Vienna in 24 Hours
January 31, 2015 6:08 PM Subscribe
I will be in Vienna for one day! What should I do?
I am going to Austria next week on business, and I have one free day alone in Vienna -- from sunup until my flight leaves at midnight. I'll be staying in the Museumsquartier at a hotel recommended by my host for the purpose of seeing Vienna.
I love museums and culture-y things and history and food and art and basically all of the things! But I do not know much about Vienna or what is 100% can't miss, be it a tourist attraction or otherwise.
Snowflake complication: I've been suffering from poorly controlled asthma, triggered by... cold air and exercise. So a lot of walking around the city in sub-50-Fahrenheit temperatures could be really terrible for me, depending on how some meds pan out over the next several days. It's probably best to keep to indoor activities and things that are fairly close together? Or are cabs affordable in Vienna?
So! How shall I spend that day to get the most out of my time in Vienna? What to eat or see or do? I can spend a little money but I would prefer to keep to a modest budget.
Thank youuuu!
I am going to Austria next week on business, and I have one free day alone in Vienna -- from sunup until my flight leaves at midnight. I'll be staying in the Museumsquartier at a hotel recommended by my host for the purpose of seeing Vienna.
I love museums and culture-y things and history and food and art and basically all of the things! But I do not know much about Vienna or what is 100% can't miss, be it a tourist attraction or otherwise.
Snowflake complication: I've been suffering from poorly controlled asthma, triggered by... cold air and exercise. So a lot of walking around the city in sub-50-Fahrenheit temperatures could be really terrible for me, depending on how some meds pan out over the next several days. It's probably best to keep to indoor activities and things that are fairly close together? Or are cabs affordable in Vienna?
So! How shall I spend that day to get the most out of my time in Vienna? What to eat or see or do? I can spend a little money but I would prefer to keep to a modest budget.
Thank youuuu!
Vienna has a cluster of museums (all indoors) at Museumsquartier! After museum-ing, you can stroll around nearby Mariahilferstrasse where you can duck into a store whenever it gets too chilly.
The metro is pretty affordable. I'm not sure about cabs.
posted by gemutlichkeit at 6:24 PM on January 31, 2015
The metro is pretty affordable. I'm not sure about cabs.
posted by gemutlichkeit at 6:24 PM on January 31, 2015
Someday I will go to Vienna just to see The Kiss.
posted by raisingsand at 6:31 PM on January 31, 2015
posted by raisingsand at 6:31 PM on January 31, 2015
jinx
posted by apparently at 7:17 PM on January 31, 2015
posted by apparently at 7:17 PM on January 31, 2015
The Metro was very straightforward and easy to navigate, I'd recommend it instead of a cab for weekdays.
There's an express train from the airport to the city every 30 minutes as well, it is faster than a cab.
posted by splen at 7:27 PM on January 31, 2015
There's an express train from the airport to the city every 30 minutes as well, it is faster than a cab.
posted by splen at 7:27 PM on January 31, 2015
I only lived in Vienna for a month, but I was very into doing a lot of stuff on basically no budget, so I have a lot of thoughts, here goes:
Combine staying-inside with cheap budget and investigate what concerts will be happening that day. The opera house and Konzerthaus and pretty much every other world-class music or dance establishment there all have standing room tickets which are pocket change compared to the cost of everything else in Vienna, including the museums, though those are also wonderful--my favorite museum for range within a single visit is definitely the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which has a stunning and huge (probably ethically corrupt) Egyptian collection, as well as an incredible array of sculptures; the Belvedere art museum where the Klimt "Kiss" is would probably be the second.
The public transport is quite easy--less confusing than Paris though not quite up to Tube standards. I'd compare it to Chicago's transit system--obscure in some of the edge districts, but everything near the Ring is very clearly labelled. Definitely, if you can, take the aboveground tram around the Ring; if you've just got one day it's a nice efficient way to see a huge fraction of the notable buildings (and less asthma-affecting, probably, since I recall those trams staying quite warm in January). Do solidify how you plan to get from place to place in advance, because at least a few years ago it was almost impossible to get free or cheap wifi anywhere--I don't know anyone who had a fancy enough phone at the time to be able to use it abroad, so I don't know if that's an option now, but in any case, safer to research a few for-sure public transit routes between places you're going and your hotel, for instance.
