Visit to Vienna
 

We have recently returned from a 2 week home exchange in Vienna, and as I hadn't been able to source much information about that city from Fodors, I thought the following information may be helpful for other visitors.

Public transport: tickets are valid for the whole day on train (metro), tram and bus within the city limits. 8 day pass can be used by 2 people for 4 days, 4 people for 2 days etc, you just put the ticket into the machine on the first transport you use for the day, then it’s validated. They do have ticket inspectors, and beware – they don’t wear uniforms and tend to look like the great unwashed. I assumed the firs inspector who approached me was a Gipsy looking for a handout!
Metro is like Paris – just look for the maps to find your line colour, and the destinations are displayed as the line end only (not all stops). Trains run every 3 min or so for most of the day. Weekends and evenings are 5-7 min apart.
Trams are marked as numbered lines, buses are numbers with A after them. Tram #1 (Ring-Kai-Ring) runs in a ring around the city circle – great way to see the town centre and get your bearings. Also great to get from one part of town to another, or just to ride and rest your weary legs.

Music performances – everywhere you’ll come across Mozart-dressed people selling tickets to concerts. They are very ‘tourist’ oriented. Free performances can be found at St Augustin Kirche just beside Albertina. Any that are described as ‘Messe” are free – others you’ll be charged an admission fee. This is also a very pretty church inside.

Monument Against War and Facism – located opposite the Visitor Info Centre. Sculptures on paved area. On the side facing Albertina in the grassy garden area is a display panel with detailed info about the significance of the open space.

Albertina – go up the escalators for a great view over the city from the plaza up there. Also worth a walk inside to see the magnificent marble walls etc even if you don’t go into the exhibitions.

State Hall – just along from Albertina. Has a magnificent multi-story Baroque Library, well worth a look. Entry cost only a few Euros. Also exhibition on Man’s Inhumanity to Man makes for very interesting display.

Leopold Museum has Klimt, Egon Schiele and Egger-Lienz exhibitions; well worth a visit.

Belverdere has the Klimt ‘Kiss’ original. Tram D to Sudbahnhof – just across the road from the final tramstop. A beautiful palace set in spacious gardens.

Karlskirche – beautiful church but charges for entry.

Heldenplatz is one of the grandest palaces in the city. Free to walk through the grounds and archways.

St Stephens Cathedral – try to see this when a service is being held, as this is when the chandeliers are lit and the cathedral looks at its best.

St Michaels – Gregorian chanting makes for a lovely atmosphere.

Hundertwasser was given free hand to decorate the outside of the city garbage complex. Ride the U4 (direction Heiligenstadt) or U6 (direction Floridsdorf) to Spittelau stop. As you pull in to the station you’ll see the building on the right hand side. Leave the station and turn right – there’s a walkway that takes you along side the building. If you enjoy modern art, or something out of left field, this will amaze you! There’s also a Kunst House designed by him just outside the Ring near the Danube, and also a village area that has to be seen to be believed! The village homes aren’t open for inspection, but go into the underground shopping area and you can see a free video in the Kunst&Cafe. While you’re there, don’t miss a visit to the toilets – will cost 60c but it’s worth a visit! See www.hunsthouswien.com for all details.

Danube boat trip – a journey around the canal and new Danube. Not a lot to see and minimal commentary.

Schonbrunn. Metro U4 direction of Hutteldorf. Short walk from the station. Arrive for 8:30am opening, so you can walk through without the crowds. It’s a self-guided tour with pamphlet in English. Interesting history of Viennese aristocracy and beautiful display rooms .Extensive gardens - if you walk south of the palace through the grounds up the hill to the Gloriette, you get a great view of the palace and the city. Allow 4 –5 hours for an extensive visit. We purchased the Grand Tour pass, which covered all palace rooms, entry to Gloriette, Privy Garden and Bakery, where they do an excellent Apple Strudel making demo with free tasting. Just a visit to the garden area is free.

Happy travels, Di

Thanks so much, very helpful info. I'll be there in July and will definitely make use of some of your suggestions.

You're welcome, Isabel.

At least by July the soccer madness should have left the city; apparently they close the Ring to all traffic (trams included), and we saw the large screen and enclosure being erected outside the parliament building a few weeks ago. All very good for the soccer fans, but somewhat spoiled the scene for all the rest of us!

By the way, I have tried the Apple Strudel recipe given by Schonbrunn Bakery, and can really recommend it. I don't think the bakery will be calling on my abilities just yet, but all the family were most complimentary!

Happy travels, Di

Surprising that y0u couldn't "source" much info on Vienna from Fodor's. Many that post here have been there and/or currently live there. I lived there for a couple of years myself.

I'm sure the info you provide will be of help though to other travelers.

