InterRail #4 trip: Vienna and Bratislava

And here is the 4th installment of our journey in Europe with InterRail After 24 hours of quick discovery of Prague, we took the train to get back to Vienna that evening, a city that was completely unknown to us and that we thoroughly enjoyed! We stayed there for only two days… Another challenge to overcome in trying to discover the best of the city in record time!

A big thank you to the Vienna Tourist Office who prepared a kit for us to enjoy our discovery of the Austrian capital (transport tickets, museum passes, etc…), but also to the hotel Zitgeist who invited us the first night! The hotel is very contemporary with a touch of whimsy in the style and decor. The welcome is very warm and the staff attentive. We will come back in detail about the hotel in a dedicated article.

Before introducing you to our must-see and must-do activities in the Austrian capital, here’s a video made by the Vienna tourism office which will surely make you want to discover this beautiful capital!

Upon arriving in the city center, we were immediately impressed by the flamboyant architecture and the beauty of these palaces. No wonder the city was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List! In fact, it’s a journey back in time, taking us back to the time when Vienna was the capital of the Habsburg Empire. Seven centuries that have shaped this magnificent city. Certainly, this beautiful heritage has made Vienna’s tourist reputation internationally, but not only that! Today, you can also discover the modern side of the capital with its many new contemporary art museums. Similarly, traditional music gives way to rock and electronic music.

After all, we came to discover this traditional, charming city, rich in exceptional heritage, which nurtured our childhood with Queen Sissi, etc. (more Capucine than me, I assure you!)

Here is what we visited and enjoyed in Vienna during these two days. Once again, I’m saying that it will be necessary to return to appreciate the city fully and discover this more dynamic and modern side of the Austrian capital.

– Visit of Château and the Belvedere Museum, where you can admire the largest permanent collection of works by Gustave Klimt, The famous «Baiser», famous worldwide. Take time to stroll through the large gardens and admire the beauty of this magnificent Baroque palace.

– Visit of Museum of the History of ArtKunsthistorisches Museum) which seduced us with the great variety of works on display, but also and especially with the beauty of the building itself, both outside and inside, with its sumptuous marble columns, its grand staircase, etc. Don’t miss the chance to visit the bar, which is also worth a visit! Tip: The museum is so large that you won’t be able to see everything at once, so be sure to plan your visit. We were lucky enough to visit the museum while there was still a temporary exhibition on display. Fabergé. A must-see once in a lifetime!

– Admire the statue of Mozart and its magnificent flowerbed depicting a soil key Burggarten park, which was formerly the private garden of the emperorr Franz Joseph 1

– To visit the celebrated Château de Schönbrunn, The Austrian «Versailles», which is invaded every day by thousands of tourists who come by car or group to visit this legendary palace, the summer residence of the Habsburgs or where Sissi, the Empress, lived! The gardens are very impressive, well-maintained, with many labyrinths, a wide variety of leafy plants and beautiful flowers. The rooms are dazzling (my favorite is the Grand Gallery)… There are no words to describe the beauty of the place. The visit is very interesting and at the entrance visitors are given an audio guide to help them discover the palace at their own pace. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Gloriette, At the halfway point between a pavilion and an ancient temple! You have to cross the magnificent gardens of the palace to get there. Once you reach the top, the view is remarkable!

– To visit the Hofburg Palace, The Habsburg winter residence. From the outside, on the square Heidenplatz The view of the palace is exceptional. Note that the palace has no less than 2600 pieces distributed over 18 wings Take the opportunity to stroll along the «Ringstrasse», this circular boulevard that is home to some of the most beautiful architectural wonders of Vienna, such as the Opera, the Town Hall, the Parliament, etc…

– Admire the beauty of Parliament and of City Hall, The City Hall of Vienna, a majestic and impressive building in the Neo-Gothic style.

– If like me you like buildings with the unusual architecture, Don't miss the opportunity to visit 34-38 of the Kegelgasse admire the hundredwasserhaus, a very colorful building with a completely unique style A decal designed in 1986 by Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Joseph Krawina. 

– Attend a classical music concert at the Schonbrunn Palace, in the’Orangerie. For an evening, you can feel yourself transported to the time of the great Austrian emperors, in a very beautiful setting, listening to Mozart and Strauss! A wonderful experience.

– We would have loved to attend an opera at the Staatsoper, But the prices were way too high at the last minute. I hope I’ll have the opportunity to see Traviata, Norma or the Tales of Hoffmann there one day! However, it is possible to visit it during the day with a French-speaking guide.

– Having a coffee at Stephansplatz, in front of the beautiful St. Etienne Cathedral (which is still under renovation, by the way), is a great opportunity to get a feel for this dynamic city. You can always then head to the main pedestrian street, which is often packed with people and where you’ll find many shops.

– And if we were to make a jump in Slovakia ? Bratislava It is only 45 minutes away Vienna Here we went for the afternoon under a radiant sun, the perfect opportunity to discover the old town with its typical alleys, full of charm. When you leave the beaten path, you arrive in more authentic neighborhoods, with abandoned houses and buildings, creating a special atmosphere. The setting of the film Hostel! Of course, the atmosphere is safe and the people are welcoming and very warm. One day is enough to discover the historical city center of Bratislava.

– As we headed back towards the station, we discovered the Gorila.sk Urban Space, a trendy and original bar with an industrial and recycled decor, which looks stunning and is integrated into a bookstore. Young people go there in droves to work on their laptops or to enjoy a relaxing moment while reading one of the many available books. The atmosphere there is both cool, creative and positive!