On the 29th of February 2020, I hopped on a Flixbus from Bratislava to Vienna. It was a short one hour journey, priced at 5 Euro for a one-way ticket. You can book a ticket online, on the Flixbus website or by using the Flixbus app on your mobile phone. Conveniently, the bus depot in Vienna is located right next to the main train station, Wien Hauptbahnhof. The hostel I was staying at was also just around the corner.

Where to stay:

Where not to stay, in this case. I had booked a room at A&O Wien Hauptbahnhof for the night. My experience was unsatisfactory, to say the least. The hostel had a polished feel with many storeys and a ton of rooms. The reception area looked like a great place to chill out, with a foosball table, a pool table and many sofas.

However, certain events occurred which tainted my impression of the hostel. Upon arrival, I was charged an extra 3.50 Euro for bed linen at the front desk only to find that there were already sheets available in the room. It may seem ridiculous to fuss over such a small amount but as a traveller on a tight budget, I was disconcerted.

I had set down my bags in the room and was getting to know my roommates when I had to head out to meet a friend. I proceeded to leave the room but discovered that the door handle was missing. Unknowingly, we were all trapped inside. I was frustrated as this was easily the most expensive hostel I had paid for and everything seemed to be going askew.

Yet another blunder depressed my spirits the next morning. I went to take a shower and trustingly, left my wallet on my nightstand. I did not think much of it at the time. Later on, I realised that 50 Euro had been stolen from me. I was thoroughly perturbed. Losing that amount of money really cut deep.

I am sure that the A&O Wien Hauptbahnhof is not a bad hostel but I personally did not have the best luck during my stay. Do take the comments above objectively as it was my own carelessness that did contribute to the poor experience. You should always keep your belongings with you at all times and make use of the lockers available.

The start of my visit to Vienna was not the finest but I am glad I managed to turn things around. Rather than brooding, I picked myself up, dusted myself off and moved on. We can only learn from our mistakes and not make the same errors again in the future.

I linked up with an amazing person I met through Couchsurfing. He was kind enough to open up his home to me on such short notice and we truly had a wonderful time together. He was an excellent host and now a good friend of mine. We explored the city and grabbed drinks together. I felt very welcome and am glad to have met him. Cheers man.

How to get around:

• U-Bahn
• S-Bahn
• Trams
• Buses

I am a big fan of the U-Bahn and S-Bahn from the time I spent in Berlin. I favoured the two during my stay in Vienna too. Public transport is very easy to navigate in Vienna. Simply download Citymapper and you will not get lost again. I did also spend a lot of my time exploring the city on foot. Vienna’s architecture is just too grand to pass up on so devote some time to wandering around the city.

Things to see:

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

The church is centrally located within the Innere Stadt at Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Wien, Austria. You can get there easily from the Stephansplatz U-Bahn. Do not just admire its exterior, the inside is amazing too. Entrance is free however you do have to pay if you wish to visit the catacombs or the tower.

Hofburg Palace

The palace is located in the centre of Vienna at Michaelerkuppel, 1010 Wien, Austria. The palace complex is absolutely enormous. This is definitely a must-see because of its historically illustrious heritage and cultural significance to Vienna. Marvel at the different architectural styles found within the compound. I wish cars were not allowed to park that close to the palace. It makes the front look like a royal parking lot.

Rathaus

Vienna’s City Hall can be found at Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria. I was quite upset that I did not manage to snap any good photos as there were some construction works going on when I visited. Definitely check it out for yourself if you get the chance.

Belvedere Palace

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The palace grounds are truly a sight to behold. I felt like royalty strolling through the huge garden. The landscape was flawless. You feel a certain elegance just being present in the compound. I can only imagine what it must have been like to reside in such a stately home. It is located at 1030 Vienna, Austria.

Schönbrunn Palace

This palace was even more decadent than the last one. I had to step backwards countless times just to be able to fit the entire structure within the frame. I just stood there, marvelling at its magnificence. Do explore the enormous compound which even houses a zoo! You can find the palace at Schloß Schönbrunn, 1130 Wien, Austria. Head up the hill to Café Gloriette for a bite to eat and a picturesque of the palace and the gardens.

I had my breath taken away countless times by the majesty of the palaces in Vienna. The highlight of my visit was definitely these masterpieces. I simply admired them from the outside but you can also enter and witness the grandeur within. Although, as you would expect, entrance fees to royal palaces are not cheap.

Karlskirche

I was really fascinated by this building. Karlskirche is a cathedral located at Kreuzherrengasse 1, 1040 Wien, Austria. The structure is incredibly unique with spires rising up from either side of the entrance. It is definitely the most eye-catching church in the city.

Vienna is also home to many world-class museums. The Albertina for example is really worth a visit, located in the city centre at Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria. Unfortunately, admission fees tend to be a little expensive. Vienna is an extravagant city after all. It would be good to bring along your student identification to receive a concession.

Things to do:

Catch an opera

Vienna is famous for its operas. The Vienna State Opera at Opernring 2, 1010 Wien, Austria has a show on each night and a standing ticket costs only 10 Euro. You can purchase these at the opera house itself before the performance begins. Tickets usually go on sale an hour before each performance around 6 pm. Keep in mind that the more famous the opera, the longer the ticket queues so be sure to get there early.

Wander through Naschmarkt

Naschmarkt is a vintage marketplace where you can get all kinds of food. The origins of the market date back to the 16th century. It is a wonderful strip of stalls with bright colours and amazing smells. It is located at 1060 Vienna, Austria. Definitely head down for some great deals.

Do not miss:

Viennese Food

Käsekrainer

The perfect snack after a night out when you are still a little drunk. Käsekrainer is a sausage with cheese in the middle, grilled to perfection and tucked in a warm bread roll. It costs around 4 Euro and can be found at street stalls all over the city. My tummy was really happy with this treat after a night at the bar.

Frittatensuppe

Do you like pancakes? Do you like soup? Why not have both! Frittatensuppe is essentially pancake soup. I found this dish really interesting and I just had to try it. The cut-up slices of pancake go really well with the clear soup and compliment each other nicely.

NOODLES

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I was obsessed with noodles while I was in Vienna. You must be wondering why anyone would go all the way to Austria just to have a box of noodles. I thought the same before I ordered one for myself. I am not sure if I just missed Chinese food or I was just really hungry or the noodles were actually magical but Vienna had some of the best noodles I ever had. In that moment, sitting on a quiet bench, fried noodles in hand, I immensely appreciated all the flavours so carefully packed into that wonderful red box.

I was in Vienna from the 29th of February 2020 till the 4th of March 2020. 3 to 4 days in the city is ideal for visiting the key attractions. Most of them are located within the Innere Stadt with the exception of the Belvedere Palace and the Schönbrunn Palace. You should dedicate a full day to exploring the palaces as the compounds are colossal.

I have fond memories of my time in Vienna because of the excellent company I shared during my stay. I visited most of the sites with my new friend from the Netherlands and we had the best time, laughing and taking photos. My trips are so much fun because of the sensational people I meet along the way.

Personally, I fancy Vienna because of its stunning architecture. The city has an air of sophistication and one can’t help but feel classy, surrounded by elegant buildings. The city is exquisite. I hope this brief write up of mine gives you some ideas for your visit. See you in Vienna!