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Vienna, Austria

In and Out of Wien-Schwechat Airport (WIE):

  1. The CAT (City Airport Train): Leaving from the Airport every 30 minutes, it takes 16 minutes (fastest way into Vienna) and stops at the U-Bahn station Landstrasse/Wien Mitte.  This costs 9 Euro each way or 15 Euro round trip.
  2. S-Bahn Train (Scnellbahn Train): Think local train, this is the cheapest way into the city (3 Euro each way) and takes approximately 32 minutes and also stops at the Landstrasse/Wien Mitte after a few stops.
  3. Taxi: The third and most expensive way into the city (35 Euro into the city center), yet most convenient.
      
    Our recommendation is to take either train into town and then catch a cab to your hotel, this way it is efficient and cheap!

Neighborhoods:

In Vienna, your choice of hotel locations can change two things, if your neighborhood is nice, nicer or nicest and distance to all the attractions.  You really can’t go too wrong on location due to the wonderful U-Bahn (subway) and the various S-bahn, tram and bus options.  Public transportation is fun in this city!

  1. Inner Stadt: This is the  City Center.  The Ringstrasse are the streets around this district which form a circle and give it its name.  Many of the city’s sight are within the ring including the Hofburg.  This is where you want to stay and if you can’t stay here, stay as close as you can to here.
  2. Leopoldstadt:  Holds Prater Park and an amusement park as well as many sports fields/arenas, etc.  This is a few U-Bahn stops from the city center.
  3. Landstrasse: The Belvedere palace lies within this district as well as the Wien-Mitte train station you’ll most likely use at one point or another.
  4. Wieden: Similar to Inner Stadt, this is a nice neighborhood that has the Karlsplatz and Karlskirche to boast as monuments.
  5. Margareten: Mostly residential as you start to move away from the inner city to the southwest.
  6. Mariahilf: Comprised of places to shop including the Naschmarkt (large produce market).
  7. Neubau: Next to the Museumsquartier (large museum are) and containing some of its own museums, this is anice place to stay for anyone not in the Inner Stadt.
  8. Josefstadt:  A lower-key area with a quieter feel than the rest of the city, this area has nice little cafes and boutique shops.
  9. Alsergrund: Home to the University of Vienna and the Freud Museum, this is the intellectual center of the city.

Top 10 Vienna Sights:

  1. Hofburg and Albertina: With such a large building, we have to cheat a little bit.  The Hofburg was the main residence of the Hapsburgs and sprawls for what seems like miles in every directions.  Make sure to check out the large center mall that holds eating and drinking festivals throughout the year.
  2. Schloss Schonbrunn: The summer residence of the Hapsburgs in what was once the suburbs.  Now it lies in the western part of town and you can get lost in its thousands of rooms or sprawling grounds with gardens, statues and monuments to name a few things.
  3. Kohlmarkt and Graben: Within the city center next to the Hofburg, this is the supreme shopping and dining area where no cars are allowed.  A great place to people watch.
  4. Museumsquartier: A group of museums in the western Ringstrasse that is much like our Smithsonians.  Make sure to check out the Kunst and Natur historiches Museums.
  5. Grinzing: This is a neighborhood in the northern part of the city that has kept a unique village atmosphere due to the wine taverns that specialize in relaxed fun and spirit consumption.
  6. Belvedere: Another Hapsburg Palace?  Of course!  And this one is just as unique and beautiful as the others!
  7. Staatsoper and Burgtheater:  Two sights dedicated to the arts.  Don’t forget this was the home of Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and more.
  8. Kapuzinergruft: A crypt underneath the Kapuzinerkirche featuring the unbelievably wealthy Hapsburgs.  The tombs themselves are pieces of art.
  9. Naschmarkt and Wienzeile: Highlighted by extreme architecture, this is Vienna’s open-air market area.
  10. Prater: The giant park east of the city center along the Danube that boasts relaxation and peace with excitement and amusement parks.