With plenty of museums, monuments and trendy neighborhoods, it’s no wonder Vienna is at the top of European bucket lists. The city, which is bustling with life at any time of the year, is especially magical in the summer. It’s full of greenery, people are out and about, and the weather is perfect. However, Christmas markets, snow-covered historic architecture and cozy Austrian cuisine make it an equally attractive place for a winter visit.
As the music capital of the world, Vienna attracts visitors from all over the world to experience the orchestra’s year-round performances. Classical music legends, from Beethoven to Mozart, made their original debut in Vienna. The city also has over 280 parks scattered throughout the city, accounting for over half of the metropolitan area’s green spaces. Whether you fancy snacking on a hot slice of Sacher cake, visiting one of the many wonderful palace museums, or sipping local wine by a hot fireplace, here are some tips to make your trip to Vienna truly unforgettable.
Earlier this year, my mom and I finally pulled the trigger and booked tickets to the Austrian capital. We planned our itinerary based on things we both loved, combining art, culture and shopping. However, the real reason for our visit was to experience the magic of the famed Christmas markets – which were worth the wait. After our visit, I can confidently say that this city is the perfect place for a year-round getaway for a mother-daughter trip, a girls’ weekend, or a romantic escape.
To get an inside look at the city, we booked tours Rebel Tours in Vienna (a brother-sister duo with extensive knowledge of the city). We chose this duo because they explained the city to both of us in an captivating way, organizing tours according to the things we told them we were interested in. In addition, we organized a second trip with Shopping with Lucie, an American transplant who moved to Vienna and takes visitors to local designers, shops and hidden gems throughout the city. The meeting was extremely interactive and included visits to stores we both loved, including a local home improvement store for my mother and emerging designers in my case.
The next items on the program were visits to the Vienna State Opera, the Albertina Museum and the Leopold Museum. We also included stops at the famed Schönbrunn Palaces and Belvedere Palace, as both highlighted Vienna’s prosperous history. We visited all the magical Christmas markets, but in the warmer months we swapped this activity for tastings at nearby local vineyards. The wineries are a tiny metro ride from the city, yet they give the impression of an alternative reality.
To get around, we walked or took the subway. Public transport in Vienna is unlike anything I have ever experienced. It was affordable, pristine, simple to operate, and provided quick transportation to anywhere in the city. Although some high-traffic areas are more hard to navigate, our hotel’s excellent location and conveniently located metro stations throughout the city made getting virtually everywhere a breeze.
During our visit we decided to stay at Rosewood Vienna, a 99-room property located on Petersplatz, one of the most famed squares in Vienna’s Elderly Town. Because it was so centrally located, we could walk to almost all the main attractions. The facility is located in a 19th-century building, which was built on the site of the former home of the legendary composer Mozart. The rooms are ample, decorated in a neutral color palette, and decorated in an ode to the splendor of Vienna’s history. Suffice it to say: the prosperous history and wonderful, up-to-date design appealed to both me and my mother.
Vienna also has a burgeoning food scene, but a few places stood out as truly unique. Fertilizer, a famed confectionery and chocolate shop that was established in 1786, served our favorite Kaiserschmarrn (the famed Viennese plum pancake dish). We loved it for dinner Up-to-date Heights Brasserie, rooftop restaurant in Rosewood that offers an extensive Austrian wine list and Ritter Cafean over 100-year-old place serving time-honored Viennese cuisine.
Ultimately, I wouldn’t change anything if I visited this city alone. After all, memories with your mother are irreplaceable. The city is full of hidden gems in the cultural scene, from music to art activities. It’s also a great place to enjoy the sun or relax and enjoy a cup of hot mulled wine in winter. No matter when you visit this music-filled city, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Vienna.
