I’ve spent a few days in Vienna, Austria, this week. A very cold few days, that is.

Vienna, Austria

I didn’t expect Vienna to be warm at this time of year, but I also didn’t know it would be quite this cold – but, neither it seems, did the locals. Out of the wind, it was much better, but get caught by a gust and it was bitterly cold.

Weather aside, it was a chance to see Vienna and its diverse architecture, many coffee houses and cultural history. Having used the small K+K Hotels chain elsewhere in Europe, that was where we opted for in Vienna – providing a central location and more than adequate facilities for a few days exploring the city.

What else does Vienna have to offer? Opting for a two-day ‘hop on, hop off’ bus pass gave us a chance to work out the city and its most significant areas. Schoenbrunn Palace is worth a visit. If you’re an animal lover, there’s a zoo there, too – complete with the very rare treat of Giant Pandas.

As you’d expect of a European capital, bars and restaurants are numerous. Worth of a mention are the giant-sized schnitzels on offer from the famous Figlmueller restaurant. We also enjoyed a pleasant impromptu French meal at Le Salzgries (link).

Coffee & cakes, Vienna

As a bit of a coffee addict, no trip to Vienna would be complete without testing out a few of its famous cafes – with coffee accompanied by cake, of course. Alongside a few small establishments, Café Central was one of the more elaborate venues for a caffeine top-up. Coffee however you like it – with the weather like it was, that usually meant accompanied by a spirit of some kind – along with Sachertort, or any other beautifully-prepared cake of your choice.

A quick mention also for my first spot of an electric BMW i3 on the road in Austria. Still not the biggest fan of its styling, though!

BMW i3 in Vienna, Austria

Vienna is a pleasant location for a European city break. I suspect that with a bit of sunshine, it’s probably even better.