Aryxe in Wien, Austria
6 min read
6 min read
Are you one of those who thought that by now we would be back living our old, regular lives, pre-pandemic style? Doesn’t ring a bell? Let us try and refresh your memory – remember that life when you could travel almost carefree, hug your loved ones and go out for a nice evening without having to worry about possibly catching and/or spreading the coronavirus? Almost two years into this pandemic, 2022 is closer than ever and yet it seems like the coronavirus situation is far from over.
In fact, in Austria, due to the spike in the number of infections and the opposite effect concerning the number of administered vaccinations, a temporary lockdown was introduced on November 22nd. The plan is to cease the lockdown on December 13th, when travel to Austria for touristic purposes will be possible again.
If you don’t count the lockdowns, there is never a bad time to visit Vienna. All year round it is a fascinating city with so much to offer. Therefore, no matter when you make up your mind, you will not regret visiting the capital of Austria.
Still, the holiday season in Vienna has some sort of a special charm and we absolutely adore it.
We were the lucky ones who spent a few days in Vienna just before the lockdown was introduced. This is why we can’t wait to share some of our favorite spots with you here so that you can plan your next, or first-ever, trip to this truly special city.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit Vienna before, you may ask why should you. In that case, brace yourself, because there are plenty of reasons to pack your bags and hit the road.
The former capital of the Habsburg Monarchy is an outstanding city today, manifesting its spirit of the past in the wide streets and majestic, striking palaces. Getting to know its history can easily be the sole goal of your trip and you will find plenty of places to visit and explore the city’s cultural heritage.
Another great thing about Vienna is art. The aforementioned palaces and Vienna’s numerous museums are perfect for anyone who finds joy in seeing worldly famous art pieces in person.
Given Amadeo Modigliani‘s death 100th anniversary, Vienna’s Albertina Museum is honoring the artist with a truly remarkable exhibition initially planned for the jubilee year of 2020 and then postponed because of the pandemic. For the very first time, Modigliani’s art is featured in Austria and it is one more reason why you ought to consider visiting now. In Albertina, we also had the chance of seeing numerous pieces by one of the most famous names among painters, Pablo Picasso. Ranging from his early works marked by cubism to his mature works in the 1940s and even prints that have not yet been exhibited – it is pretty darn exciting!
If you are as enthusiastic about Italian painters as much as we are, you won’t skip visiting the Kunsthistorisches Museum either, and check out Tiziano Veccelli’s, or Titian’s, vision of women, an exhibition that will be there until January 16th, 2022.
And if you are interested in art with the female primary subjects, visiting Belvedere and getting a chance to see Gustav Klimt’s works will be nothing short of a pure delight.
Last but not least, Vienna is a great place for anyone who likes tasting different cuisines because of the variety of restaurant types it has. Being a great big city, it’s only natural Vienna has plenty of coffee shops and restaurants where you can relax and enjoy marvelous food. Here’s just a snippet of it from our most recent trip.
This boutique hotel can offer brilliant accommodation with its superb location right behind the Opera and the famous Albertina. In addition to fantastic accommodation and service, it can also be a place where you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee or lunch. It can get quite busy, so our advice is to make a reservation, which will take you no longer than a couple of minutes but it will go a long way when it comes to having peace of mind.
Their breakfast options are delicious and portions are super filling!
For the seekers of culinary delights and exquisite wine enthusiasts, there is this French bistro that you can find in the heart of Vienna’s 6th district.
This is the place where you will find authentic French cuisine and a piece of France in the middle of Vienna, Austria. Their dishes are exciting, adventurous and luscious paired with a remarkable wine selection that will leave you with a belly full of joy and an inevitable decision to come back here whenever you are in Vienna. We simply can’t recommend this place enough.
This place is special for several reasons but the strongest out of all is the fact that it was opened back in 1873 and it is practically a Viennese institution. During its long history, this place served as a preferred meeting spot for many of the artists, thinkers, and politicians in Austria. It is reported to be one of the favored coffeehouses where Sigmund Freud, Gustav Mahler, and Felix Salten enjoyed spending their time.
It’s a place where you can get a taste of the traditional Viennese cuisine and the perfect spot to try the famous Wiener schnitzel, otherwise known as the Viennese cutlet.
As you can see, Vienna has plenty to offer to its visitors no matter the age or interest. Whether you want to see bits of imperial architecture, once-in-a-lifetime art exhibitions, Viennese coffee house culture or Viennese cuisine, or how it is all perfectly tied together, you won’t be disappointed by visiting now and getting a taste of its holiday spirit as a cherry on top. Of course, provided it does reopen for tourists on December 13th. If not, have no fear, once the coronavirus settles down, and it has to settle down at some point, Vienna will be there to welcome and bedazzle you, without a doubt.
Any reuse, transmission, republication, duplication, or distribution of this article and graphics, without the express written permission of Aryxe is not allowed. If you wish to reuse, transmit, republish, duplicate or distribute this article, cite passages, or use in full, including but not limited to proprietary text and graphics, please request written permission.
