Vienna

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Vienna Getaway

An August 2000 trip to Vienna by mooncross

Modern ArtMore Photos

Vienna, city of Sissi and Strauss, waltzes and prancing Lippizaner, located on the shores of the blue Danube. A modern city where the past still lives on. In the music, the majestic palaces and the many churches.

  • 9 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 26 photos

Vienna GetawayBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Mail!
Take a trip back in time. Visit the palaces and be awed by their splendor. Enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage through the small streets. Or listen to Mozart and Strauss played on street corners.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

The heart of Vienna is easily traversed on foot. When traveling further afield, to for example the Schönbrunn Palace or the Belvedere, take the bus or subway. You can also use the Ring tramline for a quick orientation, or to rest weary feet while sightseeing.

Flair Hotel Altstadt ViennaBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Not cheap, but a very pleasant place to stay. Every room is differently decorated with a touch of the past. All modern luxuries are available. The hotel, a renovated patrician house, is located in a quiet part of Vienna, within walking distance of subway stations and main museums.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by mooncross on December 25, 2001

Flair Hotel Altstadt Vienna
Kirchengasse 41 Vienna, Austria
+43 1526 33 99-0

Hotel Pension FranzBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Hotel-Pension Franz"

Votiv Kirche
We decided on Pension Franz because of its location (very near the city center), but what  really sold us were the pictures on their website (http://www.hotelpensionfranz.at). It looked like a grand place where one could immerse oneself in times gone by. With such high expectations like ours, one can only be disappointed.

There were ups and downs.

On the up, the location itself was indeed as advertised, and from our bedroom window we could see the Votiv church spires, while the windows were sufficiently sound-proofed to ensure a good night's sleep. But the stylish antique furniture was more antique than stylish. The breakfast room was cramped (though breakfast was certainly sufficient). The shower did provide hot water (a definite 'must' in any hotel), the beds were good, but the hotel apparently saved money of laundry softener, leading to sandpaper towels.

All in all, the hotel impressed us as having surpassed its expiry date and in dire need of renovations.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by mooncross on May 22, 2006

Hotel Pension Franz
Währinger Straße 12 Vienna, Austria
+43 (1) 310 40 40-0

Kristian`s MonastiriBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Great food, decent prices, friendly atmosphere, amazing decorations. In summer, you can either eat inside or outside on the terrace. Kristian's is a little out of the way but is definitely worth a visit.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by mooncross on December 25, 2001

Kristian`s Monastiri
Neustiftgasse 16 in the 7th district Vienna, Austria

Hofburg CaféBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Hofburg Café
Adjacent to the Hofburg, the imperial apartments, lies the Hofburg Café. Decorated in a style befitting the area, it offers coffee, cake, and lunch menus from 10am to 6pm. Perhaps not the cheapest place in Vienna for lunch, but a stylish one. And, also very important, a yummy one...
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by mooncross on May 22, 2006

Hofburg Café
1010 Wien Vienna, Austria
+43 (1) 24100-0

HundertwasserhausBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Modern Art
Friedensreich Hundertwasser was a famous Viennese architect and painter who died recently. His work is reminiscent of the Secession movement of the late 19th century.

The Hundertwasserhaus is a must-see in Vienna. Since the house itself is a residential building, the authorities built another complex across the street in the same style to accommodate the tourists. Aside from various souvenir shops and cafes, you can find the Toilet of Modern Art in this building. It is definitely worth a visit, even if you're not in need of a bathroom!

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by mooncross on December 25, 2001

Hundertwasserhaus
Kegelgasse 34-38 Vienna, Austria 1030

Schloß SchönbrunnBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Schönbrunn Palace"

Schönbrunn
Schönbrunn is the former summer residence of the Habsburg Royal family. It's an immense palace with rooms decorated in Rococo style set on large grounds. Parts of this palace are open to the public. Unfortunately, due to the large groups of visiting tourists (6.7 million visitors a year!), it was virtually impossible to get a good look at the rooms and furniture that were once home to Empress Elizabeth of the 'Sissi'-movies, let alone get a taste on what it must have been like to live here!

A stroll in the large, formal garden toward the hill at the back end was much more pleasant. Plus the garden is so big that it can accommodate large quantities of tourists before becoming crowded.

Tickets range from € 7 - € 14, depending on which tour you take. Buy your tickets upon arrival and keep an eye on the numbers when yours comes up.

The easiest way to get to Schönbrunn is by public transport: take U4 (green) west or tram 58 west and get off at the Schönbrunn stop.

Since 1996, the Palace is designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by mooncross on December 25, 2001

Schloß Schönbrunn
Schönbrunner Schloß-Straße Vienna, Austria 1130
+43 1 877 92 94 0

Schloss BelvedereBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Stephan's Dom
The Belvedere consists of two palaces: the Upper and Lower Belvedere. The Lower was built on order of Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1716, the Upper was added a few years later and finished in 1722. Both buildings are now museums that host extensive art collections. Admission charges range about €7-9, depending, with lower admission prices for children and students.

If you are not interested in art, a stroll through the gardens is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, especially if the weather is nice. The Belvedere grounds offer a grand view across Vienna.

To get to the Belvedere by public transport, you can use the tram: D, to stop Schloss Belvedere; 18/0, to stop Südbahnhof; travel by bus 13A or 69A, to stop Südbahnhof, or use the Underground: U1, Südtirolerplatz (2 stops from Karlsplatz, direction Reumannplatz) and then one stop by tram (18 or 0) to Südbahnhof.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by mooncross on May 22, 2006

HofburgBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Hofburg Dome
The Hofburg was the winter residence of the imperial family, the Habsburgs. Empress Elisabeth—more affectionatly known as Sissi—lived here. The Hofburg is now a museum that offers guided tours. Prices start at around €10. But if you do not want to stroll through the apartments, see the silver collection or visit the museum, you can visit the Hofburg grounds for free.

To visit the Hofburg using public transport, use either U3 (orange U-Bahnline), Station Herrengasse, the tramway: 1, 2, D, J, Station Burgring or by bus 2A oder 3A, Station Hofburg.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by mooncross on May 22, 2006

Hofburg
Ringstrasse/Michaelerplatz Vienna, Austria A-1010
+43 01 533 7570

Stephan's Dom Dungeon TripBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Stephan's Dom
The funniest and most horrific thing to do in Vienna is to take a tour through the dungeons at the Stephan’s Dom!

Beneath the cathedral lies a huge burial vault with numerous chambers and levels, where even nowadays the church buries its departed bishops and other dignitaries. During the tour, we also learned how the Viennese cared for their dead in days past... I won't give too many details away here so as not to spoil the surprise. Let me just say that it's not for the squeamish and faint-hearted. When you can stomach it, however, it is very interesting indeed.

You'll find the Dom in the middle of the city. Times and prices of the tours are listed in the church. When we were there, I found the price very acceptable but it is subject to change, of course. Be there at the appointed time and a guide will show up. You pay him afterwards.

About the Writer

mooncross
mooncross
Northern, Netherlands

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