Message Thingorjus:
Could not let your summary of Vienna as "dismal" distort the image of this city to others. Perhaps you spent too much time in the many coffeehouses and not enough time really touring the sights of the city.
Magnificent palaces, beautiful parks, world class museums( more than 50), opera, plays, all types of music are just a few examples of the things to do.
Perhaps the next time, a longer visit would change your incorrect impression.
Or do people say they like Budapest only because it is less expensive?

I didn't care that much for Vienna myself on my first visit last March. Weather wasn't great, but I've visited other cities in bad weather (Prague, during that same wintry week) and still have fallen in love. I wouldn't have used the word 'dismal' perhaps, but I found it colder in spirit (not just in weather) than many other places, not that much notable architecture in the city center, uninteresting shopping, not a city I would enjoy aimlessly strolling about in as I do elsewhere. The pluses were Schonbrunn Palace, the art museums (although some of the art not to my taste), Stefansdom, and the Spanish Riding School. I'm not at all sorry I went, but I'm not rushing back.

I have been to Vienna 4 times. There are many worthwhile things to see, including my favorite art museum in Europe, the Kunsthistoriche, BUT I am among those who find Vienna basically depressing. The word that comes to mind is HEAVY [and not just the food!] It is worth seeing yes -- and I'll probably come through again -- but never for more than 2 nights -- all that Hapsburg stuff gets to me after a while.

Sorry, maybe I shouldn't have used the word "dismal." However, I found the city to be depressing and cold, even though I was there in September. I distinctly remember the smell of mildew in many buildings. (I am English, and therefore an expert on mildew :) )

I have to agree with Elaine, especially when she states she didn't enjoy walking around Wien. Neither did I.

I don't mean to offend you, Mr. Molker, but I didn't enjoy Wien at all. Honestly, when I stepped on the train to leave for Salzburg (an absolutely gorgeous place), I was very relieved.

Happy New Year,
John G.

Message Thingorjus:
Mildew? I live in Vienna and have never smelled or seen mildew. Of course I am not an expert as you seem to be. I suggest that you upgrade the style of hotel and-or type of tour.
This was an imperial city for centuries and has many buildings that remain from that era.Most people enjoy a walk in the center of the city to view them.Yes, some of the old city wall still remains- Molker Bastei!

Merry Christmas!

Molker, we were in Vienna in September 2004, and loved it. I would return in a heartbeat.

Aside from the palaces, museums, art galleries, churches, the friendliness of the people and the cleanliness of the city, one memory stands out for me. It was the park near Karlskirche. We looked around the church in the afternoon, and when we came out there were lots of elementary school aged children playing in the park. They looked as if they were having fun. That is so different from my own city in which the downtown core is very much an adult space and children stay out in the suburbs.

Mind you, child-friendliness and pedestrian-friendliness seem to be features of many European cities.

Even in Senta, Serbia (population 25,000), the undesirable hotel in which we stayed overlooked the town's central park in which there was the most delightful playground.

But, regardless of whether people like Vienna or not, I do believe it's instructive to visit that city, because it gives one a better understanding of other places in Central Europe. Also, visiting other places in Central Europe gives one a better understanding of Vienna. At least that's how it seemed to work for me.

Anyway, whatever the majority of Fodorites may think about Vienna, we encountered numerous tour groups receiving guidance in Italian, Spanish, French, Japanese, you name it. It's pretty obvious that Vienna is a city that attracts flocks of people. I guess not everyone bases his/her travel decisions on opinions at Fodors. ;)

Oh yes, another piece of information seemed to confirm our favourable impression of Vienna. The cab driver who took us from our hotel to the train station did not look European. We asked him if he was Austrian and he replied that he was an immigrant from Iraq. We asked him how he found life in Austria. He said that of course there were some differences, such as climate, language and customs. However, his experience was that Austrian people were very decent, and it was a pleasant society in which to live and raise his family.

