For Christmas 2023 we gave Madeleine a trip to Vienna and Budapest with mom after she returned from her mission. Even though she had been to Vienna before, she was only 6 and had scant memories of this visit, and she had never been to Budapest, so these were her cities of choice for her Christmas present. We took a week in April, flew into Vienna, trained from Vienna to Budapest and flew home out of Budapest. It was a wonderful few days exploring two of central Europe's amazing capitals.
St. Stephens
Johann Strauss monument in Stadtpark
First of many schnitzels!
Austrian National Library
Hofburg
This terrace at the Hofburg Palace was the stage for a more grim event, and is never open to the public to avoid any possible glorifying of this spot.
Maria Theresa Platz
Parliament
Rathaus
We took a walking tour, which took us to the usual sightseeing places, a good introduction to the city and some of its history led by a local guide.
Beethoven's house
Our guide took us on a special detour to view the once lost masterpiece by Klimt that was up for auction and only on view for a short time, lucky for us during our visit.
The painting, we learned later, fetched €30M!
The auction house is housed in a stunning baroque palace, Kinsky Palace
Ferstel Passage
Cafe Central
Stunning mosaic of Da Vinci's Last Supper adorns the walls of the Wiener Minoritenkirche
Empress Elisabeth, Sisi, memorial in Volksgarten
View of Parliament from Volksgarten
Gorgeous, lush lunch at Hotel Sacher in the red room
Wonderful audio tour of Mozart's home. No photos allowed inside, but great tour learning a lot about his life.
St. Charles's Church
Strudel!
Delightful Cafe Schwarzenberg watching Vienna go by
Vienna Music Society
A wonderful Mozart concert in full period dress. It may be a flex for the tourists, but honestly the performance is still top shelf. So well done, including amazing operatic arias. Wow!
Belvedere Palace
The Kiss, Klimt
Some favourites from the galleries at Belvedere Palace
Naschmarkt
More strudel, of course
Inside the glorious Austrian National Library
A tour of the magnificent Sisi rooms at the Hofburg Palace. I had been years ago on a previous visit, but was reminded what an incredible if not tragic life Empress Elisabeth, Sisi, Emperor Franz Joseph's wife, lived. She was revered for certain beauty, known for her rigid nutrition and tiny waist. The museum does a wonderful job, but I am also left wishing we knew more about her person.
Exact replica of jewellery she wore as documented in paintings.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Auf wiedersehen, Wien!
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