Come venture with cferTravels through Vienna's most iconic sights! From the grandeur of the Belvedere Palace to the tall and modern Danube Tower, Vienna is where grandeur meets modern innovation in the form of historic landmarks, cultural and modern treasures alike.
Delve into Vienna's spiritual heritage as we uncover the secrets of its historical churches, each a sanctuary and artistic achievement. From the ornate beauty of Votivkirche to the solemn grace of Karlskirche, these sacred spaces offer a glimpse into Vienna's religious history and cultural richness. Next, explore the intricate details of St. Stephen's Cathedral, an enduring symbol of Gothic architecture and spiritual solace amidst the bustling city.
No exploration of Vienna would be complete without savoring its culinary delights. Indulge in the flavors of Wiener Schnitzel, Käsekrainer, Käsespätzle, and Apfelstrudel at traditional Viennese taverns, or treat yourself to a unique slice of Sachertorte paired with a steaming cup of coffee in one of the city's legendary coffeehouses. From savory sausages at Würstelstands to elegant dining experiences along the Danube, Vienna's culinary scene promises to satisfy every palate.
Join me as we explore the history and traditional foods within Vienna, where every street corner reveals a new characteristic of its timeless charm and cultural allure. Whether you're a world traveler, history enthusiast, a culinary connoisseur, or simply seeking inspiration in a city brimming with culture, Vienna is sure to leave a lasting impression. Let's embark on this unforgettable journey together and discover why Vienna is truly a city like no other!
Vienna History
Votivkirche - The first stop while in Vienna was Votivkirche, a Catholic church reflecting grand Neo-Gothic architecture which was built between the years of 1856 to 1879. The church's history begins when a Hungarian nationalist stabbed Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I in the neck while he was walking in 1853. The knife missed the Emperor's neck and he survived the attack. In response, the Emperor's brother, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, later Emperor of Mexico, launched a campaign to raise funds for a church to thank God for saving the Emperor's life. The campaign was successful, with 30,000 Austrian citizens donating money and the church still stands today. First, I walked around the outside of the church to take in the Neo-Gothic architecture style, especially its notable feature of the 325-foot twin spires that extend out into the sky which I found to be grand and impressive. After walking around the outside of the church I headed inside to fully immerse myself in the experience. Upon entering the church you are greeted by the tall columns extending up towards the ceiling and as your gaze hits the ceiling expect to be immersed in the Neo-Gothic style of the building. The walls inside the church are lined with the coats of arms of various imperial territories, which serve as a reminder that the church's construction had other cultural purposes beyond the purely religious. I took a lap around the church, lit a candle, and headed out to the next stop. If you are interested in old churches or old architecture I would definitely visit Votivkirche, if churches or architecture are not your thing then you can skip this one and head down to the Danube River for a different type of fun!
Karlskirche - After leaving the Belvedere Palace we headed past the Red Army memorial and made our way to St. Charles Church or Karlskirche which was built between 1716-1737 in Baroque and Roman architecture styles. The church is dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, who helped plague victims in the 16th century. Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI commissioned the church in 1713 as a fulfillment of a vow he made after the last major outbreak of the Black Plague. To get in, we paid our admission fee of €8 and headed in to experience the temporary art exhibit located within the church. The Karlskirche Contemporary Arts Program curates art installations, during my time there I saw artist Tomás Saraceno’s, "Aerocene," which represents an approach to imagining and potentially realizing a sustainable future for human flight and energy use. The art exhibit consisted of two round chrome spheres suspended from the ceiling right in the middle of the church. To get the full scale of the art exhibit inside Karlskirche I recommend taking the elevator to the top of the church, for those of you afraid of heights this may not be for you. Once at the top we could see out over the city of Vienna and while up there you can expect to gain an improved perspective of the church itself. At the top I could really tell the full scale of the church, how intricate the artwork is on the ceiling, and how big the dome really is. The art installations change every few years so be sure to go and checkout the current exhibit before it is gone!
