If you’re on the hunt for a gorgeous weekend getaway where you can enjoy all the benefits of a city break but still feel like you’ve had a holiday in nature, there’s one destination that needs to be on your list. Vienna in Austria is sometimes called the ‘city of dreams’ due to it being the home of famed psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud – and the dream is still very much alive.
Vienna has a rich cultural history and plenty of stunning architecture. One of the most famous sights is the Gothic St Stephen’s Cathedral. Visitors can marvel at its incredibly detailed interior as well as its 500 foot tall spire. The cathedral was built in 1137, and consecrated in 1147.
Sadly, it was mostly destroyed by a fire in 1258 and reconstructed in the Gothic style between 1304 and 1450.
Today, it is one of the most iconic sights in Vienna.
One person who visited the cathedral wrote about it on Tripadvisor and said: “The beautiful exterior is so exquisite with its vast tiled roof (with windows!) and the oh-so-tall spire.
“Inside there are just so many interesting architectural and sculptural details to be found. Look up and all around!! Free admission is just icing on the cake!”
It is worth noting that while access to the main nave of the cathedral is free, if you want to see the catacombs or the tower, you will need to buy a ticket.
Once you’ve enjoyed the cathedral, you can wander through the city – and don’t forget to pack your swimming costume.
Just a short walk from the city center is the Danube Canal. The walk takes about an hour, or you can take the bus.
Here, vibrant murals line the concrete banks and just along the canal you can find a wild swimming spot beloved by locals.
The Old Danube is framed by wooden docks and weeping willows where locals leap into the water to get a break from the summer heat. You can hire electric boats if you fancy a day cruising on the water, or just lie back and enjoy the fresh water swimming.
For a wilder edge, head to Strombucht, a peaceful stretch of shingle beach where the water slopes gently into the Old Danube. New bathing platforms introduced in 2023 offer safe access and plenty of space for sunbathing.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
