We have a 4 1/2 hour layover coming up in the Vienna Airport during our trip to Croatia in May. My wife and I have been to Vienna previously, but our daughter has not. Is there time to make a quick jaunt into Vinenna from the airport during this time? Thanks!

I would say no. The CAT can get you in pretty quickly, but then you normally have to change to go to your final destination. The airport security was not too long, but I personally would not want to travel all that way just to have an hour to see the actual city. I'd rather chill out in the airport with a good book.

I personally think there's enough time. The CAT takes 15 mins, and the cheaper S-Bahn takes about 20 mins to get into the city. The Mitte station (where the CAT and S-Bahn) goes to is not quite in the middle of town, so you'll need to change for the U-Bahn or take a taxi to say, Staatsoper. Of course, you can splurge and just take a taxi directly from the airport to the city which will save you quite a bit of time.

Also, assuming you don't have much luggage with you, the train is a pretty easy ride.

I recall the security/immigration at Vienna Airport wasn't too bad - but that's just my one and only experience.

This was going to be my exact question (4 1/2 hour layover), the only difference being I have never been to Vienna. I wouldn't try to see anything, just get something to eat and enjoy the first few hours of my vacation. Is the station where the CAT and the S-Bahn drop in any kind of wandering-around neighborhood? Or would I truly need to go further into the city?

The train goes to Mitte, which is just half a mile, or 2 U-bahn stops, from Stephansdom in the middle of the old city.

Yes, the CAT takes only 16 minutes, but it runs only every half hour. So, it might not exactly going when you get to the train. With going back and forth and the need to be back to your connecting plane on time, I would not try and go into the city for a look around. You will need to make the CAT to go back to the airport--running only once every half an hour. There is shopping available in the airport to kill time. No way I would do all the running around necessary for, at most, an hour--and maybe less--in town before needing to return to the airport.

Thanks for the input, everyone! It looks like the City Park is across the street from Mitte station. I would only have about 45 minutes but stretching my legs in the outdoors might help me keep awake to combat jetlag. On the other hand, I can rarely sleep on planes so I will probably arrive in Vienna comatose and unhappy. I have looked up information on how to ride/use the CAT and the Airport City Train and added it to my itinerary in case I decide to do so.

Just an update--I ended up taking the CAT into vienna during my layover and it was a great way to start beating jetlag. I blogged about it at http://travelathomeandabroad.blogspo...edit-card.html.

I will blog the rest of the trip when i get home next week when i have uploaded my pictures.

We have just returned from Vienna, and I can tell you that security leaving the airport is a breeze,so it won't take up much of your time. We took a taxi into the city which took 30 mintues at rush hour. I still can't see the point of taking the CAT for just a few moments of walking in a park, while keeping one eye on your watch to make sure you get back to the airport on time, check in, go through security, etc. Vienna is a city to be treasured at your leasure, and should be saved when you have the time. We were there for 4 full days, and barely touched all it had to offer.

I would say go for it - you flight might even arrive a little early. I have been through Vienna four times in the last four years and each time security took very little time. With three of you I would take a taxi both ways.

On the other hand Vienna is quite a nice airport to hang out in - some nice shops as well

Our experience with travel time was similar to that of jrlaw10's. This is a very low-key airport and access is a lay-up.

Our Vienna Hilton was right across from the CAT. The desk manager told us the taxi would be less expensive for the four of us, and that given that the "16-minute" CAT only ran every half hour, and that the taxi would take no more than half an hour, we should do the taxi.

My youngest swears we were at the airport in 15 minutes. I don't know if that was true, but it wasn't more than 20.

Hilton (just outside The Ring right by the CAT) to Stephenplatz--Walking, no more than 20 minutes if you're slow.

Hilton to tram line 1/2 around The Ring: No more than 5 minutes unless cross walks are against you AND if you've recently had a hip replacement.

So to anyone else attempting, if you have a 4 1/2 hour layover, go for it.

Our experience with travel time was similar to that of nicegirl. VIE is a very low-key airport and access to town is a lay-up.

Our Vienna Hilton was right across from the CAT. The desk manager told us the taxi would be less expensive for the four of us, and that given that the "16-minute" CAT only ran every half hour, and that the taxi would take no more than half an hour, we should do the taxi.

My youngest swears we were at the airport in 15 minutes. I don't know if that was true, but it wasn't more than 20.

Walking time from Hilton (just outside The Ring right by the CAT) to Stephenplatz--No more than 20 minutes if you're slow.

Hilton to tram lines 1 and 2 around The Ring: No more than 5 minutes unless cross walks are against you AND unless you've recently had a hip replacement and haven't spent enough time in rehab.

