First Time in Vienna
Description:
Traveling to Vienna for the first time? This is your guide to make sure you see all the highlights of this beautiful and historic city, from the famous Lipizzaner dancing stallions at the Spanische Reitschule (Spanish Riding School) to the Vienna Boys' Choir, or Wiener Sangerknaben, which was first started in the 1400s. With a stay in hotels in the heart of the city, most main attractions are within walking distance.
Author: JennyMM
Day 1 - Vienna
Begin with a tram tour along the Ringstrasse for your first introduction to the city. Next, visit the Judenplatz, site of a Holocaust memorial, as well as a medieval synagogue and museum. For lunch, head to Hawelka, a traditional Vienna coffeehouse. Take a bus to the Belvedere (a can't-miss), and spend several hours (you could spend much more) walking around the palace and the gardens, which offer beautiful views of the city. Finish off the day with a relaxing glass of Austrian wine outdoors at Stomach. The K+K Palais hotel is on the small side, but is also not too expensive, clean, intimate, and ideally located within walking distance of many small restaurants and cafes.
3
Hawelka
Location:
view in google mapsDorotheergasse 6
1010 Vienna, Austria
Phone:
43 1 512 82305
Stomach
Location:
view in google maps26 Seegasse
1090 Vienna, Austria
Phone:
43 1 310 2099Day 2 - Vienna
Start at the Spanishe Reitschule in the morning for a less-expensive look at the Lipizzaner horses doing their morning workout and for a tour of the Riding School. Then head over to the Hofburg, the imperial palace, which is also the birthplace of Marie Antoinette. To the south is the Cafe Mozart, good for local lunch fare. Then spend a few hours in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, to the west, before heading to the Volksgarten Pavillon for a relaxing outdoor dinner.
1
Spanische Reitschule/ Winter Riding School
Location:
view in google mapsMichaelerplatz 1
1010 Vienna, Austria
Phone:
43 1 533 90 313
Cafe Mozart
Location:
view in google mapsAlbertinaplatz 2
1010 Vienna, Austria
Phone:
43 1 2410 02105
Volksgarten Pavillon
Location:
view in google maps1 Burgring
1010 Vienna, Austria
Phone:
43 1 532 0907Day 3 - Vienna
Spend the morning walking through the Osterreichische Galerie im Belvedere. Along the river to the west is Weibels Wirtshaus, which offers an interesting take on typical Austrian cuisine. After lunch, head south to visit the Franziskanerkirche, if you have time, but try to fit in a trip to the Mozarthaus. There are concerts here, too, on several different weekdays as well as Saturday, so come back after dinner if you choose not to attend an opera. Stop for a tour of the Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek, the State Library, to view the extraordinary architecture. To finish off the day, the Staatsoper (State Opera) offers a dinner and concert package. Whether you opt for the dinner or not, make sure to get your opera or concert tickets well in advance. The Vienna Marriott offers another beautiful location within the ring, located across the street from the Stadtpark.
2
Weibels Wirtshaus
Location:
view in google maps2 Kumpfgasse
1010 Vienna, Austria
Phone:
43 1 512 3986Day 4 - Vienna
Start off the day with a Sunday morning mass performance of the Vienna Boys Choir. Fuel up with some beef at Plachutta, then go west to tour the beautiful Karlskirche (pictured at the top of the page). North of the Karlskirche is the Naschmarkt, a bustling street market with a huge variety of food, spices, and sundries. Saturdays can be a bit busy, but there is a flea market open as well with a wider variety of items for sale. Treat yourself to fine Austrian dining at Steirereck to end the day.
1
Wiener Sängerknaben
Location:
view in google mapsObere Augartenstrasse 1C
Augarten-Palais
1020 Vienna, Austria
Phone:
43 1 216 3942 ext 0