It’s Easy To Love Vienna – A Classical City With… Coffee

Classical music is probably something you think about when you think about Vienna.

​Vienna is home to more composers than any other city in the world. Vienna is the music capital at the heart of Europe. Some of the famous composers that called Vienna home include, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Brahms and his famous Brahms Lullaby, otherwise known as Op. 49 Number 4. (I think about my mom when I hear that song. Does that song have a memory for you?) And Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, just to name a few. There are so many more! I’ve been listening to some of these composers while I’m writing this. Music can really set the mood! When you’re in Vienna, you can search out some of the places where they lived or performed. And even experience a concert, maybe even at the opera house, if you’re lucky.

Maybe Classical music is not your jam. But Billy Joel is. Do you think about that Billy Joel song, Vienna? Maybe you remember that song from earlier times of listening to Billy Joel. Or you’re still listening to Billy Joel. Perhaps you remember that song from that heartfelt scene in the romantic comedy with Jennifer Garner, 13 going on 30. True confession – I love that movie. I’ve watched it many times. 😊 But that movie has nothing to do with Vienna, the city, so let’s move on.

Architecture and art go hand in hand in Vienna as there are more than 100 museums in the city! You’ll find all eras of architectural style from baroque, Romanesque, art nouveau and modern. You can take a walking tour of the architecture of the city – great for those Instagram posts – and stop at some museums along the way. The Albertina Museum and Palace, which was once a residential palace for the Habsburgs, now houses one million prints and 60,000 drawings! On permanent display are works of French impressionism to Russian Avant Garde. Find Monet’s Water Lily Pond, Degas’ Dancers and Renoir’s Girl in these halls. Renowned Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt’s, The Kiss, is on permanent display at The Belvedere Museum.

“Do this. Not that.” Tip ahead.

Something I think about when I think of Vienna is coffee and wooden toys. I was on a Danube river cruise my first time to Vienna. In the evening we were treated to a wonderful concert of ballet and opera in a Viennese concert hall. Just imagine being there for that! The next day we took a tour of the city and also out to the Schonbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (I have a story to tell you about Schonbrunn Palace, but maybe for another time.)

One thing Vienna is known for is Viennese coffee and strudel, right? Imagine sitting in a Viennese coffee shop, where you look over the menu and see Mélange. What is a Mélange? A Mélange is a long coffee (quite a bit like an Americano – which is an espresso with hot water) with milk and milk foam. Ah, so maybe like a Latte. Some say like a cappuccino, but I think maybe more like a latte. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll probably mention it again. I love drinking cappuccinos when I’m on vacation. Anywhere. Something so vacation-esque about them. Warm, comforting, relaxing, contemplative. Anyway, onto your surroundings at this Viennese café. Imagine your surroundings with baroque and modern buildings around you, in the center of town near St. Stephens Cathedral in the car free zone, also known as Stephansplatz. You are just relaxing, taking in the sights and sounds, people watching and thinking, “I am in Vienna drinking a Mélange and having a Strudel. How cool is this?!” Doesn’t that sound great? I think so.

Next time I’m in Vienna, I’m going to do that. ⇧ Not this. ⇩

Instead, imagine racing around the streets, googling on your phone and looking for a toy store where they have little wooden toys. You want to find one for your little grandson. A darling car that you’re sure he’ll just love playing with. You finally find one. You’re so happy. But, as it turns out, it was made in Germany!
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That’s my story. I have a funny way of finding things in countries that seem like perfect authentic gifts that were actually made in other places. So next time I’m in Vienna, I’m going to sip and savor the coffee and strudel. Or a Glühwein. I guess, a coffee and a Glühwein, would be what will actually happen. And I suggest you do the same.

​You might want to check out this special coffee house when in Vienna – Vollpension

What will you experience in Vienna on the Magical Markets of Christmas River cruise?

You’ll have your choice of two included options.

1. Take a morning driving tour of Vienna where you’ll see the Opera House and the Hofburg Palace, the former Imperial Palace of the Habsburgs, among other sights and hear the stories of Vienna from your amazing tour guide. Conclude your tour near Stephansplatz where you can enjoy some shopping, strudel and Viennese coffee. Later you will head to the Rathaus (Town Hall) Christmas Market.
2. Join a guided bike ride along the Danube. (Brr… dress warm!) In the afternoon, experience the Karlsplatz (Artisans) Christmas Market and the Christmas market at the Schonbrunn Palace.

I was asking Maddy, one of the Cruise Managers, about the options for Vienna. These are some other options that you could do with the included tours or on your own.

1. You could take the city tour in the morning, and the Schonbrunn tour in the afternoon. After that, the bus will bring you to downtown to Karlsplatz. However, it’s best to be flexible because things might change a bit for this coming year.
2. She also said if you wanted, you could do the morning city tour, then stay in town and tour the Christmas markets or sights of Vienna on your own and then take the last shuttle back to the ship.

The cruise begins in Vienna, but you can include another night or two pre-cruise. I recommend arriving early because of weather and flights. And there’s so much to see and experience in this magical European city!

What excites you about visiting Vienna? ​

​Want to know more? Check out this magical itinerary!

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