Sighteeing around Vienna
 

I'm spending 6 days in Vienna next July. Thinking of renting a car for a number of days for day trips into the countryside. Any suggestions?

I spent a week in Vienna a few years ago & was totally entranced!
You could spend that long just exploring the city,
Plan at least a half day at Schonbrunn - Vienna's version of Versailles...easy to get to by train.

Out of Vienna there are the Vienna woods, which are magnificent. We visited a 12th century monastery called Heiligenkreutz (spelling?) & the remains of Mayerling Lodge where Prince Rupert died.

Also we caught the train to Baden; walked the Beethoven walk to the peak of the forest, where there's a cafe/restaurant.

On the outskirts of Vienna is Grinzing, where you can taste the new wine at a hauriger. We caught the tram there, & then the bus to the very top of the mountain at Cobenzyl.

That's all I can remember, but Vienna is so easy to get around, even for people who can't speak German!
You don't really need a car, & lik any European city, the traffic can be a nightmare.
Hope this is of some help. Feel free to email me if you want more info.

I agree with Cathy about Schonnbrun, an amazing place and definately worth at least an afternoon. If its a warm day than bring a bathing suit because they have a huge public pool that is very popular with the locals. Depending upon your age and physical ability' I recommend a guided bike tour of Vienna. My wife and I were there last summer and had a 4 hour privater tour of the city. The office is located near the Prater which is the huge ferris wheel and brochures for the company are at all the hotels.The guide was great and the city is extermely bike friendly. ENJOY. An amazing city !!

This was the easiest big city to get around in with public transportation. Six days is barely enough for a glimpse of Vienna. In addition to the great suggestions above: The Belevedere Palace with collection of native Gustav Klimt paintings, the thousands of clocks at the clock museum, the view from St. Stevens, or the Prata Ferris Wheel at twilght.

I'm taking this to the top in hopes that more people
post about it, since we're going there next month, too. Would someone say something about the Lippazans? (sp?) What's a good way to see them? Is there access to them through shows? How frequent are they? How expensive are the tickets? Would appreciate any info.

I'm taking this to the top in hopes that more people
post about it, since we're going there next month, too. Would someone say something about the Lippazans? (sp?) What's a good way to see them? Is there access to them through shows? How frequent are they? How expensive are the tickets? Would appreciate any info.

Austria web pages have info on dates/costs or how to contact Spanish Riding School. When you get there, you can pick up info brochures. I've never been able to get reservations..as there were no performances when I could attend. You can get up early.. stand in long line..and watch them practice without reservations(this is mainly flat work...no "airs above the ground"..a little dull). If you are standing near the door across the street from riding school, you can see them up close as they bring them to practice..I did this last fall. Actually, they bring horses back & forth all day..you just have to catch them at the right time.

Glenn: I enjoyed the Treasury of the Order of Teutonic Knights..near St Stephen's. It is located at Singerstrasse 7. Go inside & up the stairs. A German speaking nun is in attendance. I thought this little Crusader museum was a jewel(hardly anyone knows about it). The Austrians are obsessed with death and have the Hapsburgs' royal hearts in a vault in a lovely chapel across from spanish riding school. The Imperial burial vault on Neuer Markt contains crypt of Empress Eliz.(Sissy) and her son Rudolf( Mayerling). You might check Danube cruises(or drive) to charming medieval town of Durnstein(Richard Lionheart held captive), & to Melk(abbey). A RT cruise or drive would consume a whole day. Sacher Hotel has a little shop on side where you can buy sacher tortes. The art museum is a beautiful bldg as well as famous art..have a sacher torte there also.