When I was a kid, I enjoyed watching the cartoons about Princess Sisi. Since then, I have dreamed of seeing Sissy’s castle. That was my reason for visiting Vienna.
However, Vienna has much more to offer. I visited the Austrian capital in the first week of December. The weather was cool, but sunny. From my experiences there, I have prepared a three days itinerary for you.
Day 1
- Morning - Belvedere Museum
The Belvedere is a historic building complex, consisting of two Baroque palaces (the Upper and Lower Belvedere), the Orangery (a greenhouse for oranges and other fruit trees), and the Palace Stables.
Highlights include the world's largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings as well as prominent works from the periods of Austrian Baroque, Vienna around 1900, and French Impressionism. Actually, you can find many souvenirs with Klimt famous painting “Kiss” in Vienna.
More information about the address, program and tickets on its website. In December, you can also visit the Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace. More than 40 festively decorated market stalls offer traditional handcrafted goods, elaborate Christmas decorations and special culinary delights. The opening hours are from 11 AM to 9 PM during the week and from 10 AM to 9 PM Saturday to Sunday.
- Afternoon - The Wiener Riesenrad
Riesenrad is Vienna Giant Ferris wheel, 64.75-metre tall, at the entrance of the Prater amusement park. Constructed in 1897, it was the world's tallest extant Ferris wheel from 1920 until 1985.
If you are travelling with kids, they will love Prater for its various attraction. Check their website for more pieces of information about the schedule, tickets, location and events.
- Evening - Rathaus
Vienna City Hall or Wiener Rathaus is the seat of local government of Vienna, located on Rathausplatz. It houses the office of the Mayor of Vienna as well as the chambers of the city council.
You can visit it, and then spend the evening at the local Christmas market. Inside the City Hall on the ground floor, there is an area dedicated to children, where they can learn how to make Christmas cookies or candles. You can also listen to international choirs singing carols with free entrance on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Day 2 - Schönbrunn Palace
Reserve the entire day for this touristic attraction. Since it is a large area, you will need several hours. I personally recommend going to the zoo in the morning and letting the castle and the garden for the afternoon. This way, you can avoid the crowds.
In addition, you can buy the tickets online to avoid long queues. Check out the various tours available on its website and chose the most suitable one for you.
Schönbrunn Zoo, founded in 1752, is the oldest continuously operating zoo in the world. Among the attractions, you can see panda, penguins and seals. I recommend you to go see the penguins when the caretakers give them food. The animals are very excited and playful during their meals.
Schönbrunn Palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. The name Schönbrunn (meaning “beautiful spring”) has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court.
With a history of over 300 years, Schönbrunn Palace is on the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites since 1996. Out of the 1 441 rooms, only 40 are available for tourists. The palace tour takes around 1 hour and a half.
The most beautiful room of the palace is the Great Gallery (over 40 meters long and almost 10 meters wide). From the mid-eighteenth century onwards, it was used for balls, receptions and as a banqueting hall.
The tall windows and the crystal mirrors facing them on the opposite wall together with the ceiling frescos form a beautiful work of art.
The park at Schönbrunn Palace has 1.2 km from east to west and approximately 1 km from north to south. The park gates open at 6.30 am. You can enter the Palace Park free of charge during opening hours. If you wish to visit to the Schönbrunn special attractions, you need to purchase individual admission tickets.
Another
attraction is the Gloriette. Situated behind the palace, on
the hills, it is one of Vienna’s most sought-after subject for photos. From
there you can see a splendid view of both the palace and the city.
In the evening, you can remain at the Christmas market to enjoy a warm cup of wine. Approximately 60 exhibitors present handicrafts and original hand-made Christmas decorations. The market starts usually on November 21, with opening hours from 10 AM to 9 PM.
Day 3
- Morning - from Albertina Museum to Stephanplatz
Albertina Museum has one of the largest print rooms in the world with approximately 65,000 drawings and approximately 1 million old master prints, as well as modern graphic works, photographs and architectural drawings.
The Albertina houses one of Europe’s most important compilations of Modernist art in the form of the Batliner Collection. It includes Impressionism and Post-Impressionism artists such as Degas, Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Gauguin. The museum also displays numerous chefs-d’oeuvre by Picasso, from his early Cubist pictures to works from his mature period.
For more details, visit its website. You can also purchase tickets online.
From Albertinaplatz where Albertina Museum is located you can enjoy a nice walk to Stephansplatz. Pass the Opera building and you will soon notice the towers of St. Stephan Cathedral. On you way, you can buy some delicious Austrian chocolate (like Mozart).
St. Stephan Cathedral is the most important religious building in Vienna. You can go inside, and then walk around the Stephansplatz square. You can buy souvenirs, brand clothes, eat at restaurants or enjoy Viennese cakes and coffee. There are sometimes live concerts as well.
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- Evening – Opera
You cannot leave the Vienna without going to Wiener Staatsoper (the State Opera). It was inaugurated in the presence of Emperor Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria in the 19th century. The building is also the home of Vienna State Ballet. Therefore, at Staatsoper you can enjoy both ballet and opera shows.
Austria gave the world exceptional musicians like Mozart, Strauss, Schubert, and Brahms. Reserve your tickets on its website and dress nice for an unforgettable last day in Vienna.
I hope you will enjoy your trip to Austria as much as I did. If you have already visited Vienna, let me know in the comments your favorite places.
