5 days in Vienna

5 DAYS IN VIENNA

Vienna is such an incredible city!! I actually rank it right up there with Berlin (and for those of you who know me- thats a big statement) 5 days in Vienna and I still would like to go back.

Vienna is a BIG city that has a lot going on (atleast in the summer time) there are MANY squares scattered throughout the city with events going on......

To start, when we were there outside their immaculate City Hall was the FILM FESTIVAL. They covered a beautiful building with a massive screen that played live concerts that were going on elsewhere in the city. Surrounding the park was like a Heritage Days (for you Edmontonians who are reading this) on drugs! Food stands from around the world set up to drink+eat at! It was great food + a wicked environment- one night the rolling stones played in Vienna and it was JAM PACKED!

Also PRATER PARK (Stephansplatz metro stop) has an amusement park you can go to- there is a massive ferris wheel that looks like it was built in the 18th century. The little "cabs" where people sit are like the steel section of a metro line...

Spend atleast one full day strolling through NASCHMARKET and surrounding area.... Nasch. is this fresh fruit, veggies, falafel galore! The atmosphere is wicked + the food is out of this world!

 Surrounding Nasch. are a lot of funky unique clothing shops, coffee shops&just 5 blocks up the way- if you have a shopping itch there is a big street with big brands all the same as in Karlsplatz but a fraction of the busyness !

At night we hit up WIEN & CO. and did a little wine sampling (you can ask for certain flavors and they let you taste a whole bunch) then you can stroll into the MUSEUM QUARTER that is bustling at night.. live DJs tons of different open bars + gelato...of course.

[our favorite wine!  incredibly sweet!]

Okay BEST OF ALL (and I dont think that many tourists know about it because its mostly locals that go) is DONAUSTADTBRUCKE metro stop. 

WE SPENT TWO FULL AFTERNOONS HERE BECAUSE WE LOVED IT SO MUCH! 

Vienna was scorching hot (35 degrees Celsius) when we were there and I do not handle the heat well....unless near a body of water. Hence our search for water. Dona. stop takes you to the "swimming side" of the river (the other side of the river is used for transportation of product & buisness.) Once you get off the stop - --PAY ATTENTION- 

-do not cross over the bridge to your left, keep walking down straight onto a passageway (there should be a tiny little cafe on your right hand side) as you continue there are about 10-15 docks set up in the river that people just go+relax on! You can totally swim in the river+it is an absolutely beautiful spot to chill & grab some sun... maybe a little too much for me as I came out looking like a tomatoe!

If you DO cross the bridge at DONAUSTADTBRUCKE stop you come to another cool place called "WAKE UP" If you enjoy wake boarding this place is for you! Its essentially like skiing toe-ropes but in water. There is a little circuit so as the boarders grab hold of the toe you can simply go in a loop or go off jumps- whatever your heart desires! Its even fun to just go grab a beer at the restaurant & watch!

We also felt we had to go check out the famous SHONBRUNN PALACE one day. This is nice place to bring a picnic + just relax on a patch of grass... its very pretty, but personally I felt very similar to the park in Paris - VERSAILLES. If you are big on parks & old building-monument jazz I would say go for it- but I wouldnt put it too highly on my own personal list of things to do. If you do have little jiggers, on the contrary, there is the oldest ZOO in Europe in this park you could hit up.. I didnt go in (personal reasons) but Im sure it would be neat.

4 future Vienna go-ers here is my list of MUST-dos to LEAST-dos:

1. LOCAL EVENT- whatever is going on in the city: go hit it up! The people are wicked + super friendly!
2. DONAUSTADTBRUCKE- grab your bathings suit +go chill!
3. NASCHMARKET- eat a falafel...omg so good!
4. WIEN. & CO. + MUSEUM QUARTER- do a wine tasting then go chill in MQ with live music
5. PRATER AMUSEMENT PARK- ride the ferris wheel...if you dare
6. SCHONBRUNN PALACE

OH YEAH! And this happened....::

  ->

          [chop chop chop away!Vienna!]

Like I said, I want to go back and this just touches on some of the stuff we did.  If you have any other questions (metro passes, places to stay, areas to stay etc.) fire me a comment + Ill try to help out!

xo.peace.

k