Taking advantage of the fact that the global situation with the corona virus pandemic did not add to much travel during the summer, we visited Vienna twice and once Venice to see and experience these iconic places without hordes of tourists. We have already written about a trip to Venice here, and this is an article from the first trip.

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Breakfast at Café Central

Because we lived in a hotel across the street, we went to the amazing Café Central for breakfast everyday. Be sure to try Klassisches Wiener Frühstück with Wiener Melange Kaffe („Viennese style coffee“, espresso infused with hot water and frothed milk), and enjoy its amazing atmosphere packed with history.

The café was opened in 1876, and in the late 19th century it became a key meeting place of the Viennese intellectual scene. Key regulars included: Peter Altenberg, Theodor Herzl, Alfred Adler, Egon Friedell, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Anton Kuh, Adolf Loos, Leo Perutz, Robert Musil, Stefan Zweig, Alfred Polgar, Adolf Hitler, and Leon Trotsky. In January 1913 alone, Josip Broz Tito, Sigmund Freud, and Trotsky (the latter being regular) were patrons of the establishment.

The Secession Building

The Secession Building is an exhibition hall in Vienna, Austria. It was completed in 1898 by Joseph Maria Olbrich as an architectural manifesto for the Vienna Secession, a group of rebel artists that seceded from the long-established fine art institution.

Stefanplatz and surroundings

Originally only half the size the square was expanded when a row of houses separating it from Stock-im-Eisen-Platz, today the two areas are considered one. Outside the original city walls the platz became part of the city in around 1200 but it wasn’t until 1978 with the opening of the U-Bahn station that the square became central to the city.

The Hundertwasserhaus

The Hundertwasserhaus in Vienna is a building designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and located in the 3rd Viennese district. The extraordinary building was constructed between 1983 and 1985. It was architecturally realized with the collaboration of architect Josef Krawina as co-creator and the implementing architect Peter Pelikan.

Famous LUGECK | Figlmüller Vienna schnitzel

Unfortunately, the traditionally renowned Figlmüller restaurant was closed due to a pandemic, but its Viennese schnitzel was served in the LUGECK restaurant a few meters away. And as usual, Michaela and I had one serving in half. Be sure not to miss this experience when visiting Vienna.

Long before opening Lugeck, brothers Hans and Thomas Figlmüller took an active interest in Viennese tavern culture. They dusted off and studied their grandmother’s old cookbooks and heavily researched the traditions of Austrian cuisine, as well as the countless taverns, which plated such dishes. With the research done came the idea—revive traditional Viennese cuisine and classic tavern culture at Lugeck.

The Volksgarten

The Volksgarten (English: People’s Garden) is a public park in the Innere Stadt first district of Vienna, Austria. The garden, which is part of the Hofburg Palace, was laid out by Ludwig Remy in 1821. The park was built over the city fortifications that were destroyed by Napoleon in 1809. The Volksgarten was opened to the public in 1823.

Hofburg Palace

The Hofburg is the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria and was formerly the principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. It is located in the center of Vienna and was built in the 13th century and expanded several times afterwards. It also served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence.

Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker

Pleasure on three levels is on offer at Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker – the Imperial and Royal Court Confectioner – with shop, bar and café-restaurant in the magnificent Palais Todesco near the Vienna State Opera.

We never miss the opportunity to have their walnut cake here. 🍰

Evening walk

And finally a few more photos from the evening walk in Vienna. We went to the LUGECK restaurant again, but this time only for a beer. 🍺