Vienna Airport Schließfach ?
 

Anyone knows if the airport in Vienna still has lockers to store suitcases?

Vienna Airport at Schwechat VIE


has a luggage storage center for storing all manner of luggage including some safe boxes for valuables.

Located on the same level as the Baggage Claim- Arrivals Hall-

Simply exit the claim area into Arrivals Hall turn left and walk toward the auto rental desks -
baggage storage is on left side across from the various rental companies just before going up the stairs to departure level.

for more information on storage and the airport.


www.flughafenwien.at

Thanks molker, I can always count on your Vienna in depth knowledge.
I don't know whether you currently live in Vienna or not, but perhaps you can enlight me about any train/bus service to Bratislava from the airport or downtown (Schwedenplatz). I'm not sure if the hydrofoil is worth it or not. In fact I'm not sure whether Bratislava is worth a day trip. We've been to Vienna several times so we're looking for good daytrips. Any other suggestion? We had a great daytrip to Gols last year for their harvest/wine release open house. Thanks

DAX, I was going to propose a day trip to Rust. We really enjoyed our visit there years ago.

I found this website which may be of some help to you. Of course, I'm sure Molker can also offer some great input.

http://www.eurocheapo.com/vienna/fea...day-trips.html

Thanks Betty, Rust & Deutschkreuz are actually in our radar because certain wine producers that we like are located there. Can you tell me any fun part of your visit to Rust? We've also never been to Baden so would love to hear any good tips, highlights, etc.

Dax, I just remember the storks -- they were nesting at the time. And I remember there was some lovely architecture. And, well, the wine! Maybe I had too much wine -- lol!

Take a look at their website. There's a virtual tour link that's quite interesting.

http://www.rust.at/en/c_tourismus/a_...senswertes.jsp

Unfortunately, I never made it to Baden. Don't know why, but we just never did. DH's boss loved to go there though. I think DH was working too many weekends while his boss was in Baden!!

Hello DAX-
Yes, I still live in Vienna and along the danube in summer.

Baden is a good choice for a side trip.

I was there last week for an operetaa-

They have a good summer program of operettas etc. music in a special small ( 500- 600 seat) theater .
This is an older place in the park next to the Casino - the roof can be retracted in good weather to provide a nice atmosphere.
The city just a short ride by train or BadenerBahn streetcar from Vienna.

Casino complex with good restaurant - nearby rose gardens and worth seeing city center. Reminds you of the former Kaiser times.


www.baden.at


A great day trip to the Wachau- Melk Abbey - Danube.


www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

under sightseeing wachau or something similar.

a combination ticket available at the train station- Westbahnhof includes train ticket to Melk - a tour of the Abbey- a nice scenic boat trip down the Danube to Krems- various offers in Krems- or get off the boat in Dürnstein and have a look at this village - excelent white wines

Krems , a nice old town historic buildings, wine museum, wineries- train back to Vienna- a full day but varied sights make it go too quickly.


also available on same website a combi trip with bike rental through the vineyards and a picnic.

Dedicated bike paths along the Danube- many stops at places to sample the wine too.

DAX, I agree with Molker about the Wachau area. I guess I assumed you had already been there. But if not, do go. It's lovely.

In Durnstein, there is a nice little hotel called Richard the Lionhearted where you can have lunch overlooking the Danube. And if you are hearty enough, you can climb up to the ruins where Richard was held during the Crusades.

Thanks molker & betty, I've been to the Melk abbey but not the Wachau wine country itself. Can you tell me any highlight/special town in Wachau?

I like the idea that we can take the Badener street car from Vienna. I can research where it departs from. Now I'm still wondering how good Bratislava is as a daytrip. Tempted to do it just to add another notch in my country list.

Krems and Durnstein are the two towns to visit in the Wachau.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations...768010029.html

http://www.krems.at/system/web/zusat...lonr=186158735

The last time I visited Bratislava, it was still part of the Eastern Bloc, so we didn't really enjoy it very much. I'm sure it's entirely different now.

Krems , actually not part of the Wachau officially - just a gateway town.

Dürnstein is Ok - but can be overfull of tourists at times when several Danube cruise ships and tour bus groups arrive at similar times. for good visits less tourists
Weissenkirchen

www.weissenkirchen.at

Spitz
www.spitz-wachau.at

more info also at
www.wineroute.at


For Baden-

www.wlb.at

bahn and/or bus just across the Ringstrasse from the State Opera.

also frequent regional trains - usually a little faster from the Sudbahnhof

www.oebb.at


other good possible visits

Schlosshof - a fuly restored country summer palace with excelent gardens , farm exhibits and restaurants- shuttle bus service several days during the week

www.schlosshof.at

also the former roman frontier garrison town- Carnuntum- now with a rebuilt example of a roman villa

www.carnuntum.co.at

I have never enjoyed Bratislava- but an easy train ride perhaps 1/2 day of sightseeing.
If you collect notches - consider going

an alternative way there is the newer catamaran boat trip on the Danube - about 1 hour 15 minutes - city center to city center.
called the twin city liner -
check google I know they have a good website - forget exact titls.

perhaps
www.twincityliner.at

Enjoy your visit much to do.

