vettaman64

Hi all, this is my first post here. I am a male in his 40s who is trying to decide between visiting Munich or Vienna for 3 days in mid-October (after Munich's octoberfest). I love to just walk and explore beautiful cities, learn about the culture and do a lot of people watching. I don't care about bars or drinking and I'm not really that interested in museums. Mainly I just love to wander beautiful streets, explore parks, sit on benches and watch people and generally explore. My favorite cities are Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris - largely for the beauty, people watching, walkability and easy access to quiet areas. So, based on the above, I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts between Munich or Vienna. Thanks in advance very much!

bilboburgler

if museums or bars of no interest but you like parks, I'd look at Munich (hire a bike for fun).

MmePerdu

I haven't stayed in Munich as I have in Vienna buy did spend a couple of hours walking in the center. Vienna impressed me, Munich did not, although it seemed a perfectly nice city. With that slight comparison, I'd choose Vienna. I'll be interested to see how the vote tallies.

lincasanova

I love Vienna and its cafés, parks and beautiful regal buildings, and of course.. Opera and Dance.

MmePerdu

Vettaman, if you decide to go to Vienna, I recommend seeing this small but quite amazing (I thought) museum below street level in the center of the city, a Roman garrison site. I just happened upon it and so glad I did. Quite memorable.

http://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/romermuseum.html

LSky

First let me say, if more people were clear as you've been about what they want from a city break it would be easy to help them.

Vienna would take my vote. It's a beautiful city and you don't have to enjoy museums to enjoy Vienna. I've been to both and as much as I like Munich, Vienna would win given the info you've provided.

kja

From what you've said, and given your time frame, I think either city could work!

I enjoyed the diversity of both parks and public squares in Munich -- so many different styles and moods!

I loved Vienna particularly for its museums, less so for its parks. And I thought it's streets and squares more "cut from the same cloth" than those of Munich -- beautiful, but without the same degree of diversity in architecture or style.

But my impressions are dated (1989 and 1995, respectively), so I could easily be wrong.

fourfortravel

Vienna in mid-October can be spectacular, especially for walking/hiking in the vineyards and the Vienna Woods. Within Vienna is Schloss Schönbrunn; its gardens are extensive and free. Easily accessible via public transportation from the Inner Stadt is Lanzier Tiergarten, as well. The park sits at the edge of the Vienna Woods and is home to Hermesvilla, a beautiful structure built by the Emperor for his wife as well as extensive walking trails where boar and deer and other wildlife can be spotted. Outdoor cafes in Vienna will still be open for the season, as well, allowing the opportunity to watch the movements of Vienna and its people.