Travelfilter: What's up around Vienna?
March 9, 2022 6:56 AM Subscribe
We are planning a visit to Vienna this summer in early August, and are looking for some smaller day or weekend trips from there. We are two adults and two kids, 9 and 11. Bilingual French and English, and I speak extremely rusty college German. We've got the Vienna part covered, but what else is nearby?
I'm torn between visiting Bratislava, which is only about an hour away, Brno (about an hour and a half) or heading towards the rest of Austria. I've been to Vienna and Salzburg years ago, but the rest of the family hasn't. Prague (three and a half hours) is a bit farther than I think I'm interested in traveling, but I could be easily persuaded to change my mind if you say there's great stuff for kids to do and see.
We can rent a car if needed, but train travel is also appealing. We expect to be in the region about a week maximum. All of us are vaccinated. What would you recommend?
I'm torn between visiting Bratislava, which is only about an hour away, Brno (about an hour and a half) or heading towards the rest of Austria. I've been to Vienna and Salzburg years ago, but the rest of the family hasn't. Prague (three and a half hours) is a bit farther than I think I'm interested in traveling, but I could be easily persuaded to change my mind if you say there's great stuff for kids to do and see.
We can rent a car if needed, but train travel is also appealing. We expect to be in the region about a week maximum. All of us are vaccinated. What would you recommend?
This might be a reasonable time to visit Hallstatt & environs, since the usual package tours have been crippled, and thus the the avalanche of tourists may be reduced.
posted by aramaic at 8:34 AM on March 9, 2022
posted by aramaic at 8:34 AM on March 9, 2022
I don't think Prague is particularly kid friendly and not worth that amount of travel time. There is a zoo there, but also one in Bratislava. Rick Steves says if you have 7 days in Austria, you should add Salzburg and Hallstadt. Trains in that area are very good, so unless anyone has issues walking a bit with their luggage, I would skip the car. Seat61 has Austrian train info here.
posted by soelo at 8:36 AM on March 9, 2022
posted by soelo at 8:36 AM on March 9, 2022
This might be a reasonable time to visit Hallstatt & environs, since the usual package tours have been crippled, and thus the the avalanche of tourists may be reduced.
No, it isn't. Or maybe it is, but it's still jam packed with Europeans. If you do come, tourism authorities advise that you travel by train, not cars, because parking becomes impossible after about 10.30 am.
posted by Omnomnom at 8:55 AM on March 9, 2022
No, it isn't. Or maybe it is, but it's still jam packed with Europeans. If you do come, tourism authorities advise that you travel by train, not cars, because parking becomes impossible after about 10.30 am.
posted by Omnomnom at 8:55 AM on March 9, 2022
I agree that Salzburg is good. Prague and Budapest struck me as superficially like Vienna but bigger, which may or may not be what you want.
I might make a trip to Großglockner to see the glacier, if you're into mountains.
posted by Omnomnom at 9:00 AM on March 9, 2022
I might make a trip to Großglockner to see the glacier, if you're into mountains.
posted by Omnomnom at 9:00 AM on March 9, 2022
There is a zoo [in Prague], but also one in Bratislava.
Ah, but there's one in Vienna too, and it's pretty special. It's in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's the oldest zoo in the world, it's got koalas and giant pandas... if you like zoos, don't miss it.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 9:32 AM on March 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
Ah, but there's one in Vienna too, and it's pretty special. It's in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it's the oldest zoo in the world, it's got koalas and giant pandas... if you like zoos, don't miss it.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 9:32 AM on March 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
I got the train to Bratislava for the day when I was there, well worth it, a lovely city!
posted by kenchie at 9:34 AM on March 9, 2022
posted by kenchie at 9:34 AM on March 9, 2022
Lot of stuff in the area, I'm not familiar with everything, a couple of things that might or might not be interesting:
Eisenstadt is a nice town, the Esterhazys had a palace there that you can tour today. Tour feels more like a big country mansion than a giant palace--ritzy, but you're closer in. The chapel has the bones of a saint in a glass coffin, which might be really cool or something to be avoided, depending on your POV.
There are Roman sites around the area. The one I'm familiar with is just over the Hungarian border in Szombathély; there's a site and museum dedicated to the Roman history of the town. There are others, too.
If there's any interest in Cold War history, the site of the Pan-European picnic is just north of Sopron, Hungary. Some of the donated monuments are a bit tacky, but there was a guard tower and a stretch of barbed wire you could see, as well as panels describing the events at the site. Sopron itself has a nice old pedestrianized town center with a medieval/renaissance feel, certainly not the only one in the area, but worth a mention.
posted by gimonca at 9:39 AM on March 9, 2022
Eisenstadt is a nice town, the Esterhazys had a palace there that you can tour today. Tour feels more like a big country mansion than a giant palace--ritzy, but you're closer in. The chapel has the bones of a saint in a glass coffin, which might be really cool or something to be avoided, depending on your POV.
There are Roman sites around the area. The one I'm familiar with is just over the Hungarian border in Szombathély; there's a site and museum dedicated to the Roman history of the town. There are others, too.
