cgreer426

Hello. I'm going on a two-week river cruise in July/August, starting in Vienna, through German and ending in Amsterdam. I have never been to these places, and I will be with my husband, my 18-year-old daughter and my mother-in-law.

Although I would appreciate any comments or suggestions concerning the river cruise (on Grand Circle), my main question involves Vienna. We are adding an extra night in Vienna at the outset. The cruise includes a motor coach tour of Vienna, and I'm sure we'll hit the high spots and touristy areas on that tour.

So I'm looking for an area or areas to explore on our own that isn't so touristy, yet is accessible by metro and interesting for each of us. I also would like to stay in an area that has interesting pubs and restaurants and maybe shops. It needs to be close to the center city because we'll need to take a taxi or metro to the city dock in the morning.

It's only one night, of course, so we don't expect to cover a lot of ground. But I'd like the one night to be in a cool area.

Thanks for your help!

kja

I strongly recommend that you consult a good guide book, perhaps the Rough Guide. NONE of us can recommend sites that would best match YOUR interests for such a short visit to magnificent Vienna.

For example, I thoroughly enjoyed the Kunsthistorisches Museum and spent the better part of a day there. YMMV. That said, even if art is not your priority, you might want to peek inside for the stunningly, magnificently glorious Klimt stairwell. JMO.

The good news = you should see some wonderful things no matter what you decide!

fourfortravel

You'll find (trendy) interesting restaurants and shops in Spittelberg and along Neubaugasse; as the area is mostly commercial I am not sure what the lodging is like. You could easily stay in a more central location and reach the area in minutes on the tram or U-Bahn, however.

This Vienna tourism page will give you an idea of the shopping: http://www.wien.info/en/lifestyle-sc...gasse-shopping

This page offers information on Spittelberg, mostly for dining. The area is rather enjoyable for dining in the summer. http://www.wien.info/en/shopping-win...-wining-dining

Keep in mind the day you plan to spend in Vienna, too. On Saturdays most stores close by 18:00, and on Sundays all of the stores will be closed. Restaurants will be open.

kja

There are LOTS of sources for info about visiting Vienna -- or any other destination. But if you don't consult a good guidebook, you won't know what you don't think to ask.

You can look at guidebooks at your local bookstore, library, or (to some extent) on line. Your call.

FWIW: IMO, the cost of a good guidebook or two will be minimal in comparison to the cost of your trip. The cost of things missed because you didn’t know about them (because you didn’t have a good guidebook – and yes, MANY guidebooks skip LOTS of thngs) – well that, too me, is a price I’m NOTwilling to pay....

sandralist

My suggestion would be to visit the Hundertwasser House in Vienna, which although it is a tourist attraction, it is not part of the touristy central core of Vienna, yet still easy to get to and located in a neighborhood that is not touristy at all.

http://www.wien.info/en/sightseeing/...r-house-vienna

But that said, I would probably stay at a hotel within the 1st District. I woud stay removed from the immediate area of St Stephansplatz, but I would still prefer the core to the more residential areas, where there is not always a lot of street life. The alternatives to the 1st district might be the 7th district or the 2nd district.

This is one of the best "breakdowns" I have ever read of the various Viennese neighborhoods.

http://www.tourmycountry.com/austria...cts-vienna.htm

WeisserTee

We just spent a week in Vienna in the heart of the Spittelberg area and loved it. We stayed at the K+K Maria Theresia, an excellent four-star hotel -- we spent 987 euros for seven nights in their highest category double room with large balcony. The rate included a full breakfast buffet and wifi. The 49 tram stop is a block away and it's only two stops to the Ring where you can pick up other trams or the U-bahn. The Spittelberg area has lots of great little restaurants, cafes and shops. (We liked Kussmaul so much we ate there three times.)

I've been to Vienna many times and have stayed in a variety of hotels (Grand Hotel Wien, Kaiserin Elisabeth, Sofitel, Imperial, Viennart, and several others), but I'm not interested in staying in the Stephansplatz/Karntnerstrasse area any longer. It is way too crowded with tour groups etc all day and a good chunk of the evening.