So to anyone else attempting, if you have a 4 1/2 hour layover, go for it.

The CAT takes 16 minutes while the regular S bahn takes 25 minutes. If you miss the CAT just take the S bahn which comes every 8 minutes, it costs around 3 euro instead of the expensive CAT which only saves you 9 minutes.

The Stadtpark next to the S bahn/CAT end station is a nice park for a picnic or you can try the number one restaurant in Austria called STEIERECK (Styrian corner) right inside the Park facing the tiny Donau canal extension. It's has glass windows everywhere so it has a bright outdoor feel to it. If you want to save money, just eat your picnic lunch in the train and have a great dessert at the Steiereck and take a stroll in the Park.

I think you may have plenty of time to go into the city. We arrived in Vienna on Christmas Eve. I swear it only took us no more than 10 minutes from landing in the plane until walking out into the arrival hall. No queues, bags were already going around the carousel, customs was virtually non existent - our passports were taken, stamped and given back, no questions nothing, they didn't even glance at us. Being christmas, we had all sorts of souvenirs from our own country (NZ) and goodies for Christmas presents for our friends, and were expecting to have to declare most of them. However, while standing in the customs hall, a little unsure what to do and trying to read the signs, two customs officers were talking amongst themselves, and obviously in the christmas spirit, just told us 'no customs today' and we walked straight out. DH and I still laugh about this, it was unbelievable.

Dax, your spelling is just a bit off (I usually spell it wrong too)...here's the restaurant's web site:

http://steirereck.at/wien/restaurant/

If you want spend a couple of hours in Vienna having a special lunch, I'd go here or Meinl am Graben. Both restaurants have excellent selections of Austrian wines by the glass.

A multi-course lunch at Steirereck, with a glass of Austrian wine to go with each course, will run about 100€ per person. Everything is great...but the coffee, I've been disappointed with their coffee every time I've lunched there.

However, if you want a quick bite in one of the hot new(ish) spots in the historic heart of Vienna, stop in Le Bol (www.lebol.at). It's an Austrian version of the Brussels staple, Pain Quotidien (and the staff at Le Bol know it, I asked them if they were affiliated with PQ and the manager quickly assured me that, oh no, they were completely separate...hmmm). An attractive, inexpensive and inexpensive spot.
Although for a traditional Vienna cafe/konditorei, my heart firmly rests with Oberlaa, also on the Neuer Markt
http://www.oberlaa-wien.at/

Thanks for catching the mispelling BTilke, it's not the first time that I did it either.

I like BTilke recommendation even better. Meinl am Graben will give you a much better viennese ambiance and their lunch menu will cost you a lot less than Steirereck; however it takes more time, hopefully there is an S bahn that you can transfer to Stephansplatz directly. As far as I know there is no direct U bahn from Stadtpark to Stephansplatz.

Otherwise walking to Graben will take 15-20 minute via St.Stephens Cathedral. If you're lucky, you may hear the good aria singer from Slovakia who sings in the middle of Graben next to the Pest tower providing the perfect Viennese atmosphere.

Meinl can be as expensive as Steirereck if you order a multi-course lunch and sample a glass of good Austrian wine with each course. And you definitely need reservations for tables.
BUT...as you noted, fortunately they also offer much less expensive lunch specials and you can eat at the bar, ordering as little or as much as you want. And no reservations to sit at the bar.

FWIW, my favorite quick lunch is at Cafe Sirk on Karntnerstrasse up by the side of the Hotel Bristol and close to the Karlsplatz u-bahn. The Sirk makes the best chicken noodle soup in town (IMHO) and a bowl of soup, salad, dessert, and a glass of blaufrankisch usually sets me back about 20€. Of course, most of my visits to Vienna are in Feb/March, where a hot bowl of homemade chicken soup hits the spot. On a warm May day, it might not be the thing.

If the OP walks up the Ring from the Stadtpark toward the Opera, they could duck into the Ring shopping arcade, where there's a basement level grocery store that sells sandwiches and other snacks. There are a few cafes in the gallery as well. But betware of the cash machines (at the far end, across the street from the Opera)...if you withdraw 100€, you'll get a 100€ note. The machines are either always out of smaller notes or that's all they give, I've never been able to get anything but 100€ notes from them.

The best chicken noodle soup in Vienna? Now that's a unique travel tip BTilke. In that case I am compelled to rave about the best Tafelspitz in Vienna: PLACHUTTA, which is just a block away from the Stadtpark along the Wollzeile. You can choose what part of the cow you want, but the best parts are the shoulder piece & the traditional Tafelspitz (18-23 eur?) You'll be in 7th heaven as soon as you taste the soup.