Spending One Day in Vienna, What to Do?
Dec 29th, 2010, 09:40 AM
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Spending One Day in Vienna, What to Do?
Hello Everyone,
My future wife and I will be spending just one day of our Honeymoon in Vienna Austria, during late September. Can you please help with suggestions on what to do? We will be looking for beautiful and fascinating places to visit in Vienna; as well as reasonably-priced, good quality places to eat. I found a number of Palaces and Cathedrals on the internet. Which ones should we visit?
Thank you all in advance!
My future wife and I will be spending just one day of our Honeymoon in Vienna Austria, during late September. Can you please help with suggestions on what to do? We will be looking for beautiful and fascinating places to visit in Vienna; as well as reasonably-priced, good quality places to eat. I found a number of Palaces and Cathedrals on the internet. Which ones should we visit?
Thank you all in advance!
Dec 29th, 2010, 11:11 AM
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It would help to know what your interests are - there's a lot more than palaces and cathedrals in Vienna.
for restaurants it would help to know what you mean by reasonable - $50? $100? $200? - And if this includes wine or ?
for restaurants it would help to know what you mean by reasonable - $50? $100? $200? - And if this includes wine or ?
Dec 30th, 2010, 06:51 PM
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You are going to one of the most interesting cities in Europe.
Art museums, palaces, a wonderful history museums, cream cakes, lively wine garden area=just let everyone know what your interests are.
Pat
Art museums, palaces, a wonderful history museums, cream cakes, lively wine garden area=just let everyone know what your interests are.
Pat
Dec 30th, 2010, 08:38 PM
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The two "major" palaces in Vienna are the Hofburg, which was the primary residence of the Hapburgs, and Schoenbrunn, which was the "summer" palace.
The Hofburg is in the center of the old town, right on the Ringstrasse. It is a large complex containing, among other things, the Spanish Riding School, the Imperial Apartments, the Library, the Treasury, and the Chapel. You could spend most of a day just touring the Hofburg Palace complex, depending on your interests.
http://www.hofburg-wien.at/en/
There is a wonderful self guided tour of Schoenbrunn Palace that you can do as well as visiting the Gardens. This could easily be done in a couple of hours.
http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/
The most famous church in Vienna is St. Stephens Cathedral, which is in the center of the old town. There are numerous other churches of interest, but you probably won't have time to see those in just one day.
http://www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/...hens-cathedral
Vienna deserves more than one day but if that's all you have, I would definitely try to see the Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Walk down the main shopping street from St. Stephen's, the Kaertnerstrasse to the Ringstrasse.
Walk along the Ring and you will find the Opera House, the Volksgarten, the Rathaus (town hall), the Burg Theater and the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Fine Arts as well as the Hofburg Palace all within a relatively short distance.
Go to the Cafe Central which is located inside the Palais Ferstel on Herrengasse for a coffee and pastry. It is truly the most beautiful cafe you'll ever see.
http://www.palaisevents.at/en/cafecentral.html?type=0
The Hofburg is in the center of the old town, right on the Ringstrasse. It is a large complex containing, among other things, the Spanish Riding School, the Imperial Apartments, the Library, the Treasury, and the Chapel. You could spend most of a day just touring the Hofburg Palace complex, depending on your interests.
http://www.hofburg-wien.at/en/
There is a wonderful self guided tour of Schoenbrunn Palace that you can do as well as visiting the Gardens. This could easily be done in a couple of hours.
http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/
The most famous church in Vienna is St. Stephens Cathedral, which is in the center of the old town. There are numerous other churches of interest, but you probably won't have time to see those in just one day.
http://www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/...hens-cathedral
Vienna deserves more than one day but if that's all you have, I would definitely try to see the Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Walk down the main shopping street from St. Stephen's, the Kaertnerstrasse to the Ringstrasse.
Walk along the Ring and you will find the Opera House, the Volksgarten, the Rathaus (town hall), the Burg Theater and the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Fine Arts as well as the Hofburg Palace all within a relatively short distance.
