Vienna
Arriving in Vienna
After 68 days in Vietnam, Austria hit us straight away.
Not just in how it looked… but in the cost.
Our Grab ride to the airport in Hanoi took about an hour and cost $18 AUD.
Then we landed in Vienna, jumped in a taxi for a 20-minute trip… and it cost $80 AUD.
That was the first reminder.
We weren’t in Vietnam anymore.
Long Travel Days and Jet Lag
We arrived late in the afternoon after about 15 hours of transit.
Everyone was wrecked.
The time difference is about 9 hours, so our bodies had no idea what was going on.
We didn’t try to push through it.
Straight to bed.
First Morning
Jet lag kicked in straight away.
We were all up ridiculously early, still dark outside, hungry, and ready to start the day.
The only problem… Vienna doesn’t wake up early.
Most places open later, so we spent a bit of time wandering around trying to find somewhere open for a coffee and some food.
It took longer than expected, but when we finally found a spot, it was worth it.
First Impressions — Quiet and Cold
Vienna felt incredibly quiet.
After Vietnam, it almost felt empty.
We arrived in late January, right in the middle of winter. There were still patches of old snow sitting around, but not much fresh snow at that point.
It was cold… but manageable.
The biggest thing was just how the city looked.
Old buildings everywhere, clean streets, everything structured.
It honestly felt like walking through a museum.
Getting Around is So Easy
One thing that stood out straight away was how easy Vienna is to get around.
Trams, trains, everything running on time and connected.
We downloaded the WienMobil app and could book tickets for everything, which made life simple.
No guesswork. No chaos.
Just get on and go.
Exploring the City
There’s so much to see in Vienna.
You don’t have to go far before you’re surrounded by history, big buildings, open spaces, and things to explore.
And then you’ve got things like ice skating right in the middle of the city.
Something completely different again.
The First Snow
One of the biggest highlights came a few days in.
We woke up early again (still jet lagged), and everything was white.
Fresh snow.
Proper snow.
For the kids, it was unreal.
Running around, touching it, playing in it… something they’d never experienced before.
One of those moments that sticks.
Travelling as a Family
Vienna was easy with the kids.
Safe, structured, easy to navigate.
After Vietnam, it felt like a bit of a reset.
The kids loved it.
The buildings, the snow, the different feel of everything.
It was a completely new experience for them.
What Stood Out
The contrast.
From cheap, chaotic Vietnam… to clean, structured, and expensive Vienna.
From scooters and noise… to trams and quiet streets.
From heat and humidity… to cold mornings and snow.
It felt like a completely different world.
Looking Back
Vienna wasn’t overwhelming.
It wasn’t chaotic.
It was calm, clean, and easy.
And after everything that came before it, that’s exactly what we needed.
Explore Our Time in Vienna
👉 Read our full Vietnam to Austria story
👉 Follow our day-to-day experiences in our Vienna daily journals
👉 View our Vienna photo gallery