[Switzerland - Austria] Stunning architecture, coffee in the sun, culture for everyone – read this blog to see why Vienna is the perfect destination for a city trip. You get to its beautiful parks, restaurants and concerts through a direct train ride from Switzerland and it is surprisingly cheap.
ÖBB’s train services
There are several train connections from Zürich/Buchs SG to Vienna every day. And also every night, you can take a Nightjet bringing you non-stop to Eastern Europe. I took the train in the daytime, to look out the window when passing the Alps and because it takes less than 8 hours.
The ÖBB free public WIFI on the train is the best public internet connection I have ever worked with – it enabled me to even hold work video calls on the ride.
Sitting next to Hungarian grandmothers regularly calling (with video, but no headphones) their friends and eating ham sandwich before 11am and silver-haired, active women who pop the mini Prosecco at 11:30am, and a few other workaholics with laptops and headsets, the journey was already filled with interesting, funny impressions and friendly encounters.
The city's perks
One of the nicest things when being in Vienna certainly is to just walk around the city and look at the astonishing architecture. In any area, regular buildings are just so nicely worked out, and the spirit of the late Austria-Hungarian empire is visible in the remotest corners of the city.
To get around, you can either walk, cycle (easy bike rental) or take the well connected and fast public transport (metro, tram, bus).
Places to visit for free
If you want to travel on a tight budget, Vienna still has a lot to offer. Various parks, the University of Vienna (one of the oldest in Europe!), the buildings of the Parliament & Rathaus and the Volksgarten are worth a visit in and around the city centre. In summer, the shores of the Donaukanal and the Donau itself invite for a walk.
The gardens of the Schönbrunn castle (metro ride of 15mins) are public and can be entered every day without a fee. In the courtyard of the Museum of Modern Art (Mumok), there is a Xylophone in stone to be played by anyone.
Eat, drink, enjoy
There is more than Wiener Schnitzel to eat here! A very large offer of vegetarian and vegan restaurants of any world flavour await you. And the coffeehouse culture is not to miss – you will find both traditional Viennese coffeehouses as well as modern, hipster cafés to enjoy a coffee in the sun.
Culture
Vienna’s cultural life is rich and offers something for every single type of person. Not only museums with famous paintings in the Museumsquartier, but also performing arts are flagships of the city. The Opera, Volksoper, Burgtheater and Volkstheater are only some of the places where you can enjoy a performance. Not to forget are the small jazz clubs, the theatres around the corner and the Art galleries or Independent cinemas.
Samira Keller, Zürich (CH)
Servus :-) If you have any questions regarding the trip do not hesitate to drop me a message on samira.keller@student.unisg.ch
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