Oh Vienna! Where do I start!

Schönbrunn Palace

Sean woke me up at silly o’clock, a normal occurrence when we are travelling. Before I had even had coffee, we were on the underground heading towards Schonbrunn Palace. I didn’t really know what to expect and I certainly wasn’t expecting to be met by one of the most grand and pristine castles I have ever seen. I was overjoyed when Sean told me we were having breakfast at Café Gloriette. I wandered slowly through the gardens admiring the freshly cut grass the smell reminded me of summers back in the Wales. As I entered the imperial summer house, the sound of clinking glasses and a live piano filled the air, the sweet smell of pastries tingled my nose as we were seated outside by a man dressed in all his finery. The coffee was dark and sweet, warm but not hot served the Austrian way.

We sat in the Emperor’s garden feeling rather grand however with no time to waste we continued downtown to explore Vienna.

Klyo Urania

We stumbled across Klyo one evening whilst riding around the back streets of Vienna on two electric scooters and decided to have breakfast there the next day and boy did it not disappoint! With views of the Vienna Danube Canal and a philosophy of healthy, homemade food and drinks made from the region, Kylo is a gem! We ordered the Tofu Scramble, Sean decided extra protein pancakes were in order to keep us fueled for a day of museums and sights around the Austrian capital.

The Hofburg

The Hofburg gardens, museum, library and square are a must see whilst in Vienna. Take your time and start in the middle, work outwards exploring all the alleyways the palace has to offer. It’s not just the grand façade and architecture that make The Hofburg a special place but the over all vibe and aesthetic of the surrounding areas. The whole street is full of juice bars, restaurants and vintage cafes some even dating back to the 1800s. Cafe Central is a must visit if you are a coffee and history lover. Venuss bistro was the perfect lunch spot only a few doors down.

Fenster Café

I had seen the Fenster Cafe on Instagram and was adamant I was having my afternoon coffee here. Armed with google maps and determination, we walked the streets to find the Fenster Cafes nestled into a wall on one of the small lanes living up to its name which translates to window cafe. Named as one of the top 50 best coffee shops in the world, we simply ordered coffee and enjoyed its sweet yet bitter taste! Leaning on the cracked wall, sipping coffee whilst talking about Vienna and its charm.

Prater, Amusement Park.

When Sean told me we were spending our Vienna date night at an amusement park I was less than amused .. I was expecting a romantic restaurant (Hence the little black dress I packed!) not roller coasters and popcorn however I happily swapped my heels for my trainers and we headed back in time. Prater was like a nostalgic dream, from the smell of cotton candy to the the ticket stubs in my hand. The park dates back to 1766 and they have maintained the old games and vintage charm to a T. Sean and I walked around playing old games, riding the Ferris wheel and even dangled our legs from the Prater Turm. The whole park is packed full of unique experiences and as the sun goes down the park turns into neon filled outdoor club. With music blaring around us, we grabbed tea from a vender and sat in the park watching the Ferris wheel turn, the perfect date night in Vienna.

Vienna is one of my favorite cities in Europe, its culture is rich and its people welcoming and diverse. Its elegant and old-fashioned atmosphere is something I could never tire of and simply wandering its streets is an occasion in itself. From the perfect inner city gardens to the late-night bars, Vienna has something for everyone.

See you soon Vienna.

Emily