76 Hours in Austria

A few weeks ago, I booked a flight to Vienna for the third weekend in December. I’ve been consistent with taking monthly trips since moving here in August, and Austria had been on my list for years, so I decided on a “random” weekend and that was that.

Although I tend to sway more Type A, I didn’t do much (…or any) planning for this trip. So much so that I didn't even realize what a perfect weekend it was to visit this Eastern European country. To my surprise, there were more festivities than I could count: nativity scenes in front of churches, Christmas markets galore, warm drinks and delicious food every 10 feet, and glistening lights hung on every street...

If you’ve been thinking about visiting Austria, I can’t recommend this time of year enough. Whether you go at Christmastime or not, below are five things I would recommend to anyone visiting this dreamy country:

1. You must attend a classical concert at the Minorite Church. You'll be in awe for 70 minutes straight. When you arrive, ask if it's possible to sit on the balcony (we were randomly ushered up there and it was such a wonderful surprise).
2. Take a day trip to Hallstatt and Salzburg to see the tiny picture-perfect storybook town and the home to many iconic Sound of Music scenes.
3. Spend a few hours at Phil, a bookstore, coffee shop, lunch spot, and cozy place to have an alcoholic drink all in one. I randomly stumbled upon it and truly found it to be the perfect establishment. I visited twice, and if I'm ever back in Vienna, it will be the first place I go.
4. Have dinner at Schnitzel One and order the Cuatro (the perfect size for two people) to try four different types of schnitzel, one of the foods Austria is best known for.
5. Stroll around the Kunsthistorisches Museum. If you visit before March 2026, you'll be lucky enough to see the exhibition dedicated to Michaelina Wautier, one of the most important female artists of the 17th century. 

Until I find another classical music concert in a beautiful church and Christmas markets like the ones in Salzburg, I’ll be daydreaming about Austria and patiently awaiting my next visit.