day trip from Vienna: which city
 

I shall be in Vienna this September. I want to do a couple of day trips. I have Budapest (knowing it is a longish trip), Brno and Bratislava as possible choices. From the point of scenic beauty and historic value, which is the one city I should choose. I have already seen Prague, Munich, Innsbruck so these do not figure in my list. For the second day trip, I have Heiligenbrunn in mind. I know this place is entirely different from a city but any suggestions if I should be doing it?? If so, how long will it take me to see the place (minus travel time from Vienna)?

One vote for Bratislava but did you rule out Salzburg already?

Have seen Salzburg two months ago, so that's out.

we went to Bratislava for 2 nights on the way to Vienna. If memory serves, and it always doesn't, I think we took a bus one way (coming from the airport in Vienna) and the train back- the trip took about an hour (?) but there was also a boat on the river that looked fun- you could do that one way, not sure how long that takes. We certainly enjoyed strolling Bratislava.

We were in Vienna five nights and stayed so busy didn't have time to go outside the city, so can't help you there.

Ferry info between Vienna and Bratislava. http://www.twincityliner.com/

This is on my list of things to do in Bratislava:
Boat trip to Devin castle (9,- €)
http://www.lod.sk/en/Default.aspx?CatID=42
http://www.hrad.cz/en/prague-castle/...ng-hours.shtml

• Aquapark - Senec http://www.aquathermal.sk/
• Visit of ZOO 5,56 € http://www.zoobratislava.sk/
• The Botanic Gardens http://www.uniba.sk/index.php?id=1307
• The Slovak National Museum 20 % discount http://www.snm.sk/?lang=eng§ion=home&org=0
• Bibiana – International House of Art for children http://www.bibiana.sk
• Official page of Bratislava for trips http://visit.bratislava.sk/en/
• Twin-City Liner – Trip to Wien with high-speed catamaran http://www.twincityliner.com
• Boat trip to Gabcikovo ( crossing lock chamber ) http://www.lod.sk/de/fahrplan.aspx
• Take your children to ride horse http://sportoviska.zoznam.sk/jazdect...-skola-zalesie
• Oasis of Siberian tiger - Kostolna pri Dunaji http://www.tigre.sk
• Water-mill with open air museum in Jelka http://www.muzeum.sk/defaulte.php?ob...&ix=vkmje_vmga
• Biofarm „Priroda“ in Stupava, right Slovak shed http://www.biofarma.sk/index.php?id=ponkame
• Bratislava castle, Old town hall, Michael's Tower

We took the Twin-City Liner catamaran (I remember we booked a couple days ahead as we wanted a specific time to max out our time in the city) from Vienna to Bratislava... we mostly just roamed around and soaked in the sites, but didn't really go into any museums... we did enjoy the cafes, discovering the nice statues hidden all around the city, and really enjoyed the day... but by 5 pm we were ready to head back... I'm thankful we didn't stay much longer than a day, but that's just me.

As far as ease of getting there, it was easy and about an hour, so you can't beat that for a day trip.

Thanks a lot to all of you. Before I zero in on Bratislava, has anyone done a day trip to Budapest from Vienna? And how hectic was it? How about Brno or Cesky Krumlov (I'm introducing another option). Anyone done that?

godb, we have been to Budapest three times and Brno a couple of times as day trips from Vienna, and have made multiple trips to Bratislava for various events. We drive; we know the routes and where to park, but presumable you will rely on the train?

Vienna to Bratislava is €15 round-trip on the ÖBB (75 minutes one-way); no need for an advance ticket purchase, just buy your ticket from the machines at the Hauptbahnhof station. From the Bratislava train station, the X13 bus (€0,35 ticket, approximately) will take you to the old city (Hodzovo namesti stop) in short order. The Old Town is compact and easy to explore in one pleasant and unhurried day.

Vienna to Budapest is less than 3 hours on the ÖBB one-way. On our first day trip to Budapest we limited our exploration to the Buda and castle side, taking in the scenery, one museum, and making time for lunch, and snuck in a quick trip to Memento Park on our way out of town. On our second day trip we explored Pest's Central Market and some of the Pest side (architecture), including shopping but no museums. Each of those day trips came to 14 hours, including travel. Last week visiting friends wanted a day trip to Budapest, so we did a hectic 14 hour trip of both sides of the river. No museums, lots of walking, and time for lunch. Our friends liked it (it was their first visit to a former Eastern Bloc city) but they were exhausted at the end of the day.

Brno is underrated, in my opinion, and might be a good compromise for a moderate day trip from Vienna at about 2 hours one-way. The Mendel Museum and abbey where the experiments were carried out is worth seeing; the Old Town has the usual architectural suspects; on the hill is Spillberk Castle; and at the edge of the city is an amazing Frank Lloyd Wright house, Tugendhat.
There is more to see, of course, but whatever you choose to see, along with great Czech food and wine, will make for a nice day.

We like Cesky Krumlov, but the "value" of a longish day trip from Vienna just isn't there for us, especially with so many equally interesting places within a closer distance. Any particular reason for Heiligenbrunn? Absent a festival, the Kellerviertel might seem quiet.

Happy Planning!

We loved our day trip to Bratislava, and really enjoyed the trip on the twin city liner catamaran. Enjoy!

Graz is 2:30 by train from Vienna.

http://www.graztourismus.at/en

I've been to all three, Bratislava is still much of a dump, though a lot of western money has improved it a fair bit. Brno is a modern university town with very little of interest in it. Budapest is a the star of your three and gives Vienna a run for its money.

However, you only have a this down for a day trip, in which case I'd probably do something like a tour of the Neusiedl See visiting the little towns around.

Thanks to all of you for giving me such useful information. Unless something more tempting crops up, I think I shall do Budapest

Fourfortravel, I just wanted to clarify that the Tugendhat villa in Brno was designed by Mies van der Rohe, not Frank Lloyd Wright. It's definitely worth seeing but you need to book tickets in advance as the house is small and admission is by guided tour only.

kimharp, you are correct on both points; I should have finished my coffee before fully responding. :) On one visit to Brno we could only view the exterior because no (English) tours were available. Later I returned with a friend on a pre-booked tour. That's an important point.

bilboburglar, I think your comparisons are neither fair nor kind. Bratislava certainly hasn't come as far as Prague or Budapest, but for a day outing the city offers decent architecture (and photography), good food, and friendly people (something Vienna lacks). As for Budapest giving Vienna a run for its money, I also disagree. Vienna is a ball gown, beautiful and architecturally coiffed; while Budapest is a favorite pair of jeans, comfortable and slightly worn but always enjoyable. Comparing the two cities does neither of them justice.

Nearly six hours return on the train for a day trip to Budapest would be way too much for me. I have been to Bratislava recently and it would make a perfect day trip. Much of the city may still be a "dump" but the old town is certainly not--it's quite an attractive place to spend a day.

Fourfor, no. We have an expression in British English for Vienna it starts "furcoat and no..." Budapest is an honest city with some racial tension but a genuine hard work ethic with some great little bars, museums, fortresses and spas, even the Opera is a finer building


Laverendrye, it depends on where you go. The old town has been tarted up, not especially well, but has lost much of its seedy reputation and almost all of its charm. The outer 'burbs continue to carry the scars of needles and graffiti, still each to their own. I'd rather stay a day in Dyor.

bilboburgler, are you perhaps thinking of Győr? If so, I agree.

To that I would add Sopron, which is easily accessible for a day trip from Vienna.