china_cat

I've made a lot of progress planning my trip to Vienna and Salzburg. Travelers will be me and my mother. We have 6 days in Vienna staying at the K+K Maria Theresa and 2 in Salzburg at Hotel Elefant. There are a few things I could use some help with.

I've booked tickets for the SUnday morning performance at the Spanish riding school. I need to pick up the tickets there...we are arriving on Saturday so no chance to do it in advance. How early should I go for the 11AM performance...will there be a line to get the tix?

I've also booked opera tickets at the Staatsoper. We're interested in other musical performances as well, perhaps something at the Musikverein. Mom and I are pretty serious about our classical music....will we like the Vienna Mozart orchestra or the Strauss Orchestra? Are these high quality performances, or generally kind of touristy? Unfortunately the Vienna Philharmonic is not in town during our stay, and while I would love to hear the Berlin Symphony, they are playing the same night as our opera. Any other options you can suggest?

There appear to be 2 different trains we can take to go from Vienna to Salzburg. Can anyone tell me what the difference is between them, should we choose one over the other? Am I correct that we will do better, pricewise, if we book this train in advance?

Finally, any recommendations for dinner in Salzburg? We have only 2 evenings, and on the first one I would really like to stay someplace close to the hotel, in the old town. Would love to find something with traditional Austrian food, nice atmosphere, and not too terribly touristy. Price is not a big concern.

PeaceOut

You are lucky to get to see a performance of the Lipizzaners! We saw their Morning Exercise with Music, which is a training session, but not a full blown performance.

I wonder if your tickets have assigned seating? Because the arena seating when we went was first-come-first-served and clearly some seats are better than others.

If not assigned seats, I'd suggest you get there an hour in advance or so. But ask at your hotel, because they might know better.

Have fun!

china_cat

my invoice for the tickets has actual seat numbers, so I believe they are assigned. So I think we just need time to actually get the tickets from the box office and go inside. But if it tends to be crowded, we could head over early, get the tickets, then grab a cup of coffee somewhere nearby.

PeaceOut

Good idea. Enjoy seeing them perform. The arena itself is a gorgeous historic building. We also toured the stables, which are surprisingly not fancy. At that time, we could walk through and see the horses in their stalls up close. I have an Arabian, and the Lipizzaners have that same kind attitude.

RonZ

Terrific Salzburg restaurant, right down the street from your hotel:

http://www.stpeter-stiftskeller.at/index.php?id=7&L=1

Loco2

The train between Vienna and Salzburg takes 2hr45 by Railjet and 3hrs 9 mins by InterCity Express. There's also a Euronight sleeper that leaves later in the evening. The standard fare on the ICE and Railjet is about €52 one way. When I checked there was a saver fare on the Euronight service for €29 one way but it does leave at 840pm and get in at twenty to midnight so it's something to take into account.

china_cat

Hi Loco2. Thanks for the info. We are not terribly price conscious on this, so time and comfort are more important that the price to me. I don't want to go so late. Most likely we will leave around 10 AM on Friday morning, so as to have Friday afternoon and all day Saturday in Salzburg.

What website did you use to get those times and fares?

RonZ thanks for the recommendation. Is that also the restaurant where they do the Mozart dinner concerts? I was thinking of doing that on one of the 2 nights.

RonZ

Is that also the restaurant where they do the Mozart dinner concerts?

I have no idea, but the restaurant is absolutely not to be missed.

molker

The advice regarding trains Vienna - Salzburg is outdated and incorrect.

Two train companies on this route

www.westbahn.at

frequent service 23,80 euro - buy online or on the train

new trains comfortable
or

Austrian Rail- OEBB

www.oebb.at

frequent service
purchased in advance from 19- 24 euro

purchase at station prior to travel 47,50

travel time

2 3/4 - 3 hours

overnight- hardly considering travel time

china_cat

Molker, thanks for the info.
Can you give me any insight into how the trains are different? It appears to me like the westbahn line currently has more favorable times available. Are the trains roughly equal in comfort and amenities?

also, there do appear to be 2 different kinds of trains on the oebb line...railjet and regular trains. The time difference is small, the railjet seems to take 20 minute less. Any other differences?

molker

OEBB is the national carrier - huge deficits and well known for lackluster service .
The Vienna- Salzburg line is the only portion of the entire country service to be profitable.Frequent seervice on this line
Employees over many years have won signicant benefits , especially regarding early retirement with high pensions and well known for general arrogance.
The Railjet is the newest train - 3-4 years old -for high speed service - comfortable with 3 classes of service- most use the comfort /2nd class.
OEBB also offers IC service with slightly older but comfortable trains- a little slower .

Westbahn is a private firm just beginning service last December - brand new trains - comfortable - runs on the same track as the OEBB- travel times just marginally slower than OEBB-
Westbahn features free wireless internet and stewards on each train- frequent service. You can buy tickets on line or conveniently on the train too.
Firm begun by successful austrian business persons as an alternative to lackluster national service .
French National Railways is an investor also.

Many here voting to take the Westbahn as a complaint about OEBB and find it a fine alternative.
Only after introduction of Westbahn did OEBB reduce their former 47,50 fare to a lower competitive price.
Westbahn is my< choice.

joannyc

<<RonZ thanks for the recommendation. Is that also the restaurant where they do the Mozart dinner concerts? I was thinking of doing that on one of the 2 nights>>

Yes, it is. The food was very good, so much better than I expected. You can book ahead via email, tell them you saw them in Rick Steve's guidebook and ask for the discount.

I also had a good dinner at Hotel Goldener Hirsch.

Enjoy your trip!

AisleSeat

For your dinner in Salzburg, one night should definitely by Sankt Peters Stiffskeller (the Mozart show place). The restaurant is right behind the st peters cemtary where the Von Trapps hid from the Nazis in the SOM. the restaurant has the big Mozart show and dinner upstairs (pricey) and the celler. They have different menus and the celler is cheaper. We like the food downstairs.
If you have a second night go to the Augustiner Brewery for typical beer hall food and beer.

china_cat

Thanks for all the great suggestions. We are very likely going to do the Mozart show at the SP-Stiffskeller. If not, we will try dinner there for certain. I will keep all the rest of the suggestions on my list.

Topping this again to see if anyone has opinions about the music in Vienna. How are the Strauss Orchestra and Mozart orchestra? Is that serious music or just a show for the tourists? Any others that are particularly good?

AisleSeat

The Tourist Information Occice on Mozart Platz keeps a list of concerts. They may be on their website also.

iris1745

Yes, that is the restaurant RonZ suggested that has a Mozart dinner concert. You sit at tables with six other people from other countries and experience a lovely evening in an elegant setting. If you consider this dinner concert, I suggest getting there 15/20 minutes before the doors open for the best up front, seating. You could also consider a dinner concert at the castle. Richard

aussiedreamer

Topping for December.