I'm leaning toward Krems, it looks like somethig that we would enjoy plus there are quite a few intriguing Gruener veltliner from the Kremstal that we appreciate, so we can't go wrong. Wondering if we can combine Krems with Spitz to visit the newish Kalmuck winery.

I think Kalmuck is from the son of the Gritsch winery of Spitz.

The son markets his wine under " Kalmuck "

Krems is about a hour train ride from Vienna ( Franz Josef Bahnhof - an easy transfer from city center via Streetcar " D" direction Nüssdorf)

check schedule and make certain to get a train without a transfer.

These are double deck trains , air conditioned and relatively new.
Scenery on the way not great but you pass farm fields, vineyards making the journey go quickly .

www.oebb.at

The Train sation Krems is just a short walk from the city center - nice old buildings - pedestrian shopping zone - a wine museum.

Krems is descibed from the year 995 AD
many 15th and 16th century buildings.

The area of Stein- once its own village now over the centuries forming part of the greater Krems is also filled with good architecture , museums and just adjacent to the ship station - also has its only little train station on the regional line direction to Spitz.

To Spitz - you have choices - the regional train check schedule above
or boat trip up the Danube

www.ddsg-blue-danube.at

www.brandner.at

Boats leave from the Ship Station in Krems - Stein- about 3 kilometers from the town center - walk 25 minutes - taxi , bus service.

Perhaps you could look to train 1 way and the boat the other.

The boat trip very intersting views from the river to the vineyards and small towns.

Spitz a nice small town - check to see if the Church door is open - usually is a very nice interior - nice town square with a few cafes- Spitz - a town of wineries and heurigers-

very easy to walk everywhere

Some of the best whites- in the Wachau as you probably know.

Also a vinothek on the walking path along the danube not far from boat landing - a good selection.

Makes a great day.

Thanks very much for all the great tips and the links as well, you're correct about Kalmuck. Since you seem to know wineries, maybe you've heard of a successful winery who makes sauvignon blanc in oak barrels. The winery has an ultra modern wine house that's built semi underground. I can't even remember where it is, perhaps even in Styria.

Knowing that we have wine interest, would you say that Krems is a better daytrip than Baden? Maybe we'll use the cruise boat to get to Bratislava.

Just reread my previous post which was written in a hurry. Just to give it more sense, I should explain that I'm developing a list of daytrips according to preference and ease of travel.

My wife likes sauvignon blanc and oaky chardonnay, so she'll be interested to visit the winery in question. I am betting on the Styrian location since sauvignon blanc is mostly produced in Styria.

I want to put Krems over Baden just because I am not aware of any good winery in Baden and it seems to be more of a small city suburb rather than a village town.

I just saw this post again- Baden- yes a larger town rather than a wine village - in summer excelent music - theater - casino- spa- rose gardens but not a wine center - Wachau much better for you if this is a priority -

easy access via train - boat also connections using the regional train that runs along the Danube - krems, Dürnstein / Loiben- Weissenkirchen, Spitz etc.

Wachua is best known for Whites- Guner Veltliner , Riesling ,
but some good Chardonnay too


Carefully check winery names - many families of same name are vintners- The Mosers - Sepp, Hermann, Lenz

Pichler - the best F. X. Pichler in Oberloben

in Spitz - perhaps best wine -

Hirtzberger

www.hirtzberger.com


also good
Jamek -- good Chardonnay - no barrel taste dry, fruity

they have excelent food in a nice restaurant - chance to test wine by the glass too while you dine

between Spitz and Weissenkirchen.

www.wiengut-jamek.at

In Weissenkirchen Prager

www.weingutprager.at


Weissenkirchen has a vinotek on the main road next to the ferry boat crossing the Danube- best to test there during the day as often no one available at the winery.

With so much to do - perhaps an overnightr in this area would be good.

Yes, I enjoy wine too.


Directly in Vienna-

in the area of Stammersdorf
Wieninger


www.wieninger.at


their grand Slect Chardonnay one of the highest rated - good Riesling and GV too.

easy to get there via streetcar#31 and then a walk of 10 minutes -

good food

Thanks for your great suggestions. I've been hearing about Hirtzberger(mainly their Honivogl) but I haven't been able get any here in the San Francisco bay area, so that may be the ideal winery to visit. It seems that people have been able to drop by and do tastings without reservation. I'll keep Jamek restaurant in mind (can you add what's good to eat there?), I was originally thinking of Schloss Duernstein terrace or the Loewenherz. Don't know what's the best/most practical to get to.

