Thanks sandralist, fourfour.

I was looking at the various trams to take to Upper and Lower Belvedere. But it looks like you could just walk to it from Karlsplatz, walk through the gardens which are huge?

I know there are tram stops closer to the buildings but at http://www.wienerlinien.at, the options from the center would all involve some amount of walking anyways.

@ Cathinjoetown – Glad you enjoyed the Secession, too!
@ fourfortravel – I didn’t take it personally and can’t imagine why I would.
@ Dukey1 – I so agree!

scrb,

yes, you can walk to the Belvedere from the Karlsplatz. The Wagner pavilions there are worth pausing to enjoy.

In general I found using a map to calculate walking distances in Vienna reminiscent of being in London and doing the same. Walks can be longer than you expect them to be. They can be lovely when it comes to traversing the distance between the palaces of the Belvedere, through the gardens, or through some of the older parts of the core of Vienna, but something of a trudge along the major roads or in the suburban residential areas where there are loads of apartment blocks but not a lot of shops and street life.

One thing I didn't do in Vienna which has not been mentioned here so far (I think) is anything having to do with Sigmund Freud. Also, one reason that I may have found Schiele exhibits in Vienna rather unrewarding is that I learned this morning that the there is large Schiele exhibit that just opened in London (although this London critic didn't make me regret not seeing what might have been out of town)

http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts/exhi...s-and-pudenda/

Sorry to tack on yet another post but i wanted to say to scrub that I took the Statsoper tour and felt I didn't learn anything more than what I would have gotten from reading about it. The interior is heavily re-made because of war damage, and just in general I found it less fun than. touring opera houses in Napoli and Palermo.

A tip for anybody considering the Statsoper tour: They overbook the tours and then bring in more guides if needed to take whomever doesn't make the cut for the first grouping (the limit is 35 people). If you are on a tight schedule, best thing to do after buying your ticket is to wait at the top of the steps inside the lobby for the tour to begin. That way, you will be sure of actually starting your tour on time with the first group taken instead of being told you must wait for the next one.

Thanks for the post about the opera house tour. We are, unfortunately, not seeing any performances on this entire upcoming trip (for a variety of reasons) but think we'll be plenty busy with other things if the responses above are any indication.

As to walking from one place to another and maps I found my cellphone and maps to be of huge advantage on our recent trip over. My T-mobile plan gives me free unlimited data in Europe and I definitely took advantage of that, and especially in Venice. Absolutely accurate directions and what a pleasure not having to worry about getting "lost" although that isn't always such a bad thing, either.

scrb11, you can walk from Karlsplatz to Lower Belvedere in about 25 minutes. Alternatively, you can catch the D or 71 tram from OpernRing, two short blocks from Karlsplatz, to get you to the grounds at Belvedere.

The €14 KHM ticket is good for one entry to each KHM and the museums of NeueBurg, but I do not know if the ticket is only good for one day.

Our daughter and I took the Staat Oper tour this summer at the peak of tourist season. What worked for us was to join a non-English language tour, a recommendation for anyone who speaks a language in addition to English. We opted for the German language tour, and our group was small and private (10 persons) and rather enjoyable; we weren't rushed and could take time for photos and questions. The English language tour was at its max for visitors.

Please, please, please do not waste money on the Ring Tram tour. I had a free ticket and went to scope it out before some visiting friends arrived this summer. Colossal waste of 30 minutes. One can barely see anything because of tour buses blocking the view, so you have to rely on the video monitors as you move past the buildings and monuments. And, the audio is dull. Take the 1 or 2 around as far as they go and follow along in your guide book; the only building you're missing from the Ring Tram route is the War Ministry Building.

Dukey, I was playing around with Google Maps to search public transport directions and Google does a poor job. For instance, from Stephansplatz to Schonbrunn should be a 30 minute trip on two U-Bahns.

But Google routes you through the S-Bahns and it takes over an hour each way.

So I searched and found an app, Qando Vienna, which is from wienerlinien.at, the agency which runs the transport system. Much more accurate.

But for tracking walks, Google Maps seems easier to follow.

Scrb11,

Thank you VERY much for that information which I think will be helpful on our trip. Warmest good wishes to you.

