Riverboat trip on the Danube...
November 13, 2015 4:36 PM Subscribe
I'm fortunate enough to be taking a river cruise down the Danube in March 2016. Starts in Vienna, then Bratislava, terminating in Budapest. What must I see, do, ??? Four days, three nights.
I'm an art lover- mostly Modern. But I want to see beauty, regardless of the century. Also love nature, learning, great architecture. The liberal arts.
And great shops and bars. Lots of both... what's hip and edgy?
What must I see/do/? on this 4 day, three night trip? And, what might I tack on after- a day or two?
Thanking the hive in advance...
Gustaf Klimpt has a bunch of paintings in Vienna. I bet there is a bunch of great art to see there. Then there is the music. I het the views on the Danube are poetic in low light this time of year. That's all I got.
posted by Oyéah at 9:05 PM on November 13, 2015
posted by Oyéah at 9:05 PM on November 13, 2015
On your way from Bratislava to Vienna, be sure to look up at the cliffs overlooking the river. Ancient ruined castles and forts line this winding part of the Danube and are quite scenic. In Bratislava, I try to stop by the main store on Obchodná 64 for ÚĽUV, the national center for folkloric art production. It's a state-sponsored shop featuring traditional crafts made in Slovakia. They also sell antiques, such as 19th century embroidery and the like. I try to support the vanishing crafts and those who practice them.
posted by Atrahasis at 9:46 PM on November 13, 2015
posted by Atrahasis at 9:46 PM on November 13, 2015
That will be a lovely, if short trip. Can you swing an extra day or two in Budapest at the end? That city is full of marvels. So is Vienna for that matter. Bratislava is also very nice but smaller than the other two.
posted by Nelson at 7:23 AM on November 14, 2015
posted by Nelson at 7:23 AM on November 14, 2015
Response by poster: Any marvels in either Vienna or Budapest you particularly suggest? I do have the ability to tack a couple of days on.
posted by ecollie at 8:42 AM on November 14, 2015
posted by ecollie at 8:42 AM on November 14, 2015
The Klimts are at the Vienna Secession and Belvedere Palace.
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:05 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by qxntpqbbbqxl at 10:05 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
how long are you in Vienna for? a few hours or the entire day? DO you sleep on the boat or stay at a hotel? Depending on how much time you have there are many cool things to see in Vienna and I am happy to make suggestions but it really depends on how long you are here for.
posted by 15L06 at 12:21 PM on November 14, 2015
posted by 15L06 at 12:21 PM on November 14, 2015
Best answer: Vienna: Ditto the Secession and the Belvedere. The Secession building itself is Art Nouveau with Klimt's Beethoven Frieze (his illustration of the 9th Symphony) in the main hall. It also hosts temporary modern art exhibitions. The Belvedere is a former palace set amid lovely gardens, very enjoyable if you have fair weather. It's a huge gallery with several buildings and a lot of modern stuff. You could spend a day in the Belvedere and still not see everything; the Secession is smaller and will take a couple hours at most.
I also really love the National Library; it houses a bunch of sub-museums including the Globe Museum (maps and globes) and the Esperanto Museum.
If you like classical music Vienna is one of the best cities in the world for that. The arts are state-subsidised in Austria, so you ought to be able to get cheap seats to something good.
Also, you can collect excellent snacks for your cruise at the Naschmarkt.
posted by Pallas Athena at 2:18 PM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I also really love the National Library; it houses a bunch of sub-museums including the Globe Museum (maps and globes) and the Esperanto Museum.
If you like classical music Vienna is one of the best cities in the world for that. The arts are state-subsidised in Austria, so you ought to be able to get cheap seats to something good.
Also, you can collect excellent snacks for your cruise at the Naschmarkt.
posted by Pallas Athena at 2:18 PM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Another great artist of early 20th century Vienna is Egon Schiele (still edgy after 100 years!). The Leopold Museum has a great collection of his work that is well worth a visit.
In Budapest, I would strongly recommend taking a walking tour of the Jewish quarter. The Great Synagogue is very impressive and a lot of the tours of the area are given by members of the local Jewish community. I can't remember which specific company I went with but there seem to be a range of tours available: Jewish Heritage Tours look like a reputable company.
A friend who used to visit Budapest a lot for work always claimed that going to the historic bath and spas was one of the best experiences in the city. There are three of four baths which date back to Ottoman rule in the 1600s, including the Rudas Baths and Kiraly Baths, while the Gellert Baths are Art Nouveau.
posted by Azara at 4:43 AM on November 15, 2015
In Budapest, I would strongly recommend taking a walking tour of the Jewish quarter. The Great Synagogue is very impressive and a lot of the tours of the area are given by members of the local Jewish community. I can't remember which specific company I went with but there seem to be a range of tours available: Jewish Heritage Tours look like a reputable company.
A friend who used to visit Budapest a lot for work always claimed that going to the historic bath and spas was one of the best experiences in the city. There are three of four baths which date back to Ottoman rule in the 1600s, including the Rudas Baths and Kiraly Baths, while the Gellert Baths are Art Nouveau.
posted by Azara at 4:43 AM on November 15, 2015
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I have a feeling that this blogger knows what they're talking about when it comes to pastry and other must-goes in Budapest, too.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 5:42 PM on November 13, 2015