If you go down most side streets away from the Ring for a few blocks, you'll probably encounter an incredibly good bakery. I lived on Mariahilfer Strasse, which looks like it's probably not far from where you're staying, and I'd recommend the Cafe Ritter; if you go in that direction, you'll get to see lots of fun little side streets filled with tiny and strange shops (I remember one thrift store with an entire wall of used black Docs, another with beaded curtains that sold anything hippie-esque, a great comic store with both German and English trades and issues, and an incredibly charming little board game store, all within a few blocks of the Cafe Ritter), if tiny unexpected stores are something you're interested in. The main street has a lot of American and British stores, so most of the little stores are used to English-speakers too, if that helps. There's also a Triumph store which actually stocks all sizes, which was pretty life-changing for me (probably the only expensive things I bought in Vienna).
If you are going to a concert or something like that and want to stop for food, etc. before heading to your flight, keep an eye out for closing times of likely spots during the day. There are food trucks, but a lot of them are pretty suspect or just mediocre; there are late-open cafes, etc., but some of them are very high-end charging you for being seen there places, and a lot of the more casual ones close earlier than you'd see in an American city or London (don't know what your experience is, but that's all I have to compare it to). I did walk around alone-and-female at night, but I definitely had friends who would not have wanted to go anywhere that wasn't immediately between where we stayed and the Ring. YMMV, as with anywhere. I'd worry more about pickpockets and drunk tourists on the main streets at any time of day than the average not-super-dark street at night, in central Vienna.
Have fun, this sounds like a blast! I'm just Google-Map stalking my favorite haunts, now. If you have any more specific questions please feel free to MeMail me--I wasn't there as a full-time tourist, and I don't have the full experience of someone who lived there independently, but I definitely have a lot of practice making the most of sadly-limited free time in Vienna.
posted by C. K. Dexter Haven at 10:33 PM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
Combine staying-inside with cheap budget and investigate what concerts will be happening that day. The opera house and Konzerthaus and pretty much every other world-class music or dance establishment there all have standing room tickets which are pocket change compared to the cost of everything else in Vienna, including the museums, though those are also wonderful--my favorite museum for range within a single visit is definitely the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which has a stunning and huge (probably ethically corrupt) Egyptian collection, as well as an incredible array of sculptures; the Belvedere art museum where the Klimt "Kiss" is would probably be the second.
The public transport is quite easy--less confusing than Paris though not quite up to Tube standards. I'd compare it to Chicago's transit system--obscure in some of the edge districts, but everything near the Ring is very clearly labelled. Definitely, if you can, take the aboveground tram around the Ring; if you've just got one day it's a nice efficient way to see a huge fraction of the notable buildings (and less asthma-affecting, probably, since I recall those trams staying quite warm in January). Do solidify how you plan to get from place to place in advance, because at least a few years ago it was almost impossible to get free or cheap wifi anywhere--I don't know anyone who had a fancy enough phone at the time to be able to use it abroad, so I don't know if that's an option now, but in any case, safer to research a few for-sure public transit routes between places you're going and your hotel, for instance.
If you go down most side streets away from the Ring for a few blocks, you'll probably encounter an incredibly good bakery. I lived on Mariahilfer Strasse, which looks like it's probably not far from where you're staying, and I'd recommend the Cafe Ritter; if you go in that direction, you'll get to see lots of fun little side streets filled with tiny and strange shops (I remember one thrift store with an entire wall of used black Docs, another with beaded curtains that sold anything hippie-esque, a great comic store with both German and English trades and issues, and an incredibly charming little board game store, all within a few blocks of the Cafe Ritter), if tiny unexpected stores are something you're interested in. The main street has a lot of American and British stores, so most of the little stores are used to English-speakers too, if that helps. There's also a Triumph store which actually stocks all sizes, which was pretty life-changing for me (probably the only expensive things I bought in Vienna).
