With one week to go it was time to head closer towards Germany, after Hungary, and so, Austria was next on the list. Although I did drive through here a few times, already stopping in Salzburg and Vienna, this time I wanted to visit the smaller towns sitting amongst the Alps. And what about the Schönbrunn Gardens? Furthermore, Graz is supposed to be nice and I will also stop in Hallstatt (more in next blog). Maybe even do a hike or two?
Schönbrunn Gardens
The Schönbrunn Baroque Palace is a former imperial summer residence in Vienna. It has an astonishing 1441 rooms and the building sits beautifully and in full glory surrounded by the big Schönbrunn Gardens.
Last time I went to Schönbrunn Palace it was January 2017 and a very cold winter day. I did the castle tour but couldn‘t see the gardens. So this time, being here in June, I went to see the Schönbrunn Gardens only. The gardens are just stunning. It is fun getting lost there, especially on a nice sunny day.
That said, and to be honest, I probably expected a little bit more of a ‚wow effect‘. The gardens were nice but quite simple. It was mainly pretty trimmed hedges rather than a flower display. Maybe because it is a public park (free entry)? Either way, I am glad I came back to the Schönbrunn Gardens in summer. Much better than being here in Winter. Obviously!
Let’s see what Graz has to offer.
Graz
In comparison to Schoenbrunn Vienna, Graz is a great more of a modern city, with a great old city part. The medieval old town square to plenty of shops and restaurants in the narrow side streets, Graz has it all. The Renaissance and baroque architecture seems to blend beautifully with some modern designs.
Especially the design of the futuristic Kunsthaus (read here) is quite unique. The Kunsthaus is certainly a funky building (also called the ‚Friendly Alien’), but complements the city‘s vibe and youthfulness perfectly.
Graz is a student town after all and I liked it very much. I could hang around here for a bit longer! Definitely book a night here when you visit.
Small note on being in Austria
After travelling in the cheaper Eastern European countries I noticed the incredible price difference in the restaurants. I suddenly found myself having to pay twice as much for a meal, as I did for the past 6 weeks. Not to mention the extra charge of over 2 Euro, for just sitting down at the table. Especially around the Schönbrunn Gardens and Palace. Oh well, I guess my budget has to be readjusted again.
