Most Liveable City in the World, Vienna

Grüß Gott,

Out of all the cities we visited on this trip, we liked Vienna the best. Vienna has a rich history (Habsburg Empire), excellent architecture, affordable housing, and a charming atmosphere and social scene. Vienna also has a well-connected and affordable public transport system, with unlimited travel for as cheap as 1€ per day.

Our Experience

We had an amazing time in Vienna, learning about its history and exploring the city via public transport. We took trams 2 and 1, which complete a circle around Old Vienna Town, offering a great way to see all the sculptures and sights without walking. These trams cover the Ringstrasse, a highway that replaced the moat around the old town when the city was expanding in the 18th century.

Old Town of Vienna

On one of the days, we attended a free jazz concert in a park in the suburbs of Vienna. We enjoyed the jazz music while relaxing on the grass. We were happy to see other people with their families, friends, and pets having a relaxing picnic in the park.

Here are a few stories we learned about Vienna:

Vienna

Vienna was the capital of the Habsburg Empire, the dynasty that ruled most of Central Europe (including the lands encompassing countries of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Romania) during the 19th century. The Habsburg Empire was a major dynasty in Europe and ruled for more than 600 years. After World War I, the Habsburg Empire collapsed, and all of its territories disintegrated into various countries. As Vienna was the capital, many people in this city had migrated from neighboring countries like Hungary, Czech Republic, or Slovakia. The city is frequently recognized as one of the most liveable cities in the world due to its affordable costs and extensive public transport.

As we were planning to visit the neighboring countries of Hungary and Czech Republic, learning about the Habsburg Empire gave us valuable historical context.

Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria

The most famous Viennese empress was Empress Elisabeth of Austria, or Sisi. She was known for her beauty, her dramatic life that saw many tragedies including the deaths of her children, and her struggle adjusting to courtly life. Her life and tragedies make her as interesting as Princess Diana of the British royal family to people today. Sisi’s life and events have been portrayed in many shows, including the latest one on Netflix called “The Empress.”

During her time, she was known for following a strict regimen of fasting and exercises such as gymnastics, and she always maintained her weight at 50 kgs. Whenever she thought she was gaining weight, she would fast for days. Today, historians suggest that she might have had an eating disorder. In addition to her rigorous exercise regimen, she also practiced a demanding beauty regime. Her hairdressing alone took about two hours every day. Imagine that!

Gemütlichkeit

The term “Gemütlichkeit” is a word used to convey the idea of well-being, comfort, and friendliness. In Vienna, this is particularly evident in the city’s coffee houses, where people gather to enjoy drinks, pastries, and conversations.

Viennese coffee houses are an experience. They are elegant, large, and are frequented by the Viennese people, in some cases almost every day. A traditional Viennese coffee house consists of a grumpy male waiter who would identify regulars and bring their favorite food without them needing to order! Many student groups and older men and women hang out in coffee houses regularly.

We also visited a traditional coffee house to experience it. A grumpy waiter took our order, but instead of letting us enjoy our time in peace, he kept coming back every now and then, as he understood we were tourists. We also observed that he did not bother regulars, even if they didn’t order anything 🥲

That’s all from Vienna. In the next mail, I will share more details about the most unique language in Europe.

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