Boat trip up the river Danube Vienna

After arriving into the city of Vienna the previous night we didn't do much other than find our hotel and get a good nights sleep after 10 hours of travelling.

We went down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast and were pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was modern and quirky and the breakfast was beautiful. A self service buffet breakfast with every possible choice of food available.

Breakfast in the Royal Park Hotel Vienna

 After a rather large hearty breakfast we decided to venture into the city centre to explore the area. The day was bright but it was freezing. The temperature around 1'C and there were piles of cleared snow on the ground.
The trams moved around the streets as we walked through a local park back to the tube station to get back into the city centre.

The streets of Vienna

Tram Stations in Vienna

Winter sunshine in Vienna

Walking through the park in Vienna and the frozen edges of the river

Walking through the park in Vienna

The tube station into the city centre was beautiful with stunning tiles on the floor and the elegance of the city shining through even at the train stations. The train stations were quiet although we were travelling rather later in the morning and wonder whether rush hour would have been a different story. There was no litter on the platforms or on the trains and people were every so friendly to help us when we were looking a little lost.

Entrance stairwell to the train station at Schonbrunn

Schonbrunn train station

 Arriving in the city centre of Vienna we were soon soaking up the history of the area, the buildings and especially the national opera house. We decided that we would purchase a Vienna Pass. A ticket that gave us access to lots of excursions including the zoo, bus tours, boat rides and many other attractions.
We decided that to get an idea of what the city had to offer we would start with the bus tour and with our little headphones in ears we were seeing the sights of the city and learning what was what.

 After a while on the bus we decided that we would get off the bus on the other side of the city and take a boat trip up the canal and back and thought this would be a great way to see even more of the city.
Interestingly the main river Danube was actually frozen solid but this small section of canal was still flowing.
It was lovely and relaxing and we were to enjoy a nice glass of wine and see the city from another angle.

Boat trip up the river Danube Vienna

Boat trip up the river Danube Vienna

After our boat trip the sun was starting to go down in the sky and the temperature was falling rapidly. We decided that we would make our way back to the hotel after being out all day and have a meal in the hotel in the warm.
So far our first day in Vienna had been amazing and really beautiful and we couldn't wait to continue our city break and especially I couldn't wait to see the pandas.

Come back to my blog soon to read about more of our Vienna trip.