St. Stephen's Cathedral - When walking around Vienna's historic center you will come across an iconic and colorful building, with its stunning mosaic roof and the impressive height of its tower. St. Stephen's Cathedral is a distinctive feature of the Vienna skyline and it is one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the city. The construction of the original church commenced around 1137, on a site that is believed to have been an Ancient Roman cemetery. This first building was finished in 1160. Ultimately it was burned down by a fire in 1258 but the church was reconstructed using two surviving towers and was once again consecrated in 1263. When visiting the cathedral you can expect large crowds, this was the most crowded attraction I visited in Vienna due to good reason. After taking in the beautiful exterior, when inside I felt as if I was transported back into time. The inside is a contrast from the colorful beautiful exterior you see. Inside it was dark, quiet, and cold with gothic lancet style windows & tall gothic ceilings, the inside really embraces the architecture style. I entered inside for free just to take a quick look, a full tour is available for about €25. The free entry allows access to the back of the church compared to the full tour which takes you around the entire cathedral. At this point in the day I was hungry and wanted to go and grab some sausages from the Würstelstand, so I decided to not do the full tour. I would buy a ticket only if you are interested in the history of this world famous cathedral.
Immersing in Culture
Belvedere Palace - The Belvedere Palace was commissioned in 1714 by Prince Eugene of Savoy, a prominent military leader and art collector, as a summer residence. It served not only as a residence but also as a space to display his extensive art collection. The palaces and their interiors reflect the tastes and cultural aspirations of the Baroque period. In the 19th century, during the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph I, the palace underwent renovations and became a museum, further solidifying its cultural significance. During my travels I like to checkout art museums so I went ahead and made my way to Belvedere Palace to take in the famous collection of paintings. I decided to take Vienna's extensive metro system (U-Bahn) to the palace which brought me right behind the Belvedere Palace Gardens. The gardens greeted me on the walk into the palace and the introduction did not disappoint! You can expect to see coordinated landscapes which enhance the grandeur of the palace, water fountains which bring energy and life to the garden, and beautiful rock formations that guide you to the palace doorsteps. Upon making it through the gardens I was greeted by the ticket booth and by multiple tour guides, so I waited in line, bought my € 17,50 ticket to the Upper Belvedere museum, and then headed in. On the upper level is an art museum showcasing paintings the most famous being, "The Kiss," by Gustav Klimt. The interior of the palace itself is also worth buying a ticket for even museums are not your thing. You can expect to be impressed by the Baroque style interior especially the paintings on the ceilings and sculptures throughout the palace. If you are into art or classical architecture add this to your must-see list when in Vienna.
Heroes Square - Upon entering Heroes Square or Heldenplatz we were greeted by the large grand arching entrance which made it feel as if I was entering into a grand royal palace. You will see architecture and grand statues from the Habsburg Monarchy within the square. The statues you will observe pay tribute to Prince Eugene of Savoy who was one of Austria's greatest military minds and Archduke Charles. There are multiple courtyards and buildings within Heroes Square. Buildings like the Hofburg Palace, which belonged to the old Habsburg Empire, are still standing. I think it is cool to see how these buildings were converted into museums that locals and tourists can enjoy together. Inside these museums are old and historical sculptures from ruins along with interactive exhibits. The exhibits showcase imperial masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Raphael and house the Austrian and German imperial crowns. During my time exploring Heldenplatz, I noticed they provide horse carriage rides, which looks as if it transports you back into time and it reminded me of what life was like back in the day. The carriage rides may seem like a little bit of tourist trap fair warning, but if that is your kind of thing definitely go for it as locals & tourists seemed to be enjoying the experience. The traditional feel with horses and classical buildings makes sense since Heldenplatz was designed in the nineteenth century as the central square of the Imperial Forum or Kaiserforum, a project which was never fully realized to its maximum expected potential due to the collapse of the Habsburg Empire in 1918. However, Heroes Square is a must see when in Vienna as it is quite memorable especially when wanting to learn more about Austria's historical monarchies.
Danube Tower - The Danube Tower is an observation tower, standing at 827 ft. (252 m) tall. It is Vienna's tallest structure. Expect to put your fear of heights to the test while taking in panoramic views of the city. Built from October 1962 to April 1964, this tower says they offer the best 360 views anywhere in the city of Vienna and I honestly have to agree. Just beware when traveling to the Danube Tower it can be it can be very windy at the top, don't wear a loose hat and make sure to bring a wind jacket! You can find my personal struggle with the wind on my Youtube @cfertravels channel, it is quite funny looking back at it. The tickets were a little pricey to get up to the top, I believe they cost €18 for 20-30 min total time spent, it is slightly expensive for a budget traveler. If heights aren't your thing then I would skip going up the tower. If heights are your thing then it is worth the money you can really get a feel for the entirety of Vienna when looking at the new side of town with the modern skyscrapers. Compared to the old side of town with the more classic looking buildings that are often included on postcards but there is much more to Vienna than that. Visit so you can find out for yourself. As always email me with any questions before booking your trip so I can share my experience and tips with you. Enjoy!
