Hello everyone :)!
I’m sooo excited to share the first part of my weekend adventure to Vienna (Austria) and Bratislava (Slovakia) with @ssekulji !! This past weekend we went on an organized trip to the famous Christmas markets, and though we only had one day in each city, we made sure to make the most of it. Here’s a detailed look at our first day in gorgeous Vienna!
The day started super early — I woke up at 4:30am to the sight of snow falling outside and although it didn’t fall for a long time it was more than enough to make me happy. It was one of those magical moments that set the perfect mood for the trip, I even asked myself do I really have to go because I’d rather enjoy the snow🤣. After getting ready, I headed to the station where our bus was going to pick us up. We left Zagreb around 7am. The journey seemed to go quickly at first, after the stops it started getting longer and loooongggerr (you know how it goes) it was never ending. I like to move so sitting in the bus for 5 hours was a good challenge for me🤣. On the way there I was reading “Kafka on the shore” which is a good book but I’m not really feeling it. Anyway let me tell you.. all of that WAS SO worth it for what came next.
We finally rolled into Vienna at 12:20pm, and let me tell you — the views were astonishing. As someone who’s obsessed with architecture, and finds beauty in older buildings Vienna is heaven on earth.
Our exploration began with a walk through Stadtpark. This public park, dating back to 1862, is split by the Vienna River (Wienfluss), and its famous portal — the Wienflussportal — marks the entrance. Designed by Friedrich Ohmann, the portal is an Art Nouveau masterpiece, that connects classical elements with modern flair. The park itself was peaceful and charming, with a small stream and a lake flowing through and pathways lined with trees.
From Stadtpark, we made our way to the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) which was a no more than a 10 minute walk. This 12th-century Gothic marvel is the heart of Vienna and stands tall with its colorful tile roof and intricate spires. It’s also a symbol of resilience — having survived wars and fires throughout history. What a building huh :)? It it surrounded with Christmas market so you don’t have to walk far to fill your belly.
We took some photos outside before stepping inside, and WOOOOWWWW — the interior left me speechless. Only the back section was open for visitors, but the columns and stained glass windows were breathtaking. You can also climb the South Tower for panoramic city views, but neither of us were up for the challenge🤣. Talk about fear😆.
*Please see the video from the Cathedral here : https://youtube.com/shorts/JnFfupivylw?si=ugxlVV5-IJCHFTRX
Vienna’s city center was packed withthe sea of people, but that didn’t stop us from shopping for some Lindt chocolates and classic Mozartkugeln!! You can’t visit Vienna without trying these sweet delights! And if you haven’t heard already they will be closing down their factory in Austria and will move to another country (I think it was Poland or something?) I might get some backlash for saying this but the over consumerism is insane there. There’s all sorts of stores especially those that carry high end stuff. It’s literally store on a store and it’s such a shame that such a beautiful city isn’t presenting its beautiful and rich history in more ways.
Next up, we visited the Sisi Museum, dedicated to the life of Empress Elisabeth (affectionately known as Sisi). Sisi was a fascinating figure — known for her beauty, free spirit, and unfortunately her tragic life. The museum is part of the Hofburg Palace, which was the imperial winter residence and now houses various museums and the Spanish Riding School.
In front of the Hofburg, we admired two stunning equestrian statues — the Archduke Karl Statue, representing Austria’s military glory, and the Prince Eugene of Savoy Statue, a tribute to one of the country’s greatest generals. Both statues face each other, adding to the amazing picture of the square.
We also briefly explored the Neue Burg, a later addition to the Hofburg complex, before heading to the Outer Castle Gate (Äußeres Burgtor). Built in 1824, this monumental gate commemorates Austrian soldiers who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.
Inside the Hofburg, you’ll find the magnificent Emperor Franz I State Hall (Prunksaal), part of the Austrian National Library. The hall is lined with frescoes and wooden shelves holding ancient books; a dream for any book lover!
After all that walking, we were starving! We grabbed some food and treated ourselves to a Starbucks coffee. We spent time talking about Vienna’s history and architecture, soaking up the rich cultural atmosphere :). While searching for a place to eat, we stumbled upon Hard Rock Café — which has been on my to-do list literally forever😭. I finally got my classic Hard Rock t-shirt and a cup (because I’m a cup addict 😭❤️), though everything was crazy expensive. Sadly, no tables were available, so we kept moving☹️
I visited Vienna in the past but as @ssekulji ‘s personal city guide I couldn’t leave Vienna without showing him the legendary ++Hotel Sacher, home to the original Sacher Torte++. This chocolate cake is world-famous, but be warnen (!!!!!!) it comes with a hefty price tag of €65 if you want the whole cake. I bought it it before, and while it wasn’t my favorite, it’s a bucket-list experience for many. I still have the wooden box that it came in. Right across from the hotel, Zara Home has a giant red bow; which is on every visitor’s “insta worthy” picture for holiday photos. Just be careful the bustling intersection makes that a challenge!
We squeezed in a visit to another beautiful church (i didn’t remember the name😅), took some photos, and enjoyed Vienna’s festive charm. By 6 pm, it was time to head to Bratislava. The 1.5-hour drive flew by, and as soon as we crossed into Slovakia, I felt a surge of joy and even a few happy tears. Slovakia was a long time wish for me, and it felt like everything finally fell into place :).
Our hotel in Bratislava was a short tram ride from the city center. And here’s a tip: you can buy tickets directly on the tram with your credit card — just tap and go! We ended the night with a stroll through the city and a quick visit to Čumil, the cheeky statue of a man peeking out of the manhole. The Slovak word actually means “watcher”. It only takes a quick glance at him to understand why he goes by the name “the watcher”. You can’t visit Bratislava without saying hi to Čumil! I read somewhere that this is actually one of the most photographed objects in Bratislava. Čumil is the work of Slovak sculptor Viktor Hulík. The artist was born in 1947 in Bratislava. Legend has it that if you _rub his head yoi’ll get a wish come true – if you manage to keep it a secret forever of course _;D.
This is where I’ll end my post for now. Stay tuned for my Bratislava post — there’s so much more to share, I’m not sure will it fit into one post😆!
Thank you for reading and upvoting. It is greatly appreciated❤️!
