Vienna stopover
 

Dear Fodories!
I always rely on your advise, so please help me out with this one too!
On the way back from our trip I'm flying from Rostov (Russia) to New York with a overnight stopover in Vienna with my two daughters (5 &10). Since our flight leaves only at 11.30 a.m. next day, I have the whole evening (I understand it is not enough) to explore Vienna or at least to see the center. I would really appreciate any recomendation on how and what can I do and see in such a short time. The Austrian Air provides a hotel near the airport. Is there an easy acces to the public transportation? I heard there is a private carrige tour with an English guide; is is true? I would be perfect for my girls (and me). Ones again, I would appreciate any comments!
Thank you!

What time of the evening do you arrive? Will there be light?

With luggage you will want to go direct to your hotel, I suppose.

But if you left direct from Schweschat (sp?) airport you can be at Wien-mitte station in the centre of Vienna in 20 minutes.

From Wien-mitte, you are 3 minutes walk to the Ring and a few minutes more from the true centre...

I'll be in Vienna around 4-4.30 p.m.. My luggage is taken care of by Austrian Airlines and will met me in JFK, so all I have is the carry on items (and two girls!). My little one does not like to walk a lot (big one is already on my side and saw Prague and Paris by foot), so the private tour would be perfect for us.

Returned a month ago from Vienna. There are two trains between the airport and the center. One is an express (no stops) for about $20; the other stops maybe twice for 30 seconds each for about $3. Same trip length (time). The first terminates at what I would call the station on the east side of downtown, the second at the operahouse on the south side of downtown. I believe the last train from Schwechat was 11:00 PM, first was 5:30 AM. Hope that's helpful.

The daughters should enjoy the Prater are and its Ferris Wheel. Just a couple of subway stops north of city center.

The Prater area is a large carnival, with rides, etc.

The horse-drawn carriages are called Fiaker. They are expensive, but in your case they would seem to be ideal for giving you a quick tour of the city in a limited time. I would do that first, since I am not sure how late they run.

Thank you so much for your suggestions! Keep them comming!

I would also appreciate any recommendation with regards of restaurants or caffes that I can go with the children (not very expensive but rather small and unique). Thanks!

Get a pictorial guidebook of Vienna and look at it with the girls. See what interests them.

You might ask the Fiaker driver for a recommendation of a place to eat.

This website would be good to consult:

http://www.info.wien.at/

Two we liked were:
1)Centimeter: their speciality is a 1-meter long wurst served on a plank. It was a quality wurst! Lively atmosphere.
Of course, they have other food, but I bet the girls would like it.
2)Lux-a somewhat more upscale restaurant with several rooms surround-ing an atrium. Good food & service
Both are a little north of Mariahilfer-strasse just west of a ring road. They are about 200 meters from one another.