By the way, my defence of Vienna is not intended to derail Sally's choice of Prague and Budapest. Sally, I think you're wise to have limited yourself to two cities in eight days, and I consider Prague and Budapest to be very valid options.

We were in Vienna last June and found it elegant, beautiful, and spotlessly clean. I would term it 'sedate', not 'cold', certainly not 'dismal'. Everyone we encountered there was unfailingly polite-- which some Americans may assume is 'cold'.
I think it's unfortunate people harshly criticize other cities with which they are only briefly familiar.

Message- A Thank you to MaureenB and J Judy in Calgary.

Thank you for taking time to learn a little about Vienna and for your recent posts about the city. I am very happy that you enjoyed the many things that the city has to offer.It eagerly awaits your return!

Boy, you Vienna lovers are hardcore!

I disagree with you Maureen about what you consider "harsh criticism" of cities on the Forum. There have been threads here on hatred of Rome and feeling Paris is a dump, blasphemous to some of us, but nonetheless just opinions and feelings about the posters' experiences in those two cities.

It's simple, in my view, to take these kinds of comments with a grain of salt. When planning a trip, I find both sides of the coin helpful. Based on my own research and information, I sift through these threads and draw my own conclusions.

I'd like to think that the city and its people eagerly awaitany reasonable traveler's return.
If being less than thrilled with it disqualifies someone from being welcomed back, I may have been correct in the first place.

I would choose Prague and Budapest, also, but I think Vienna worth a visit just to see it. It wouldn't be my first choice, though.

I wasn't that crazy about Vienna, either -- I was there about 4-5 days a couple years ago. I wouldn't call it cold or anything, just dull. Maybe it has a lot of museums, but I didn't think they were that great in comparison to other capital cities. As for cleanliness, the pedestrian street in front of St Stephans (Karntnerstrasse?) was positively filthy, one thing I didn't like about Vienna was how dirty it was in some areas like that. That is one of the main area for visitors, the city should clean it up. The McDonalds near there had the filthiest bathroom I've ever seen, also.

I'd take Prague and Budapest.
And right you are: Budapest is not that expensive as Vienna, though the architecture is pretty much the same.
You can ask guys at www.budapestsun.com forum or browse through www.budapestindex.com, if you need any practical vital info.

Just for fun, I guess I'll chime in here as well.

I also didn't think much of Vienna when I was there in 2002. It was very brief though. That said, I've decided that I'll be returning at one point. One of the main draws is the orchestra, which I still haven't heard in the Musikverein. I find their concerts really enjoyable whenever they play in NYC. Also I hope to make it to the Salzburg Festival eventually, so Vienna will merit another visit.

Another draw is the Kunsthistorisches Museum. I've decided that I need to spend more time there, as I've become interested in paintings by Brueghel the Elder -- it looks like the Kunsthistorisches Museum has, by far, the largest number of extant Brueghels, including the famous "Hunters in the Snow."

I spent a couple of days in Prague in 1999. I enjoyed that even less than Vienna -- I think that I must be in the minority on this forum. But I'll probably be back there again as well.

I've never been to Budapest.

I just wanted to thank you all again for your insights on which two cities we should combine on our 8 day trip!

Sounds like we really will need to get to Vienna! But since we've gone ahead and booked the tickets, this trip will be only Prague and Budapest - I can't wait!

By the way, I tried to contact Bela Lukas in Budapest, but he didn't respond. Does he have more than one e-mail address?

Thanks,
Sally

Hi Sally

Did you eventually go on your trip ?

what was it like ? What was the highlights ? Which country did you prefer ?

How did you break down your trip ?

I know it's an old thread. I remember it from before i joined Fodors and i wanted to comment then :-) and would love to know your final outcome.


Roberto
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic...udapesthungary

Actually this reply is for the last poster, Roberto!

I remember about where Sally went because I read clear through this (very interesting) thread and searched for her trip report. I,too,was very interested in this trip!

I believe that their plans changed, and she ended up going to Venice and the environs for a few days instead!

( I feel like a trip report voyeur but I do search them out and read avidly, trying to gain information!)