Ditto nay re. the Ring Tram.
Personally, I find the section of Ringstrasse between Opera and Votivkirche via Parliament, City Hall, Burgtheater the most spectacular part with the most impressive buildings. And that is probably best explored on foot as you probably want to take in the scenery. When you get tired, you can hop on a regular tram for 1 or 2 stops anyway.
The part along the Danube channel is not so scenic IMO.

It you were not going in winter, I'd suggest to talk the route through Schönbrunn Park (for free) to get to the Palace. Subway station Schönbrunn is on the Eastern perimeter of the Palace's premises and not in front of the Palace's main entrance anyway. And the signs make you walk 10 minutes along a busy thoroughfare.
Instead you can take the exit from the station opposite to the direction of travel, turn right, cross that major thoroughfare after 100 yards, do not turn right to follow the exterior of the palace's annexes but go straight on for a few more steps until you have a huge gate on your right. That road through the park will take you right to the palace's main square and entrance. Or veer off the main road into the park if you want.
Palace ticket booths might be in another building on that main square, but that is well sign-posted.

When you say "station opposite" do you mean take the next station, which would be Hietzing, which is to the west of the Palace?

Sorry.. no, what I meant was:
Schönbrunn station has two exits.
One in the direction your train from the city center is going.
And one at the opposite end of the station.
The latter exit is what I meant.

I also think buying the Ring Tram Tour would be a waste of money, although by simply taking the public trams around the Ringstrasse, I did get a better sense of Vienna and saw things I wouldn't otherwise have seen.

HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE: One of the trams -- I believe No. 2 -- has only recently been re-routed, and at a certain point it will leave the Ringstrasse and head elsewhere. My guidebook had out of date information (despite the fact I had purchased the most recent edition in Vienna). A kind citizen of Vienna helped us figure that out, and showed us where to get off and then board a different tram to continue our journey around the Ringstrasse.

So even if you don't want to call all the way around the Ring, make sure whatever map you have of the tram system is current and absolutely up to date. Don't automatically rely on maps or tram route advice you find in a guidebook.

(I'll also add that while there is no doubt that the Danube channel is not "scenic", I was glad to see another side of Vienna, plus I got my only view of the Ferris wheel, which otherwise I would have missed because the weather wasn't favorable for visiting the Prater at any time during my stay. I also enjoyed looking up from below to the glass ceiling of Le Loft restaurant at the Sofitel. If we weren't running late for a cocktail with a friend in another part of town, we might have gone up to the bar for a drink (the restaurant is a Michelin-star place we would have skipped).

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...18th_Floor.jpg

oops sorry -- chef at Le Loft has won Michelin stars at other places, but this resto is not one of them.

I recommend:

http://www.leopoldmuseum.org/en/press/leopoldcollection

http://www.kunsthauswien.com/en

Reporting "live" from the Park Hyatt I must say that the hotel is quite impressive.
A bit too opulent for my taste but I think it is as close to "old world luxury" without having to reside in a dated palace.
The rooms differ in size but even the smaller ones on the top floor are still spacious. The interior is also a bit too opulent for my taste. But again that is just a preference.
Otherwise the rooms are high-tech, no more switches for lights, but everything controlled by touchpads.
Don't hesitate to call front desk if you can't get your TV or shades to operate.
Or, even better, ask the staff who brings you to your room to give you the grand tour of the controls.
Aside from the luxury, the staff is very friendly and helpful. Tipping is much less expected than you may think. The hotel's target clientele is beyond the usual Hilton crowd and does not throw around tips. Service is expected and not something you were supposed to honor.

Thank you for that report. "Too opulent" like how? Too much gold leaf?The crown mouldings too big? LOL You have the breakfast and if so how was it?

TTT

Yes, opulent but not tacky.
Just not your cup of tea if you prefer a more Scandinavian style of design.
But I am sure that it will appeal to many people who prefer a more "Old World" ambiance.
Breakfast was okay, I thought.
Buffet-style for staples. Hot stuff, eggs , sausages, omelettes can be ordered and will be served at table. Same for coffee.
Breakfast is served in the main restaurant "The Bank" which is quite a sight on its own.
If your rate does not include bf it's comparable moderately priced at 33 euros.
Otherwise there are several coffee houses open in the morning literally around the corner for a less pricey start of the day.
Btw - you should have a Christmas market right in front of the hotel by the time you get here.