Julika

Published On: 2014/10/02

Somehow, I’m having a hard time finding words to describe my time in Vienna. Yes, it was pretty. Yes, the architecture was amazing. Yes, the Stephansdom cathedral and the Kunsthistorisches Museum brought me to tears. But other than that — Vienna and I didn’t really click.

Landing in Vienna, Austria
First glimpse of Vienna

There are cities you love at first sight: Lisbon was such a city for me. And Hamburg. And Dublin, Berlin, London, Prague and Budapest are cities that I’d travel or even move to in a heartbeat.

It took me a while to understand what makes me love a city: A mixture of old and new, ugly and beautiful. A city I fall for needs water close by, hills for spectacular views, and gritty neighborhoods with funky independent shops and graffiti. I like a city that is a bit rough around the edges and I like falling in love at second (or even third) sight sometimes.

Karlskirche, Vienna, Austria
One of Vienna’s most famous churches – the Karlskirche 

Vienna however is flat — and not only literally. For me, Vienna felt like it lacked a little spice. Yes, it was super pretty. But I longed for the city to have a little more street art and a few more buskers.

Maybe I wasn’t in the right neighborhoods, maybe not every city has to become my favorite place in the world — and that’s okay.

Because one thing I can say about Vienna that it is extremely photogenic. Late August light and impressive imperial architecture are certainly an easy motif.

Vienna, Austria

Schloß Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria
Schönbrunn Palace — the home of my childhood princess dreams

Schloß Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Schloß Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Park Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Schloß Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Schloß Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Park Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria
The imperial Schönbrunn Gardens 

Park Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Park Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria
Vienna from (slightly) above at the Gloriette

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, AustriaTown hall towers

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

Stephansdom, Vienna, Austria
I
nside St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

KHM, Vienna, Austria
Inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum — the reason I came to Vienna in the first place

Karlskirche, Vienna, Austria
Golden Hour at the Karlsplatz

Vienna, Austria

Karlskirche, Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

Rathaus, Vienna, Austria
The arches of Vienna town hall 

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria
#fromwhereIstand fancy-town-hall-lamp shadow edition

Vienna, Austria

Belvedere, Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

Belvedere, Vienna, Austria
Belvedere Palace

Belvedere, Vienna, Austria
Belvedere mirror selfie 

Have you been to Vienna?
How did you feel about the Austrian capital?