My time in
Vienna, Austria
I adored Vienna. The city has the most amazing feel to it. The architecture was stunning, the shops adorable, and art and culture were well and truly present. Public transport was simple to navigate and very accessible. Also, the coffees were amazing. On one night I biked around different districts, and it was so easy to understand why they call it the most livable city in the world.
Vienna had long been on my bucket list for Europe, but I visited it first specifically to attend the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert. Unfortunately, a few days before I left Canada, I discovered the concert had been cancelled due to terrorism concerns. On the plus side, this meant that I was going to be refunded for the obscene amount of money I had paid for my tickets.
Although the concert was cancelled, this didn’t stop Vienna from finding ways to increase the spirits of the Swifties who had travelled there. For the entire weekend, there were cafes, bars, museums and tourist attractions offering free or discounted drinks, food, tickets. Many shops I went into were playing Taylor Swift albums on repeat, and the city was flooded with fans wearing friendship bracelets. I got to visit the Albertina Museum for free (which I loved) as well as the Imperial Crypt, and made friends with a few different Swifties along the way.
One of the prettiest parts about Vienna was the abundance of parks in the city. The Burrgarten and Volksgarten were my two favourites. They were filled with statues, fountains and lush gardens. In the Volksgarten, I’d never seen so many people relaxing on the grass in various ways, like reading, picnicking, studying, or sleeping. It was a beautiful sight.
I explored various historical landmarks, including the Hofburg Palace grounds, St. Stephan’s Cathedral, and the Austrian National Library. I paid 7.50 Euro to enter the State Hall in the Library, and although it was beautiful, it was smaller than I expected and I don’t think it was worth the money. That is something to be aware of when visiting Vienna; it is an expensive city, and many tourist attractions are overpriced. Thanks to the free admissions via my Taylor Swift tickets, this was the only attraction I paid for.
The only downside of my Vienna experience was the heat, with temperatures averaging 34°C. Neither of my hostels had air conditioning, and one lacked even a fan. Despite the discomfort, I bravely visited the Schmetterlinghaus, a tropical butterfly conservatory, which was also very hot but beautiful and worth the visit. Another negative to be aware of is the countless horse drawn carriages around the city. Although pretty to look at, I recently learned that this practice often involves maltreatment of the horses, as they are forced to perform in extreme heat and without proper care. Some even die due to exhaustion. Walking is a much more ethical way to get around, plus, Vienna is an extremely walkable city and has many beautiful sights visible from the footpath.
_________________________________________________________________________
Back in Vienna
There’s something special about returning to a place that once made your heart skip with first-time wonder. For me, that place is Vienna. During my two-week trip through Central Europe, I found myself once again walking the elegant streets of Austria’s capital. Vienna was the first place I ever visited in Europe, and stepping off the train into its familiar grandeur stirred something quietly nostalgic.
This time around, I made a point to visit a couple of iconic spots I hadn’t managed to see on my first visit: Schönbrunn Palace and Prater Amusement Park — two very different experiences, but both memorable in their own way.
Schönbrunn Palace: A Glimpse into Imperial Life
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll know I have more than a passing interest in royal history. So finally visiting Schönbrunn Palace — once the summer residence of the Habsburgs — felt long overdue.
The moment we stepped through the gates, the scale of the place took my breath away. The soft yellow of the palace glowed in the sun, and the symmetry of the grounds was almost meditative. Inside, each room was its own little world — ornate, historic, full of stories. I lingered in the Mirror Room, where a young Mozart once performed for the royal court, imagining the music echoing off the gilded walls. It was beautiful, yes — but more than that, it felt immersive, like stepping sideways into another time.
Outside, the gardens were just as impressive. Wide gravel paths, fountains, rosebeds, clipped hedges — everything so perfectly laid out, it felt like walking through a painting. We took our time wandering, soaking up the sun and the stillness, and I found myself quietly wishing for just a little more time there.
A Different Pace at Prater
After all that grandeur, we traded opulence for something lighter and more playful: Prater Amusement Park, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. With its bright lights, retro charm, and scent of roasted nuts and warm pretzels, it couldn’t have been more different — and that contrast was part of what made it so fun.
We rode the Wiener Riesenrad, the historic Ferris wheel that’s become a symbol of Vienna. From the top, the city unfolded below in every direction — stately rooftops, treelined avenues, the Danube in the distance. It was one of those quiet, reflective moments you don’t realise you’ve been craving until it happens.
Prater wasn’t about history or architecture — it was about laughter, movement, colour, and a hint of nostalgia. And honestly, after the stillness of the palace, it was exactly what we needed.
Being back in Vienna gave me a quiet moment of perspective — a pause to notice how much has changed since that first trip. I travelled solo back then, full of nervous excitement. This time, I travelled with people who’ve since become lifelong friends. Vienna felt the same in many ways, but I could feel the difference in myself — more grounded, more open, more grateful.
Vienna will always be important to me. It was the start of a chapter I didn’t know I was writing, the place that sparked a love for travel that still hasn’t faded. No matter where I go, Vienna feels like a familiar page I can return to — elegant, welcoming, and always worth another look.