does anyone have any suggestions of not-so-traditional stuff to do in vienna?<BR>i'm taking my boyfriend there this march.<BR>i've already been twice.<BR>on the past two trips i think i hit most of the major spots, you know.. habsburg palace, mozart museum, the cemetary, the opera house etc.<BR>any suggestions on some off-the-beaten path stuff to see there that i might have missed on a traditional hit-all-the-main-points kinda trip (they were school trips...)<BR><BR>any suggestions welcome.<BR>

Go and see the Hapsburg crypt under the Augustiener Church. A little bit weird, all those dead monarchs lying about.

Have you done the Hundterwasser house (museum) and the apartment block around the corner? Pretty interesting and a funky cafe.

Hi Silvana,<BR> Has the BF been to Vienna? If not, he would probably be very happy having a guide to the usual major spots.

May I suggest: <BR><BR>1) Belvedere Palace<BR>2) The Prater Amusement Park with its famous Ferris Wheel (from the Third Man movie)<BR>3) The Donau Insel where you can ride bikes or swim<BR>4) The Naschmarkt (market)<BR>5) The beautiful Greek Church next to the Griechenbeisl restaurant on Flesichmarkt.

Hi<BR>Living here now - some suggestions - yes Naschmarkt, Greek Church is very beautiful but very restricted opening times - basically for Sunday mass. Jesuitenkirche has mass music every Sunday (Mozart, Schubert etc)but not been yet; every Thursday night there is a buffet dinner at Kunsthistorische Museum for Euro43 including entry allowing access to paintings. Going in the next few weeks as food looked when I first saw it 2 weeks ago; I think Bettyk is either a masochist or not spotting your March timing for the idea of Donau swimming!; Prater if you like old fashioned pretty crap funfairs only (may have charm, depending on taste):heurigen in Grinzing for wine drinking or do the Wachau day trip to Krems and Durnstein - hire a car for flexibility; Baden is very pretty day trip and go to the Roman Baths there - renovated last year;good value Japanese food rather surprisingly; afternoon tea at Schwarzenberg Palais - bit of a rip off but very pleasant and can read the English papers; maybe even a ball - look at internet and type in Vienna Balls and you should get some info. They cost Euro60 to Euro 150 (excluding Opera Ball) per person; Haus der Musik in Seilerst&auml;tte in centre to test your music making ability.

Nick, you're right, I didn't notice the March travel date. We were able to walk into the Greek Church a couple of years ago with no problem at all; has this recently changed? And, crappy or not, the Prater is famous because of the Third Man movie (and a few others I believe), so I thought it might be of interest. <BR><BR>Another place we enjoyed that I thought was unusual was the Palmenhaus Restaurant in the Burggarten.

The new Modern Art complex opened summer 2002 and is a worthy destination. Depending on the special shows, could take a good 2 days. Several nice dining, tea/coffee stops. Lots of cool people working/hanging out there who steered us to some very interesting bars, restaurants, coffee houses, clubs.

There is pretty neat little museum there about the history of clocks. Sounds boring but it was really very interesting.

You might want to eat his vienna sausage now that would be a real treat!!!!

across the street from the naschmarkt is the secession museum (big golden cabbage on top. upstairs can be hit or miss, but the beethoven frieze is in the basement and is really something to see. http://www.secession.at/beethovenfries/index.html

If you enjoy jazz, go to 'Jazz World' in the Bermuda Triangle area. This is a small, smokey, brick walled club that often has world famous musicians jamming on it's tiny stage.

I'm not sure if this meets your criteria but, go to the stables &amp; watch the training/display of the Lipazaner stallions. Visit Bratislava an easy day-trip from Vienna.

