I have a week in Vienna, what would be a few good day trips?

Richard, I thought you were still deciding between Vienna and Copenhagen.<BR><BR> Anyway. There have been a few recent posts on this topic. Try a text search on Vienna.

I took the train down to Sopron, Hungary. It was just under an hours ride, and just across the boarder. What I found the most interesting (aside from the usual 'old town center' etc. was the throwback to the old communist era boarder guards. This was 5 months ago and from the way they examined each passport multiple times, no smiles, overall gruffness (these were guys in their 20's) it was quite a difference from the rest of western europe.<BR>The other thing of note is Sopron is famous for dentists. Apparently their rates are much much cheaper than in Austria, so all the Austrians come across for dental work!

Message: A nice, easy day trip: take the train from Vienna to Melk -about an hour, see the Abbey-an easy walk from the station, eat lunch in Melk-a nice little town, river cruise to Krems-there were 2 huge boats leaving Melk at a 1:30 (the boats were filled with tour bus people), train back to Vienna. <BR><BR>The abbey and boat trip are beautiful. I did it in May of 2001. There was, and probably still is, a Combo ticket available from the train station that includes it all (including admission to the Abbey) for about $30. You take whatever trains and boat you want. I left at about 8:30 AM and was back by 6:00 PM. I can't find the web site that describes it, but having a copy with me, helped explain what I wanted at the station ticket office.

Melk Abbey is a good one. I also highly recommend Durnstein on the Danube River. Beautiful area and a nice little town to walk around. Also, there is the ruined fortress where Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom. Have lunch or just a drink on the terrace of the Richard the Lionhearted Hotel overlooking the river.

Melk, Durnstein (prettiest of the three towns), Krems - for longer trip with car carry down to Grein. Buy some wine or at least go into a heurige and ask to sample them - they are more than happy to allow you to do that, and then buy one bottle for goodwill to take back to Vienna - will set you back between 2.50 and 6.<BR>Baden is another very easy day trip - take the train (3o mins), rather than the alternative slow tram (50). Its a very pretty spa and casino town so take the swimmers and go to the Roman Bath there - done up in 2001. Do not bother with Semmering (although pretty drive, it is a dump of a town), or Neusiedlersee, great value wine but nothing special, unless you want to go windsurfing.