Vienna, Austria has an air of old world elegance and charm that I haven't forgotten since my first visit to this European capital when I was eighteen. It's such a fun city and one that I'll keep going back to. The city hums with history, art, music, and culture. In this video I'm sharing my favourite things to do in Vienna (Wien).
My Other Videos From Vienna:
Christmas martyr tradition in Vienna: bit.ly/2JZI9Fw
See the MAGICAL Christmas markets in Vienna: bit.ly/2Je1OR7
Why Vienna has my favourite Christmas market: bit.ly/2HyQ6Dk
Belvedere Palace is one of the world's best baroque palaces and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The grounds, architecture, chandeliers and painted ceilings make it easy to pretend that royals still live there. The Belvedere has the world's largest collection of paintings by Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt, including his most famous painting, The Kiss. Marc and I couldn't resists taking some selfies to try and recreate the dreamy embrace ;) The Belvedere also has a large collection of Egon Schiele paintings, another of my favourite artists. He was also a protégé of Klimt's. I especially loved seeing a series called Character Heads that are sculpted busts from the late 1700s that remind me of modern day emojis!
Another amazing art museum in Vienna, though in a totally different way, is Museum Hundertwasser. Friedensreich Hundertwasser was an Austrian artist and architect who loved using geometric shapes, bright colours, and spirals. He thought straight lines were 'godless' so you won't see them in any of his art or buildings. He was also passionate about environmental protection and how humanity could live in harmony with nature. Down the street is Hundertwasserhaus which I highly recommend seeing. It's a private apartment building so you can't go inside but you can admire it from the outside which is totally worth it. Hundertwasser's distinct style stands apart from the traditional Austrian buildings around it. Don't miss the trees growing on the roof and also planted right in the building facade.
One of my favourite spots in Vienna is the State Opera (Wiener Staatsoper). You can do tours or, better yet, go and see an opera. This is one of my top recommendations for Vienna and you can get super cheap tickets for 3 or 4 Euros - perfect for the budget! These tickets are standing room only but there are little benches that you can lean up against. Trust me, it's worth it. You can't book these tickets in advance and the lines can get really long so make sure you arrive well ahead of time. I thought this was Vienna's cheapest thrill until I found something beneath the opera house at the entrance to the Karlsplatz subway station: the Opera Toilet!
The Vienna Opera Toilet is exactly what it sounds like: a public toilet where, for 90 cents, you can use the decorated bathroom while loud opera music plays. I found the whole thing extremely amusing and it made me giddy. I couldn't help dancing to the music. It might be my first time dancing in a public toilet!
Don't miss riding the tram in Vienna - it's one of the city's defining features and trams move more than 200 million passengers each year. The tram network began in 1865 when horses pulled the tram carriages. Can you imagine? It's an affordable way to get around and give your feet a break so you can just look out the window and enjoy.
When I think of Vienna I also think of the roof at St. Stephen's Cathedral. The bold, colourful pattern is surprising and unique. It's located right in the city centre and is definitely worth checking out.
I'd love to know what YOUR favourite parts of Vienna, Austria are. Please share in a comment below!
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