A Simple Guide to a Weekend in Vienna

From the moment we arrived in the beautiful city of Vienna, I was in love! The architecture is truly something to behold, and the attractions and entertainment are plentiful.

Our hotel, Motel One was a charming place with modern décor and a great location right next to Prater amusement park. There are so many fun things to do in Vienna, but we chose a few things of interest to see and spent our weekend strolling the beautiful streets, admiring the window displays, and enjoying our girls.

We walked all the way from our hotel, across the canal to the city center where many of the attractions are concentrated. It was a bit further than we anticipated, but the walk was easy and we were able to see so much along the way.

I was impressed with the bicycle culture in this city. There are more bikes than cars (at least it seemed that way), and you see people of all ages cycling throughout the city to and from work, carrying groceries, and hauling little ones. On that note, make sure when you’re walking to stay out of the bike lane so you don’t get run over.

It was pretty chilly when we visited, but that didn’t phase these seasoned cyclists one bit; they were still out in full force. If you’re not up to walking, the public transit was nearby and seemed pretty easy to navigate as well.

Prater Amusement Park

Prater was much bigger than we expected once we started walking around. There are plenty of places to pop in and grab a bite to eat as you stroll around or sit down for a nice meal inside. Of course, there is traditional carnival food that you can walk up and purchase as well. The girls were so excited to try cotton candy!! It’s one of my childhood favorites, so I must admit, I was too.

The park is known for its gigantic Ferris Wheel, along with a huge variety of rides for all ages. We arrived later in the evening and it was way too chilly to ride anything with the girls, so we just walked around, ate and enjoyed the lights.

There were roller coasters, bumper cars, go carts, haunted train rides, and much more. It’s really set up more like a massive carnival with the perks of an amusement park. There are no entry fees, you pay per ride, and there’s something for everybody.

This place is definitely a must if you’re visiting in the spring and summer months!

Mozarthaus Vienna

If you’re a fan of classical music, or history in general, Mozarthaus is a great stop to make while in Vienna. This is the only surviving residence of Mozart that has been converted to a museum that you can tour.

He composed the most music during his 10 years in Vienna; 4 of which were spent in this apartment with his family where he wrote 3 quartets and a famous opera. The residence is right in the center of downtown square so it’s easy to get to by foot if you are already touring the area.

We didn’t do the full tour of the apartment this time, but I know they provide documents and pictures to narrate Mozart’s time spent there with his family.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is just steps away from the museum, so you must stop and check out the beautiful baroque architecture and tour inside as well if you have time.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna. The historic landmark has been in place for over 700 years now and has one of the best views of the city. You can book tickets to tour the church and climb the 343 steps to take advantage of the view from over 200 feet above street level. There’s also an express elevator that takes you to the observation deck in the north tower where the largest bell in Austria is housed.

I was impressed by the impeccable condition of this cathedral, particularly the roof composed of ornate tiles. My photos don’t do it justice because I was so close to the structure. If you check out aerial shots of the cathedral you can see all the colorful mosaic tile work incorporated in the roof design.

Touring the inside of the church wasn’t on our agenda since we had our three toddlers with us, but if you’re touring with older kiddos or adults, it’s a great attraction.

Schönbrunn Palace

Before we headed back to the Czech Republic, we ventured away from the city center to see the famous Schönbrunn Palace. Housing over 1,400 rooms, this palace used to serve as the imperial summer residence. It is considered one of the most important monuments in the country due to its cultural, architectural, and historical significance.

I could tell by the throngs of tourists that this landmark was at the top of many to-do lists while in Vienna.

I stood across the street just to get a full shot of this vast property. It is HUGE! The structure is just a small part of all this palace has to offer. There are special guided tours, audio tours, palace concerts, and several cafes and restaurants to take advantage of.

The best news is that if you’re traveling with little ones, there are special tours through certain staterooms, a children’s museum, an outdoor maze and playground for them to enjoy.

Needless to say, you could get lost for hours at Shönbrunn Palace with all that there is to see and do.

The Saloon

We found a restaurant called Saloon Donauplex featuring “Texas” style cuisine, so we decided to try it out for dinner. There was a live band playing country music, the place was completely packed, and the platters of food they were carrying through the restaurant looked and smelled amazing!

We went with wings and ribs and were very pleased with our order. It’s kind of become our thing to find a restaurant serving American/Texas style food to see how close they come to the real thing. So far, we have been pleasantly surprised at how good the food is in different countries.

The scenic drive

I have to say that this was by far the best scenic drive we’ve taken yet. On the way back home, I was able to get some shots from the car of some of the Czech countryside.

That’s what I love about road trips. Not only are you spending time bonding with your family, you also get to take unexpected detours and adventures along the way.

Where are you and your family planning to travel this spring/summer? I’d love to hear about it in the comments, & let me know if you prefer road trips, flights, or sea!