What about Schloss Goebelsburg? The other thing that came up in my mind is Langenlois but I need to figure out where Kamptal is on the map. I'll take more winery suggestions if you have any. I'm glad to find someone who enjoys wine as much as you do. I've only discovered Gruener Velt in the last 2 years so I still don't understand the old thick ones yet, we've been drinking mostly the super bright racy young wines, there's just too many winegrapes to enjoy. I've had a few Smaragd & Federspiel but haven't had time to discern the finer palate yet (no one to discuss with overhere, since gruve is not that popular yet). I'd be happy with great riesling winery recommendation as well. Haven't had any spectacular Weissburgunder from Austria yet either, my favorites are still alsatian pinot blanc.

Hello DAX:

I try to answer some questions - but my opinion only and everyone likes something different i a wine or food

Jamek- they have a small wine bar to the right side as you enter and can sample without eating-
but their food and atmpsphere is very good- in summer the garden- the one to the right side especially makes a nice atmosphere.
Their chef there for many years- the Frau Jamek is regularly through the restaurant and sees that things are correct.

The menu changes regularly, with the season and fresh ingredients available with a few things always on each one.
The soup always good.
The trout fresh from nearby is well prepared - the beef excelent -



The terrace at Schloss Dürnstein is very , very nice. fantastic views of the danube- food usually good - located at the north end of town - easy walk from boat landing or anywhere in town as Dürnstein not really big.

Better than the Lion but more expensive too.
Schloss Gobelsburg - the kellermeister and owner is Michael Moosbrugger, the son of the family that owns the famous Hotel Post in the ski town Lech- a premier hotel in Austria.
He has some form of co-operation with the famous Brunlmayer.
Gobelsburg very near to Langenlois .
Both just north of Krems 8-10 kilometers perhaps


www.gobelsburg.at

best wine - the Riesling Heiligenstein ( a vineyard area nearby ) or the Alte Rebeb ( old and very mature vines)

Langenlois - for wine lovers a must visit - this town lives for wine- it is their passion and the town itself with a long centuries of quality wine.

The town square itself worth a visit - buildings form the 1500s

many , many kellers ( wine cellars under and around the town.

You may know the Brundlmayer name as their wine is marketed in the USA.

www.bruendlmayer.at


they have a very nice restaurnat with excelent food moderate prices and of course the wine.

Also in Langenlois-
Jurtschitsch

www.jurtschitsch.com

long history in the family - now 3 brothers each taking a portion of the duties and some how make this work.
I like their Rieslings ( Zobinger especially)( Zöbing - a small village nearby where the grapes come from )

I should explain that most wineries do not have just 1 area of grapes.

But rather many relatively small plots with different soils , direction of the sun , altitude - age of vines producing various and distinct wines within a variety.

Heidler
www.hiedler.at Chardonnay with 15% alcohol very dry

Many others -

a nice modern spa hotel in town too - an easy stagger but uphill from Brundlmayer
called
The Loisium a nice wine tour in cellars next to it also-

Hope this helps a little - but causes you to make choices with limited time.

>>maybe you've heard of a successful winery who makes sauvignon blanc in oak barrels<<

Maybe this one?
http://www.loisium.at/

>>winery has an ultra modern wine house that's built semi underground>>

Or this one?
http://www.neumeister.cc/home/front_...t=1&lang=1

Loisium,in Langenlois, is not a winery - rather a very good wine history exhibition mostly in old cellars.

They do have an excelent vinothek selling wine of good vintners from nearby areas including Steininger among others that I believe had much to do with establishiing the Loisium.

Neumeister is a winery in south Steiermark. They have several Sauvignon Blancs - aged in wood casks.
The best , I believe is sold out and was quite expensive . Some lesser - for example Klausen , a little less alcohol is good.
But in this area , I like the wine of Weingut Winkler - Hermaden at Kapfenstein - an excelent Sauvignon Blanc 2006 also from the cask , dry


www.winkler-hermaden.at

grr: thanks for the neumeister link, now I realize that oaked S.blanc is not so uncommon in Styria. We'll have a taste in some winebar in Vienna to see if we like it first. It's just something that peaked my wife's interest, but not necessarily mine. I just want to confirm that there's none made in the Danube valley.

molker: Really appreciate your restaurant details which will be very helpful when we're there. I guess it will just depend on where we'll be at lunch time. Yes we've had some Brundlmeyer & Goebelsburg but they were probably not their flagship wines. I'm sure they're solid good, but I didn't find the wines we had to be outstanding. We do however find Hiedler wines to be beautiful for their prices. I also like the fact that it's a family run winery (typical in Austria I suppose)

Unfortunately your answers generate a few more questions here. It seems that we'll need a car if we want to visit Schloss Goebelsburg and Langenlois, or not? We're trying not to drive, but Langenlois sounds like worth the effort. Your comment about interesting buildings built in the 1500's raised my interest in Langenlois. I originally thought it would just be another wine village like Gols.

