Schönbrunn Palace is one of those places where the sheer number of attractions works against you. There’s the palace itself, multiple gardens, a greenhouse, a zoo, a hedge maze, a hilltop monument, two cafés and a museum that almost nobody finds. Without a plan, you’ll either overpay for attractions that aren’t worth it or run…
Most people who visit Schönbrunn Palace follow the same path: queue for the palace tour, walk around the gardens, maybe hike up to the Gloriette and leave. Meanwhile, they’re walking right past one of the most interesting museums on the entire property: the Imperial Carriage Museum. I would know because that’s exactly what I did…
If you’ve ever wanted to be surrounded by the remains of one of the most powerful royal dynasties in European history, you need to head to Vienna. Hidden beneath the nondescript Kapuzinerkirche (Capuchin Church) in the center of the city, the Imperial Crypt Vienna is like the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. But instead of celebrities, it’s…
Before 2025, I had never been to Vienna. Now, after visiting twice in four months, once on the Viking Grand European Tour and again on my own for a long weekend, I finally understand why people love this city so much and have a much better idea of what to do in Vienna when you’re…
Hello, future river cruiser! If you’re reading this I’m going to assume you’ve booked a European river cruise, like the Viking Grand European Tour, and now you’re wondering, “What the heck do I pack!?” Packing for a 14+ day international trip can seem like a daunting task, but what if you don’t want to check…
The Viking Grand European Tour was my first ever river cruise. One of the benefits of this luxury European river cruise is the “Viking inclusive value,” and part of that includes shore excursions in every port of call. With 15 complimentary excursions and more than 35 optional excursions to experience, it can be overwhelming to…