My dear friend Lauren, who runs the lovely blog, Writes with Wolves, recently asked me for my ten favorite cities. And I realized with some surprise that I had never really thought about it before. How was that possible? I had to soul-search a bit, but when I put my brain to it, the list…
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I have a small confession to make. On my first trip to Vienna, I tried to find this mythical library. It was meant to be the most beautiful thing a bibliophile could ever bear witness to. But I…couldn’t find the door. And by the time I did, it was closed for the day. No chance.…
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Because Vienna has so many museums (over 100!), it can be hard to decide which to visit. Luckily, on our last trip, 3 days out of our 7-day Vienna itinerary were dedicated to exploring as many museums as we could—resulting in this Vienna museum guide! A Vienna Museum Guide Schönbrunn The imperial family’s summer residence,…
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Located just outside of the main city, Schönbrunn Palace is a grand, golden complex—as you’d expect from the main summer palace of the Hapsburg Imperial family. The Rococo residence has 1,441 rooms and gardens that seem to unfold forever. Housed within the complex are a multitude of smaller museums and gardens—a literal trove of historical…
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One key aspect of our 7-day Vienna itinerary was visiting Vienna’s museums. After some quick calculations, we decided to spring for the Vienna Pass, hoping we’d see enough attractions to make the Vienna Pass worth the purchase price. Now, with the trip over and our brains (and phones) crammed with as much art, history, and…
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Whether you’re a coffee drinker or not, a tour of the Vienna coffeehouses should definitely be integrated into your Vienna itinerary. The coffeehouses serve up so much more than a strong espresso: you can order wine, cake, sandwiches, and—most importantly—a heaping dose of history. Vienna’s Coffeehouse Culture You might be tempted to stop at a…
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“Austria,” said Johann, the instructor of our strudel-making class in Salzburg. “Austria is the only country in the world whose cuisine is named for its capital city.” Food there isn’t Austrian cuisine, or national cuisine—nope. The food we ate over the course of our 7-day Vienna itinerary was all “Viennese”. I’ll confess I was a…
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Salzburg is an easy day trip from Vienna. On my first Salzburg day trip, I adhered to my typical travel M.O.: wander and get lost. But this second time, I wanted to be more intentional with my time. For one thing, this trip featured a special guest: my mom, who came all the way in…
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The train from Vienna to Salzburg takes roughly 2.5 hours, making Salzburg an easy day trip to add into your Vienna itinerary. Close to the German border, Salzburg is a popular choice for those who love music (especially The Sound Of…), art, and hiking. If you’re thinking of heading out for a day (or for…
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If Vienna isn’t on your list of places to visit, it should be! While many visitors to Europe prioritize Amsterdam, Paris, or London, Vienna encapsulates the romance of the Old World, and represents a pivotal moment of European history. Here’s my 7-day Vienna itinerary, designed to help you experience the history, art, thinking, and food…
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Up and Gone 