Go to the Cafe Central which is located inside the Palais Ferstel on Herrengasse for a coffee and pastry. It is truly the most beautiful cafe you'll ever see.
http://www.palaisevents.at/en/cafecentral.html?type=0
Dec 30th, 2010, 11:26 PM
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Since this is your honeymoon, you may want to take your wife to a romantic place for dinner without the high prices. My wife was pleasantly surprised when I took her to a candlelit wine bistro in the middle of an elevated garden in the sky above the 5 star hotel Palais Coburg. They serve creative gourmet dishes at a fraction of the hotel's famous restaurant. The food menu at the wine bistro was simplified but the service was very attentive without being pretentious. In that cold October evening they only served inside a tall architectural garden glass house but in the summer months they seem to have outdoor garden tables as well. I can't remember exactly how much our bill came to but it was very reasonable that I thought it was the best deal in town for such quality food and ambiance.
Check out the pictures and menu: http://www.palais-coburg.com/_en/ind...age=weinbistro
By the way, people in Vienna are more formal, I remember people dressed up even at the wine bistro.
Check out the pictures and menu: http://www.palais-coburg.com/_en/ind...age=weinbistro
By the way, people in Vienna are more formal, I remember people dressed up even at the wine bistro.
Dec 31st, 2010, 08:29 AM
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Since you're going in Sept, the weather should still be nice so I vote for Schonbrunn for the palace and its gardens. If you're there on a rainy day, then skip Schonbrunn and go to Hofburg Palace instead.
Also, coffee and cakes at Demel is a must.
Also, coffee and cakes at Demel is a must.
Dec 31st, 2010, 08:40 AM
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Down the street from St Stephens is an Italian restaurant called Da Capo, tell them you want to sit downstairs, it is great food and wine and service...I have been tooting their horn since I left there last week. Best for reservations because they stay packed, which tells.
Dec 31st, 2010, 08:55 AM
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Well, about Demel's-Make sure that you understand the system. When we were there several years ago it went like this:
1. Wait on a long line to get a table
2. Wait and wait for a server until you realize that you have to go to the back counter to choose your pastry amid a mob,
3. Come back to your table and give your recept to the surly server and wait for the treat to be delivered to your table.
4. Cut through your dried out Sacher torte.
5. Leave and vow not to come again.
Pat
1. Wait on a long line to get a table
2. Wait and wait for a server until you realize that you have to go to the back counter to choose your pastry amid a mob,
3. Come back to your table and give your recept to the surly server and wait for the treat to be delivered to your table.
4. Cut through your dried out Sacher torte.
5. Leave and vow not to come again.
Pat
Dec 31st, 2010, 09:08 AM
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Sounds like you had a bad experience at Demel, Pat. I can only speak for my own experience, and it was wonderful. I went to the tearoom upstairs and I didn't have to wait long for a table. I'm not a fan of Sachertorte anyway so I got their delicious truffletorte. Don't recall ever meeting a single surly person in Vienna in my 2 visits.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/IMG_3458.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/IMG_3458.jpg
Dec 31st, 2010, 09:20 AM
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Maybe we were at Demels under Murphy's law-who knows. Actually, I agree with you about the generally courteous treatment of visitors to this great city. We were there twice in recent years and found it to be very, very interesting.
Pat
Pat
Dec 31st, 2010, 01:08 PM
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While Demels is well known, Cafe Central is a gorgeous venue in and of itself, which is why I recommended it.
What I always enjoyed about Demels when I lived in Vienna was the cool confectionary concoctions they had in their front window. One time, they had a full size bust of Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher made out of marzipan!
What I always enjoyed about Demels when I lived in Vienna was the cool confectionary concoctions they had in their front window. One time, they had a full size bust of Ronald Reagan and Maggie Thatcher made out of marzipan!
Jan 1st, 2011, 08:46 AM
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yes I will agree with you bettyk, I have about six really great photos on my Christmas Album with displays from their store. Ronald Regan and Maggie would have been a great one....I just told my husband last night that I believe Vienna does a better job with their store windows than Paris by far.