If you are going to a concert or something like that and want to stop for food, etc. before heading to your flight, keep an eye out for closing times of likely spots during the day. There are food trucks, but a lot of them are pretty suspect or just mediocre; there are late-open cafes, etc., but some of them are very high-end charging you for being seen there places, and a lot of the more casual ones close earlier than you'd see in an American city or London (don't know what your experience is, but that's all I have to compare it to). I did walk around alone-and-female at night, but I definitely had friends who would not have wanted to go anywhere that wasn't immediately between where we stayed and the Ring. YMMV, as with anywhere. I'd worry more about pickpockets and drunk tourists on the main streets at any time of day than the average not-super-dark street at night, in central Vienna.
Have fun, this sounds like a blast! I'm just Google-Map stalking my favorite haunts, now. If you have any more specific questions please feel free to MeMail me--I wasn't there as a full-time tourist, and I don't have the full experience of someone who lived there independently, but I definitely have a lot of practice making the most of sadly-limited free time in Vienna.
posted by C. K. Dexter Haven at 10:33 PM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
Visit the Hundertwasser house! An incredibly creative and slightly insane architect who doesn't get the attention he deserves in my view.
posted by hazyjane at 11:12 PM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by hazyjane at 11:12 PM on January 31, 2015 [2 favorites]
I love Sisi museum, probably my favourite palace in Europe. You must visit a Viennese coffee house! I went to Cafe Diglas. Its transparent toilet door is an attraction! Don't forget to try schnitzel.
posted by liltiger at 11:25 PM on January 31, 2015
posted by liltiger at 11:25 PM on January 31, 2015
Have gugelhupf (aka marble bundt cake, Freud's favorite) and a melange at a cafe.
posted by brujita at 11:32 PM on January 31, 2015
posted by brujita at 11:32 PM on January 31, 2015
You mention food, the Naschmarkt is a huge food market just around the corner from the museum quarter. It is essentially two long outdoor passages with all kinds of ingredient stalls and different coffee shops, snack stalls and restaurants along its substantial length. It is outdoors but there are plenty of places which are effectively small shops so if you pick a place early you could avoid two miles in the cold and get a good breakfast (lunch/dinner/souvenir - there's a lot of variety).
posted by biffa at 12:16 AM on February 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by biffa at 12:16 AM on February 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Viennese here.
If you are staying in either Sans Souci or Vienna Art, you are literally across the street from Museumsquartier, in the heart of the 7th district. If in 25 hours, about two blocks away.
Musuemsquartier itself is basically a large building complex made up of... museums: Leopold Museum , Mumok are the big ones but there are numerous smaller contemporary art shows going on.
Check out the link gemutlichkeit provided for the details, but you can easily spend an entire day there, and if you get bored go across the road to the Kunsthistorisches Museum (art history museum), opposite is the Naturhistorisches Museum (natural history).
However, the places in Museumsquartier do not open before 10am, one exception is the small cafe daily, but smoking is permitted inside cafe daily, so a no go for asthma.
Also, shops and cafes on Mariahilferstrasse and its sidestreets do not open before 9:30am, and to be honest in central Vienna general everything is closed before 9:30am (with expection of grocery stores of course)
So if you really want to see something from sun up, walk around "Spittelberg". Ask the receptionist to point you there, it wont be far (a block west at most) from either hotel.
Or take tram 49 for one stop, from Volkstheater station, direction Hütteldorf, exit at Stiftgasse, und walk around from there: down (turn right) Stiftgasse into the heart of Spittelberg, or straight up Siebensterngasse, and into the maze the small side streets between Siebensterngasse and Burggasse, eg Kirchengasse, Neubaugasse, etc around Siebensternplatz. The shops there will not be open before at least 10am, this is the heart of boboville, but many cafes will be.
At the very edge of the Spittelberg area, on the corner of Stuckgasse and Burggasse, there is Cafe Espresso, home to Viennese bobos, open on weekdays from 7:30am.