If there's any interest in Cold War history, the site of the Pan-European picnic is just north of Sopron, Hungary. Some of the donated monuments are a bit tacky, but there was a guard tower and a stretch of barbed wire you could see, as well as panels describing the events at the site. Sopron itself has a nice old pedestrianized town center with a medieval/renaissance feel, certainly not the only one in the area, but worth a mention.
posted by gimonca at 9:39 AM on March 9, 2022
Budapest is a whole trip in itself, fwiw. If you just want to do a weekend there, you'll have to be choosy about what you fit into a single weekend.
posted by gimonca at 9:41 AM on March 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by gimonca at 9:41 AM on March 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
Melk Abbey is really nice, and a short train trip from Vienna (no car required). We stayed at the Zum Schwarzen Bären in Emmersdorf across the Danube from Melk. It has a really nice pool and spa, and the town is fun to walk around in. The hotel provided free bikes for us to ride over to Melk.
Of course, Hallstatt is lovely, but I wouldn't call that a short trip from Vienna.
posted by Don_K at 9:48 AM on March 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
Of course, Hallstatt is lovely, but I wouldn't call that a short trip from Vienna.
posted by Don_K at 9:48 AM on March 9, 2022 [2 favorites]
One more suggestion. For getting to places that trains don't go, consider using Day Trip car service. We used them to travel from Prague to Vienna and some other trips. The drivers were polite and safe, and the prices were not too high considering the convenience.
posted by Don_K at 9:54 AM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Don_K at 9:54 AM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Oh, and even though you didn't mention it, if you are staying somewhere where you will be cooking your own meals, you should visit the upscale grocery store Meinl. Much better selection, especially of fresh produce and meats, than the more common Spar grocery stores.
posted by Don_K at 10:04 AM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Don_K at 10:04 AM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Go to Bratislava with the twincityliner.
Other day trips popular with Viennese families is to Semmering, the Rax or Neusiedler See.
Or consider a day in Carnuntum. You can get there by train or bus, see their website.
Or a day at the Mamuz Museum in Asparn, also doable by train but maybe nicer by car because you can finish the day at the public pool in Mistelbach.
posted by 15L06 at 11:49 AM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Other day trips popular with Viennese families is to Semmering, the Rax or Neusiedler See.
Or consider a day in Carnuntum. You can get there by train or bus, see their website.
Or a day at the Mamuz Museum in Asparn, also doable by train but maybe nicer by car because you can finish the day at the public pool in Mistelbach.
posted by 15L06 at 11:49 AM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Posted to quickly.
The suggestions on Kidslovevienna are well researched.
While Hallstatt is truly interesting, i would not do this a a day trip, especially with children. Same for Salzburg.
It can be really very hot in Austria in August, and AC is not as widespread as in the US. So a day trip to the mountains, to Lake Neusiedl or a hike in the Wienerwald is IMO preferable.
posted by 15L06 at 12:01 PM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
The suggestions on Kidslovevienna are well researched.
While Hallstatt is truly interesting, i would not do this a a day trip, especially with children. Same for Salzburg.
It can be really very hot in Austria in August, and AC is not as widespread as in the US. So a day trip to the mountains, to Lake Neusiedl or a hike in the Wienerwald is IMO preferable.
posted by 15L06 at 12:01 PM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]
PS another idea is to finish off a hot Sightseeing day in the city at a waterplayground.
Another nice day trip, if your family is keen to visit a mediveal castle is Burg Aggstein. This i think will be more comfortable by car. Directions on the website
The castle overlooks the Danube river.
Another nice trip if you like castles and a car is Rosenburg.
Greetings from Vienna
posted by 15L06 at 1:53 PM on March 9, 2022
Another nice day trip, if your family is keen to visit a mediveal castle is Burg Aggstein. This i think will be more comfortable by car. Directions on the website
The castle overlooks the Danube river.
Another nice trip if you like castles and a car is Rosenburg.
Greetings from Vienna
posted by 15L06 at 1:53 PM on March 9, 2022
Dürnstein and Wachau Valley are absolutely lovely and not that far from the city.
posted by platinum at 2:08 PM on March 9, 2022
posted by platinum at 2:08 PM on March 9, 2022
We loved our visit to Brno. Charming and way less crowded than Vienna, Prague or Salzburg (which we also love), so it allowed a more laid-back experience as a tourist. Can't speak to activities for kids, and this was 6-ish years ago. But since it had already caught your eye, I wanted to give it a thumbs-up.
posted by evilmomlady at 3:30 AM on March 10, 2022
posted by evilmomlady at 3:30 AM on March 10, 2022
Response by poster: 15L06 has somehow infiltrated my mind and guesses exactly what my family would most be interested in. A ferry boat down the Danube? Yes, please!
posted by Liesl at 3:30 PM on March 10, 2022
posted by Liesl at 3:30 PM on March 10, 2022
« Older keto/low-carb cupcake or baked good option for... | What is the best iphone app for learning Spanish? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by madcaptenor at 7:21 AM on March 9, 2022 [1 favorite]