hello...we are considering a stop in Vienna to break up the train trip between Bratislava and Cesky Krumlov. We have to be in CK that night, and have found a train that leaves at 6 PM, so figuring a mid-morning train from Bratislava, it would leave us appx. 7 hours to sightsee in Vienna. Would we be able to see enough to make the stop worthwhile, are the main sights fairly concentrated? If so, what do you suggest as the must-see's of Vienna? THanks....

Firstly, there could be delays arriving so you'd have even less time in Vienna. However, seven hours gives you very little time to really see the city, but it could be rather fun I suppose.

If I were in your position though, I'd save it for another time and just get to my destination without the big delay in the middle. It does seem tempting so I can see where you're coming from, but leave it for the next trip.

What's your alternative (plan B)?
If B is to sit in a railroad terminal for seven hours, then I'd suggest (pllan A) a cab to the Schoenbrunn palace, followed by a tour of the Kunsthistoriche art museum. But plan B could conceivably be more appealing.

Our dilemma is that the trains leaving Bratislava to Ceske Budejovice (where we will catch a bus to C.Krumlov) are significantly longer during the day. The shortest we can find is about six and a half hours. So, we figured we can take the train from Bratis. to Vienna (where we would pass anyways) which takes appx. 50 minutes. Then, there is one train that leaves at 6 PM from Vienna to Ceske Budejovice that takes only 3.5 hours. So, we were figuring that we would be saving 2 hrs on train time by stopping in Vienna. Sorry that was so long winded.

I guess our other alternatives would be to stay in Bratislava until later in the day, or take the longer train ride and arrive in Cesky Krumlov earlier.

Assuming that you'll do CK the next day, I'd opt for 6 hours in Vienna (then you'd know if you wanted to return). I don't think CK is a 1-1/2 or 2 day venture. Four to six hours, yes. Don't know Bratislava, but if you're there the day before, .....

I have spent more time than I cared to in Bratislava -- and less time than I'd like to in Vienna -- and provided you have somewhere to stow your luggage in Vienna, I say go for it!! I certainly would!

From either Wien Sudbahnhof or Wien Westbahnhof ( I think B'slava trains generally come into Sudbanhof) you can take the breath-takingly clean and efficent metro into the centre

(From Sudbahnhof you could actually walk a very few blocks to the fabulous Belvedere palace museum)

If walking from Belvedere, you can easily reach the Karlskirche, the Secession building, that nice market nearby and so on.

Take heed that the 6 pm train from Vienna to Ceske Budejovice leaves from the Franz Josef Bahnhof, not the station at which you will arrive from Bratislava.

You could also catch this train from Heiligenstadt, which is on a U-bahn line.

Is Heiligenstadt the town on the northwest side of Vienna where the heurigens are? If so, Kjenn might find that nice, also.

Tomboy and Tedgale:
Yes, we will have the day before in Bratislava, and the day after (and night) in Cesky Krumlov.

Musicteacher: Thanks for the train station advice...I'll have to look at that for luggage storage.

Thanks to everyone...so far it looks like we may stop in Vienna...any other opinions welcome also!