I've posted before, but I've had to make some changes, so here goes. I'm leaving a week from today.

I know that I am moving very, very fast, but I like travelling that way, and I typically cut back a little. I just don't like to waste time by not knowing where to go next, when the late openings are, etc. I've had to cut a few things out I'd really like to see. I have listed times next to some events, but these are not hard and fast

Thursday:

Arrive at 10 am
Get bags, go to hotel … probably in Vienna proper around noon
Schon Palace and gardens
Metro to somewhere on Mariahstraus … walk back
Kunsthistorices until close to 9 pm
Dinner and café after

Friday

Bratislava … try to leave around 5:30 or 6 pm
Chagal exhibition at Kunstforum (closes at 9)
Late dinner at Heurigen

Sat:

Early morning: explore Spittleberg district, walk around University area, pass by Votifchurch and XMAS Market (before 9)
Historical Museum (9-10:15)
Belevedere and gardens (10:30-1)
lunch at MAK café and MAK (until say 3:45)
Karlskirche (until say 5:15)
Opera at 7:00??? If can get standing tickets; will line up ASAP after finishing at church
Dinner and Coffee/torte after

Sunday:

Hofburg – Library State Hall, Kaiser Appt, Albertina, Treasury, Augustine Church, parks (7:45 am – 2:00)
Lunch at that finger sandwich place and walk Graben, Kartnerstrasse, Kohlmarkt (till 3:15)
Leopold Museum (until say 5:30)
Wein and Co for dinner/drink
Concert at Musikverin at 7:30 (try to arrive at 7 to get a good standing seat)
Desert after at X-Celsor

Monday:

Jesuit church, Schonlaterngasse, Grieschenbeisl, Greek Church, and Maria church (7-9)
St. Stephens/tower and Peterskirke (9-11)
Ephesos-Museum (11:30-12:30)
Lunch at Palmenhaus (12:45-1:45)
Lich. Museum and park (2-4)
Return to hotel to collect bags and metro to airport
6:50 pm flight

Questions:

1) how/when do I pop into Palais Kinsky??

2) Where is a good point to get off the metro on Mariahilfer to walk back?

3) Any Heurigen suggestions that are easily accessible by public transport?

4) How much time at the MAK? If I figure lunch until 2 or 2:15, this really only gives me about 1.5 hours?

5) How much time at Karlskirche? Am I allotting too much time?

6) Seems like loads of churches to me on Monday … can I drop one?

7) How much time should I allot to get to/from the Lich. Museum (from say Hofburg complex) and then from Hofburg to the airport?

8) Is 2 hours enough time at Lich. Museum? I may just drop Ephesos Museum to allow more time there.

Do you really want to go to Schloß Schönbrunn that bad? We didn't get to go as we ran out of time, but I think it's not that much different than Hofburg, and you won't really get enjoy the Gardens much.

I don't know if you need that much time at Belvedere, unless you tour both the Upper and Lower Belvedere. There's not much to see at the Garden (most is under construction).

Can't speak for MAK (also on my list but didn't end up going), but the time slot looks about right. I can't imagine what's there to see at Karlskirche that will take 2 hours?!?!

The only museum I see you missing is Akademie der bildenden Künste - there's a Bosch painting there.
http://www.akademiegalerie.at/

And what about Secession building?

Hope you'll have a good time in Vienna, and hope you'll find time to write a trip report when you return.

Thanks, yk. I really liked your report. I hope to write one as well ... I'm actually two trips behind now on reports. Christmas Break plans.

I would like to see Schon Palace. I was thinking about touring both Upper and Lower Belevedere. I wanted to visit the Akademie but ended up taking that off. Secession as well ... maybe I can squeeze that in. Part of the Karlskirche time was walking to it, but maybe it won't take very long.

Since you're going to be in Vienna for a few days, are you planning on buying the 3-day transportation card? Instead of walking, the tram or U-Bahn will save you some time (and energy which you'll need).

Have you considered getting the Vienna Care? I originally was planning to get it, but didn't in the end because:
1) our hotel location was so good that we can walk practically everywhere
2) we didn't end up going to as many museums as I planned

But in your case, I think the Vienna Card will work in your benefit.

To get from Schoenbrunn to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, you take U4 to Karlsplatz and then U2 to the Museum.

Thanks. I had planned to pass on the Vienna Card because I'm a student and can get better discounts, but I'll look into transportation cards, as I will probably be using the metro frequently.

Would a day transport card cover the ride from the airport to the center (I don't plan to use CAT).

Thanks.

Doesn't look like the Vienna card will get you to ride the S-Bahn to airport for free, but you'll get a discount:

&lt; With the (Schnellbahn) S 7 you enjoy special discounts with the <b>Vienna Card</b> or with another ticket of the Vienna Transportation Authorities. For your ride to and from the airport, you need only buy an additional “Aussenzonen” (outer zone) ticket for 2 Euro (1.50 Euro if bought in advance) and have it punched before entering the train. Without the Vienna Card, you need to pay two zones (4 Euro, or 3 Euro if bought in advance).
Please make sure that the train in the direction of the airport shows either the sign &quot;Wolfsthal&quot; or &quot;Flughafen.&quot; From the airport to the center of Vienna, you should choose train with signs &quot;Wien Mitte,&quot; &quot;Wien Nord&quot; or &quot;Floridsdorf.&quot; &gt;

Thanks. I'll have to do some calculations about the Vienna Card. It really isn't that much more than the 72-hour transport card, although I will be there for 5 days (though one mostly in Bratislava).

In any event, I'm pretty sure I want to take the S-train from the airport - not the CAT. I would then switch where? to take the U3 to Stephenplatz for my hotel. Do I change at Mitte or Nord?

From my Vienna map, certainly makes more sense to change at Mitte for U3.

ttt

topping again. Thanks, yk

Be careful on the Vienna metro - gangs of young pickpockets are very active - girls and boys (from refugee and illegal immigrant families we have been told). My husband had his wallet lifted - happily we got it back with only the cash and 1 credit card missing (the one I had already stopped).

Thanks. I'll watch my back.

the schonbrunn looks chez cool in the late afternoon with dusk behind the gloriette. there's a place up there to have tea and dessert as the sun goes down and the walk down is cool too.

there are a lot of advent/christmas/winter markets in the palace areas, which are fun but pretty much the same. since everything but restaurants shut down early it's a great way to spend an evening after 8pm.