Leaving Prague wasn’t easy, but the train ride to Vienna made for a solid transition. I had a window seat, the landscape was perfect, and I recorded a time-lapse of the entire four-hour ride that somehow managed to be more calming than a meditation app.
Train Time-Lapse: Prague to Vienna

It felt like a quiet moment between chapters — four hours of countryside, rooftops, and rivers, slipping by like a soft reset.

Arrival Confusion and a Hidden Hostel

The calm ended the second I arrived in Wien Hauptbahnhof.

The main station in Vienna is… a lot. I had no idea where I was or which exit to take, so I just hopped on a random bus to anywhere else to regroup. Eventually, I figured out how to reach my hostel, which was tucked away not far from the city center, right off a tram line — but so well hidden I walked past it twice.

The place? Stadtaffe Chic. Despite the name sounding like a Berlin DJ set, it was actually one of the best hostels I’ve stayed in — clean, social, and surprisingly quiet when it needed to be.

Belvedere Museum: A Bit Meh, but Napoleon Made Up for It

After settling in, I headed out to the Belvedere Museum, which is supposed to be one of Vienna’s top art spots. I’ll be honest — it didn’t really hit for me. The museum itself felt kind of sterile, with a lot of white walls and a vibe that made it hard to feel connected to what I was looking at.

But there was one exception that made the whole visit worth it: Napoleon on his horse. Seeing David’s painting in person — larger than life and full of power — was one of those “okay, this is cool” moments that no photo can replace.

Quick tip: they don’t let you carry backpacks inside, so I had to rent a locker before going in, which was a mild hassle but not a dealbreaker.

I didn’t linger too long inside, so I wandered out to the Belvedere grounds, which were way more my speed. The gardens are perfect, with long paths, fountains, and shady spots to just sit and take it all in. I grabbed a bench to relax for a bit — and, of course, that’s when a random rainstorm hit.

What cracked me up was how nobody freaked out. People just casually claimed benches, huddled under trees, or leaned against covered walls, treating it like an excuse to take a break. The storm only lasted about 20 minutes, but it felt like the whole garden had agreed: “Yeah, let’s sit down for a minute.”

Museums, Film Nights, and Accidental Friend Groups

Later that evening, I wandered into Vienna’s free open-air film festival happening outside the Rathaus (City Hall).

I thought I’d watch for an hour. I ended up staying the entire evening. It was the perfect summer vibe — movies under the stars, food stalls with everything from schnitzel to Thai noodles, and a live band warming up the crowd before the screenings. It felt like the city was just handing out good vibes for free.

By pure accident, I met a group of fellow travelers there — all solo like me — and by the end of the night, we were already making plans to meet up the next morning. Vienna had done the thing I love most about travel: casually throwing people into my orbit that I never would’ve met otherwise.

Flea Markets and the Worst Walking Tour (But Cool Roman Ruins)

The next morning, our newly formed group met up and hit one of Vienna’s big flea markets. It was a mix of absolute gems and chaotic junk. If I had more than one backpack, I would’ve bought something dumb and regrettably cool. The watch selection alone was insane — vintage, unique, and probably stolen. I didn’t buy anything, but I definitely stared too long.

From there, we went on a free walking tour, which… was rough. It felt more like a drawn-out commercial for local businesses than an actual tour of the city. Three hours long, three miles covered. But there were some cool bits — like how Vienna went through a phase of rejecting religious symbolism, so instead of saints and angels, many of the old buildings are decorated with Greek gods representing modern technology.

And we did get to see some ancient Roman ruins in the city center, which were legitimately awesome. So, not a total loss.

War, Books, and a Hidden Church Masterpiece

The following day, we regrouped again and hit the Museum of Military History — one of the most detailed and intense military museums I’ve ever been to. Massive rooms filled with centuries of armor, weapons, and real historical artifacts. If you’re into warfare history, this place is a must.

Next stop: Austrian National Library. This place deserves its own post. It’s a book-lover’s dream — marble floors, ceiling frescoes, spiral staircases, and rows of antique books stacked under golden light. I wanted to spend an entire day there, just getting lost in it. Unfortunately, we only had an hour.

Our final stop was a recommendation from someone in the group: Jesuit Church. They called it a “hidden gem” and they weren’t wrong. Tucked away between more famous landmarks, this church quietly flexes as one of the most breathtaking I’ve ever seen — and I check out pretty much every church I come across now.

The inside? Absolute masterpiece. Gilded columns, surreal symmetry, and painted ceilings that pull your eyes upward and don’t let go. It wasn’t in any guidebook I’d read, but it easily beat out the more famous cathedrals.

📸 Jesuit Church – proof that the best places don’t always make the front page.

Vienna’s Vibe: Polished, But It’ll Win You Over

Vienna had a different rhythm than Prague. Bigger, cleaner, a bit more polished. Less rough magic, more refined moments. But the city grew on me fast — through film festivals, back-alley churches, and random conversations at food stalls.

It’s the kind of place that feels buttoned-up at first, but if you stick around long enough, it starts loosening its tie and showing you its fun side.

Up next: Salzburg. One night only.

Vienna by Rail – A Window Seat, a Hidden Hostel, and the Best Church You’ve Never Heard Of