Travel Dates: 2024.03.21 – 2024.03.24
Austria 빈 3 Nights 4 Days Trip
Austria This trip documented a 3-night, 4-day journey centered around 빈, the beautiful capital of Austria. Starting from 빈 Station, we explored various attractions including Hofburg Palace, Maria Theresia Square, Art History Museum 빈, 빈 State Opera, Schönbrunn Palace, and Prater, fully enjoying the charm of 빈. Let’s begin the record of our short but fulfilling 빈 trip.
Arrival in 빈 and Accommodation
The train from Salzburg to 빈 was delayed by an unexpected hour and a half, slightly disrupting our schedule. While waiting due to the train delay, we bought snacks at a supermarket in the station. The Pringles paprika flavor was particularly delicious, reminding me of the paprika powder I tasted in Hungary.
Finally, we arrived at 빈 Station and transferred to the subway to head to our accommodation. The accommodation exceeded our expectations; it was spacious and comfortable, with a large room, living area, and even two bathrooms, making us very satisfied. It provided a comfortable rest, just like a dream home.
Hofburg Palace & Maria Theresia Square
After settling in at our accommodation, we headed to Hofburg Palace in the early afternoon for a light stroll. We took commemorative photos in front of a statue after passing through the palace gardens, but we weren’t sure who the statue depicted. Walking a bit further, we arrived at Maria Theresia Square. Despite being a more famous square, it was surprisingly not crowded. There were people around the square who offered to take photos with us.
Art History Museum 빈
After moving a bit further from Maria Theresia Square, we arrived at our main destination for the day, the Art History Museum 빈. The ticket prices for the museum are shown in the photo; the ticket design itself was as beautiful as a work of art. Inside the museum, various artworks were displayed along with a floor guide. The statue at the entrance, in particular, was breathtaking with its soft expression. The balcony area overlooking the restaurant was a great photo spot, but it was difficult to get good pictures due to the dim lighting.
I found the architecture of the museum itself more captivating than the paintings. Every staircase and corridor was as beautiful as a medieval drama set. I was more drawn to these architectural elements than the paintings.
빈 State Opera & Innere Stadt
For dinner, we went to a restaurant recommended on Google Maps and tried fish and chips. The hot and delicious fish and chips were satisfying, but other menu items were a bit disappointing. On the way to grocery shopping after the meal, we unexpectedly encountered the magnificent 빈 State Opera. We took photos as a souvenir and admired it for a while.
For those curious about the 빈 subway menu, I’ve included it here.
We stopped by Villa Mart to buy groceries for the next day. On the way back home, we discovered a subway station designed like an underground shopping mall, but unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to explore it properly until our last day.
The sushi we bought at the supermarket for breakfast the next day was disappointing, but the bread was very delicious, likely because it was in Europe. The chocolate donuts were especially so good that I bought them again.
Schönbrunn Palace
We had a bit of a mishap taking the subway to Schönbrunn Station, boarding the wrong line due to confusing platforms, but we enjoyed it as part of the freedom of travel and went back. Schönbrunn Palace could be entered freely without an admission fee. The open flea market centered around the main fountain was fun for browsing souvenirs and food.
Inside the palace, a vast garden unfolded, but it was under construction at the time, so there wasn’t much to see. The neatly trimmed trees were impressive. I wanted to go to the place on the hill that looked like a Greek and Roman mythology-style temple, but due to leg pain and the distance, I could only admire it with my eyes.
Right after leaving the palace, I was surprised by someone who I thought was a statue.
Innere Stadt & St. Stephen’s Cathedral
Returning to the city center, we cooled off with ice cream, which felt even more refreshing due to the good weather. We took commemorative photos in front of the famous St. Stephen’s Cathedral, but it was too massive to fit into a single frame. The bustling crowds in this vibrant area were impressive.
We browsed cosmetic shops and other stores like Zara and H&M. H&M, in particular, had a more appealing atmosphere than Zara.
For dinner, we had a simple meal at our accommodation. The pork belly sausage was affordable and we enjoyed it generously. It was a shame there were no instant rice packs, but the next morning, we had the delicious chocolate donuts again.
Starbucks & Shopping
We started our morning city tour by taking a familiar tram. The iced americano at a 빈 Starbucks after a long time was heavenly. Excited, I took selfies and enjoyed a leisurely time.
I found a dress I liked while shopping, but was shocked by the exorbitant price and decided not to buy it. The smell of street food was enticing, but I wasn’t hungry, so I didn’t try any. After some deliberation, I bought a wallet at a discounted price of 45 euros, making it a satisfying shopping experience.
We strolled through the luxury shopping streets and entered some high-end stores that I hadn’t visited in Korea. The Louis Vuitton store, with no waiting line, was particularly memorable, but it drained my energy, so I didn’t look around other stores.
As the trip neared its end, I craved familiar flavors and chose McDonald’s for a late lunch.
Korean Restaurant Kokos & Prater
After resting at our accommodation for a while, we visited the Korean restaurant Kokos for dinner. The Budae Jjigae (sausage stew) and Gulgimchi (oyster kimchi) here were truly delicious. We also visited Prater, a place I really wanted to go to during my 빈 trip. Admission to the amusement park was free, and the Giant Ferris Wheel was a must-do.
The Giant Ferris Wheel was terrifyingly high, but I took photos as if my life depended on it. I also rode the roller coaster; it was cold at night, but the thrill was just right.
Prater Dome is the largest club in 빈, and we had a fun two hours there.
Preparation for Departure and Airport Transfer
On the last day of the trip, we spent the day resting with our heavy luggage. It was a Sunday, so we couldn’t use the luggage storage service, which was a shame. We headed to 빈 Station and spent time eating Buldak at the food court while waiting to catch the airport bus.
To spend our remaining Euros, we stopped by a snack shop. Finding the boarding location for the airport bus from 빈 Station to 빈 International Airport was a bit challenging. Although the Google Maps location was correct, we struggled because there were no signs, so I’m sharing this experience.
Upon arriving at the airport by bus, the beautiful scenery made me reluctant to return to Korea. We arrived 4 hours before our flight departure, so we browsed the duty-free shops, but there wasn’t much worth buying, so I only purchased cleansing tissues.
We decided to spend time at the lounge. There was a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, which made it fun to mix our own cocktails. Thinking it was free, I made too many and drank them, but they didn’t taste very good.
The in-flight meal on Korean Air on the way back tasted much better than on the way there. With a sense of longing for the next trip, we arrived at Incheon International Airport with regret.
