Vienna

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.