Or try Cafe Latte, right where Siebensterngasse meets Neubaugasse and changes its name to Westbahnstrasse.
Siebensterngasse (which after the intersection with Neubaugasse changes its name to Westbahnstrasse) runs parallel to Mariahilferstrasse.
Mariahilferstrasse is basically dead before 10am. Also it is highly commercial, one international chain after the other (incl Starbucks if you need one) and at this time of year really drab as there wont be any outdoor cafes, and the wind blows down really hard making it very cold (walked there yesterday, nasty).
From Spittelberg area you can easily return to Museumsquartier by 10am, visit the museums, have lunch there in Corbaci
Transport - public transport is your best bet.
Stay clear of taxis if you can. They are expensive as hell and the drivers do NOT know their way around. Once you get in and state your destination the standard question is ( no joke): can you direct me there? and f you are lucky you get to spell the street name so they can type it into the sat nav.
So, stick to the tram and underground (called U-Bahn look for blue cubes with a white U on them, they indicate stations).
If you are only to be going about on your own that one day, buy a day pass (in a 2Trafik2, ask the the hotel reception or buy on line from Wiener Linien, consider getting a Vienna Card
From the airport, if your host does not take care of it, use the city airport train (buy the combination ticket with the added public transport ticket)
The is a quick direct connection from the CAT Terminus to Volkstheater (the stop servicing Museumsquartier).
Re evening, if your flight departs at midnight, you will need to leave downtown at least 90 minutes before departure (f you checked in online already). Get the hotel to book you an airport driver, leave your luggage at the hotel but don't hail a cab / taxi on the street, that will be by far more expensive than the guaranteed airport fare the hotels can book for you. Or use the CAT, as U3 will take you from Volkstheater to the terminus in Wien Mitte/Landstrasse.
By car it is about 30 minutes to the airport, with U Bahn and CAT about 45 minutes most (refer to CAT schedule).
So be careful if you book yourself into a concert or theater performance, ask how long it lasts. Don't bring your luggage to the concert hall (it would be a nuisance to do so on public transport)
I think it might be more interesting in later afternoon, to leave Museumsquartier, take the Ring Tram around the ring, (be careful some outdated tourguides say you can do this with lines 1 or 2, but they do not circle the ring fully anymore), get off at some point and walk around in the very city center (1. Bezirk), see St Stephens Cathedral if your are into churches, have some sandwiches at Trzesniewski or visit, across the street, Cafe Havelka for homemade cake and coffee, but also Diglas, or Cafe Korb, Griensteidl,or Cafe Prückel can be a lovely Viennse experience.
If you fancy the typical Viennese Tafelspitz (boiled beef with lots of trimmings) have dinner at Plachutta (in Wollzeile, just off Stubenring) or a Schnitzel at Figlmüller before returning to Museumsquartier/your hotel with U3 from Station Stubentor, at the end of Wollzeile.
Re Before Sunrise - watching this is source of fun if you live here, there is simply no way anyone can accomplish all those places in one day.
Memail me if you like, if you want more details on specific places,
posted by 15L06 at 1:00 PM on February 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you are staying in either Sans Souci or Vienna Art, you are literally across the street from Museumsquartier, in the heart of the 7th district. If in 25 hours, about two blocks away.
Musuemsquartier itself is basically a large building complex made up of... museums: Leopold Museum , Mumok are the big ones but there are numerous smaller contemporary art shows going on.
Check out the link gemutlichkeit provided for the details, but you can easily spend an entire day there, and if you get bored go across the road to the Kunsthistorisches Museum (art history museum), opposite is the Naturhistorisches Museum (natural history).
However, the places in Museumsquartier do not open before 10am, one exception is the small cafe daily, but smoking is permitted inside cafe daily, so a no go for asthma.
Also, shops and cafes on Mariahilferstrasse and its sidestreets do not open before 9:30am, and to be honest in central Vienna general everything is closed before 9:30am (with expection of grocery stores of course)
So if you really want to see something from sun up, walk around "Spittelberg". Ask the receptionist to point you there, it wont be far (a block west at most) from either hotel.
