Kiersten Roy

I love Vienna! Like LOVE it. Honestly, anytime someone asks me “What was your favorite place in Europe?” it’s always in the top 3 (followed closely by Budapest and Copenhagen).

I sometimes wonder if I don’t love Vienna so much because it was the first EU country I visited after moving to Belgrade. Maybe it was simply the high of being less than a month into living on a new continent that made it feel so special.

And yet, there was an energy and a feeling about the city that causes me to believe it was more than hype – that my reasons for falling in love with the city remain even after the initial honeymoon phase wore off.

So, on that note, here’s my honest (and completely positive) review of my weekend in Vienna – The City of Music.

First Impressions

The Queerness

Ok, to be fair, I didn’t really experience any queer life in Vienna, but the moment I walked out of the metro station out into the streets for the first time, I was met with a lesbian crosswalk sign. And honestly, that’s probably where my love for the city began. 🙂

The Architecture

Of course, one of the first things I fell in love with in Vienna was the architecture. Coming from the U.S., the beautiful European architecture is something that you hear a lot about, but I hadn’t been exposed to it yet. Seeing the historic Baroque buildings throughout the city center, the grand palace courtyards and sprawling gardens at Schönbrunn, and the ornate interiors and immaculate grounds at Belvedere Palace was awe-inspiring to say the least.

Queerness and architecture were just two of the things I initially fell in love with during my weekend in Vienna, but the city’s magic goes so much deeper than first impressions. From life-changing schnitzel (and no, I don’t say that lightly) to discovering an unexpected connection with an Empress, there was so much more that made this city steal my heart.

Lately, I’ve been sharing more of my insights and stories over on Substack because honestly, I love the community aspect of the platform. Head over there to read the full story about my weekend in Vienna, and why I’m already planning my return trip.