunch at nearby Café Tirolerhof (Führichgasse 8). Following a
performance at the Spanish Riding School, where the famed Lipizzaner
stallions have been strutting their stuff for over 430 years (srs.at/en), I visit
Stephansdom, Vienna’s glorious Gothic cathedral which boasts the best views
of the city from the top of its 343 steps (stephanskirche.at) before heading to
the Jesuit Church with its famous frescoes. For dinner, I choose Zu Den Zwei
Lieserln, where I wait, alongside the locals, for what many claim is the best
schnitzel in the world (2lieserln.at).
DAY THREE
Early starts call for hearty breakfasts, so I drop by Café Hawelka. Run
by the same family since 1939, this cafe’s intellectual atmosphere is the
ideal prelude to visiting the Museum of Fine Arts, which boasts some
of Europe’s finest paintings (khm.at). I then head to Stadtpark, home to the
gold-plated bronze statue of legendary composer Johann Strauss. Hunger
soon strikes, so I opt for Steirereck, a restaurant located in the park that serves
gourmet Austrian cuisine (steirereck.at). Next stop, the Prater. I head straight
to the funfair and embark on a nostalgic journey, enjoying rides on the iconic
Riesenrad, a giant Ferris wheel built in 1897 that boasts spectacular city views.
After a snack at Schweizerhaus, a quaint restaurant that has been serving ice-
cold beer and stelze (crispy pork on the bone) for over 100 years, I rush back
to my hotel to get ready for another essential – the Vienna State Opera.
DAY FOUR
This morning finds me hurrying to catch the early train to Krems,
my starting point for exploring the Wachau, a 35-km stretch of
the Danube Valley. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is bursting
with natural, cultural and historical wonders, best explored on a cruise that
combines cycling and a picnic (ddsg-blue-danube.at). When the cruise ship
takes me back to Krems, I board the train to Vienna ready for another exciting
evening. After dinner at traditional wine tavern Schubel Auer in Nussdorf
(schuebel-auer.at), my last night finds me enjoying several whisky sours at the
celebrated American Bar, designed by Adolf Loos in 1908.
38
