7 Things You Can’t Miss in Vienna

I have now visited Vienna three times – what a lucky duck. The city is filled with historic buildings, creme-filled pastries, and a certain magic that is hard to describe. Vienna is a great weekend trip from Prague. I specifically returned multiple times to sort out my Czech visa this year, but more on that at a later time.

There are plenty of blog posts listing 958,049 things to do in “said city”, but I am more interested in the must-do lists – the lists I wouldn’t regret completing. The lists of things I would certainly do again if given the chance. So here is my list of seven things you cannot afford to miss in Vienna.

Is it fair that two of the places on this list are bakeries? Maybe not, but a huge slice (pun intended) of my time in Vienna was centered around dessert. Therefore, I would be remiss to exclude these locations in a list of “must see” destinations. Plus, eating your way through a country is half the fun, right?

1. Schönbrunn Palace

Probably my favorite location in Vienna, one cannot miss Schönbrunn Palace. Empress Elizabeth of Austria, also known as Empress Sisi, inhabited this palace and made quite an impression on Austrian history. She was a rule breaker. As they say, well behaved women rarely make history. Perhaps she made up the rule about cake for breakfast…

Make the most of your visit with the grand audio tour to learn many interesting facts about the Empress, the palace, and her family. I even stood in the room Mozart preformed his first piece of music at six years old. It was hard to relate seeing as I was riding the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland at six years old and playing with Spice Girl Barbies.

2. Demel

Full transparency, my dad was actually the person that alerted me of the Demel. The exact text was, “Bakery Alert: oldest bakery in Vienna is Demel. Just sayin'” followed by multiple cake emojis. What a hero. And the oldest bakery in Vienna did not disappoint. Opened in 1786, the Demel became popular with “aristocrats and Vienna’s bourgeoisie”.

A line out of the door can be expected, but reservations are not required to have a seat at Demel. I waited approximately 20 minutes and they sat me at a small table in the back. The interior was classic, but inviting. There was a regal-ness about the establishment, and the confectionaries held the same standard. Personally, I ordered the “Kaiserschmarrn” with stewed plums. Essentially, Kaiserschmarrn is a fluffy pancake cut up into bite sized pieces, covered in powdered sugar, with a warm plum sauce to compliment it.

Demel impressed me so much that I purchased a “Vanille – cremeschnitte” from the confectionary shop and ate it in my $19 hostel later that night. So… not exactly the aristocrat life, but still.

Empress Sisi herself was a stan of Demel:

Empress Sisi already loved to indulge in treats from the K.u.K Hozuckerbäckerei – obviously the young empress did not shop at the confectioner on Kohlmarkt herself, but had her beloved candied violets – among others – delivered to the Hofburg (Imperial Palace) by Mr. Demel himself.

https://www.demel.com/en/demel/

3. Order a “Hugo” at Das Loft Rooftop Bar

I’m such a sucker for a gorgeous rooftop bar. Cue, Das Loft. All enclosed, but with stunning views, Das Loft provides a protected environment on those afternoons you need to escape the heat or cold. A local friend introduced me to the ‘Hugo’ on my first visit to Vienna in 2016 at this very bar. An Austrian favorite, and a tasty cocktail, the ‘Hugo’ is mixed with elder flower to create a sweet and refreshing drink. I still order it whenever I see it listed on a menu anywhere in the world!

4. The Hofburg

I suppose the best way to describe the Hofburg would be a “palace complex”. As it’s not a single building, but multiple buildings nearby one another. Technically, the entire complex consumes 59 acres. It’s easy to stroll around the complex, marvel at the historic buildings, fawn over the horses at the riding school, and peek into museums. For more information regarding tours (both hosted and self-guided) and pricing, I suggest reading this article. It’s inevitable you’ll end up in the Hofburg at some point during your visit to Vienna, whether you realize it or not. To me, this palace complex truly made Vienna stand out in terms of European cities.

5. St. Peter’s Catholic Church

Now listen, I’m not a big church girlie. I’m not religious, and I typically do not produce much of a reaction when entering churches (even pretty European ones, of which there are many). However, St. Peter’s church took my breath away. Maybe it was the fact I hadn’t entered a European church in a minute, but the detail and intricacy of the interior was impressive. I always feel like an imposter entering a church to admire it, yet I also believe you can be spiritual in your own way. And this experience touched me in a way I didn’t anticipate. It’s absolutely worth a wander in.

6. Belvedere Palace

Anyone who appreciates art cannot miss Belvedere Palace. I am not said person that appreciates art (in the traditional sense) and occasionally feel less sophisticated because of it. However, Belvedere Palace is home to some of Austria’s finest collections of art. Technically there are two palaces that make up Belvedere Palace, an upper and lower. My fascination laid more with the gardens and orangery, and I did end up getting lost within the grounds. Because it’s me and wandering aimlessly is the name of the game for me. Guided tours are available and the palace is walking distance from the city center. It’s such a lovely environment to grab a coffee and simply stroll if art isn’t your thing, but don’t miss it!

7. Josef Schrott Bakery

Okay, I know it’s another bakery but bare with me. Josef Schrott Bakery has been around since 1885 and is a perfect place to pop in while on the go. You can actually sit down and have a full breakfast, however I suggest taking one of the sweet treats from the bakery itself. It was raining when I visited Josef Schrott, so I took my pastry to go and sat outside under the overhang and watched the world go by. The memory alone was enough to keep me wanting more. Maybe I’m romanticizing the experience, but I urge you to find a similar one and just take a moment to yourself while exploring Vienna. Josef Schrott set me up for an excellent morning and I highly recommend.