In romantic, historic, and fun terms a Wachau boat trip through this quaint Danube valley is hard to beat. When I first took my Portuguese husband to the Wachau Valley he loved the boat trip most, floating on the wide Danube while being exposed to almost two hours of blissful vineyard, village and river gazing. Wachau Boat Trip – Which …

There are four baroque gardens in and around Vienna that fans of geometrical landscapes, clipped hedges, patterned ‘broderie’ flower beds, and sculpted boxes shouldn’t miss: They are all part of baroque palaces, and perfect examples of transforming nature into organic classical art. Augarten The Augarten is Vienna’s oldest baroque garden, and in my view the most charismatic. Located in the second district …

While the Naschmarkt in Vienna is a historic landmark it’s also our best fresh food and flea market. Every Saturday, my Viennese mum hunts there for the best food and vintage things. Because some of the best fresh produce sells at Naschmarkt, some of the best fish and Mediterranean restaurants have settled there. As a result, we are sharing our …

Visiting the Belvedere Vienna you can happily lose yourself in fine art and beautiful landscaping. While the palace and baroque gardens alone are worth a visit the Belvedere’s Austrian National Gallery impresses with 1,000 years of national art. Below I’m sharing my personal notes of what to see and do at the Belvedere.  The Palace And Baroque Gardens To begin with, the Belvedere shines a bright light …

[todaysdate format=”F Y”]  Vienna Tours Private Sightseeing. Can a mere a print guide ever replace a knowledgeable and passionate private guide such as Walter here at Café Bräunerhof (see above)? To help connect you with professionals like him I have put together the best small group and private tours for you to screen. Private Walking Tour Vienna Tours Private Sightseeing. …

I grew up in the Vienna Woods, at the Viennese’s favourite outdoors. Let me share the places I know, they are quite a few.  The Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) are a large belt of mixed woodland with a couple of small historic towns and hilly vineyards, and reach from Vienna’s north west right to the south east. Towns like Perchtoldsdorf, Mödling, and Baden in the south …

There is so much hype around our Sacher Torte. Though I honestly think other Austrian desserts deserve at least the same attention, I can’t deny I like this cake. Therefore, here is my total guide to the Sacher Cake. The original cake derives its special hype from three sources: First, its ingredients and method of preparation. Second, its controversial history. Third, its cult brand. …

Mini Danube Cruise. If you plan a day trip from Vienna to Bratislava by boat consider taking the catamaran during the warm months. At just 60 km distance from Vienna, this stretch of the Donau provides a great setting for a mini Danube cruise. Despite this being a fairly high-speed ride it feels super safe and is also child friendly. …

Things to do in Vienna January 2013. January is a relatively quiet tourism season (except for ball travellers), leaving the best things to do to a few visitors and the residents. Watch the New Year’s Concert for free, experience Vienna in a different light, join a Vienna ball, visit an opera or operetta, and do some cheap and cheerful art …

[todaysdate format=”F Y”]  To find the perfect Vienna Woods hotel for a weekend in Vienna’s countryside, start with these nine top choices: from a 19th century palace hotel in a spa town, a romantic tavern in a historic market town, or a hideaway wine growing estate in a sleepy village. Having said that, I have sifted through hundreds of accommodations …