Vienna, Bratislava & a Very Good Excuse to Eat More Cake

Visit two capital cities in two countries on one easy European getaway.

There are European trips where you spend half your vacation getting from one place to another. But then there’s Vienna and Bratislava which gives you two capital cities, two countries, completely different personalities, that are close enough together so you can experience both without sacrificing half a day to an airport.

So...if you’re looking for a European getaway that combines beautiful architecture, incredible food, fascinating history and two very different cultures, a Vienna and Bratislava vacation might be one of Europe’s best-kept secrets.

First Stop: Vienna, Where Everything Is Just a Little Bit Fancy

Vienna is the kind of city that makes everyday life look unusually elegant. You'll find palaces, chandeliers, grand boulevards, beautiful old buildings and horse-drawn carriages casually making their way through streets that make it look and feel like a movie set. But somehow, despite all that grandeur, Vienna doesn’t feel like a city you can only admire from behind a velvet rope.

It’s incredibly enjoyable just to be here. You can walk through the historic centre then stop for coffee and wander into a beautiful church. Don't forget to find a wine bar while you're there and then sit outside and just people-watch.

But the one thing you can't forget to do is order cake. Because you’re in Vienna, and frankly, it would be rude not to.

Yes, Eating Cake Is Basically Sightseeing Here

Vienna takes coffee and dessert very seriously. Traditional Viennese coffeehouses aren't really about grabbing caffeine on your way somewhere. They're about sitting down, slowing down and staying awhile.

And then there’s Sachertorte.

Is chocolate cake a legitimate cultural experience?

In Vienna, absolutely.

Add apple strudel, schnitzel, sausages and Austrian wine, and you'll quickly realize that one of the best things to do in Vienna is eat.

The Palaces Are Completely Over the Top

And we mean that as a compliment! Vienna was the centre of the Habsburg Empire, and subtle decorating apparently wasn't their thing.

Schönbrunn Palace alone gives you a pretty good idea of the scale we're talking about. Then there's the Hofburg, Belvedere Palace, enormous gardens, ornate churches and world-class museums.

Even if you don't normally consider yourself a “palace person,” Vienna has a way of turning you into one.

And Then You Can Just… Pop Over to Another Country

Bratislava is roughly an hour from Vienna, making it incredibly easy to combine Austria and Slovakia in one trip. Imagine doing breakfast in Austria. and then lunch in Slovakia with no airport required.

And then there is Bratislava, which feels completely different. Where Vienna is grand and imperial, Bratislava is smaller, quirkier and wonderfully relaxed.

Bratislava Might Be the Surprise Favourite

Bratislava's Old Town was basically designed for wandering. You will get cobblestone streets with colourful buildings. Little squares with cafés and restaurants. And quirky statues popping up in unexpected places.

Overlooking it all you'll find Bratislava Castle, an impressive sight. Inside, you can visit Slovak National Museum’s Museum of History, with exhibitions, historical interiors and archaeological finds. You can also explore the castle grounds and Baroque garden and get excellent views over Bratislava and the Danube.

Two Cities That Are Better Together

Vienna gives you imperial Europe: art, architecture, palaces, cafés and centuries of history while Bratislava gives you something smaller, younger, more casual and a little unexpected. Together, they create an incredibly easy two-city European vacation with a surprising amount of variety.

And because they're so close together, you get the fun of visiting two countries without spending your vacation packing, flying, unpacking and doing it all over again.

So how do you fit the best of both cities into one trip?

We've already mapped it out for you.

Explore our Vienna & Bratislava itinerary and start planning your trip:
https://planyourvacay.com/viennabratislava