I was born and raised in a very big city, so things like traffic, noise and huge crowds of people are natural for me, I can’t live without this buzz. Vienna, in my view, is a perfect combination of busy and laid-back, yet you still feel this big city vibe here, with people rushing to work during their morning commute and tourist groups wandering around. Sometimes even a person like me can get a bit tired of this, but good thing I’m living in Vienna – this place offers plenty of opportunities to take a break from busy life. Actually, even not only in Vienna itself. Ever heard of Baden? This small and cute town, located around 30 km south of Vienna, is perfect for a day getaway, as me and my friend have discovered recently. 

Baden is famous as a spa town: many locals and tourists come here to enjoy thermal baths and to spend a day or two in complete relaxation. Also, this town is famous for one of the biggest casinos in Central Europe. Trying to discover something off the beaten track, we didn’t go neither to a spa, nor to the casino – something else was planned for our trip. Hiking, to be precise. We have downloaded offline smartphone maps, fueled ourselves with some coffee and went exploring. Baden is a part of  the famous Wienerwald, and the nature is truly beautiful there. We were wandering around the forest for good 3 hours, climbed some hills, breathed some fresh air, saw several caves in the forest and, of course, enjoyed the view over Baden.

After hiking we went to the city center to walk around for a bit. Baden is your typical small town with narrow streets, cute little cafes and relaxed atmosphere – that’s what makes it so cozy and welcoming. Now, even an urban child like me wants to come back.

How to get here: you can take either a train or a bus, both stop near the Vienna Opera. If you’re taking a train (Badner Bahn), get off at Baden Josephsplatz. Bus #360 from the Opera will also take you to the same station in Baden. Alternatively, you can get off near the Casino, which is also in the center of the town. Travel time is around 50-60 minutes and a one-way ticket costs 5,50 euros. Tip: if you already have the Wien Kernzone ticket, you can save a couple of euros by choosing the ticket, which is valid from Vösendorf-Siebenhirten station. The other way around from Baden also works perfectly fine!