Cowboy1968

Spittelberg and the area around is also my usual favorite when I stay in Vienna. Roughly the triangle-shaped area you get when you connect the subway stops Neubaugasse, Museumsquartier and Volkstheater. Even the major thoroughfare Mariahilfer Str. has changed quite a lot over the last years as it had been turned into sort of pedestrian zone. You will find a number of hotels also directly on this street, though the overall ambiance will not be as cosy or quaint as if you were staying right in the heart of Spittelberg. Nevertheless it would be an option if just proximity to the quaint bars and pubs of Spittelberg and to the quirky shops (plus regular shops and departments stores along Mariahilfer Str.) was more important than actually sleeping a quaint hotel.

WeisserTee

Just a note: the K+K is right in the heart of the Spittelberg and in a historic building, but it's not what anyone would call quaint. Its decor is more modern and it has as many business travelers as holiday visitors. We prefer a more modern style ("quaint" is a turn-off for us) as long as it's still comfortable and relaxing rather than hard-edged ultra-modern.

sandralist

The Spittelberg area is in the 7th district, so you can read more here (admittedly from a quirky, cranky native's point of view, but it's still interesting). The brief section on the Spittelberg area is in the middle of the page

http://www.tourmycountry.com/austria...ict-vienna.htm

and also a description of the 6th district nearby (which contains Mariahilfer Str. and also has the beautiful Majolica house that might be on your coach tour)

http://www.tourmycountry.com/austria...ict-vienna.htm

I just give you those links because I found them helpful planning my trip to Vienna, because they were full of little bits of information you don't ordinarily find in guidebooks, not that everyone would agree with each description. Also, I think it is a few years old.

I also wanted to give you the direct website of the Hundertwasser museum in case you were interested and if it isn't included on your coach tour

http://www.kunsthauswien.com/en/museum

thursdaysd

I loved the Hundertwasser, but I don't think I would suggest it for a first visit to Vienna. I agree with browsing some guidebooks and picking out what interests you. On my recent visit I was surprised by just how busy "inside the ring" had become, and might stay somewhere along Mariahilferstrasse next time. (Last time I stayed at the Opera Suites right opposite the Opera House - which is worth a visit.)

WeisserTee

"The brief section on the Spittelberg area is in the middle of the page"

Actually, the "tourmycountry" site has a separate page on Spittelberg:
http://www.tourmycountry.com/austria...erg-vienna.htm

cgreer426

I knew I would get helpful information on this forum, but this is more than I expected. Thank you all very much for helping me focus my research.
I know what's going to be keeping me busy for the next few days!

sandralist

Thanks WeisserTee for adding the extra detail that I missed.

My suggestion for the Hundertwasser was based on the OP stating he or she would be taking an organized tour of the standard "highlights", and thus was requsting something first-time tourists don't typically visit. I am not pushing it by any means -- and in fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the Hundertwasser is included in some organized tours -- but if it isn't, then it might fit the bill for what the OP personally is look for as first time visit. They want to see more than the typical first-time visitor sights. Whether it is the Hundertwasser or something else, I agree that even for a very short visit, it is an excellent idea to get beyong the guidebook lists and first-timer typical agenda mentality.

Iwan2go

I am not familiar with what are considered the best locations in Vienna, having only been for four nights, but if you do decide to stay in Spittleburg, we loved our hotel there, the Altstadt. We had room 33, a large bright room overlooking a beautiful church spire, and the breakfasts (included) were generous and delicious. Afternoon cakes and teas were also served in the large lounge. One evening we were tired and ate in, having a simple sandwich and soup that was outstanding. Classic rooms are 149 - 239 E for two people. http://www.altstadt.at/en/ I did a review in May 2013 detailing more.

The hotel is on a side street, maybe six - seven blocks from the Natural History Museum.

Iwan2go

I didn’t realize it, but the Altstadt also has two bedroom suites with living rooms, which may work well for your party of four.

We really enjoyed the lounges and had dinner there one night with an English couple we met the prior evening.

maxima

I stayed in the K + K Palais Hotel in the 1st District. its on a quiet square and you can get rooms overlooking the small park. breakfast is included. its within walking distance of many sites and restaurants, and you can also take the u-bahn (subway) or a tram.

It may be more comfortable and more reasonable to book 2 rooms rather than a suite for 4.

be sure your organized tour will take you inside the sights listed and not just drive by them

take a look at some guide books and decide what sights interest all of you and be sure to have some yummy pastries and coffee at the many cafes. The least expensive and popular is Aida, there are branches in various parts of town.