Jan 1st, 2011, 07:49 PM
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I second bettyk's suggestion to go to Cafe Central instead of Demel. Your wife will be impressed by the interior and ceiling, not to mention the incredible cake selection, one caution however, don't eat lunch or dinner there because the food is tourist lesser quality but the cakes are to die for. We like going there for tea time or after dinner/lunch for dessert.
http://www.palaisevents.at/cafecentral.html
http://www.palaisevents.at/cafecentral.html
Jan 2nd, 2011, 05:40 AM
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I would not recommend dining at Coburg - their main restaurant was forced to close some time ago due to lack of business - it way avoided by locals due to high price dor lack of the best offerings and service.
The Bistro is not much better - again over priced for value given.
The best restaurant as voted by many is Steirereck - this includes their fining at their Meieri at the same location
www.steirereck.at
But with so little time in Vienna- I doubt your timeis best spent with a longn dinind experience.
Many restaurants have midday specials at rerasonable prices yet good food.
An example
Porcus
www.porcus.at
note photos and pricing - quick service and value
Reinthalers Beisl - just near Graben on Dorotheergasse has good food and price to match.
Demel - a tourist trap- with high price and generally bad service- now even sold to the Do and Co group.
The Central is OK agree with Bettys recommendation - they have a smaller place just across the street with less tourists and more from Vienns-- good also Cafe Oberlaa and Cafe Diglas
The Bistro is not much better - again over priced for value given.
The best restaurant as voted by many is Steirereck - this includes their fining at their Meieri at the same location
www.steirereck.at
But with so little time in Vienna- I doubt your timeis best spent with a longn dinind experience.
Many restaurants have midday specials at rerasonable prices yet good food.
An example
Porcus
www.porcus.at
note photos and pricing - quick service and value
Reinthalers Beisl - just near Graben on Dorotheergasse has good food and price to match.
Demel - a tourist trap- with high price and generally bad service- now even sold to the Do and Co group.
The Central is OK agree with Bettys recommendation - they have a smaller place just across the street with less tourists and more from Vienns-- good also Cafe Oberlaa and Cafe Diglas
Jan 5th, 2011, 05:19 AM
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Wow! Thank you all for all the great recommendations. This will really help us. We will be staying about an hour and a half outside of Vienna, and will be driving into the city early so that we have more time there.
Jan 5th, 2011, 08:26 AM
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As of now, I would like to visit St. Stephen's Cathedral, Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens, and the Imperial Palace (Hofburg.) My fiancé has never been to Europe, and I think she will really be amazed by the beautiful cathedrals, churches, and palaces. What time do the palaces typically open for visitors in the morning? We will be there on a Friday. I am going to try to arrive in the city around 10:00am and leave around 7:00pm.
I was also originally looking at a few other attractions in Vienna. Should I try to visit any if I have extra time?
Kunsthistorisches Museum
St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche)
Belvedere Palace (Schloss Belvedere)
Thank you all again for the advice!
I was also originally looking at a few other attractions in Vienna. Should I try to visit any if I have extra time?
Kunsthistorisches Museum
St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche)
Belvedere Palace (Schloss Belvedere)
Thank you all again for the advice!
Jan 5th, 2011, 10:15 PM
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Molker, I'm not sure that it's fair to compare the Weinbistro in Palais Coburg with the ultra expensive Steiereck , it's like comparing a small BMW with a Ferrari, not in the same category. I think the Coburg weinbistro offers a great value for the creative food, unique ambiance and attentive formal service.
I don't know if you've tried the Weinbistro Coburg, but one can have a two course lunch (29 euro) at the Coburg bistro for the prize of one appetizer at the Steiereck. It offers first class service in a similar romantic setting at about a third of the Steiereck prices. I actually prefer the more intimate ambiente at the Coburg bistro than at the sprawling Steiereck. I have eaten at the Steiereck ( before and after they moved to the Stadtpark), both times the cost was exorbitantly high! While I appreciate the creativity and pure materials at the Steiereck, I couldn't find any fault in the fine Coburg dishes under Christain Petz's leadership who at the time moved from Meinl to Coburg.