Austrian Culinary Delights
Schnitzel & Goulash - When I think of Austria I think of goulash and schnitzel. It was fresh on my mind when landing into this historical city so during my first night in Vienna I adventured out and found a traditional Austrian dinner. Right across from the apartment I was in, there was a traditional Viennese restaurant which served the classic beef goulash and pork schnitzel. The schnitzel was juicy, crispy, and light, it was served with lemon and was as big as my head! The goulash packed more of a flavorful punch as compared to the schnitzel. It was rich with savory flavors from the paprika and packed with a good amount of beef which was pleasing to see. It was more of a stew style goulash rater than the sometimes more "soupy" versions found in Hungary. If you are looking for a simple and traditional meal I would go with the schnitzel. If you are looking for more of a flavorful and exciting experience I would order the goulash. Of course, order both if you can.
Würstelstand - During your time in Vienna you can expect to come across many sausage stands or Würstelstands which are located throughout the city. I hit the sausage stand at least once a day when needing a quick meal while still wanting to try some of the more famous Austrian cuisine such as the Käsekrainer, a pork sausage stuffed with cheese. When biting into the Käsekrainer you get the initial snap from the sausage casing then the explosion of cheese, this turned out to be my personal favorite! Other items were the late-night style sausage served with mustard and a piece of bread. The sausage stand by the apartment I was staying in was open late so we often ended up having one more drink, a sausage, & talking with the local Würstelstand owner to end the night out. When in Vienna this is an experience you do not want to miss!
Käsespätzle - After wandering around and exploring during my first full day in Vienna I had worked up quite the appetite taking in the scenes from the Danube Tower. We headed into a local Austrian pub where we were greeted by locals sharing drinks and watching a soccer (futbol) match. I knew I was looking for something heavy and dense and the Käsespätzle did not disappoint. Käsespätzle is a traditional dish from Austria and from the southern regions of Germany. I found it to be a hearty and comforting dish that is made from Spätzle, a type of soft egg noodle, and melted cheese. The noodles were different than what I am used to. They were small round noodles in the shape of balls coated in lots and lots cheese! When pulling my fork to my mouth a trail of cheese often followed from my mouth to the plate, this added some excitement in the experience of this dish. It was served with a green side salad and a Stiegl beer. The meal was so filling I had a hard time finishing, looking back I recommend sharing this dish with a friend and have them get something else so you can try both dishes as I found when getting to the middle of the Käsespätzle I needed some additional flavors to keep my palate excited.
Sachertorte - When I learned that Vienna's most famous dessert is the Sachertorte I knew I had to try it! The next morning I got changed, grabbed my shoes, and headed down to Caffe Milano to get my hands on this famous dessert. Invented by Franz Sacher in 1832, sachertorte is a chocolate cake which consists of a dense, but not overly sweet chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam or marmalade spread between the layers. The cake is typically coated in a smooth, glossy chocolate icing, often served with a dollop of whipped cream. Sachertorte is celebrated for its rich chocolate flavor, balanced sweetness, and luxurious texture, making it a must-try for visitors exploring Vienna's vibrant culinary scene. However, the original recipe remains a closely guarded secret, and several Vienna cafes, including the Hotel Sacher, are renowned for serving their own versions of this decadent treat.
Apfelstrudel - Apple Strudel or Apfelstrudel is widely available in cafes, bakeries, and restaurants, especially those specializing in traditional Austrian cuisine. Naturally, I had to get a strudel while in Caffe Milano and it was perfect for pairing with a cup of tea. Apfelstrudel consists of a thin, flaky dough rolled around a filling of spiced apples, sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and sometimes breadcrumbs or nuts. The pastry is typically baked until golden brown, is often dusted with powdered sugar, and accompanied by a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla sauce. This is my recommended Austrian dessert option for the non-chocolate lover. Enjoy!
-cferTravels
Christian Fernandez
Comments