Really enjoyed reading all your tips and things to do. I am thinking of traveling there next year. Can you please tell us about special foods you ate and any exciting items you bought or saw.With the steep exchange rate, how did you manage your daily budget. Thanks for a very interesting report.

Hello ileen

Thanks for your comments!

I have a problem with eating a lot of processed foods (one of the reasons having a kitchen is a necessity when we travel), so may not be the best person for this advice. But having said that, I've found that food in Vienna and Paris is produced from such high quality inigredients that I don't have as much of a problem there. I'm a real sucker for pastries and deserts, so really enjoyed the Applestrudel and Topfelstrudel (a custardy filling instead of the apple). They also do a wonderful Vanilla Sauce that has a beautiful creamy texture (served with pancakes etc).

We cooked a lot of pork and turkey breast meat meals - the latter we can't buy at all at home, and it was just delicious diced and lightly fried in a little olive oil.

We were taken by some friends in Vienna to a Heurigen Winery for a meal - an experience not to be missed! The wineries are in the Grinzing area just outside the city centre, and easily accessible by bus or tram (the metro tickets are valid this far out as well).

Each is a small family-run winery, and they are only allowed to sell their own wines. These aren't bottled - only sold by the glass or carafe. They also do casual meals; the one we visited weighed the size of serve you chose, then charged you accordingly. Our meal for 5 adults only came to around 30 Euro, and there was certainly plenty to eat. Just Google Heurigen Winery for details.

Dinners we usually eat at 'home' and then maybe take a walk and find somewhere nice for desert or icecreams - good on the wallet as well as the waistline!

Our budget isn't usually very high - by shopping in supermarkets you can save on foods, and I do plenty of internet research before we travel to find out freebies and out-of-the-way activities and sights as well as the 'iconic' ones. We do a lot of walking so that we see more and meet more local people.

I don't purchase many souvenirs - just some little fun things for close family, and usually a scarf to add to my collection for me. These I buy in markets or shops away from the main tourist drag. At present our Aussie dollar is better than previously against the Euro, so we didn't notice much difference between home and away prices.

Enjoy your planning - to me that's where the whole journey begins, cheers, Di

bm

I did a home exchange in Vienna last year (2007) for a month and can endorse all the suggestions. If you have a car, there are plenty of sites to see in the suburbs as well--the most notable being Melk Abbey. In addition to several abbeys, I saw the church on the site where Crown Prince Rudolf committed suicide with his mistress in the 1880's. The orginal palace on the site was turned down.

I actually home exchanged in Austria twice within one year with the second swap being in Salzburg Easter 2008.

Vienna is every bit as interesting as Paris, London, Rome, etc., and the strudel is to die for.

Do you know the name of the winery where you had dinner? There seem to be several and thought perhaps you remembered the name.

Thank you for your information. I copied it and will take it along for our stay in Vienna in September.

Hello bratsand beer

No, I don't remember the winery name, and we walked down to it from Vienna Woods, so can't even give directions!
I'll contact our Vienna friends and ask them to help out.
Happy travels, Di

Just go to Grinzig. There are lots of places. Walk around and see what interests you and go have dinner and enjoy the singing.

Bookmarking. Thanks for the information - visiting there next year.

Thank you. Sounds like a fun thing to do.

The name of the winery we visited was Heuriger Binder. If you Google this name, you will get all the details.

We were there in time to see the sun set over Vienna last May; that, plus the food, wine and good company made it an evening to cherish!

Happy travels, Di

Heuriger Binder - is not near the woods - not near grinzing but on the other side odf the Danube River in the 21st District - some other name perhaps

or another Binder in 16th district

Hello monler

When I checked with our Vienna friends who took us there, that's the name they gave me. As they are regular visitors, I am sure the info is correct.

As Binder is the family surname, I guess it would be quite possible for you to be confusing them.

Happy travels, Di

Well I happen to live in Vienna- visit many heurigers - I do not believe I confuse them.

In addition, here we would identify such places as heurigers not wineries.

Thank you for the name. I couldn't find anything when I googled it. Will try again. If not that one winery, then we will find another. It sounds like a great thing to do.

Hello again bratsandbeer

Sorry about the confusion all this discussion has caused!

The exact details are:
Heuringer Binder
Johann Staud Straße 53
A 1160 Wien, Austria
Tel.: +43(1)9114760
Fax: +43(1)9114760

Google maps can give the location if you enter the street details.

It's actually in the Ottakring - my mistake on that detail!

Happy travels, Di

Thank you so much for the details on Heuringer Binder. I received a wonderful map of Vienna and of Austria from the Austria Tourist Board so will try to find it on the map. Will look up the location on viamichelin first.

Thanks for all your trouble to get this address for me. I am sure we will enjoy going there.