Last summer, we took a trip to Berlin, Prague, and Vienna. In this post, I’m sharing our favorite stops and experiences from the Vienna leg of our trip.

In Vienna, the buildings all look like the most beautiful wedding cakes. Everywhere we walked, I was always pausing to look up to see the beautiful stonework. It is a buttoned-up, sophisticated city with lots of money.

Where to Stay in Vienna

We stayed at the Hilton Vienna Plaza in a room with a little balcony. This was my favorite part of the hotel. It was a lovely place to eat breakfast or have a glass of wine. However, I’m not sure it was worth the cost.

Our location was fine, but I think I would have rather stayed in another part of Vienna. I believe I picked this because I thought it would be close to attractions, as we were on a limited timeline. However, I would have loved to stay somewhere a little more off the beaten path with lots of charm.

Where to Eat in Vienna

• Brezl Gwölb – We ate here our first night. Spending the evening on their patio was very dreamy. Plus, the Viennese pretzels were delightful.
• Lugeck – Lugeck has very classic Austrian food. It was delicious.
• La Tavolozza – One night, we switched things up and had Italian food. I cannot remember much about this meal other than I *think* Ellie and Keegan loved it?
• Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper – We ate more excellent wiener schnitzel here.
• Mast – Seasonal and vegetable forward, this was a nice break from all the fried food we had been eating. We ordered lots of small plates to share. If you are traveling with kids, and they are not adventurous eaters, this might not be for you.

Where to Go in Vienna

Day One

On our first full day in Vienna, we visited Schönbrunn Palace. I had booked us the Grand Tour, but didn’t remember what was/wasn’t included. So, we accidentally ended our tour early. Then, when we realized our mistake, we couldn’t go back to view – because our tickets had already been scanned. The palace is stunning, and we were bummed to have wrapped up too soon.

One option I considered that we didn’t fit into the schedule was a concert at the Orangery. I wasn’t sure if the logistics would work for our family, but if you’re into music, this would definitely be something to consider.

In the afternoon, we took an Uber to Mayer Am Nussberg. I can’t recommend visiting a Buschenschank enough. It was so nice to spend a few hours in the countryside enjoying local wine and snacks at a little picnic table.

Day Two

Vienna is known for its music scene. While we were there in July, their musicians were on vacation. So, instead of seeing a show, we toured the Vienna State Opera. A truly magical building, it was interesting to learn more about something we all knew little to nothing about. If you aren’t traveling in July, I’d recommend checking out the Spanish Riding School or other performances.

Then, we made an impromptu stop at this little Butterfly House. It was a huge hit with Ellie and really magical. I’d say we were there less than an hour, and it was probably one of her favorite things that we did on the trip.

After that, we went to a place I was really excited to visit – the Upper Belvedere Museum. They have an extensive collection of Gustav Klimt’s art, including The Kiss. It was so special to see it in person and get a feel for the range of his work.