I don't know if you've tried the Weinbistro Coburg, but one can have a two course lunch (29 euro) at the Coburg bistro for the prize of one appetizer at the Steiereck. It offers first class service in a similar romantic setting at about a third of the Steiereck prices. I actually prefer the more intimate ambiente at the Coburg bistro than at the sprawling Steiereck. I have eaten at the Steiereck ( before and after they moved to the Stadtpark), both times the cost was exorbitantly high! While I appreciate the creativity and pure materials at the Steiereck, I couldn't find any fault in the fine Coburg dishes under Christain Petz's leadership who at the time moved from Meinl to Coburg.
Jan 5th, 2011, 11:50 PM
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Dax - I believe you have not been to mentioned restaurants in some years.
Firstly the Chef mentioned, Petz, has been long gone from the Coburg. He left if my memory is correct more than 2 years ago.
The Coburg main restaurant was forced to close as many found it most over-priced for value received and less than great service. This , I believe, is the best example of its quality.
I last ate there with a small group , perhaps 10 local business persons , all agreed on a poor assessment of the standard.
The wine Bistro does not attract a lot of business for similar reasons.
Steirereck is acknowledged by locals, visitors and dining surveys to be the best in Austria.
One only needs to look at guides, such as Falstaff that is based on thousands of actual people making their yearly list of reviews.
Steirereck tops the Austrian 2010 list with a overall score of 99.
Coburg received an 86, well down on the list of actual diners.
Recent midday at Steirereck Meieri
Soup 4,80 euro
Entree of Young Deer Goulasch 11,50 euro
another entree
Wiener Schnitzel ( kalb ) 17,50
I do not consider this a " exhorbitantly high " price and less than your mentioned 29 euro at the Coburg.
Based upon the large amount of diners, both at midday and evening at Steirereck , it seems most think it provides quality and value.
Firstly the Chef mentioned, Petz, has been long gone from the Coburg. He left if my memory is correct more than 2 years ago.
The Coburg main restaurant was forced to close as many found it most over-priced for value received and less than great service. This , I believe, is the best example of its quality.
I last ate there with a small group , perhaps 10 local business persons , all agreed on a poor assessment of the standard.
The wine Bistro does not attract a lot of business for similar reasons.
Steirereck is acknowledged by locals, visitors and dining surveys to be the best in Austria.
One only needs to look at guides, such as Falstaff that is based on thousands of actual people making their yearly list of reviews.
Steirereck tops the Austrian 2010 list with a overall score of 99.
Coburg received an 86, well down on the list of actual diners.
Recent midday at Steirereck Meieri
Soup 4,80 euro
Entree of Young Deer Goulasch 11,50 euro
another entree
Wiener Schnitzel ( kalb ) 17,50
I do not consider this a " exhorbitantly high " price and less than your mentioned 29 euro at the Coburg.
Based upon the large amount of diners, both at midday and evening at Steirereck , it seems most think it provides quality and value.
Jan 6th, 2011, 05:11 AM
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Sorry I missed the links Betty 
We will be driving into Vienna in our rental car. I am thinking that we could go to Schonbrunn Palace first because it is a little bit further out of the way and it opens the earliest. Then we could drive and park somewhere in Old Town and walk to St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace. We could spend the rest of the day in Old Town. What are the parking options at Schonbrunn Palace and in Old Town?
Thanks again!
We will be driving into Vienna in our rental car. I am thinking that we could go to Schonbrunn Palace first because it is a little bit further out of the way and it opens the earliest. Then we could drive and park somewhere in Old Town and walk to St. Stephen's Cathedral and the Hofburg Palace. We could spend the rest of the day in Old Town. What are the parking options at Schonbrunn Palace and in Old Town?
Thanks again!
