I will be in Vienna in late Aug/early Sept, and would be interested in taking a couple of side trips via train. I was looking for a trip that would take under 3 hrs each way, so I could make it there & back without having to stay over. Any suggestions?? My main interest would be in quaint towns & just wandering around.

You can take a train to Melk, visit the famous (and newly restored) abbey, wander the town, then catch a Danube tour boat for the return trip to Vienna. You can stop in Durnstein, Krems, or any one of the little vineyard towns. It can all be done in a day.

Michelle, <BR>I'm about to leave for a five day trip to Baden, about half an hour from Vienna. I'll let you know what it's like when I get back. Other than that, I'd second the Melk idea. I've done Salzburg as a day trip from Vienna--it was a LONG day and I was so glad to get back to my comfortable room at the Kaiserin Elisabeth, but I was also glad to have made the trip. If you haven't made your hotel reservations for Vienna, I highly recommend the KE; and also the Tavola restaurant next door and the "White Chimney Sweep" restaurant down the block (I always forget the long Austrian name for it). <BR>BTilke

Consider Graz, about an hour and a half by train. In my opinion, a very under-appreciated city in Austria. The Altstadt area is very quaint and charming...you can walk down Sporgasse, stop at Konditerei Strehly, climb up to the Schlossberg to see the clock tower, and for an eagle-eye of the city. Herrengasse is the "main drag" with lots of shops and cafes...give it a try, there's a direct train from Wien-Süd every two hours!

Good evening, Mauld as 12 X's suggests would also suggest Melk it is <BR>a bery impressive baroqye abbey and the <BR>ride back on the water, has some very <BR>nice scenery. Richard of LaGrange Park, Ill...

Hi Mauld. How about a trip to Bratislava,the Capital of Slovakia,it is only a two hour bus ride from Vienna.The people who live in Vienna go there on shopping trips,because goods there are so much cheaper.Enjoy your stay in Vienna.

Just a correction to my post above, Graz is about 2 1/2 hours by train. Still worth the trip, though!

Thanks for all the great suggestions, I'll probably go with Melk & the Danube cruise back to Vienna. But I am really intriqued with the idea of Bratislava!!--I love to go to very different areas, but would I need a visa or anything at the border? Also, since my German is pretty non-existant, is English spoken/ understood there? I had been contemplating the trip to Budapest, but that may be a better idea.

mauld If you click on Europein Fodors area box and then on the europe pageclickon Slovakia-you will find other web users who havemade the trip to Bratislava by train(one &a half hours)journey,and they have lots of information about train times and what to do and see in Bratislava.Hope this helps.

Bratislava is easy to do in one day and the train from Vienna takes about an hour from the Sudbahnhof. Budapest is worth several days, so if you are not planning to stay, you might want to change. You do have to go through the passport line coming and going to Bratislava but, if you are American, you don't need a Visa; British subjects like Canadians and Australians do from what I'm told. Prices on crystal and other things are less expensive. The people in the shops speak English.

I just returned from Vienna and took the hour or so train ride to Bratislava for a day while there. I must say-- it was absolutely glorious. Trains depart from the Sudbanhof and take you to the Petrzalka train station at Bratislava. From there you'll need to take a cab into the "Starre Mestro" which means Old Town. It is all pedestrianized and it is just a beautiful old village and well preserved. Everything is so inexpensive there, too. The two of us ate lunch with an appetizer, a main course, and drinks for about $4.00. I would recommend seeing the St. Martin's Cathedral and there is also a large castle. But definitely spend most of your time in the Old Town. It is so close to Vienna and well worth the trip-- train fare is only about $16! I have a feeling that this hidden treasure will be like Prague in five or ten years once word gets out about it. It isn't too touristy yet but I am sure one day it will be. Enjoy your stay in Vienna and if you do nothing else-- go to Bratislava!

I would suggest the Hungarian town of Sopron, just over the border and only 75 minutes from Vienna. It has a beautiful (mostly pedestrianized) old town, with several small museums, a 13th century synagogue, and less expensive souvenirs and food than in Austria. No spedcial requirements are needed to get there - remember to bring your passport.

I'm trying to find information on the Danube trip back to vienna from Melk. does anyone know where I can find that?