M.B. Williams

I'm going to Vienna in October of this year on business, and I'm taking my wife with me. I'd be interested in any good hotels, restaurants, sites to see, etc.... <BR> <BR>Thanks, <BR> <BR>MBW

tom

Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We have been there twice and have spent about 10 nights in our two visits. I would suggest the following: 1.Take a trolley ride around the Ringstrasse. This will give you a nice over view of the city. The Ringstrasse was built on the land where the old city walls stood..2. Visit St. Stephans cathedral...notice the unique roof and go to the top for a nice view of the city.3. Go to Freuds house and check your psyche , or his 4.Visit the Upper and Lower Belvedere palaces. Great art museums and beautiful buildings. 5. Take a day and visit Shoenbrun, the Habsburgs summer palace. It is in a suburb and can be reachd via subway, but allow a day to visit. Take the tour and wander the beautiful gardens.6. Visit the Residenz...these Habsburgs ruled a huge empire for a long time, and they sure knew how to live high on the hog. Check out the royal apartments and the treasury. 7.Visit the Votive church on the Ringstrasse. 8. Visit a coffe house and just sit, drink coffee and watch people. You can sit for a long time, drink your coffee and wonder...how do I get my check? 9.visit the National museum located on the Ringstrasse.. <BR>10. At night, take in a Strauss concert,...tickets can be purchased from those dresssed in period costumes at the Residenz. Also, if you are looking for a nice, inexpensive place, try the Pension Nuer Markt. We loved it, clean rooms, ensuite, nice breakfast and friendly staff.Hope you enjoy your trip...we did! By the way, if you like good beer, try the Gosser Beer.

Judith

Matt, my husband & I will be going in late Sept., so would appreciate your feedback when you return. THNX,. Judith <BR>

Jen Z

If you're into art at all check out the Kunthistoriches Museum. They have a great collection. Shonbrun is great if you've never been to Versailles -- if you have then it might be a bit disappointing, but still interesting. The Prater is a huge amusement park; the ferris wheel is featured in a few different movies. Interesting to see, even if you're not into amusement parks. I got lost there, it's so big. Have a good time!

Arizona

Take more money than you had planned. Vienna is ultra-expensive. You did not say how old you are, but if you are a senior, make sure you assert yourself and get the seniors' price when you buy tickets to the museums, etc. They are not as liberal as we are in extending this discount; you have to ask for it.

Dwight

Mr. Williams, <BR>I half to admit I'm quite envious of anyone headed to Vienna. I studied there for a semester in the fall of '96. I will second everything Tom had to say, and add this: Music, music, and more music. I was 18 when I went there and not much of a classical music fan. Vienna changed all of that.(The music thing, not my age) Since you're going in October, the opera season should be getting underway. If you're willing to wait in line for 1-2 hours, you can getting a standing room ticket for some of the finest opera in the world for 30 Austrian schillings (about $3) at the state opera house ("Staatsoper"). On consecutive nights, I got to see Jose Carreras in Verdi's "Stiffelio" and Pavarotti in Giordano's "Andrea Chenier"-for a total of 6 bucks. Can't beat that. Take a scarf to hold your place on the standing room rail. Beware though, the Viennese are passionate about their opera and if you're not quick to grab a space, you'll find yourself losing out on the good viewing spots. Be aggressive, everyone else is. If you don't go to the opera, at least get inside the opera house on a tour to gasp at the surroundings. Besides opera, there are several other concert halls with something going on literally every night, the most famous being the Musikverein. If you're willing to stand, your ears and wallet will benefit. <BR>You have time to learn a little German if you don't speak it already, so memorize a few basic words. But don't worry, plenty of people speak English there. You won't have many problems. I could go on all day about Wien, already have. Have fun. <BR>

s.fowler

If you don't already have a hotel I would recommend the Radisson SAS Palais. [It is made from two old 'palaces.'] It has scads more atmosphere than the Marriot next door and the front desk is fabulous! I had a complex itinerary involving passsing through Vienna 4 times... by the third time I was addressed by name and they had saved my favorite room for me I have heard good things about Hotel Kaserein Elizabeth on Weiburggasse[sp.?] near St. Stephens. I dropped in and got the brochure.. smaller, but looked great! Restaurants? My favorite is A Tavola right next to the HKE on Weiburg... Italian, charming rooms, chic crowd, fabulous food. A nice break from boiled meat. [I'm not a fan of Viennese cuisine.] Otherwise just walk and walk... It is a magnificent city. It IS alarmingly expensive though... <BR>

Graciela

<BR>Great advise in the messages before mine, we have been a couple of times and stayed in very good hotels but no one beats the location of the hotel we stayed last april,we highly recommende it <BR> <BR>Hotel um Stephanplatz, that is a hotel right in front of the cathedral, unbeatable for us at least. <BR>It is a 4 stars hotel, a very good buffet breakfast nothing exceptional but the location is outstanding <BR>Have a nice trip.

Graciela

<BR>Great advise in the messages before mine, we have been a couple of times and stayed in very good hotels but no one beats the location of the hotel we stayed last april,we highly recommende it <BR> <BR>Hotel um Stephanplatz, that is a hotel right in front of the cathedral, unbeatable for us at least. <BR>It is a 4 stars hotel, a very good buffet breakfast nothing exceptional but the location is outstanding <BR>Have a nice trip.