Would you say we can visit & taste without appointments? I can't commit to appointments because my wife also wants to spend time with her cousin & family in Vienna, so our schedule is up on the air. Last year the winemakers were happy to entertain my friends & myself just because we came all the way from California and we acted like we knew some things about their wine. I ended up carrying 2 cases of wines to the states with me.

Hopefully some answers

Sauvigon Blanc - yes you can find it along the Danube- in the Wachau

F X Pichler in Dürnstein / Oberloiben- one of the premier wineries of Austria

www.fx-pichler.at

a good dry Smaragd

Weissenkirchen
at Weingut Schmelz- also a highly rated

a Sauvignon Blanc Federspiel

also in Langenlois

Weingut Steininger - their wine I drink regularly

they have a Savignon Blanc Sekt ( Sparkling wine ) dry and very good in my opinion-

they have good Riesling too.

www.weingut Steininger.at

Hiedler also with a S /B

www.hiedler.at

and also Ehn directly in the center of langenlois

www.ehnwein.at


thus you can find this wine.

langenlois - always a favorite of mine.
Easy to test there - they have a nince Vinothek in the town center - the UrsinHaus . Many of the area wineries place their wines there for a test and of course purchase.

www.ursinhaus.at


info on Langenlois

www.langenlois.at

Good places to eat also -
The Langenloiserhof on the town square - a 15- 16th century house - fine courtyard for dining outdoors.

Open Wednesday - Sunday - was there 2 weeks ago- with friends that live in the town- they eat there regularly and really enjoy it.

As most all wineries are family owned - with the family really doing the daily duties of wine culture - it is harder to visit without appointments - but some will have hours for purchases and testing-
best to check their websites as days, times vary greatly-
this is the plus and reason for the vinothek.

Much better to visit Langenlois and /or Gobelsburg with a car - but idf you do not mind some longer walks - a visit by train is possible - Vienna - to the town of Hadersdorf - then to a smaller - normally 1 car regional train along the Kamp valley stops Langenlois for sure - perhaps Gobelsburg

check this site for schedules

www.oebb.at


If you ever visit in May - the first Saturday and Sunday - a fine wine weekend

The Tour De Vin- of Kamptal- Kremstal
15-20 top wineries combine to present testing - tours of cellars etc.

total cost per person- un limited wine testing - as much as you wish - some just place bottles in various places and your pour your wish- cost for 2 days - 15 euro

We usually have a group making this a fun and most inexpensive weekend-

Thanks for the great links. It seems that Steininger makes their SB into a sekt which we don't care for,but it looks that Hiedler SB Reserve must have some light oak (weiche vanille),now that's something I can readily buy in our area.

The Langenlois website indicates that we can take the Franz Joseph Bahn from Vienna into Langenlois directly, so perhaps we can still do it by train and then bike along their bikepath to 3 other towns, though I don't know if we can bike to Krems from there. The pictures look very idyllic and attractive.

The langenlois site advises as I did above that you can reach langenlois by train- but only by making a transfer in hadersdorf- no big thing as you go usually from track 3 to track 2 - walk down the steps to the crossing and then back up- these trains are co ordinated for an easy transfer .

But the Bahnhof in Langenlois is a fair walk from the twon center and your interests.

The Ursin haus has bikes to rent.

krems is possible by bike but needs some travel on highways - also a big climb to get back to Langenlois - I would not advise it.
As mentioned before langenlois is not on the danube - but in the hills north-
enough to do in Langenlois -

Thanks for all your help! I've printed the train/bus schedule between Krems & Langenlois so we can visit both in one day.

One last question: Is it OK to visit Krems & Langenlois on a Sunday? Would shops/wineries be closed on Sundays?

Sunday not the best day to visit - shops are closed - most restaurnats open-
most wineries do not have hours

check individual websites of the wineries-
that one of the purposes of the Vinothek to allow the hard working owner some free time and still permit visitors an opportunity to test and purchase wine.
example - in Langenlois the Ursin Haus Vinothek is open on sunday.

see website for hours.

Thanks, I'm glad I asked the question. That's the cultural difference, in Napa, California the wineries are open on weekends including Sundays.

Thanks betty, molker & grr for helping me plan my trip. We made it to Krems after much confusion & long delay due to ersatz verkehr with the train & underground. We should have just rented a car. We did enjoy Krems very much but by the time we were ready to go to Durnstein it started to rain!
Nevertheless we had a really great time in Vienna in the 5 days we stayed there that we barely need to leave town. We've been to Vienna several times but always with our kids so this time Vienna felt like a whole different city.