The Solo Scale:

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If you’re headed near Vienna and looking for a half-day trips, the Vienna Woods might offer exactly what you’re looking for. There’s plenty to see, and lots of little towns to stop in, but the highlights that I’m going to be talking about are just two of the options that you could spend your time exploring — especially if you’re a fan of history or want a peek inside a working monastery.

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Liechtenstein Castle

This towering behemoth is the family seat of the Prince of Liechtenstein. While you can stop and admire the grounds only (including some beautiful poppies, if you’re there in the right season), there’s also the option to go inside and to do the climb to the top (where you’ll be treated to views of Vienna, if you opt to go that route. It’s not a very large site. Between the parking and the arrival, it’s quite a small little find in the Woods (despite the castle itself looming above you and taking up space). It’s also not overly popular like some of the other castles you’ll find in the Alps.

If you are planning to do the tour, you won’t be able to do it self-guided. You’ll have to wait for a guide to take you around the inside of the castle, which will take approximately 50 minutes and start on the hour (no matter the size of the group, so no need to worry about a minimum headcount! That said, there is a maximum of 25 people). The tours are conducted in both German & English.

For more details and to buy tickets, check out their website here.

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Holy Cross Monastery

One of the more unique experiences that I’ve ever done was a visit to Holy Cross Monastery — a practicing location where you can see monks going about their business (and you might not expect it, but these monks even wear Nike hats and also have access to the internet from each of their rooms).

This is a slightly more off-the-beaten path option, so you won’t be elbow-deep with other tourists (even if you will be the tourist). During your visit, you’ll be able to see the church, the cloisters, the sacristy and more. You will have to request a visit ahead of time — don’t expect that you simply show up. If you want to experience an overnight stay, that’s also something that you can arrange.

To gather more information and plan a visit, you can checkout the website here.

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There’s a lot to discover in the Vienna Woods, and you can discover more for yourself (more monasteries, the historic Mayerling Lodge, towns like Baden, and much more!). However, if you’re a fan of history or are spiritual, these two visits can give you a great day’s itinerary if you’re staying in or near Vienna.

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