I agree with the suggestions on the Naschmarkt. I combined a trip to see the Klimt frieze at the Secession building with a walk through the Naschmarkt, they are about a block away from each other.<BR><BR>I would definitely love to go back to the M.A.K. - that is, the Museum of Applied Arts. It's in a beautiful building, has an incredible collection of Art Nouveau glass and furniture, and has a popular cafe. It's open until 1:00 am. on Thursdays, I think - and that's when I want to visit on my next trip - just because it's such a neat idea to have a museum open that late.<BR><BR>How about walking through the Spittelberg neighborhood? This pretty area of 19th-century workshops and working-class cottages was saved from the wrecker's ball and is now a lovely place full of cobblestoned alleyways, gardens and some good restaurants (go to Restaurante Boheme for a fun meal and good wine).<BR>

these are all great suggestions, everyone.<BR>i didn't know about the new modern art museum and am excited!<BR>and i love jazz so any other tips on the jazz scene there are welcome.<BR>also maybe any cool clubs/bars for nighttime fun?<BR><BR>i do, of course, plan to visit all the major spots again.<BR>he's just not as interested in the musical history aspect as i was...(mozart stuff, etc.)<BR>that's most of the stuff i did when i was there.<BR><BR>it was actually a music trip, now that i think of it.<BR><BR>i want more info on the museum of applied arts- is there a website or something?<BR>i haven't seen it mentioned on the web so far.<BR>from your short description, i think i will go there, lie down, and die.<BR>i love that stuff!<BR><BR>also any more modern art venue suggestion would be welcome.. small out of the way galleries, etc.<BR><BR>any comments on the Kunsthistoriches Museum? didn't hit that on my last trips..<BR><BR>thanks for all the suggestions so far!

I second the Habsburg Imperial Crypt suggestion, especially if your friend has an interest in history. Otherwise, he might enjoy the ghoulish aspect of it! Another interesting place to go it the Freud Museum on the Berggasse. It has the original analyst's couch and his collection of primitive art and other belongings in glass cases. The Reisenrade (Ferris Wheel) isn't crappy at all - it gives you an amazing view of the city.<BR><BR>Of course, unless you're on a strict diet, you mustn't pass up a visit or 2 to one of Vienna's cafes. Demel's is elegant, chock full of tourists, but very nice. They made me a lovely cup of tea. <BR><BR>Unless you really hate art museums, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is a must-see. Opposite it is the Natural History Museum, which IMO is more notable for its gorgeous 18th century palatial architecture than for its collection. Neither museum is expensive to visit.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip!

yeah- stopped by the freud museum last time.. plan on going there again!<BR>it was cool.<BR><BR>i will definitely go to the crypt.. he is a soon-to-be-history-teacher!<BR>and i love history and everything that is creepy.<BR><BR>i would love to go to a ball but i think it's just beyond my budget. not only the cost of the thing but attire, etc.<BR>i am a poor college student with absolutely nothing that would be suitable to wear.<BR>alas.<BR><BR>thanks for the suggestion of spittelberg.. that sounds really interesting.<BR><BR>and this time i am going to go to some musical events in the evening.. i hope it's not too expensive.<BR>anyone been to see the vienna boys' choir? opinions?

Kunsthistorische has lots of Rubens, Breughel, Rembrandt, Italians - Canaletto, Titian etc - so basically more the classics. Plus Egyptian artefacts and currently Polish exhibition. <BR>Bettyk - Greek church looks like it must have changed. I appreciate your point re: Prater and Third Man, but I find the place frankly a bit grim. Third Man shows every night at BurgTheater on the Ring in the centre. Agree with Palmenhaus as nice place to visit - more for drink as I think food is a little average for price.<BR>Only other view - if you have been to Prague, just do not bother with Bratislava (far too boring in comparison) and not worth the day trip unless in Vienna for more than a week.<BR>Cool clubs/bars - Fabios off Graben is a very in place just opened, Barbaros above Steffl - bit Eastern European gangsterish sometimes; relaxing bar in Ambassador Hotel is one of my favourites; Krugers in Krugerstrasse can be very busy (but not always);Bar Italia on Mariahilferstrasse is a perennial favourite (but not quite sure why) and a place just opened called Gazelle, next to staircase leading down from Hirmer shop on Mariahilferstrasse (close to Ring) - all very Middle Eastern/exotic look. All of these are trendy type bars. Spittelbergasse area has more traditional type bars.