Austria > The Prater Ferris Wheel

The last day has arrived. For the final time, we head to the small breakfast room. After breakfast, we pack our suitcases and check out. We are allowed to leave our luggage at the guesthouse and can pick it up here this afternoon. Outside, it’s chilly. A strong, cold wind is blowing, and it feels damp and raw. Passing the medieval-looking St. Rupert’s Church, we reach the Maria am Gestade Church. This neighborhood also has the restaurant from our second evening, but apart from that, we haven’t been here much. The caretaker of the church welcomes us but immediately apologizes, saying he has to close the entrance — the floor needs cleaning. We can leave through the back of the church. In front of Café Central, a long line of tourists is waiting to enter the oldest café in Vienna and order the famous Sachertorte with coffee. We skip the queue. Through the 19th-century Ferstel Passage behind Café Central, we arrive at Freyung Square. Around this triangular square stand several 17th- and 18th-century palaces. The Schottenkirche stands prominently among the beautiful buildings. We walk past the church and, through a gate, enter the courtyard of the former boys’ school. Passing the stock exchange building, we eventually reach the Ringstrasse again. In the Sigmund Freud Park stands the neo-Gothic Votive Church.

Austria - The Scottish Church on Freyung Square

Its two identical, 99-meter-high, openwork towers rise far above Vienna’s rooftops. Inside, the church is modestly furnished. It was built on the site where, in 1853, an assassination attempt on Emperor Franz Joseph I failed. It is still cold as we head toward the Rathaus. The Christmas market is being dismantled, but the ice rink is still in operation. With a mulled wine in hand, we watch the skaters on the ice. Behind the ice rink stands the Burgtheater. This building, originally from the 18th century, is comparable to the opera house. Guided tours are only given in the afternoon, which we won’t make in time. In the neighborhood behind the Rathaus, we follow Lange Gasse, where there are clearly fewer tourists. Passing the Volkskundemuseum, we arrive at the Church of the Virgin Mary of the Piarist Order. This stark white church stands out beautifully against the blue sky. Through the MuseumsQuartier, we finally reach Karlsplatz. We can conclude that we have seen all the sights of the Inner City.

Austria - Two identical museums stand around MariaTheresienPlatz

We spend the final hours outside the center. Taking the metro, we head to the Prater Park. The famous Wiener Riesenrad has been turning here since 1897. The cabins look more like train carriages — red giants that turn slowly. Originally, there were thirty cabins, but during the war, the Ferris wheel was damaged by fire. After restoration, only fifteen gondolas remained. Around the Ferris wheel is a large permanent funfair with numerous roller coasters, haunted houses, and other spinning attractions. It is probably busier in nice weather. From the Prater, we walk back to the Hundertwasserhaus, an artistic building just outside the center by artist Hundertwasser. The different floors of the apartment complex are all painted in different colors — fun to see. The Hundertwasser Village opposite, with souvenir shops and cafes, draws more visitors. The sun has now disappeared behind the clouds, and a few snowflakes even drift down as we walk back toward the center of Vienna. But there’s not enough snow to speak of.

Austria - The colorful Hundertwasser apartment complex in Vienna

Although it’s only half past two, we go into a restaurant to get something to eat. The rest of the evening will be spent on our return flight to the Netherlands, and it’s also nice to warm up for a while. We end our city trip to Vienna with one last walk through the city. To our own surprise, we still find streets we haven’t been to yet. From the Hofburg, we walk via Himmelpfortgasse — the location of our Christmas Eve restaurant — back to our guesthouse. We are still a bit early to head to the airport. “Of course you’re welcome to wait here,” says the man at reception. Everyone has been so friendly throughout our stay. Even the lady folding towels asks, in broken English, when our flight is. Around five o’clock, we leave Pension Dr. Geissler for the last time. We walk to Wien Mitte Bahnhof, and with the special airport train, we reach the airport in just over fifteen minutes. Everything goes smoothly — perhaps a bit too smoothly, as the gate hasn’t even been announced when we arrive. We order a glass of wine and wait to board Austrian Airlines flight OS377. Right on time, the flight takes off for Schiphol. Vienna disappears into the darkness behind us.