Help with Vienna itinerary

Old Jul 5th, 2006, 07:40 PM
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Help with Vienna itinerary

Okay, I've put together a very preliminary itinerary for a trip to Vienna Dec 8-11 (these dates could change). I'd be flying into Bratislava from London (no jetlag) on Dec 7, having a full day to see Bratislava and then taking the train into Vienna quite early on the 8th. I'd probably fly out of Bratislava late on the 11th into London.

Here goes. I like seeing museums (especially fine art, impressionist paintings in particular but really all paintings), churches, palaces and gardens:

Friday:

Hofburg – Library, Albertina, Augustine Church, Treasury, Kaiser Appt.
Gemaldiegalerie
Furniture Museum
Concert

Sat:

Schon Palace
Applied Art Museum
Leopold Museum
Opera

Sunday:

Historical Museum
Belevedere
Lich. Museum
Kunsthalle (until 7)
Musik House (closes at 10)
Late dinner at Grinzing somewhere

Monday:

Military Museum
Kunsthistorishes
Jewish Museum
Missed churches/parks?
Another museum?

I know this looks like a ton, but I move fast and am young. I'd probably have breakfast in the hotel and don't mind skipping lunch or eating it very fast.

I'm missing some things I'd like to see (including Freud House and some museums in Neue Berg, and maybe Natural History Museum and Secession Building). Is there something I should take out to include these, or a day when I could put another museum in?

I don't like shopping, but I don't really have any time for just wandering some major commercial streets. Is there a street I could walk along for a minute to get a shopping feel?

I'll post later about tips regarding concerts/opera, as well as restaurants (would like a good wine bar or two, as well as desssert places).

Anything I am missing? Is it too much?

Thanks!

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Old Jul 5th, 2006, 08:06 PM
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You are missing the Stephansdom! That is the first thing to see in Vienna, imo. It is the heartbeat of the city, as well as being a fabulous medieval cathedral. There's some important art inside. It's in the center of the city - not terribly far from the Albertina.

Other churches are worth your time. Don't know your historical period of interest, but St. Ruprecht's is from the 11th century, and St. Maria am Gestade is a lovely medieval church. These are reasonably near each other, north of the center. There are loads of Baroque churches as well.
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Old Jul 5th, 2006, 08:16 PM
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Thank you; I'd meant to include St. Stephens and thought I did. I'll have to fit that in somewhere, maybe on Friday or Monday. I did note those other churches you mentioned and hope to visit them briefly on Monday or if I'm walking by them and have a spare moment another day.
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 04:37 AM
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ttt
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 05:28 AM
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The Kunsthistorisches Museum is closed on Mondays.

Also bear in mind that December 8 is a public holiday.
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 05:45 AM
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Thanks; I'll have to switch things around. I did know that Dec 8 is a holiday, but I don't think many sights will be closed.
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 05:45 AM
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Yes Saint Stephens should be first on the list!
You will need lots of time for cafe culture too. Just having a vienesse coffee is a leisurely experience, you know!
And the Christmas shopping....
I was there 5 years ago in December and I yearn to go back. If you know where youre going to eat then I suggest you book tables first as it can be quite busy with local people starting with their Christmas parties.
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 06:34 AM
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Thanks for the suggestions about booking restaurants. I thought I'd visit the cafes later at night, maybe after the theatre around 10, for a torte. Would they still be open then?
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 07:22 AM
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Yes. I remember we had early dinner before we went to a concert then had dessert after the concert.
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 10:00 AM
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Any recommended cafes, Caryl?

Also, does anyone know what is going on with renovation at the Kunsthistorishes Museum? I believe now that the sculpture is closed; will more work be ongoing?
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 11:39 AM
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The only cafe name I can remember was Central Cafe. Coffee and strudel to die for!
We were at this restaurant on our first night -didnt have a reservation and it was so busy, but the waiter was reluctant to let us go. He told us to follow him and we ended up in the basement where it was very lively. After placing our orders we realised that we were in the midst of a party !
Everyone seemed to know each other. Hmmmm...Anyway- the first course came and I was full up. Unfortunately I had a wiener shnitzzel to come and when it did I felt like running away! It was on a plate the size of a tray which was just as well cos no ordinary plate would have done. I only managed to eat a quarter of it and then theres a glass being pinged. Speech time at the party!
oH BOY! There we were sitting there, having to be polite and not speak to each other while this man made a lengthy sppech and then there was a presentation! More speeches and 1 hour later we asked for the bill and got the heck out of there!
A real bizarre evening!
The next night we ended up in an Italian place where we had to wait ages as the waitress went out to buy the supplies! She came back with heaps of bread under her arms and carrier bags!
We only went there because everywhere was booked up.
we had a brilliant last night when we had a wonderful meal in a vegetarians nightmare of a place.Stags and wild booars heads on the walls and loads of meat on the menu. the waiter was a right old grump but was our best friend by the end of the night. Maybe cos we ordered expensive wine.
My husband was going to take us on a magical mystery tour on the tram at the end of the meal. but it was so late when we left the restaurant - the trams had stopped running! Shouldnt have ordered more puddings!
Loved the finesse of Vienna. Cant wait to go again.
I will check out my friends DKbook for you and see if I can remember any places we went.
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 12:31 PM
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When we were in Vienna in December, we stopped in Hawelka coffee shop on Dorotheergasse. This traditional coffeehouse has a reputation for being bohemian. It was very small, crowded and smoky, but lots of fun.

The Julius Meinl food shop on Graben has a nice coffee shop and a very nice restaurant. They have wonderful coffee.

Our favorite place for a late night pastry was an Italian gelateria and pastry place called Zanoni and Zanoni, Am Lugeck 7, just around the corner from the Stephensdom. We ate dessert there at least 3 of the 4 nights we were in Vienna.

As for commercial shopping streets, you should check out the Graben and the Kartnerstrasse. You should have no problem running across these as you go to and from your museums. Both are near Stephansdom.
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 08:15 PM
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Thanks for the tips. I think the Julius winebar is one I'm supposed to check out, at least according to a recent Travel and Leisure article.

Are the cafes kind of like Starbucks in America, in that they are open late and one can just get dessert or a drink, or do they expect you to get a meal too.

Any more thoughts on this itinerary? I think I may swap Saturday and Friday in order to accomodate the holiday.
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Old Jul 6th, 2006, 08:18 PM
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Absolutely no meal required at a coffeehouse. Really you could do just coffee and then sit for quite a while and read the paper, etc. The desserts are nice, though. I don't think they do that much real food, although my husband did get wurst at the Halwecka.
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