I spent the week before my weekend in Vienna working long hours, then flying to Berlin for two days of work before arriving in Vienna on Friday night. By the time I arrived, my body was giving me signals that it needed rest. My flight with Austrian Airlines was smooth, no issue, but arriving in Vienna on one of the coldest weekends of the year and being sick. All I wanted was my bed. Then I missed my train stop and ended up in the Austrian countryside in the dead of night (face plant). When I arrived at my hotel, it was close to midnight; I could barely stand up straight and spent five minutes trying to get into the wrong room. Thankfully the people occupying the room were gracious. The trip did not get off to an excellent start. With hindsight, I can say it was a lovely trip with some low, low moments, but still a great city to visit.

Visa Requirement. If you have a travel limiting passport, Austria is a Schengen member country, which means you can access a valid Schengen visa. When applying for a Schengen visa, Pro tip makes sure to request multiple entries - not two entries. Certain Schengen countries have the option for "two entries" on the application, so make sure you select "multiple entries" on your application form. Also, make sure to apply to the country you will be spending the most time on - I cannot stress that point enough.

[read - travel destinations if you have a travel limiting passport]

Getting around.  Your best option to get to and from the airport or get around Vienna is the trains (and trams). I found it extremely reliable and cheap; if you are lucky to find a central hotel, you can walk most places.

How many days do you need? I arrived on an evening flight on Friday and left Monday evening. I took a day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia, during my visit. I had two days in Vienna and got to do all the things on my list. 

Day Trips. One of the best parts about being in Vienna is the number of day trips you can take to other parts of Austria or other European countries. I had a few options when planning my trip, including Slovakia; Haslett, Salzburg; Munich, and Prague. Ultimately I chose to visit Bratislava. Read all about the trip here. 

Where to stay. I stayed at a decent three-star hotel - Novum Hotel Congress Wien. The hotel is perfectly located across the street from the central train station (Wien Hauptbahnhof), making it around a breeze. It was also in walking distance to several of the spots on my itinerary. If you are looking for luxury, this is not the hotel you; but you cannot go wrong if you are looking for a convenient place with decent amenities. 

Where to eat. I spent Saturday in Slovakia, so my recommendations are limited to Sunday and Monday before my flight. Apple pie is a must in Vienna, and I enjoyed the serving at Cafe central - you might find a queue to get in and a point to note; they don't always sit on first come first serve but by party size, which made my wait for a one-person table slightly longer than my spot in line would have allowed. The Vienna chocolate cake - Sacher tote is a must, and there is no better place to try it than its birth-place - Hotel Sacher. I visited on a Monday morning and did not encounter a long wait. Wurst (Viennese sausage) at the Bitzinger Wurst stand had fab Wurst; I visited the one outside Albertina and encountered a queue. Still, it was not a long wait, and if I was not in a rush with my itinerary, I might have gotten back in the queue for a second serving. The Naschmarkt was a highly recommended food market, and they're so many great options (but I must confess I got overwhelmed. Yes! The foodie got overwhelmed with the options, so I recommend doing some research here before visiting. I traded the options at the market for a traditional Austrian dish at Zum Schwarzen Kameel. The menu changes monthly but if they have the Viennese Schnitzel from Austrian veal with potato lamb salad - get it; you will not be disappointed.  

What to see and do. I tried to cram my entire itinerary into thirty-six hours, and I would not recommend it; having the full forty-eight hours is a must. If you are like me, you may be on the lookout for excellent day trip options to maximize your trip. Vienna is the perfect city for day trips.

In Vienna, I spent time exploring the area around Karlsplatz - Karlskirche (St Charle's Church) is beautiful. Albertina was a delight - I loved this museum with its collection of Monet and Picasso. There are two locations Albertina Modern and Albertina. If you only have time for one - then I recommend Albertina. Next, I made my way to the Vienna Palace complexes (aka Hofburg). Once you arrive here, you are only a short walk to some of the main attractions, and you could find yourself in this general area for most of the day. At Hofburg, there is so much to see in this area, including museums, libraries, palaces to see, so if you don't have time, pick two to four must-see and focus on those. For me, that was State hall at the Austrian National Library; and the imperial apartments. Sisi Museum is also highly recommended if you have the time. Across the way from the Palace, complexities are the Maria Theresien Platz, which is home to several museums. You will also find the Rathus (aka Townhall) a short walk from Hofburg, which has an outdoor skating rink in the winter months. Away from the city center, you can visit Wiener Prater, an amusement park - I visited, and it was not really for me, but it could be a great stop if you have kids with you. Naschmarkt is a great stop for foodies with over 100 market stands and restaurants. If you are a fan of architecture, the Hundertwasser house is a must-visit. There are many Palace (and churches) in and around Vienna - I spent my last morning exploring The Belvedere, which is home to the upper and lower Belvedere; and gardens. The museum in the upper Belvedere is home to Gustav Klimt's famed piece "The Kiss." Vienna is home to several beautiful churches to visit either for Spiritual reasons or architecture including, St Stephen's cathedral church at Stephansplatz, St Francis of Assisi, and St Peter's Church (Peterskirche).