Itinerary
Steps 14,000
Our day in Vienna was absolutely perfect, filled with brilliant sunshine, delicious pastries, and some of the city's best hidden street art.
We started our morning at the Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) and jumped right onto the subway where we took the U-Bahn, old pros as we now are!
We dropped into Castelletto, where we immediately tracked down some much-needed breakfast. We treated ourselves to perfectly frothed cappuccinos paired with warm, marmalade-filled croissants. While we went with the classic marmalade, the café also had chocolate and pistachio options that looked just as incredible.
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After fueling up, we crossed over the Danube to explore the banks.
The water levels were notably low, exposing parts of the riverbed that are usually hidden. We climbed down to the lower paths to view the incredible graffiti lining the waterfront.
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From the waterfront, we climbed back up over the canal and made our way into the historic Fleischmarkt. Dating back to at least 1220, this is one of Vienna's oldest streets. It gets its name ("Meat Market") from the medieval butchers and meat-hackers who based their guild house here centuries ago. By the 1700s, Greek and Levantine merchants settled heavily into the area, transforming it into the vibrant, atmospheric Griechenviertel (Greek Quarter) we see today.
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Tucked into this neighborhood, we visited the stunning Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Its gorgeous, brick Neo-Byzantine facade was incredible to see from the narrow street. The interior was a breathtaking, intimate world of gold, shadow, and silence—though we couldn't capture it since photos are strictly not allowed.
Right next door, we found the famous Griechenbeisl, Vienna's oldest tavern, which has been serving patrons since 1447. Walking by its ivy-draped exterior, it was wild to think we were standing outside a historic legendary spot where icons like Mozart, Beethoven, Mark Twain, and Johnny Cash once dined and signed the walls.
From there, we meandered back through the winding cobblestone alleyways toward Petersplatz.
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St. Stephan's.
In 1679, a devastating outbreak of the bubonic plague swept through Vienna, claiming the lives of an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 residents. As the disease spread, Habsburg Emperor Leopold I fled the capital to escape infection. Before leaving, he vowed to erect a grand monument dedicated to the Holy Trinity once the pestilence finally subsided.
Back to our coffee spot yesterday after our maiden subway ride.
We found an outdoor table directly in front of the magnificent St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche), ordered a cold beer, and took a moment to just take it all in. Sitting there in the bright sunshine, watching the traditional Fiaker (horse-drawn carriages) clatter by on the pavement with that stunning Baroque green dome framing the background, we felt the incredible energy of the city—and we knew we were just getting warmed up for what else the afternoon had in store...
Heat lamps controlled by the server's phone!
Once we finished our drinks, we strolled back down the elegant Graben, passing its historic monuments and luxury storefronts. We ducked into the famous Kaufhaus STEFFL department store for a quick, much-needed bathroom break. Refreshed and ready for the next adventure, we walked out and kept heading south, making our way toward the bustling, vibrant open-air stalls of the Naschmarkt..
John took this from Stiffl while we took a bio break.
HIIICH Teddy Café is Vienna's first teddy bear-themed coffee shop, located in the heart of the city.
Since we had already spent the previous day thoroughly exploring the market's endless rows of spices and delicacies, we kept it brief this time. We snapped a few more colorful photos of the lively stalls before tracking down a spot to grab a late lunch. To refuel after all our walking, I started with a rich, seasoned beef tartare, while John went for a classic local favorite: a plate of two Viennese wieners.
Wandering.
We sampled his cheese and then his wine!
Catching elevator down to subway.
We stopped into the huge Interspar in the train station for chocolate and tomorrow's breakfast.
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