My family of four just returned from 6 great days in Vienna. My report is more a ten-point list of things we loved and some we didn’t. It is eventually too schematic, but still informative for other travellers, I hope.
1. We stayed at K+K Hotel Maria Theresia on Spittelberg area (Kirchberggasse 6-8). Very clean and friendly hotel. The breakfast was great, the rooms impeccable, free internet access and very well located in a quiet street and only 2 mins walk from the underground and tram stops.
2. Vienna has an excellent public-transportation system with reliable, clean and convenient service. Vienna%26#39;s trams (lines 1 and 2) were for us an efficient (and hot) way of getting around.
3. Pieter Bruegel the Elder at the Kunsthistorisches Museum was absolutely gorgeous. I believe that this is the most extensive collection of paintings by PB in the world: Battle between Carnival and Lent (1559), Children’s Game (1560), Tower of Babel (1563), Seasons of the Year (1565) and the unforgettable Peasant Wedding (c. 1568) among others.
4. Think twice before visit the Albertina because just a very small number of its master graphic arts collection is exhibited to the public each time.
5. One of our favourite places was Naschmarkt. I read somewhere that it is more than a market, it is a Viennese institution, a unique blend of Austrian traditions and Oriental influences. The location itself is spectacular. And don’t forget to look around and see Otto Wagner’s Linke Wienzeile (Apartment Block) No. 38 and the adjacent so-called Majolika Haus.
6. Great coffees (brauner, melange, schlagobers…) and impressive Kaffehaus. Café Central is very beautiful with great ambiance. The negative side of our experience there was the service and staff as they were not attentive. Sacher expresso is great but quite expensive.
7. The Viennese Christmas markets are maybe too touristic for us ! We visited five or six of them and we believe the Schloss Schönbrunn hosts the most interesting Christmas market. The Spittleberg market in the 7th district which is held on two narrow parallel streets lined with 18th and 19th century houses is also charming. Hot mulled Gluhwein and fruit “punsch” are divine…
8. We’ve enjoyed some Viennese cakes, pastries and chocolates. Demel’s Esterházytorte and Dobostorte are exquisite. Demel’s shop – as well as neighbour Julius Meinl am Graben – are two refined addresses for gourmets and a pleasure for your eyes.
9. I think it is outstanding the preservation of Viennese built heritage, not only the exceptional buildings in Vienna´s historic center (palaces, churches, residences) but also “common” ones, some from late nineteenth century or early twenty century (like Otto Wagner’s Wiener Postparkasse or Karlsplatz Stadtbahn Station).
10. Eventually less pleasant than in Summer, Schönbrunn also deserves a visit in this time of the year. Besides the Palace tour (30 mins to 50 mins) we can visit the gardens, the Palm House and above of all the Gloriette with a breathtaking view over Schönbrunn and Vienna.
Let me express my gratitude to all the posters on this forum.
Happy New Year to Everyone
Orta
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Hi Orta,
I love Vienna too and have been there 4 times. I agree with you that the preservation of heritage buildings is amazing. They look also like new but without the tackiness of new paint and badly restored work.
The following web site show Vienna in different perspectives, making one almost want to jump the plane to revisit the city.
http://www.zoomvienna.com/thumbnails.php
Happy New Year!
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