Vienna wasn't originally high on my travel list. In fact, one of the reasons I wanted to visit was because of Before Sunrise and I'm glad I did because it ended up becoming one of my favourite European cities. It was fun seeking out some of the filming locations while we were there, including Kleines Café and a few of the spots featured throughout the film. We also visited the Belvedere and got to see Klimt's The Kiss in person, which was definitely one of the highlights of the trip.
We visited in May 2025 and unfortunately had rain for most of the trip, which wasn't ideal when trying to explore a city on foot. Despite that, there was so much to see and do that it never really felt like a wasted day. Between the palaces, churches, museums, cafes, parks, bars, and nightlife. Vienna felt like a city that rewards wandering around without much of a plan.
One thing that surprised me was how varied it felt. You have the grand imperial architecture Vienna is famous for, but also quirky places like Hundertwasserhaus, interesting themed bars, great cafes, and plenty of nightlife. I'd also highly recommend Blue Bar, great atmosphere and some of the friendliest staff we came across during the trip.
Looking back, Vienna is one of those cities I've appreciated more and more after returning home. At the time the weather felt like it was holding the trip back, but in hindsight it's become one of my favourite European destinations and is probably the closest any city has come to challenging Prague for my top spot.
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