Or take tram 49 for one stop, from Volkstheater station, direction Hütteldorf, exit at Stiftgasse, und walk around from there: down (turn right) Stiftgasse into the heart of Spittelberg, or straight up Siebensterngasse, and into the maze the small side streets between Siebensterngasse and Burggasse, eg Kirchengasse, Neubaugasse, etc around Siebensternplatz. The shops there will not be open before at least 10am, this is the heart of boboville, but many cafes will be.
At the very edge of the Spittelberg area, on the corner of Stuckgasse and Burggasse, there is Cafe Espresso, home to Viennese bobos, open on weekdays from 7:30am.
Or try Cafe Latte, right where Siebensterngasse meets Neubaugasse and changes its name to Westbahnstrasse.
Siebensterngasse (which after the intersection with Neubaugasse changes its name to Westbahnstrasse) runs parallel to Mariahilferstrasse.
Mariahilferstrasse is basically dead before 10am. Also it is highly commercial, one international chain after the other (incl Starbucks if you need one) and at this time of year really drab as there wont be any outdoor cafes, and the wind blows down really hard making it very cold (walked there yesterday, nasty).
From Spittelberg area you can easily return to Museumsquartier by 10am, visit the museums, have lunch there in Corbaci
Transport - public transport is your best bet.
Stay clear of taxis if you can. They are expensive as hell and the drivers do NOT know their way around. Once you get in and state your destination the standard question is ( no joke): can you direct me there? and f you are lucky you get to spell the street name so they can type it into the sat nav.
So, stick to the tram and underground (called U-Bahn look for blue cubes with a white U on them, they indicate stations).
If you are only to be going about on your own that one day, buy a day pass (in a 2Trafik2, ask the the hotel reception or buy on line from Wiener Linien, consider getting a Vienna Card
From the airport, if your host does not take care of it, use the city airport train (buy the combination ticket with the added public transport ticket)
The is a quick direct connection from the CAT Terminus to Volkstheater (the stop servicing Museumsquartier).
Re evening, if your flight departs at midnight, you will need to leave downtown at least 90 minutes before departure (f you checked in online already). Get the hotel to book you an airport driver, leave your luggage at the hotel but don't hail a cab / taxi on the street, that will be by far more expensive than the guaranteed airport fare the hotels can book for you. Or use the CAT, as U3 will take you from Volkstheater to the terminus in Wien Mitte/Landstrasse.
By car it is about 30 minutes to the airport, with U Bahn and CAT about 45 minutes most (refer to CAT schedule).
So be careful if you book yourself into a concert or theater performance, ask how long it lasts. Don't bring your luggage to the concert hall (it would be a nuisance to do so on public transport)
I think it might be more interesting in later afternoon, to leave Museumsquartier, take the Ring Tram around the ring, (be careful some outdated tourguides say you can do this with lines 1 or 2, but they do not circle the ring fully anymore), get off at some point and walk around in the very city center (1. Bezirk), see St Stephens Cathedral if your are into churches, have some sandwiches at Trzesniewski or visit, across the street, Cafe Havelka for homemade cake and coffee, but also Diglas, or Cafe Korb, Griensteidl,or Cafe Prückel can be a lovely Viennse experience.
If you fancy the typical Viennese Tafelspitz (boiled beef with lots of trimmings) have dinner at Plachutta (in Wollzeile, just off Stubenring) or a Schnitzel at Figlmüller before returning to Museumsquartier/your hotel with U3 from Station Stubentor, at the end of Wollzeile.
Re Before Sunrise - watching this is source of fun if you live here, there is simply no way anyone can accomplish all those places in one day.
Memail me if you like, if you want more details on specific places,
posted by 15L06 at 1:00 PM on February 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
PS- you will notice that there is also a U3 station called Museumsquartier, the station Volkstheater is much closer to the hotels i mentioned.
posted by 15L06 at 1:04 PM on February 1, 2015
posted by 15L06 at 1:04 PM on February 1, 2015
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posted by three_red_balloons at 6:22 PM on January 31, 2015