7 Things You Should Do As A Solo Traveler in Vienna

Vienna is thought to be one of Europe’s most romantic cities, but you don’t have to meet your lover on a train a la Before Sunrise to have a good time. Traveling alone gives you the opportunity to get lost, meet new people, and explore your individual interests.

If you are nervous about traveling alone, don’t be! Traveling solo is something everybody can do, and Vienna is a great place to start. This post will walk you through how to travel solo in Vienna (being alone in Austria’s capital might be a lot more fun than you think).

1. Meet New People At A Hostel


Siebenbrunnerplatz, a short walk from Pauline's hostel where you can find bike rentals and an ATM

If you are a female traveling alone, a great option is to stay in an all-female hostel room. This will help you save money, feel more secure, and still give you the option to go into common spaces and meet new people.

Pauline’s contactless hostel is easy to navigate and super friendly; I recommend it for all solo travelers!(Address For Pauline’s Contactless Hostel: Siebenbrunnengasse 69, 1050 Wien, Austria)

2. Enjoy A Meal Alone                               

The great thing about traveling in Vienna solo is that you will most likely be seated quickly, even in popular dining spots. When in Vienna, make sure to try the capital’s two iconic dishes; apfelstrudel and schnitzel.

Apfelstrudel at Café Sperl? Ja, bitte!

 

Go to Café Sperl for a simultaneously laid-back and luxurious Viennese coffeehouse experience. The cafe was built in the 1880s, and its red brocade sitting booths are perfect for weary travelers. (Address for Café Sperl: Gumpendorfer Str. 11, 1060 Wien, Austria)

Figlmüller: For schnitzel, head to Vienna’s most famous schnitzelhaus, Figlmüller. Try going during the week to avoid crowds, and if possible, make a reservation beforehand. If you want to avoid the line on the main street, go to the Backerstrasse entrance where the line is a little shorter. (Address for Figlmüller: Bäckerstraße 6, 1010 Wien, Austria)           

3. Get Into the Coffee Culture

Vienna is famous for its coffeehouse culture, yet there are very few coffeehouses in the city that make their own roast. For locally roasted coffee and a more modern feel than Café Sperl, take a seat at Café Comet in the trendy Neubau district (Address for Café Comet: Kirchengasse 44, 1070 Wien, Austria) 


Café Comet is one of the only places in Vienna that roasts its own specialty coffee. You can also get wine here for 2 euros a glass when you need an evening break from sightseeing.

4. Get Lost In A Cool Neighborhood

A huge perk of traveling alone is being able to get lost without having to worry about keeping your travel partner happy.

The best neighborhoods to walk around aimlessly in are the Margareten district, Neubau, Spittelberg, and Mariahilf (where Pauline’s hostel is located). If you get tired, you can always find a coffeehouse to grab your bearings.

Wandering alone on a sunny afternoon in the Margareten district.

A peaceful moment in the Spittelberg neighborhood.


....and a storm brewing in the Mariahilf district (luckily close to the hostel).

                                                  

 5. Go to a Museum Alone

Have you ever stared at a piece of art for as long as you wanted? If not, traveling solo in Vienna is an excellent opportunity to do so. From Egon Schiele to Gustav Klimt, Vienna has housed some of Europe’s greatest artistic talents, and you can dive right into the city’s rich art history in the Museumsquartier.

While there is a multitude of museums in Vienna, I recommend starting with a visit to the bright and beautiful Leopold Museum, which contains the world's largest collection of Egon Schiele's work. (Address for the Leopold Museum: Musuemplatz 1, 1070 Wien, Austria.) 

A sunny afternoon at the Volksgarten (a six-minute walk from the Museumsquartier) 

6. Spend A Day At The Cemetery

When you travel alone, nobody gets to judge you for spending the entire day in a cemetery. For a peaceful afternoon, take a solo trip to the Wiener Zentralfriedhof, located on the outskirts of the city. For ultimate freedom rent a bike, as the Zentralfriedhof isn’t centrally located and is one of the largest in the world.
Hang out with Brahms, Beetho ven and Strauss in the Musician's Corner of the cemetery. (Address: Simmeringer Hauptstraße 234, 1110 Wien, Austria)

7. Enjoy The Journey!

While traveling alone can be daunting, it gives you a huge amount of freedom. Traveling in Vienna alone gave me time to linger in my favorite places, act more spontaneously, and reflect on my experiences. I was also more social as a solo traveler! Make sure to say hi to people at your hostel; you might make a friend. Here is a picture of me at Karlskirche, taken by a German girl I met the second day at my hostel. We spent the day exploring the city together. 

And remember, If you’re really feeling lonely, you can always go on a tinder date (more on this in my latest post).





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