Our Favourites in Vienna
The capital city of Austria is a splendid mix of imperial grandeur and the latest in art, architecture, design and gastronomy. The home of the Habsburg court and its various empires for centuries, Vienna wears its impressive imperial history with ease even as it embraces all things cutting-edge. In fact, it is believed that the empires have had a strong influence in the making of contemporary Viennese culture—a blend of progressive attitudes with those that are more traditional.
As I started to write this post I realised that Kapil and my favourite experiences in Vienna veer more toward, what you might call, the traditional. What can I say…there is something undeniably romantic about being able to inhabit (if only for a few minutes) a space that offers a glimpse into a time way before ours – a peek at the stateliness, the elegance and mesmerising beauty of what once was.
The Albertina:
The Albertina is the largest Habsburg residential palace and served as the imperial apartments for guests. This museum is quintessentially Viennese, in that, it is a historic building that houses thousands of masterpieces of art both classic and modern. It took us two visits to feel like we had done the place some justice.
Night at the Opera:
Not normally one for standing in long lines for entry into anything, I am glad I braved this one. We joined a short line outside the State Opera House around 4pm one evening, and within the next half hour this line outside the ‘Standing Area’ tickets office had grown very long indeed. I think we waited an hour and a half before the door opened and the line started moving towards the ticket counters. An interesting conversation with other travellers queued up with us kept me from fretting about the wait. We paid 3 Euros each for standing spots all the way up in the “Galerie.” Once in, the attendants let all of us reserve our spots by leaving jackets/beanies/scarves etc and step away for a bathroom break, food or drink before the start of the opera. You’d think that standing through an entire opera would be tiresome, but being inside that majestic building and watching an opera based on Shakespeare’s play ‘The Tempest’ was in fact one of the most exhilarating experiences of our trip.
Schönbrunn Palace:
This former imperial summer residence is a spectacular example of the opulence of Habsburg monarchs. Originally commissioned as an imperial hunting lodge in the late 17th century, it grew into a 1441-room baroque imperial residence over the course of the 18th century. The palace and its gardens reflect the evolving tastes and interests of successive generations of Habsburgs that inhabited it over 300 years. Needless to say it attracts hundreds of visitors every day. The grandeur of the great gallery, the expansive gardens, and the majestic Gloriette are likely to leave even the most jaded traveler slightly breathless with excitement. The Gloriette Café and the observation deck with panoramic views of the city were a real highlight. Again, the thrill of this was more to do with the exquisite history of the spot than the quality of the coffee and strudel at the café.
Naschmarkt:
Kapil strikes a pose while we wait for lunch at Naschmarkt
Our accommodation in Vienna was right across the street from Naschmarkt, and our proximity to this landmark added a bit of zing to our stay in this city. This food market is located near the city centre and stretches over 500 metres. Naschmarkt has existed since the 16th century and has evolved over time to its current form where it houses over 100 permanent stalls selling everything from meats, fruit, vegetables, wines, cheeses, exotic spices, even kebabs and falafel. There are also a bunch of sit down restaurants. No dirth of cuisine options here for a gourmand. The vendors here yell out greetings, phrases and song lyrics in different languages in an attempt to pull tourists into their stalls. If nothing else their cheeky attempts at luring you into a sale by singing a popular song in your language will give you a good laugh. The market pull in locals and tourists alike. We thoroughly enjoyed the bustle of vendors and shoppers, the aromas and colours.
Coffee House:
A visit to Vienna would be incomplete without a stop at atleast one traditional Viennese coffee shop. Our favourite was Café Tirolerhof on Führichgasse. It was recommended by our walking tour guide. Walking into this place was like stepping into a time capsule. High ceilings, tall pillars, golden light mingled with sunlight streaming from windows, vintage newspaper racks, newspaper holder/paddles, tables, and chairs, and to top it all off, old-timey staff that serve you with old-timey panache. Need I say more? The superb coffee and pastries were just a bonus.
