The Hofburg palace is probably Vienna’s “must see” attraction; The imperial palace is one of the largest palace complexes in the world. It is home to several museums, fascinating courtyards, a silver collection and even a Spanish Riding school.

Schonbrunn Palace and gardens rival Versailles in terms of beauty and grandeur, so it’s no surprise it won a Unesco award World Heritage Site Allow half a day to see the palace, as it’s about 30 minutes from the city center by public transport and its magnificent baroque interior and grounds are vast.

Belvedere Palace was the former summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Although the two baroque palaces are separated by beautiful grounds, the real attraction is the art galleries housing the works of Gustav Klimt. Kiss.

There are more than 100 museums in Vienna; There is even a dedicated Museums Quartier Wien filled with art institutions, restaurants and cafes. Vienna offers a museum for every interest, from Sigmund Freud to Beethoven to Natural History.

If you’re only visiting one, Kunsthistorisches Museum Viennawhich offers more than one museum in one. The painting gallery includes works by Raphael, Velazquez, Rubens, Rembrandt and Titian. The Kunstkammer (or Chamber of Wonders) houses over two thousand valuable objects collected by the Habsburg family over the centuries. There is also an Egyptian collection, Greek and Roman antiquities, and a coin collection. From Mummies to Old Masters, Art History will fascinate visitors for hours.

After visiting the museums, clear your head by climbing to the top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The cathedral has been an emblem of the city for centuries, and its roof offers magnificent panoramas (as well as a close-up view of the magnificent tiled roof).

No visit to Vienna is complete without a visit to the Vienna State Opera. Fans of ballet or opera can book one of the many shows, but it’s also possible to join a guided tour and admire the impressive auditorium, grand staircase and tea room.

Foodies shouldn’t miss Vienna’s open-air market, Naschmarkt. Stretching between Karlsplatz and Kettenbruckengasse, 120 market stands and restaurants offer everything from Viennese delicacies to Vietnamese spices. It is an ideal place to taste the heritage of the city.

Vienna has a great cafe culture and there are many charming spots to wander around the city. If you only taste one thing in Vienna, it should be chocolate cake. Or rather, his signature Sachertorte. It is a dense chocolate sponge cake covered with a thin layer of apricot jam, dark chocolate and served with sugar-free whipped cream. This dreamy dessert is served in cafes all over Vienna, but Hotel Sacher claims to have the original recipe, which dates back to 1832.

Bratislava

capital of Bratislava SlovakiaIt is smaller and less famous than its neighbors. It may not be as lively as Vienna or as beautiful as Budapest, but it’s worth spending a day or two here (depending on your travel connections) to experience this unique charm. It’s also just 70km from Vienna and 200km from Budapest, so it’s an easy way to tick another European capital off your bucket list.

Since Bratislava is a compact city, it is easy to visit most of the attractions on foot. The exception is Devín Castle, located 10 km west of the city. If you only have one day in Bratislava, I recommend spending your time seeing the main attractions in the old town so you can wander the charming cobblestone streets at a more relaxed pace.

The iconic Bratislava Castle is the ideal place to orient yourself and enjoy magnificent views of the city. From here, head towards the striking green copper roof of Michael’s Gate, the entrance to the old city.

Here you’ll find St Martin’s Cathedral, a 15th-century Gothic church, and the Old Town Hall, which houses the Bratislava City Museum. Visitors may want to explore the Primate’s Palace, a classical 18th-century palace that served as the seat of Bratislava’s mayor.

Don’t miss Cumil (man at work), one of the city’s most photographed statues. You can find it on the corner of Panska Street.

A little outside the city center is the striking Blue Church and the Grassalkovich Palace, the official residence of the President of Slovakia. It is possible to watch the changing of the guard in the front courtyard when the president is at his residence.

Monument to Slavin, II. It was built in memory of the Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Bratislava in World War II. Besides being a spooky and touching monument, it also offers stunning views of the city.

There are many restaurants where you can dine after a busy day of sightseeing. If you want a taste of a traditional Slovak dish, look for bryndzove halusky (potato dumplings stuffed with soft sheep cheese and smoked bacon) or pivny syr (beer cheese). I tasted pivny syr at Bratislavsky Mestiansky Pivovar, a small brewery in the old town. Yes, a cheese made from beer… what’s not to love?

Budapest

Beautiful Budapest has an ever-changing charm with something to excite or fascinate every traveler. Whether you are looking for magnificent castles, great nightlife or want to sample the famous thermal baths, Budapest has it all.

A magnificent combination of Buda and Pest, two ancient cities divided on both banks of the Danube River. Three days will allow you to see the important moments.

The west side is home to the charm of Buddha. Head to Castle Hill to see the Royal Palace, which is divided into three museums: the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the National Library. You won’t have time to visit them all in one day, so choose wisely…

The highlight has to be the striking seven towers of the ornately carved Bastian the Fisherman, a Unesco world heritage site as part of the Buda Castle neighbourhood.

From here, you can walk up Gellert Hill to visit the Statue of Liberty with panoramic views of Budapest.

Due to its 120 geothermal springs, Budapest is famous for its thermal baths. Gellert and Rudas Thermal Baths are on the Buda side of the river. The famous Szechenyi Baths are on the Pest side. Each has different offers and price points, so it’s worth doing your research and booking in advance.

The iconic Hungarian Parliament dominates the Pest side of the river. It is possible to visit the interior rooms of this Unesco site by booking in advance online (a limited number of tickets are available on the day). The building is stunning when illuminated at night, and some of the best views can be seen from the nearby Chain Bridge, one of the city’s most famous bridges.

Also on the Pest side is St. Stephen’s Basilica, one of the must-visit churches in the city. It’s worth climbing the tower just for the 360-degree view.

If you’re hungry, head to Central Market Hall. Founded in 1897 and spread over three floors, it is a maze of stalls filled with fresh local delicacies. Those who want to try Hungary’s most famous dish, goulash (better known as goulash), can taste it here.

Budapest has a vibrant nightlife scene and its ruin bars are world famous. The bars are set in formerly abandoned buildings and are filled with mismatched furniture, strange artwork and reclaimed rubbish.

One of the oldest and largest, Szimpla Kert is a great base for any devastating pub crawl. Or, to end your European journey on a high, visit the 360 ​​bar, where you can sip a cocktail and enjoy the magnificent skyline one last time in a heated igloo.

Nine days, three cities, an unforgettable trip.